Vicki Colvin
{{short description|American scientist}}
{{Infobox scientist
| name = Vicki Colvin
| image = Vicki Colvin Picture.jpg
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|October 12, 1965}}
| fields = Molecular pharmacology
| workplaces = Louisiana State University
AT&T Bell Laboratories
Rice University
Brown University
| alma_mater = Stanford University (BS)
University of California, Berkeley (PhD)
| doctoral_advisor = Paul Alivisatos
| known_for = Nanotechnology
}}
Vicki Leigh Colvin (born October 12, 1965) is a professor of engineering and molecular pharmacology at Brown University, and has been selected as the next dean of the Louisiana State University College of Engineering. At Brown, she is the director of the Centre for Biomedical Engineering. Her work focuses on the synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials. She is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering.
Early life and education
Colvin was inspired to study science after watching her mother drink coffee.{{Cite magazine |url=http://discovermagazine.com/2000/oct/featwatch|title=20 Young Scientists to Watch |magazine=Discover |access-date=2018-12-18}} She is the daughter of Harry Colvin and Carolyn Collins. She earned her bachelor's degree in chemistry and physics at Stanford University in 1988.{{Cite web|url=https://nny.sites.acs.org/vickicolvinnenm2018.htm|title=Vicki Colvin NENM 2018|website=Northern New York Local Section|access-date=2018-12-18}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldsciencefestival.com/participants/vicki-colvin/|title=Vicki Colvin|website=World Science Festival|access-date=2018-12-18}} She completed her doctoral studies in 1994 under the supervision of Paul Alivisatos at the UC Berkeley College of Chemistry.{{Cite web|url=https://academictree.org/chemistry/tree.php?pid=82741|title=Chemistry Tree - Vicki L. Colvin Family Tree|website=academictree.org|access-date=2018-12-18}}{{Cite web|url=https://pines.berkeley.edu/people/vicki-colvin|title=Vicki Colvin |website=Pines Lab |access-date=2018-12-18}} After completing her PhD, Colvin joined AT&T Bell Laboratories.{{Cite web|url=http://www.browndailyherald.com/2014/05/20/vicki-colvin-named-new-provost/|title=Vicki Colvin named new provost|last=Dubin|first=Michael|date=2014-05-20|website=Brown Daily Herald|access-date=2018-12-18}} Here she worked on materials for holographic data storage.{{Cite web|url=http://nanoparticlelibrary.net/contributor.asp?ID=12|title=Vicki L. Colvin, Rice University |website=Nanoparticle Information Library |access-date=2018-12-18}}
Career
Colvin was appointed to Rice University in 1996 as part of their expansion in nanotechnology. She was awarded a Phi Beta Kappa teaching prize and named as Discover magazine's Top Scientists to Watch.{{Cite web|url=https://archive.epa.gov/oswer/nanotechnology/web/html/ia-introduction-biography.html|title=Biography of Dr. Vicki Colvin |website=Nanotechnology for Waste and Cleanup |publisher=US EPA |access-date=2018-12-18}} Her research was supported by a fellowship from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. She pioneered the use of water-soluble quantum dots in biomedicine.{{Cite journal|date=2006-09-29|title=Water-soluble quantum dots for biomedical applications|journal=Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications|volume=348|issue=3|pages=781–786|doi=10.1016/j.bbrc.2006.07.160|pmid=16904647|issn=0006-291X|last1=Yu|first1=William W.|last2=Chang|first2=Emmanuel|last3=Drezek|first3=Rebekah|last4=Colvin|first4=Vicki L.}} The quantum dots can be encapsulated into amphiphilic polymers, which allows control of the quantum dot toxicity.{{Cite journal|last1=Chang|first1=Emmanuel|last2=Thekkek|first2=Nadhi|last3=Yu|first3=William W.|last4=Colvin|first4=Vicki L.|last5=Drezek|first5=Rebekah|date=2006|title=Evaluation of Quantum Dot Cytotoxicity Based on Intracellular Uptake|journal=Small|volume=2|issue=12|pages=1412–1417|doi=10.1002/smll.200600218|pmid=17192996|issn=1613-6829}} As a model for tissue localization following intradermal infiltration, Colvin studied how quantum dots migrate in mice.