Unlocking Molecular-Level Secrets
Our Research Focus
The research in our lab falls under the single-molecule sensing umbrella, wherein we focus not only on the chemistry of sensing but also on the physics, engineering, and electronics aspects of sensing
Single Molecule Sensing
A nanopore is a nanoscale aperture embedded in an impervious membrane separating two electrolyte-filled compartments. Applying a voltage across the membrane generates a steady ionic current. As individual macromolecules pass through the pore, they obstruct this flow, producing unique current signatures that act as molecular "fingerprints."
While nanopores can be biological or solid-state, our work primarily focuses on solid-state nanopipettes. Compared to traditional planar nanopores, nanopipettes offer rapid fabrication, low cost, and exceptional signal quality thanks to quartz-driven low-noise performance. Because translocation signals are as small as a few tens of picoamperes, we pair our sensors with high-precision, low-noise current amplifiers to capture single-molecule events with high fidelity.
Macromolecules and Low-Powered Light Sources
We are always exposed to UV, visible, and near-infrared (NIR) light sources. These can be natural (e.g., the sun) or artificial (e.g., LEDs, screens, etc.). While we understand how high-powered laser sources affect the molecular behavior of macromolecules such as proteins and DNA, that understanding is limited for low-powered, ubiquitous light sources. We developed a strong interest in probing how these light sources affect the transport behavior of DNA and proteins, given the hypersensitivity of nanopores to structural changes in macromolecules. Our current results suggest that both DNA and proteins change their transport behavior when exposed to blue LED (those used by hobbyists) and NIR light.
Improving Sensing: Signal Enhancement and Noise Mitigation
We are constantly working to minimize background noise and maximize the Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) in order to extract richer, high-fidelity data from nanopore readouts. Boosting SNR is crucial for expanding into high-bandwidth applications, enabling us to capture the split-second dynamics of fast-moving molecules and record intricate waveforms that serve as ideal training data for machine learning models. To push these physical limits, we developed a dual Faraday cage system—detailed in our study in ACS Measurement Science Au (2026)—that identifies key environmental interference, strategies to reduce them, and establishes new benchmarks for low-noise sensing. This is an active research frontier in the group and more focued on the fundamental aspects of nanopore sensing
Extracting Randomness
This research introduces a novel cybersecurity framework that harvests high-dimensional physical entropy from single-molecule translocations through solid-state nanopores to generate cryptographically unhackable random keys. By leveraging the chaotic, stochastic transport dynamics of individual biomolecules—such as DNA and proteins—the system extracts waveforms that are dependent on salt concentration, voltage, temperature, and pore characteristics. A four-layer architecture integrates SHA-256 entropy whitening to eliminate localized physical bias via the cryptographic avalanche effect. Validated across millions of events, the generated keys achieve a ~99% pass rate on the rigorous NIST SP 800-22 statistical test suite. By bridging nanoscale biophysics with standard hardware protocols, this work establishes nanopore systems as physical entropy sources for next-generation cybersecurity applications.
Affordable and Accessible Sensing Solutions
We are deeply committed to democratizing scientific innovation by making nanopore sensing both affordable and accessible, ensuring that resource limitations are never a barrier to adoption. To lower this barrier, we have developed a suite of freely available applications for data visualization and analysis, detailed in our preprint, 'Gateway to Data Visualization and Analysis in Solid-State Nanopores,' and supplemented by comprehensive training videos. By providing the open-source code, we actively encourage user-inspired modifications and collaboration. Ultimately, our vision is to create cost-effective solutions that transition nanopore technology into undergraduate laboratories, inspiring and training the next generation of single-molecule scientists and enthusiasts.
Custom Coding and Electronics
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We are avid fans of microcontroller technology and its capability to provide low-cost yet robust solutions to create accessible technologies.
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We develop in-house devices for single-molecule sensing efforts.
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We use MATLAB, Mathematica, Python, and LabView (the list will grow over time) for most of our coding exercises.
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Some experiments require the synergistic communication of multiple instruments: we make interfaces to make this possible.
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We create our own highly efficient analysis platforms to analyze such heavy data sets from nanopore experiments.