Life Molecules and Materials Lab

The Life Molecules and Materials Lab investigates the physical principles by which biomolecules self-organize to orchestrate cellular functions such as signaling, molecular sorting, and information processing. Primary interests lie in proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. The lab employs single-molecule optical tweezers to dissect the folding and assembly of proteins and RNA, and advanced light microscopy to study biomolecular phase separation under crowded, cytoplasm-like conditions. 

By engineering synthetic, membrane-bounded compartments with organelle-like morphologies, the lab examines how membrane mechanics and curvature regulate molecular organization.

In parallel, the lab studies the spatial and temporal control of protein synthesis in cells, with emphasis on neuronal local translation as a mechanism for synaptic plasticity. 

Extending beyond cellular systems, the lab investigates interfacial mechanics in soft matter and develops super-omniphobic hydrogels for anti-fouling and biointerface applications. The overarching goal is to uncover general physical principles of molecular organization while translating them into design rules for functional biomimetic materials.