The January 2010 cover of the journal Liquid
Crystals features one of Jim Rego's research
projects. Rego, associate professor of chemistry, studied the relationship of the
molecular structure of liquid crystals additives and their effect on the bulk
properties of the liquid crystalline phase. The compounds described in the recent
publication are suited for liquid crystal display applications. However, a
deeper understanding of the structure-activity properties of these dopants is
facilitating the design and synthesis of additives that have a strong and
specific affinity for biological agents of interest. These next generation
compounds are finding utility in novel liquid crystal-based molecular and
biological sensors. The January paper also involved Elysse Gatdula, '08,
biology, and two students from Reed College, where Rego served as visiting
assistant professor.