Picture courtesy of
Dr. Edward Arnold (Rutgers University)

Center for Molecular Biophysics
& Biophysical Chemistry
Rutgers University
610 Taylor Road
Piscataway, NJ 08854

Phone: 732/445-6376

Fax: 732/445-1493

Richard D. Ludescher
Professor of Food Science, Rutgers University
(732) 932-9667 ext 231
Food Science Center, Room 311

Our research is interested in molecular dynamics and the role it plays in mediating between the static structure and the dynamic function of proteins and other biomolecules. We use molecular fluorescence and phosphorescence to monitor molecular mobility in biomolecules on time scales ranging from picoseconds to seconds.   We also seek to develop novel molecular probes and methods to monitor molecular mobility in solid biomaterials.   We are currently interested in determining how the molecular mobility of proteins and carbohydrates in the amorphous solid state modulates the rates of chemical reaction and physical change.   Current research focuses on how protein mobility modulates the rate of oxygen diffusion in amorphous films and on the development of phosphorescence techniques using, for example, tryptophan analogs to monitor specific modes of protein mobility in amorphous solids.