{{Cite journal|last1=Howard|first1=Paul C.|last2=Walker|first2=Nigel J.|last3=Colvin|first3=Vicki L.|last4=Yu|first4=William W.|last5=Warbritton|first5=Alan R.|last6=Siitonen|first6=Paul H.|last7=Cozart|first7=Christy R.|last8=Webb|first8=Peggy|last9=Roberts|first9=Dean W.|date=2007-07-01|title=Migration of Intradermally Injected Quantum Dots to Sentinel Organs in Mice|journal=Toxicological Sciences|volume=98|issue=1|pages=249–257|doi=10.1093/toxsci/kfm074|pmid=17404394|issn=1096-6080|pmc=3471152}} She found that 1D quantum dots remain as a deposit on the skin and penetrate the nearby subcutis and were distributed to draining lymph nodes. She bound quantum dots to gold nanoparticles with a peptide sequence, which suppresses luminescence; allowing the combination to be used as probes for targeted degradation.{{Cite journal|date=2005-09-09|title=Protease-activated quantum dot probes|journal=Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications|volume=334|issue=4|pages=1317–1321|doi=10.1016/j.bbrc.2005.07.028|pmid=16039606|issn=0006-291X|last1=Chang|first1=Emmanuel|last2=Miller|first2=Jordan S.|last3=Sun|first3=Jiantang|last4=Yu|first4=William W.|last5=Colvin|first5=Vicki L.|last6=Drezek|first6=Rebekah|last7=West|first7=Jennifer L.}} She investigated how the shape of quantum dots impacted their function and toxicity.{{Cite journal|last1=Colvin|first1=Vicki L.|last2=Buhro|first2=William E.|date=March 2003|title=Semiconductor nanocrystals: Shape matters|journal=Nature Materials|volume=2|issue=3|pages=138–139|doi=10.1038/nmat844|issn=1476-4660|pmid=12612665|bibcode=2003NatMa...2..138B|s2cid=13634895}} She demonstrated that weathering quantum dots in acidic and alkaline conditions can increase the bactericidal activity due to the rapid release of cadmium and selenite ions.{{Cite journal|last1=Mahendra|first1=Shaily|author-link1=Shaily Mahendra|last2=Zhu|first2=Huiguang|last3=Colvin|first3=Vicki L.|last4=Alvarez|first4=Pedro J.|date=2008-12-15|title=Quantum Dot Weathering Results in Microbial Toxicity|journal=Environmental Science & Technology|volume=42|issue=24|pages=9424–9430|doi=10.1021/es8023385|pmid=19174926|issn=0013-936X|bibcode=2008EnST...42.9424M}} Her group worked on other nanomaterials, including fullerene C60.{{Cite journal|date=2005-12-01|title=Nano-C60 cytotoxicity is due to lipid peroxidation|journal=Biomaterials|volume=26|issue=36|pages=7587–7595|doi=10.1016/j.biomaterials.2005.05.027|pmid=16005959|issn=0142-9612|last1=Sayes|first1=Christie M.|last2=Gobin|first2=Andre M.|last3=Ausman|first3=Kevin D.|last4=Mendez|first4=Joe|last5=West|first5=Jennifer L.|last6=Colvin|first6=Vicki L.}}
At Rice University, Colvin was appointed the Kenneth S. Pitzer-Schlumberger Professor of Chemistry.{{Cite web|url=https://chemistry.rice.edu/people/vicki-colvin |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181219044723/https://chemistry.rice.edu/people/vicki-colvin |archive-date=2018-12-19 |title=Vicki L. Colvin |website=Department of Chemistry |publisher=Rice University |access-date=2018-12-18}} Her work continued to consider the interactions of nanoparticles, with applications in water purification. She is particularly interested in how nanoparticles interact with living systems.{{Cite web|url=https://www.slb.com/about/foundation/board/bio_colvin.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181219044149/https://www.slb.com/about/foundation/board/bio_colvin.aspx |archive-date=2018-12-19 |title=Vicki Colvin |website=Schlumberger |access-date=2018-12-18}} She investigated cerium oxide nanocrystals, and whether when they could be used for medical applications when coated in oleic acid.{{Cite web|url=http://news.rice.edu/2013/10/14/rice-scientists-create-a-super-antioxidant/|title=Rice scientists create a super antioxidant|website=news.rice.edu|access-date=2018-12-18}}{{Cite journal|last1=Lee|first1=Seung Soo|last2=Song|first2=Wensi|last3=Cho|first3=Minjung|last4=Puppala|first4=Hema L.|last5=Nguyen|first5=Phuc|last6=Zhu|first6=Huiguang|last7=Segatori|first7=Laura|last8=Colvin|first8=Vicki L.