Fourth-year Chemistry graduate student Benqian Wei (Loo lab) has been awarded a 2023 ACS Division of Analytical Chemistry Graduate Fellowship, sponsored by Agilent.

This fellowship carries a stipend of $25,000 for nine months and will become effective July 1, 2023.

Wei’s Ph.D. research in Professor Joseph Loo’s group explores the utility of tandem mass spectrometry-produced internal fragments, from both fundamental and application perspectives, for more efficient and comprehensive protein sequence, structure, and post-translational modification (PTM) characterization. On the fundamental side, the Loo group investigated molecular pathways for the formation of internal fragments. On the application side, they hope to advance mass spectrometry workflows to enhance the sequence and structure characterization of proteins and biotherapeutics by incorporating internal fragment analysis. During the fellowship period, Wei plans  to complete the project on investigating how internal fragments can enhance the characterization of monoclonal antibodies and antibody-drug conjugates by middle-down mass spectrometry.

Wei received his B.E. from Sichuan University in China and M.S. in Polymer Science from The University of Akron (UA) in Ohio. His Master’s research was mainly about characterization of supramolecular protein-polymer bioconjugates using multistage tandem mass spectrometry. After graduating from UA, Wei decided to continue his research in the field of mass spectrometry and, in 2019, joined the UCLA Chemistry graduate program in the Analytical/Instrumentation specialization working in the Loo group.

The American Chemical Society Division of Analytical Chemistry Graduate Fellowship Program is designed to encourage basic research in the field of analytical chemistry, to promote the growth of analytical chemistry in academic institutions and industry, and to provide recognition of future leaders in the field of analytical chemistry.

Penny Jennings, UCLA Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, penny@chem.ucla.edu.