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
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.
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.
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
Wei is interested in using vfCRISPR to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of CRISPR-mediated gene editing techniques.
Fun facts: Wei enjoys solving puzzles, from jigsaw puzzles and escape rooms to detective stories and more
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; 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.
Emily's research combines single-molecule biophysics, advanced microscopy techniques, and computational modeling to study molecular interactions and dynamics, particularly in protein-DNA interactions and RNA delivery mechanisms.
Fun facts: Emily has played classical guitar for many years and considered studying music when she was younger.
HHMI Administrative Coordinator
email: colin.smith @ childrens.harvard.edu
Fun Facts: He has climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Fuji
Tylar is using single molecule FRET and TIRF microscopy to measure the kinetics of prime editors, and is conducting simulations to better understand chromatin organization at DNA damage sites.
Fun Fact: Tylar used his college’s observatory to do astrophotography as an undergrad.