01
Light-controlled protein switches
Engineering chimeric photoreceptors that translate blue and red light into precise control of cellular signaling pathways.
Research
Tools to see and steer biology.
The lab combines protein engineering, molecular biology, and quantitative imaging to build light-responsive proteins that probe and program cellular behavior with spatial and temporal precision. Every project below is led by — and open to — student researchers at the undergraduate and graduate level.
02
Applied protein biotechnology
Designing enzymes and binding proteins for biocatalysis, sensing, and next-generation therapeutic modalities.
03
Optogenetic biosensors
Building genetically encoded indicators that read out metabolism, post-translational modifications, and protein–protein interactions in living cells.
04
Translational collaborations
Partnering with neuroscience, cancer biology, and pharmacology labs to apply our tools to disease-relevant questions.
Selected publications
- 2024
OptoProfilin: A single component biosensor of applied cellular stress.
ChemBioChem
- 2022
CRY-BARS: Versatile light-gated molecular tools for the remodeling of membrane architectures.
JBC
- 2019
Imaging of morphological and biochemical hallmarks of apoptosis with optimized optogenetic tools.
JBC
Grant funding
Our work is funded through the generous support of these sponsors.
