EDUCATION
University of Pennsylvania, Ph. D. in Physical Chemistry, May, 2000. Dissertation: "X-Ray Scattering Studies of Maquette Peptide Monolayers." Advisor: J. Kent Blasie. Committee: Michael L. Klein, P. Leslie Dutton and David Christianson.
University of Pennsylvania, Masters in Physics, August, 2000. Advanced coursework in electromagnetism, classical mechanics and quantum mechanics.
Technical University of Munich. 1991-1992. Enrolled as a visiting student on a fellowship from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). Attended lectures in biophysics.
Princeton University, Class of 1991. B. S. E. in Electrical Engineering and Certificate in Engineering Physics. Concentration in electronic materials and devices.
RESEARCH
Post-doctoral Researcher, Department of
Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 2000-present. Advisor: J. Kent Blasie
Characterized the
structure of Langmuir monolayers of proteins at the air/water interface via
x-ray and neutron reflectivity. Developed experimental strategies for
labeling peptides via solid phase peptide synthesis, coupled with the
application of either resonance x-ray reflectivity or neutron reflectivity, so
as to obtain the position of individual residues within the profile structure
of such monolayers. Coordinated experimental runs at neutron
and synchrotron source facilities at national laboratories.
Research Assistant, Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 1994-2000. Determined the structures of single monolayers of proteins, Langmuir films at the water/vapor interface and Langmuir-Blodgett films at the solid/vapor interface, by means of high-resolution x-ray scattering employing rotating anode and synchrotron sources. Applied computer-based modeling toward structural characterization. Implemented solid phase synthesis of deuterium-labelled peptides for a neutron reflectivity study of Langmuir monolayers.
Reasearch Assistant, Biophysics Group E22, Physics Department, T. U. Munich, 1991-1992. Worked on a biosensor project involving various techniques, including Langmuir-Blodgett deposition, self-assembled monolayers, fluorescence microscopy and vacuum deposition.
Undergraduate Independent Project, Biophysics Group, Physics Department, Princeton University, 1990-1991. Conducted a literature search on dilatometry, synthesized findings into a design for a dilatometer suitable for studying liquid crystal samples, and then constructed, characterized and refined a prototype.
TEACHING AND EXPERIENCE
Marketing Associate, Center for Technology Transfer, University of Pennsylvania, 1997-1998. Part-time position assessing, describing and marketing new technologies developed by Penn researchers to potential corporate licensees.
Teaching Assistant, Department of Physics, University of Pennsylvania, 1992-1994. Freshman- and sophomore-level physics labs.
Volunteer Tutor of English as a Second Language, I. H. M. Literacy Center, Philadelphia, PA, 1994-present. Three hours per week teaching adult immigrant learners.
ADDITIONAL SKILLS
Computers:
Languages: fluent in German (passed PNdS), proficient in Polish.
PUBLICATIONS
"A Model Membrane Protein for Binding Volatile Anesthetics," S. X. Ye, J. Strzalka,
I. Y. Churbanova, S. Zheng, J. J. Johansson, J. K. Blasie, Biophys. J.,
in press, 2004.
"Specular Neutron Reflectivity and the Structure of Artificial Protein Maquettes Vectorially Oriented at Interfaces," J. Strzalka, B. G. Gibney, S. K. Satija, J. K. Blasie, Phys. Rev. E, in press, 2004.
"Resonant x-ray reflectivity from a bromine-labeled fatty acid Langmuir monolayer," J. Strzalka, E. DiMasi, I. Kuzmenko, T. Gog, J. K. Blasie, Phys. Rev. E, in press, 2004.
"Comparative structural studies of Vpu peptides in phospholipid monolayers by X-ray scattering," S. Zheng, J. Strzalka, D. H. Jones, S. J. Opella, J. K. Blasie, Biophys. J., 84, #4, 239302415, 2003.
"Assembly of a vectorially oriented four-helix bundle at the air/water interface via directed electrostatic interactions," S. X. Ye, J. Strzalka, X. X. Chen, C. C. Moser, P. L. Dutton, J. K. Blasie, Langmuir, 19, #5, 1515-1521, 2003.
"Solution to the phase problem for specular x-ray or neutron reflectivity from thin films on liquid surfaces," J. K. Blasie, S. Zheng, J. Strzalka, Phys. Rev. B, 67, #22, 224201, 2003.
"Orientational Distributions of the Di-alpha-Helical Synthetic Peptide ZnPPIX-BBC16 in Langmuir Monolayers by X-Ray Reflectivity and Polarized Epifluorescence," A. Tronin, J. Strzalka, X. Chen, P. L. Dutton and J. K. Blasie, Langmuir, 17, #10, 3061-3066, 2001.
"Positional order and thermal expansion of surface crystalline N-alkane monolayers," B. M. Ocko, E. B. Sirota, M. Deutsch et al,Phys. Rev. E, 6303, #3, 032602, 2001.
