PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (June 4, 2024) – Harshica Fernando, Ph.D., has been awarded $100,000 in grant funding by the Department of Energy-Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education.

Fernando is an assistant professor of chemistry in the Samuel Brailsford College of Arts and Sciences at Prairie View A&M University.

The primary goal of this research is to develop a sensitive and low-cost assay to detect polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in food. To achieve this goal, Fernando will pursue the following objectives:

  1. Quantify the PAHs present in shrimp using GC-MS.
  2. Conduct literature research on potential fluorescent particle types and fluorophores for chemical excitation reagent formulations.
  3. Test the applicability of these candidate fluorescent particles and fluorophores to enhance light-emission reactions.
  4. Measure the kinetics of light emission using the candidate formulations.
  5. Compare the degree of improvement among different formulations.
  6. Test the applicability of the assay for detecting PAHs in shrimp.

 

By Joe McGinty