Januka Budhathoki Uprety

Asst Professor

Textiles Complex 3116

919-515-1970

Bio

Januka Budhathoki-Uprety is a polymer chemist with an interest in developing novel materials for applications in cutting-edge technologies. She completed her bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and Biology, Master’s degree in Organic Chemistry, and Ph.D. in Chemistry. Her Ph.D. research under the supervision of Professor Bruce Novak at North Carolina State University was focused on the design and synthesis of helical polycarbodiimide polymers. She completed her postdoctoral training at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, with her research focused in biomedical sciences developing bio-nanomaterials for disease diagnosis and therapy.Dr. Budhathoki-Uprety is the recipient of the MSK Society Scholar Prize (2018), Tow Postdoctoral Fellowship (2015-2018), ACS Graduate Student Travel Award (2011), Academic Excellence for Teaching Award, Kathmandu Model College (2003-2005).

Research

Polymers and nanomaterials offer a wide range of capabilities in modern technologies in everyday life such as in healthcare, safety and comfort. Research in the Budhathoki-Uprety lab encompasses at the interface between chemistry, biology and material science utilizing the principles of organic and polymer synthesis, chemical biology, and nanotechnology. Her research team focuses on developing novel polymers, macromolecules, and nanomaterials, and their applications in biomedical field and environment in collaborative approach.

Specific research areas include:

Rational Polymer Design and Synthesis
Nanotechnology and Nanomedicine
Bio-sensors Development and Applications
Smart Biomedical Textiles

Organizations

American Chemical Society
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Electrochemical Society
Nepal Chemical Society
Materials Research Society

Teaching

PCC 106 – Polymer Chemistry and Environmental Sustainability, Spring
PCC 461 – Chemistry of Polymeric Materials, Fall
TC 561 – Organic Chemistry of Polymers, Fall

Education

Postdoctoral Fellow Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY

Ph.D. Chemistry North Carolina State University

M.S. Chemistry Western Carolina University

M.Sc Organic Chemistry Tribhuvan University

B.Sc Chemistry, Botany and Zoology Tribhuvan University

Area(s) of Expertise

Medical Textiles
Nanotechnology
Polymer Science
Polymer/Fiber/Textile Processing
Textile Chemistry

Publications

(Invited) Near-Infrared Optical Probes for the Detection of Electrolytes , ECS Meeting Abstracts (2024)
(Nanocarbons Division Poster Award, Third Place) Development of an Optical Probe for the Detection of Steroid Hormones , ECS Meeting Abstracts (2024)
Development of Optical Nanosensors for Detection of Potassium Ions and Assessment of Their Biocompatibility with Corneal Epithelial Cells , ACS OMEGA (2024)
Preparation and Characterization of Hydrogels Fabricated From Chitosan and Poly(vinyl alcohol) for Tissue Engineering Applications , ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS (2024)
Recent advances on applications of single-walled carbon nanotubes as cutting-edge optical nanosensors for biosensing technologies , NANOSCALE (2024)
Understanding the Molecular Assemblies of Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes and Tailoring their Photoluminescence for the Next-Generation Optical Nanosensors , Chemistry of Materials (2024)
Carbon Nanotubes for Optical Detection of Quaternary Ammonium Compounds in Complex Media , ACS Applied Nano Materials (2023)
Development of Optical Nanosensors for pH Measurements in Model Biofluids , ECS Meeting Abstracts (2023)
Greener Dyeing , CHEMISTRY & INDUSTRY (2023)
Nanoscale Probes for Optical Detection of Emerging Contaminants and Biological Indicators , ECS Meeting Abstracts (2023)

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