Exploring the dynamics of biomolecules using single-molecule spectroscopy

Our research combines technology development with fundamental biological inquiry. We use single-molecule spectroscopy to investigate the interactions and dynamics of biomolecules, with a particular focus on how molecular interactions and structural transitions regulate biological function. We are especially interested in intrinsically disordered proteins, whose conformational flexibility plays essential roles in signaling and regulation but also makes them difficult to characterize using conventional ensemble approaches. To enable these studies, we develop microfluidic, optofluidic, and single-molecule spectroscopy methods that capture fast, transient molecular processes with high temporal resolution.