I am a biophysical chemist focusing in the development of complex biophysical tools for observing living cells interact with nano-scale materials and devices. My recent innovation has been to identify the membrane curvature as a key biochemical signal at the cell-nanomaterial interface. I also developed vertical and nanosized electrodes that are capable of highly sensitive, non-invasive measurements of neuronal activities. My methods of investigation include nanofabrication, electron-beam lithography, single molecule fluorescence imaging, optical control of protein interactions, and electron microscopy. My effort aimed at understanding the fundamental interactions between cells and nanoscale materials will impact on the fields of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine and will influence the design of implantable devices.
Awards and Achievements
- NSF CAREER award
- NIH new innovator award
- BPS