Postdoctoral Research Fellow : Ekaterina Strounina

Address:
Centre for Magnetic Resonance
Gehrmann Laboratories
The University of Queensland
Brisbane Qld 4072
E-mail address: Katia Strounina
Telephone: +61-7-3365 9065
Fax: +61-7-3365 3833
Home Page: Katia Strounina

Career Profile:
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, CMR, 2002-present.
Ph.D. Chemistry, University of Wollongong, 2001.
B. Chem. (Hons), Moscow Academy of Fine Chemical Technology, 1991.

Research Interests :

Dr Strounina's major areas of interest include:

• structure and properties of proteins at low moisture contents
• mesoporous silicates for glass coatings
• microimaging of plant materials and hydrogels.

These projects include using solid-state NMR and MR microimaging for gaining insight into material structure and water distribution. NMR is combined with FTIR, SAXS and other techniques to determine structure-properties relationships for widely used proteins with low moisture content. A range of methods utilised include CPMAS, CPMAS with dipolar dephasing, single pulse with HP decoupling, dynamic CPMAS and proton transversal relaxation.

Collaboration with Xerocoat involves solid-state NMR spectroscopy for assessment of the cross-linked coating structure.

Microimaging using MSL300 spectrometer has received large interest from agriculturalists, as it presents a unique opportunity to visualise water distribution within germinating seeds. Past collaborators include the University of Adelaide and the Land and Mine Rehabiliation division of the Department of Primary Industries.

Rheological NMR can also be performed on the MSL-300, providing velocity distribution data, particularly useful for complex food mixtures.

Selected Publications:

• Russo, M.A.L., STROUNINA, E., Waret, Muriel, Nicholson, T., Truss, R. and Halley, P.J. (2007). A study of water diffusion into a high-amylose starch blend: the effect of moisture content and temperature. Biomacromolecules 8(1): 296-301.
• STROUNINA, I.V., Kane-Maguire, L.A.P. and Wallace, G.G. (2006). Induction of chirality into a fully solfonated poly(methoxyaniline) via acid-base interactions with chiral amines. Polymer 47(24): 8088-8094.
• ZAINUDDIN, Hill, D.J.T., STROUNINA, E., WHITTAKER, A.K. and Chirila, T.V. (2004). The states, diffusion and concentration distribution of water in radiation-formed PVA/PVP hydrogels. Soft Materials 2(203): 195.212.
• ZAINUDDIN, Hill, D.J.T., WHITTAKER, A.K., STROUNINA, K. and Chirila, T.V. (2004). Diffusion of calcium ions and formation of calcium phosphate deposits in radiation crosslinked PVA/PVP hydrogels. Polymer Preprints 45 (2): 368-369.
• STROUNINA, E.V., Shepherd, R., Kane-Maguire, L.A.P. and Wallace, G.G. (2003). Conformational changes in sulfonated polyaniline caused by metal salts and Oh-. Synthetic Metals 135-136: 289-290.
• Barisci, J.N., Liu, L., STROUNINA, E.V. and Wallace, G.G. (2000). Factors affecting the yield of polypyrrole colloids produced under electrohydrodynamic conditions. Colloids and Surfaces, A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects 167(3): 201-208.
• STROUNINA, E.K., Kane-Maguire, L.A.P. and Gordon, G. (1999). Optically active sulfonated polyanilines. Synthetic Metals 106(2): 129-137.