The Summer Research Program is designed for outstanding end-of-year 3 undergraduate students who are interested in pursuing research postgraduate study in the School of Science. This program offers participants with the unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the research life at HKUST campus and work with faculty mentors from our School in conducting research projects in an interactive environment. Date: 2 July – 6 August, 2024     Eligibility: Undergraduate students majoring in science and related programs, who have completed 3 years of study (out of a 4-year bachelor program) and have attained a GPA of 3.2 out of 4.0 (or 80%) or higher. A subsidy of around HK$10,000 will be provided to cover the on-campus student hostel fee and other local expenses. To enroll in this Summer Research Program, participants are required to pay the summer internship application fee, insurance, visa fee and a 1-credit tuition fee in advance (approximately HK$3,300). Additionally, participants are responsible for applying for a visa (which may take 10-12 weeks) and covering their own transportation costs to and from Hong Kong. Application Procedures: Department of Ocean Science: Fill in the application form and send it together with your academic transcript and resume to the department (ocescamp@ust.hk) Division of Life Science: Submit online application to the division directly Department of Physics: Submit online application to the division directly Department of Chemistry: Submit online application to the department directly Department of Mathematics: Submit online application to the department directly   The review of applications will be conducted by the respective Division/Department. Successful applicants will be notified by the Division/Department as soon as the application is closed. After receiving the Division/Department’s confirmation: (For successful applicants only) Submit online Visiting Interns application to the Undergraduate Recruitment and Admissions Office (https://join.ust.hk/admissions/visiting/) Application deadline: 17 March, 2024

Abstract Nanopore electrochemistry refers to the promising measurement science based on elaborate pore structures, which offers a well-defined geometric confined space to adopt and characterize single entities by electrochemical technology.1-3 The electrochemical confined effect within the nanopore displays the incredible ability to achieve single entity discrimination by focusing energy (e.g. electrochemical, light energies and et al.) into small areas, converting the intrinsic properties of single entities into visible electrochemical read-outs with ultra-high temporal-spatial resolution.4 Furthermore, the excellent resolution of confined nanopore technology also permits the possibility to resolve the transient signals for further revealing the information of single biomolecules dynamics. The chemical controlled confinement inside nanopore provides the advanced electrochemically confined effects to convert the transient single molecule difference into the enhancing signal with high temporal-spatial resolution. In the speaker’s research group, the nanopore electrochemistry has been further applied into disease diagnostics by identifying rare sub-populations, DNA/protein sensing by reading the sequential differences and uncovering the fundamental chemical reactions pathways by revealing the hidden intermediates. References: 1. J. Jiang, M.-Y. Li, X.-Y. Wu, Y.-L. Ying, H.-X. Han, Y.-T. Long, Nat. Chem. 2023, 15, 578-586. 2. Y.-L. Ying, Z.-L. Hu, S. Zhang, Y. Qing, A. Fragasso, G. Maglia, A. Meller, H. Bayley, C. Dekker, Y.-T. Long, Nat. Nanotechnol. 2022, 17, 1136-1146. 3. H.-Y. Wang, Y.-L. Ying, Y. Li , Y.-T. Long, Chem.-Asian J., 2010, 5, 1952-1961. 4. Y.-L. Ying, Y.-T. Long, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2019, 141, 15720-15729. About the Speaker Prof. LONG Yi-Tao obtained his MS and PhD, both in Bioelectrochemistry, at Nanjing University in 1996 and 1998 respectively. He then pursued his postdoctoral studies at Heidelberg University in 1999-2001, the University of Saskatchewan in 2001-2005 and the University of California, Berkeley in 2006-2007. He joined the East China University of Science and Technology in 2007 as a Distinguished Professor at the Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials. In 2019, he returned to Nanjing University and is currently the Director of the Molecular Sensing and Imaging Center and the Professor of the State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science in the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering. Prof. Long’s research interests include single molecule interface, electrochemically nanoconfined space, nanopore single molecule analysis, nanoelectrochemistry and in-situ spectroelectrochemistry. He serves as the Associate Editor of Chemical Science and the Editorial Board Member for Chemical Reviews. He is the recipient of the 2023 Electrochemistry Group Faraday Medal Award by the Royal Society of Chemistry. He is also the Fellow of the Chinese Society of Chemistry, the International Society of Electrochemistry, and the Royal Society of Chemistry. For Attendees' Attention Seating is on a first come, first served basis.

Abstract Preparation of diverse homologs from lead compounds has been a common and important practice in medicinal chemistry. However, homologation of many functional groups, such as ethers and amides, remains challenging. In this lecture, deconstructive strategies to enable homologation of ethers and amides are discussed. First, the method involving boron-insertion into alkyl ether bonds is realized through a Ni/Zn tandem catalysis. The organoborinate intermediates allow direct modification of the skeletons of ethers, including ring expansion and O-to-N editing. The reaction goes through a cleavage-and-then-rebound mechanism. This study further inspires the development of modular synthesis of monocyclic 1,2-azaborines, which is an important isostere of benzene. On the other hand, a hook-and-slide strategy for homologation of tertiary amides with tunable lengths of the inserted carbon chain is introduced. Alkylation at the α-position of the amide (hook) is followed by highly selective branched-to-linear isomerization (slide) to effect amide migration to the end of the newly introduced alkyl chain; thus, the choice of alkylation reagent sets the homologation length. The key step involves a carbon-carbon bond activation process by a carbene-coordinated rhodium complex with assistance from a removable directing group. The approach is demonstrated for introduction of chains as long as 16 carbons and is applicable to derivatized carboxylic acids in complex bioactive molecules.   About the Speaker Prof. DONG Guangbin received his BS in Chemistry in 2003 at Peking University and completed his PhD training in Chemistry in 2009 at Stanford University. He conducted his postdoctoral studies at the California Institute of Technology. In 2011, he joined the faculty at the University of Texas at Austin, where he became an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry. Currently, he holds the position of Professor at the University of Chicago. Prof. Dong and his research team focus on 1) pushing the boundary of C-C bond activation for efficient synthesis of complex organic molecules; 2) rendering the metal/norbornene cooperative catalysis as a useful tool for pharmaceutical research; 3) tackling challenges in synthesis of complex bioactive natural products; 4) developing compact molecular synthesizers for automated organic synthesis and 5) realizing programmable synthesis of monodisperse sequence-defined graphene nanoribbon materials. Prof. Dong is the recipient of 2024 Elias J. Corey Award for Outstanding Original Contribution in Organic Synthesis by a Young Investigator, 2021 Tetrahedron Young Investigator Award, and 2018 Mr and Mrs Sun Chan Memorial Award in Organic Synthesis.   For Attendees' Attention Seating is on a first come, first served basis.