For decades, the color blue has been a significant focus of research into improvements in digital display technology. The images we see on our laptop, phone and flat-screen TV today come from light-emitting materials comprising three colors – red, green and blue.
“The colors red and green are very easy to obtain but the color blue has been the bane of display technology,” said Abhishek Shibu, Ph.D. in Nanoscale Science whose presentation, “Let There Be 'BLUE' Light!,” took both the 1st Place and People’s Choice awards in this year’s 3-Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition. The issue, it appears, is that the material used to produce blue is not quite as cooperative as the others.
“My research is focused on creating a new class of blue-emitting materials to make these displays more energy efficient, cost effective and environmentally friendly,” he said.
The Walter Research Group in the Department of Chemistry has created a library of crystals in the quest to improve the blue which, Shibu believes, “will be paradigm shifting candidates in the world of display technology."
3MT® is a key element in preparing graduate students to communicate for success in their chosen career pursuits. Students who take on 3MT® also have an opportunity to participate in personal coaching and instruction on public presentations through the Center for Graduate Life. The CGL course, Communicating Your Research to a Non-Expert Audience, is tailored to help students create a favorable first impression on the job.
Taking 2nd Place in this year’s 3MT® was Nicole Stott, Ph.D. in Biology, Cellular and Molecular Biology for her presentation, "Lung Cancer Progression."
Stott’s research assesses how the drug Metformin – commonly used to treat diabetes – can also reduce lung cancer tumor burden while maintaining skeletal muscle health. Stott’s work holds promise for improving the welfare and recovery time for lung cancer patients.
Mukulika Bose, Ph.D. in Biological Sciences, received the 3rd Place award for her presentation on "Targeting Pancreatic Cancer with a Specific Antibody."
Current treatment for pancreatic cancer often kills normal cells as well as the tumor. Bose’ research focuses on identifying biomarkers of cancerous cells to better target treatment.
For more information on 3MT®, visit the Center for Graduate Life.