Robert Meagher, Ph.D.

I am currently working on microfluidic separations of biomolecules for a variety of applications, including identifying and quantifying bacterial toxins and studying protein-protein interactions. I am also working on interfacing microfluidic devices with confocal microscopy, including a novel imaging instrument developed at Sandia/CA's Combustion Research Facility that combines simultaneous time- and wavelength- resolved fluorescence measurements with single-molecule sensitivity. By incorporating powerful imaging and fluorescence spectroscopy techniques with microfluidic separations, we hope to enhance the range of problems that can be studied with microfluidics, including new ways of analyzing protein-protein interactions and intracellular dynamics.

My doctoral work involved creation of novel DNA-protein bioconjugates for DNA sequencing analysis by free solution electrophoresis. I am generally interested in problems in bioconjugate chemistry, surface modification, and novel detection schemes, as well as transforming microfluidics into a robust, reliable tool for solving real problems.

Recent Publications

Meagher, RJ; Coyne, JA; Hestekin, CN; Chiesl, TN; Haynes, RD; Won, JI; Barron, AE. Multiplexed p53 mutation detection by free-solution conjugate microchannel electrophoresis with polyamide drag-tags. Analytical Chemistry; Mar 5 2007; v.79, no.5, p.1848-1854

Meagher, RJ; McCormick, LC; Haynes, RD; Won, JI; Lin, JS; Slater, GW; Barron, AE. Free-solution electrophoresis of DNA modified with drag-tags at both ends. Electrophoresis; 2006; v.27, no.9, p.1702-1712

A. R. Statz, R. J. Meagher, A. E. Barron, P. B. Messersmith, “New peptidomimetic polymers for antifouling surfaces”, Journal of the American Chemical Society 127, 7972-7973 (2005).
PubMed

R. D. Haynes, R. J. Meagher, J. Won, F. M. Bogdan, A. E. Barron, “Comb-like, monodisperse polypeptoid drag-tags for DNA separation by End-Labeled Free-Solution Electrophoresis (ELFSE)”, Bioconjugate Chemistry 16, 929-938 (2005).
PubMed

J. Won, R. J. Meagher, A. E. Barron, “Protein polymer drag-tags for DNA separations by End-Labeled Free-Solution Electrophoresis (ELFSE)”, Electrophoresis 26, 2138-2148 (2005).
PubMed

R. J. Meagher, J. Won, L. C. McCormick, S. Nedelcu, M. Bertrand, J. L. Bertram, G. Drouin, A. E. Barron, G. W. Slater, “End-Labeled Free Solution Electrophoresis (ELFSE) of DNA”, Electrophoresis 26, 331-350 (2005). (review article)
PubMed

J. Won, R. J. Meagher, A. E. Barron, “Characterization of glutamine deamidation in a long, repetitive protein polymer via bioconjugate capillary electrophoresis”, Biomacromolecules 5, 618-627 (2004).
PubMed

R. J. Meagher, J. Seong, P. E. Laibinis, A. E. Barron, “A very thin coating for capillary zone electrophoresis of proteins based on a tri(ethylene glycol)-terminated alkyltrichlorosilane”, Electrophoresis, 25, 405-414 (2004).
PubMed

E. A. S. Doherty, R. J. Meagher, M. N. Albarghouthi, A. E. Barron, "Microchannel wall coatings for protein separations", Electrophoresis 24, 34-54 (2003). (review article)
PubMed

W. N. Vreeland, R. J. Meagher, A. E. Barron, “Multiplexed, high-throughput genotyping by single-base extension and End-Labeled Free-Solution Electrophoresis (ELFSE)”, Anal. Chem. 74, 4328-4333 (2002).
PubMed

R. J. Meagher, T. A. Hatton, A. Bose, “Enthalpy measurements in aqueous SDS/DTAB solutions using isothermal titration microcalorimetry”, Langmuir 14, 4081-4087 (1998).

M. Bilde, J. Sehested, O. J. Nielsen, T. J. Wallington, R. J. Meagher, M. E. McIntosh, C. A. Piety, J. M. Nicovich, P. H. Wine, “Kinetics and mechanism of the gas phase reaction of atomic chlorine with CH2ICl at 206-432 K”, J. Phys. Chem. A 101, 8035-8041 (1997).

R. J. Meagher, M. E. McIntosh, M. D. Hurley, T. J. Wallington, “A kinetic study of the reaction of chlorine and fluorine atoms with HC(O)F at 295 ± 2 K”, Int. J. Chem. Kinet. 29, 619-625 (1997).

Appointments

2005–Present—Postdoctoral Fellow, Sandia National Laboratories, Livermore CA

Education

2000-2005:	Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
1997-1998:	S.M. Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston MA
1993-1998:	S. B. Chemical Engineering Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, MA

Contact Information

Dr. Robert Meagher
Biosystems Research Department
Sandia National Laboratories
MS 9292, PO Box 969
7011 East Avenue
Livermore, CA 94551-0969

rmeaghe@sandia.gov
phone: 925-294-6487
fax: 925-294-3020