|date=2013-11-26|title=Antioxidant Properties of Cerium Oxide Nanocrystals as a Function of Nanocrystal Diameter and Surface Coating|journal=ACS Nano|volume=7|issue=11|pages=9693–9703|doi=10.1021/nn4026806|pmid=24079896|issn=1936-0851}} Colvin led a UK-US scientific effort to create a framework to regulate the use of nanomaterials.{{Cite web|url=http://news.rice.edu/2011/01/27/us-uk-join-forces-for-nano-safety/|title=US, UK join forces for nano safety|website=news.rice.edu|access-date=2018-12-18}} She delivered the 2012 Arthur M. Sackler Colloquium, talking about the properties of nanoparticles.{{Citation|last=Arthur M. Sackler Colloquia|title=Vicki Colvin-Nanotechnology|date=2 July 2012 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPDe2RfpbHA|access-date=2018-12-18}} In 2013 Colvin was named by Chemistry of Materials as one of their most highly cited investigators. Her recent research looks at sorbents that can help to remove arsenic.{{Cite web|url=http://www.susnano.org/SNO2017/pdf/Presentation_SNO_Colvin.pdf|title=Towards Living Nanoscale Sorbents|last=Colvin|first=Vicki|website=Sus-Nano|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2018-12-18}}
= Academic service =
Colvin was director of the National Science Foundation Center for Biological and Environmental Nanotechnology from 2001 to 2011. She was elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2007 and the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering in 2011.{{Cite web|url=https://www.coursera.org/instructor/~2280464|title=Professor Vicki Colvin, Instructor|website=Coursera|access-date=2018-12-18}}{{Cite web|url=https://aimbe.org/college-of-fellows/cof-1410/|title=Vicki Colvin, Ph.D. COF-1410 - AIMBE|access-date=2018-12-18}} She became the vice provost for research at Rice University in 2011.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chron.com/business/article/People-in-Business-2080481.php|title=People in Business|last=Chronicle|first=Houston|date=2011-07-10|website=Houston Chronicle|access-date=2018-12-19}}{{Cite web|url=http://news.rice.edu/2011/07/13/colvin-and-farach-carson-named-to-vice-provost-positions/|title=Colvin and Farach-Carson named to vice provost positions|website=news.rice.edu|access-date=2018-12-18}} Colvin joined Brown University as provost in 2014, after a nationwide search, and resigned after less than a year in the position.{{Cite web|url=http://www.browndailyherald.com/2015/05/19/after-only-a-year-colvin-to-step-down-as-provost/|title=Vicki Colvin to step down as Brown University's provost|last=Zappa|first=Joseph|date=2015-05-19|website=Brown Daily Herald|access-date=2018-12-18}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.brownalumnimagazine.com/articles/2014-11-05/keeping-up-with-change|title=Keeping Up With Change|website=www.brownalumnimagazine.com|access-date=2018-12-18}} She joined the board of the Schlumberger Foundation that year, with the hope to secure funding for women scientists. During her time as provost, she created an entrepreneurial education program, reined in the budget deficit and established a vice provost of the arts position. She stepped down from her role as provost in June 2015 to focus on her research. She has taught multiple courses for Coursera and is an advocate for flipped classroom learning. She is an editor of the journal Small.{{Cite journal|date=2008|title=Starting on Top|journal=Small|volume=4|issue=7|pages=863–866|doi=10.1002/smll.200800822|issn=1613-6829|doi-access=free}}
Colvin was named the chair of the committee to conduct the quadrennial review of the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) of The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.https://www.nationalacademies.org/our-work/quadrennial-review-of-the-national-nanotechnology-initiative-2025#sectionCommittee
References
{{Reflist}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Colvin, Vicki}}
Category:Rice University faculty
Category:UC Berkeley College of Chemistry alumni
Category:Stanford University alumni
Category:Brown University faculty
Category:American women chemists
Category:Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
Category:21st-century American chemists