"X-Ray Scattering Studies of Maquette Peptide Monolayers 2: Interferometry at the Vapor/Water Interface," J. Strzalka, X. Chen, C. C. Moser, P. L. Dutton, J. C. Bean, J. K. Blasie, Langmuir, 17, #4, 1193-1199, 2001.
"Structural Studies of the HIV-1 Accessory Protein Vpu in Langmuir Monolayers: Synchrotron X-Ray Reflectivity," S. Zheng, J. Strzalka, C. Ma, S. J. Opella, B. M. Ocko, J. K. Blasie, Biophys. J., 80, #4, 1837-1850. 2001.
"X-Ray Scattering Studies of Maquette Peptide Monolayers 1: Reflectivity and Grazing Incidence Diffraction at the Air/Water Interface," J. Strzalka, X. Chen, C. C. Moser, P. L. Dutton, B. M. Ocko, J. K. Blasie, Langmuir, 16, #26, 10404-10418, 2000.
"Determination of the Porphyrin Orientation Distribution in Langmuir Monolayers by Polarized Epifluorescence," A. Tronin, J. Strzalka, X. Chen, P. L. Dutton and J. K. Blasie, Langmuir, 16, #25, 9878-9886, 2000.
"Structure of Discotic Liquid Crystalline Compounds at the Air-Water Interface," D. Gidalevitz, O. Y. Mindyuk, P. A. Heiney, B. M. Ocko, P. Henderson, H. Ringsdorf, N. Boden, R. J. Bushby, P. S. Martin, J. Strzalka, J. P. McCauley Jr; A. B. Smith III, Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 101, #50, 10870-10875, 1997.
PRESENTATIONS
"Artificial Integral Membrane Proteins for Vectorial Electron Transfer Across Soft
Interfaces," Joseph Strzalka, Shixin Ye, Bohdana M. Discher, Christopher C. Moser,
J. Kent Blasie, Fall Meeting of the Materials Research Society, Boston, MA, November 2004
(29 Nov-03 Dec, Symposium Z: Bio-Inspired and Bio-Derived Materials and Processes).
"Single-Residue Sensitivity in Neutron Reflectivity and Resonant X-ray Reflectivity from Langmuir Monolayers of Synthetic Peptides," Joseph Strzalka, Sushil Satija, Elaine DiMasi, Ivan Kuzmenko, Thomas Gog and J. Kent Blasie, March Meeting of the American Physical Society, Montreal, Canada, March, 2004 (22-26 March 20 04, Session A8: Neutron Scattering and Other Studies of Phospholipids).
"Resonance X-ray Reflectivity to Probe the Profile Structure of Langmuir Monolayers of Lipids and Peptides," Joseph Strzalka, Elaine DiMasi, Ivan Kuzmenko, Thomas Gog and J. Kent Blasie, Annual Meeting of the Biophysical Society, Baltimore, MD, February, 2004 (17 Feb 2004, Platform Session AS: X-ray Analysis of Membrane Structure, 10:45-12:45 AM). Abstract published in Biophysical Journal 86(1): 349A, Part 2 (2004).
"Assembly of a Vectorially-Oriented Four-Helix Bundle at the Air/Water Interface," Joseph Strzalka, S. Ye, A. Tronin, X. Chen, C.C. Moser, P.L. Dutton, B.M. Ocko and J.K. Blasie, March Meeting of the American Physical Society, Indianapolis, Indiana, March 2002.
"Neutron Reflectivity Can Probe the Secondary Structure of Selectively Deuterated Peptides in a Langmuir Monolayer," J. Strzalka, B. R. Gibney, X. Chen, C. C. Moser, P. L. Dutton, S. K. Satija, B. M. Ocko, J. K. Blasie, Annual Meeting of the Biophysical Society, New Orleans, LA, February 2000 (Biophysical Journal, 78, No. 1, pt. 2, Abstract no. 1924).
"X-Ray Reflectivity Studies of Mixed Langmuir Monolayers of a Lipopeptide Maquette and a Phospholipid," J. Strzalka, X. Chen, B. R. Gibney, C. C. Moser, P. L. Dutton, B. M. Ocko, J. K. Blasie, Annual Meeting of the Biophysical Society, Baltimore, MD, February 1999 (Biophysical Journal, 76, No. 1, pt. 2, A18, Su.-AM-I1).
"Structural Studies of Model Metalloprotein Maquettes Vectorially Oriented at a Soft Interface," J. Strzalka, X. Chen, C. C. Moser, P. L. Dutton, B. M. Ocko, J. K. Blasie, Annual Meeting of the Biophysical Society, Kansas City, MO, February 1988 (Biophysical Journal, 74, No. 2, pt. 2, A236, W.-PM-D2).
"Unique Phasing of X-Ray Reflectivity Data from Organic Overlayers on Solid
Substrates via Interferometry and Holography," J. Strzalka, J. K. Blasie, J.
C. Bean, Annual Meeting of the American Physical Society, Kansas City, MO,
March 1997.