Bio

Color-Mapping the Nanoscale with Fluorescent and Stimuli-Responsive Materials

The MAP Lab develops fluorescent and stimuli-responsive materials and single-molecule imaging methods to visualize and engineer the nanoscopic biological and man-made world. The group designs switchable fluorescent probes and chromic materials that enable molecular-resolution imaging of complex nanofiber networks, including DNA, cytoskeletons, cell membranes, and engineered textile fibers. By integrating synthetic chemistry, polymer science, advanced microscopy, and data-driven image analysis, this work reveals how nanoscale structure and local environment govern function. Research efforts span the development of next-generation probes for single-molecule and super-resolution microscopy, studies of biological and artificial nanofibers, and the engineering of smart, biocompatible chromic materials for biomedical and sustainable textile applications. Together, these approaches provide powerful tools to decode nanoscale interactions and enable innovations across biology, materials science, and energy-related technologies.