Magnet Lab Researchers Named American Physical Society Fellows

December 8, 2008

Media Contacts:
Rafael P. Brüschweiler, (850) 644-1768
bruschweiler@magnet.fsu.edu
Alexander V. Gurevich, (850) 644-1193
gurevich@magnet.fsu.edu

Rafael Brüschweiler

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Their scientific research takes them in different directions, but two researchers at the Mag Lab now have one important thing in common: Each has just been elected a fellow of the American Physical Society (APS).

With 46,000 members, the APS is the nation's largest and most prestigious professional society dedicated to the advancement of physics research and knowledge. Election to fellowship in the APS is limited to no more than one-half of 1 percent of the society's membership and is a significant recognition by a scientist's peers of his or her outstanding contributions to physics.

The Mag Lab scientists selected as APS fellows for 2008, and the language provided on their APS citations, are as follows:

• Rafael P. Brüschweiler, professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and associate director for Biophysics, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, "for fundamental contributions to methodology and applications of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy in combination with novel computational approaches for the dynamic characterization of proteins in solution."
• Alexander V. Gurevich, scholar/scientist and principal investigator, Applied Superconductivity Center at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, "for significant contributions to the theory of superconductivity, particularly the effect of crystalline defects on critical currents, vortex dynamics, and upper critical fields of high-temperature superconductors and MgB₂."

Alexander Gurevich

In his research, Brüschweiler works to increase scientists' understanding of protein dynamics behavior, and how it is affected by interactions with other proteins, peptides and small ligands. Such an understanding is important for researchers as they attempt to develop new treatments for a variety of diseases.

"This is a tremendous honor," Brüschweiler, a member of the Florida State faculty and Magnet Lab since 2004, said of being named an APS fellow. "It recognizes our research on biomolecular dynamics, which lies at the interface of physics, chemistry and biology. Protein molecules are intrinsically flexible, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) greatly contributes to their experimental characterization. Due to the complexity of proteins, computational and analytical physical models play an important role in the interpretation of the experiment. In our research, we bring new experimental and computational approaches together to enhance the understanding of proteins and their function."

Gurevich, a condensed matter/materials theorist, came to the Mag Lab at FSU along with the Applied Superconductivity Center in 2006. His research focuses on the theoretical understanding of superconductors under extreme conditions of strong electric currents, high magnetic fields and strong radio-frequency electromagnetic fields. The results of these theoretical works are important for the development of new superconducting materials for power applications, particularly powerful high-field magnets and new generations of particle accelerators.

"It is indeed a great honor for every physicist to be elected an APS fellow," Gurevich said. "It also recognizes the invaluable contributions of my colleagues from the Applied Superconductivity Center and collaborators from other groups all over the world who have made my work possible."

The National High Magnetic Field Laboratory develops and operates state-of-the-art, high-magnetic-field facilities that faculty and visiting scientists and engineers use for research. The laboratory is sponsored by the National Science Foundation and the state of Florida. To learn more visit www.magnet.fsu.edu.