Seminar

Abstract Invasive biopsy is the gold standard for diagnosing several diseases; however, these procedures offer a limited, localized view of the disease pathology to the physician and are not risk-free to the patient. Cell-free RNA (cfRNA) in blood plasma reflects dynamic gene expression changes and can facilitate early disease diagnosis, yet current cfRNA assays fall […]

Abstract The demand for viral vectors is poised to soon exceed current production capacities, driven by the surging number of clinical trials for gene and cell therapies. Unfortunately, current manufacturing processes for viral vectors have high costs and low titers. This talk will demonstrate how process systems engineering tools can be leveraged for addressing the […]

Abstract Neuroelectronic interfaces have enabled significant advances in both fundamental neuroscience research and the treatment of neurological disorders. However, current neuroelectronic devices have a clear trade-off between invasiveness and spatial resolution, and are unable to achieve seamless integration into the nervous system with cell-type specificity. In this talk, I will first introduce an ultra-small and […]

Abstract DNA-binding proteins (DBPs) play critical roles in biology and biotechnology, and there has been considerable interest in the engineering of DBPs with new functions or altered specificities. While there has been success in reprogramming and the specificity of naturally occurring DBPs using selection methods, the computational design of new DBPs that engage with DNA […]

Abstract: Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) are critical for managing anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Great strides have been made in electrification so far, but there are a handful of scenarios that still require hydrocarbon fuels and chemicals, such as aviation, long-haul trucking, and marine shipping. On the one hand, atmospheric CO2 is only […]

Abstract Supported noble metal catalysts are extensively used in industry and their catalytic performance is strongly affected by particle size and shape. In the last decade, supported single atoms and subnanometer clusters have attracted a lot of interest since they maximize the metal utilization and have shown extraordinary catalytic properties for many reactions. In this […]

Abstract Roughness and wetness can disrupt interfacial bonding and reduce adhesion, and this phenomenon is of relevance for many biological and engineering applications. I will discuss how roughness affects both dry and wet adhesion as well as provide an overview of our current theoretical understanding in this area. My specific interest is in underwater adhesion, […]

Abstract Between a growing global population and increased consumption of meat from developing countries, it is projected that meat production will have to increase by at least 60% by 2050 to meet demand. It is unlikely that expanded conventional animal agriculture alone will be able to meet this need. Therefore, alternatives to conventional meat will […]