Research Summary

Small molecular and DNA-based fluorescence tools play crucial in cell-biology for real-time monitoring of conformational changes and structural reorganization of biological macromolecules in living cells and organisms. In the future, my lab is interested in applying such cutting-edge fluorescence imaging tools to uncover new biology of protein-posttranslational modifications and inter-organelle membrane contacts sites (MCS) both in cellulo and in in vivo systems in the context of cancer, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases.

In my laboratory, we will be interested in working on the following three specific areas of research at the interface of chemistry and biology;

Aim 1: Activity-based fluorescent tools for monitoring protein post-translational modifications (PTMs) and cell death in living systems.

Aim 2: Spatiotemporal fluorescent tools to probe intracellular organelle dynamics and signaling in cells.

Aim 3: New bioconjugation tools for proteins and nucleic acids.