My research is focused on pushing the limits of single-molecule detection methods to study complex biological systems. His group develops state-of-the-art biophysical techniques (e.g., multicolor fluorescence, super-resolution imaging, combined force and fluorescence spectroscopy, vesicular encapsulation, single-molecule pull-down) and applies them to study diverse protein–nucleic acid and protein-protein complexes, and mechanical perturbation and response of these systems both in vitro and in vivo.

Fun Fact: A total of four members of my family are biophysicists.

email: taekjip.ha @ childrens.harvard.edu

MJ studies how mechanical force at the single-molecular level regulates cellular functions.

Fun Facts: He has a beautiful baby girl who looks up to him. He also went to the same elementary school as Son Heung-min.

[MJ took the image and movie you see on the lab website's front page] 

Jiwoong has a keen interest in super-resolution techniques and is actively working on a highly efficient gene editing system using vfCRISPR.

Fun Facts: He walks at least an hour every day, with an adorable little puppy!

Alberto develops new CRISPR techniques and combines them with sequencing assays with the goal of understanding how chromatin organization affects genome instability.

Fun Facts: He is originally from Jerez de la Frontera, Spain and loves to play chess. 

Sergei develops and combines single-molecule force, fluorescent, and sequencing-based approaches to understand how our genome is organized and functions in space and time.

Fun Facts: I am a father of two and a proud founder of a Beer subgroup.

Ibraheem is interested in pushing the limits of optical tweezer measurements in cellular systems and in understanding the emergent physical properties of protein-DNA complexes in DNA damage repair. 

Fun Facts: He loves playing pool, fixing cars, and going on long drives on scenic roads with his family.

Jhullian is enamored with disordered proteins and uses single-molecule FRET and fluorescence microscopy techniques to study disordered transcription factors and their interactions with DNA. 

Fun Facts: He enjoys making mead, reading science fiction novels and contemplating about the impending Singularity.

Po-Ta is interested in exploring the physics of genome organization and its connections to DNA repair and V(D)J recombination.

Fun Facts: His hobby is being an amateur philosopher.

Joint postdoc with Prof. Tim Springer 

I'm studying the hidden intricacies of integrin receptors using single molecule fluorescence techniques, unveiling their secrets and dynamic behaviors for a deeper understanding of immune diseases and cancers.

Fun fact: I like to learn new languages and meet people from other cultural backgrounds.

Violetta is interested in applying biophysical concepts to complex biological systems to understand biological function and disease development.

Fun fact: Almost became an opera singer but decided to study the world of medicine and science.

Ye Ma specializes in developing advanced microscopic imaging techniques and applies them to study genomic reorganization during DNA repair processes.

Fun facts: He has accidentally changed his major three times since starting his undergraduate studies and loves playing the guitar in his free time.

Jonas specializes in advanced microscopy and investigates the impact of force on the single molecule level.

Fun Facts: During his PhD, he played Quidditch/Quadball with the Münchner Wolpertinger and won multiple medals. 

Yujin is interested in DNA damage repair and its connection to chromatin reorganization using genome-editing system and fluorescent imaging approaches. 

Fun Facts: Yujin loves to play the piano

Stephanie is interested in single-molecule and fluorescence-based approaches in understanding the conformational dynamics of proteins, DNA/RNA, and their interactions during replication, transcription, and translation.

Fun facts: My name was originally supposed to be "Tiffany" after the jewelry brand, but my mom chose "Stephanie" since it rolled off the tongue more easily 

Ting-Wei employs AFM and smFRET to elucidate the regulatory mechanisms governing gene expression across a wide range of scales.

Fun Facts: One day, I want to build a microscope in my house.

Johns Hopkins University; Cell, Molecular, Developmental Biology, and Biophysics Program co-mentored by Yixian Zheng at Carnegie Institution for Science
Wesley uses biochemical and in-cell techniques to study different functions of a disordered mitotic regulator, BuGZ. 

Fun Facts: Wesley loves tennis (playing, watching, anything!).

Jasmin is interested in examining DNA mismatch repair at the single molecule level.

Fun Facts: She loves photography, dancing and baking/cooking.

Inspired by the vibrant landscapes of Puerto Rico and the rhythms of Bad Bunny, I explore cellular mysteries through advanced imaging techniques. 

Fun Facts: Franklin loves playing with colors and enjoy beauty in the world.

Nils is interested in studying the single molecule biophysical interactions that may govern biological cluster formation using objective and prism-based TIRF.

Fun Facts: Prior to science Nils was a concert percussionist and spent much of his time in a drumline. Nils is also partially deaf as a result.

Raquel is interested in studying chromatin architecture and protein-nucleosome interactions.

Fun Facts: She has two beagles back in her country, Peru. They are, objectively, the cutest dogs you will ever see.

Sushil is excited to learn the molecular complexity at the interface of replication and repair using single molecule force spectroscopy.

Fun Facts: Sushil is a big football/soccer fan. He loves traveling, cooking, and plays volleyball. 

Adam is interested in DNA double strand breaks and their ensuing repair. 

Fun Facts: He competes in long distance sailing races having sailed from Annapolis to Bermuda

Johns Hopkins University; Program in Molecular Biophysics

Paul seeks to advance single molecule tools to probe chromatin organization with high spatiotemporal resolution.

Fun Facts: He has watched countless Avatar the Last Airbender re-runs and never gets tired of watching a good old Knicks game. 

Johns Hopkins University PJ is interested in gene editing technologies and the effects of DNA damage on chromatin, which he studies by performing single-molecule DNA unzipping experiments on optical tweezers. 

Fun Facts: He previously competed in Track & Field and Cross Country at Johns Hopkins and enjoys woodworking.

Johns Hopkins University; Biophysics Program. Jimin is interested in applying biophysical studies to develop isothermal amplification techniques that can overcome current PCR limitations.

Fun Facts: He has a certification for food safety and proper food handling practices and enjoys table tennis! 

Johns Hopkins University; Jenkins Biophysics program

Jingzhou is interested in applying advanced fluorescence microscopy techniques alongside various biochemical assays to study chromatin remodeling.

Fun Facts: She enjoys reading literature and discovering interesting musics. Her all-time favorite novel is <The Tin Drum> by Gunter Grass.

Huijin investigates the impact of DNA supercoiling on protein behavior through single-molecule TIRF microscopy.

Fun Facts: She is passionate about tennis (sometimes more than anything else).

Paul is interested in applying single-molecule fluorescence techniques to study biomolecular interactions between DNA and proteins.

Fun Fact: He enjoys basketball, football, track and field, and pretty much any other sport to which he can learn the rules.

Research Assistant

HHMI Administrative Coordinator 

email: colin.smith @ childrens.harvard.edu 

Fun Facts: He has climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Fuji