Spakowitz Research Group

Theory and Computation of Biological Processes and Soft Materials

Protein Self Assembly

A hallmark feature of biological self assembly is the ability to form nanoscale assemblages with remarkable structural specificity through the orchestrated coordination of multiple subunits. These characteristics are desirable for many technological applications, including nanoscale materials for photovoltaic and energy-storage devices and biosensors for the recognition of rare cancer cells within a sample. Research in our group aims to capture the kinetics and thermodynamics of protein assembly, addressing both the fundamental physics of self assembly and practical issues regarding our specific applications of interest.