We are a highly interdisciplinary research group in the Department of Chemistry:

- Our expertise spans quantitative microscopy imaging, molecular spectroscopy, biointerface science and engineering, soft materials, and molecular biology.

- Our passion is understanding the signal transduction processes in the biological world from the lens of chemistry and physics, particularly those mediated by biocolloids and biointerfaces.

- Our approach involves exploring the biochemical and physical properties of biocolloids and biointerfaces at the single-particle, sometimes single-molecule level, and uncovering the underlying principles of their signaling.

- Our ultimate goal is to advance the understanding and design of human-machine interface, elucidate disease mechanisms and develop new solutions for diagnostics and therapeutics. Additionally, we aim to contribute to coastal environment monitoring and remediation.

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Currently, we have multiple ongoing projects pursuing two main thrusts:

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1. Understanding the interface between lipids and biopolymers: from molecular interactions to physical properties and functional consequences. Our interests include lipid-polymer hybrid materials, interface-specific enzymology, two-dimensional protein assembly and phase transition, and sea spray aerosols.​​​​​​​​​​​

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2. Deciphering the molecular regulatory factors and physical principles governing the biological roles of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in intercellular communications. Our interests include EV-biomembrane interactions, biochemical activity of EVs, quantification of EV heterogeneity, and live cell-EV interactions and signaling consequences.

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