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Research Vision
Our research advances a membrane-to-cell paradigm for understanding how biological function emerges from fundamental physical processes. We pursue an integrated, multiscale strategy that combines theoretical modeling, high-throughput molecular simulations, and complementary experimental approaches to connect molecular and collective dynamics with measurable membrane and cellular function.
At the core of this framework is the integration of patch-clamp electrophysiology of both synthetic lipid membranes and living cells with advanced vibrational and dielectric spectroscopy, X-ray and neutron scattering, and nanoscale characterization. These capabilities enable us to probe electrically driven systems across multiple spatial and temporal scales and to establish direct connections between molecular organization, collective excitations, electromechanical coupling, and history-dependent functional responses. Our program is further strengthened by collaborations and user programs at national laboratories and large-scale research facilities.
By unifying theory, computation, and experiment within a common membrane-to-cell framework, we seek to uncover the physical principles governing membrane dynamics, cellular electromechanics, adaptation, and biological memory. Ultimately, our goal is to understand how information storage and adaptive function emerge in living matter and to translate these principles into new bio-inspired and neuromorphic material systems.
Experimental Tools
This illustration provides a conceptual representation of a membrane electrophysiology experiment, capturing the essential link between a synthetic lipid bilayer and a precision microelectrode recording environment. At its core, the figure highlights how controlled electrical measurements allow researchers to interrogate ion transport processes across model membranes, where measurable currents arise from the interplay of lipid organization, embedded ion channels, and the surrounding electrolyte solution. Rather than depicting a specific device configuration, the schematic emphasizes the fundamental physical principle: nanoscale molecular dynamics within the membrane can be translated into macroscopic electrical signals.
By visually connecting membrane structure with signal detection, the figure reflects a central idea in contemporary biophysics — that lipid membranes are not merely passive barriers, but dynamic, responsive systems whose collective molecular motions shape electrical behavior. Small rearrangements of lipid headgroups, fluctuations of membrane thickness, and channel conformational dynamics all contribute to the recorded signals. In this sense, the electrical response becomes a window into membrane organization, stability, and adaptive state changes.
More broadly, the illustration symbolizes the modern experimental paradigm in membrane science, where biology, physics, and engineering converge. It conveys how advanced measurement platforms transform subtle bioelectric phenomena into quantifiable observables, enabling systematic investigation of conductivity, fluctuations, nonlinear responses, and memory-like effects in biomolecular assemblies. The image therefore represents not only an experimental technique, but a wider scientific perspective: understanding biological function through the language of physical dynamics, interfacial organization, and electrically driven behavior.
This illustration presents a conceptual visualization of whole-cell electrophysiology using an automated patch-clamp platform. At the center of the image is a living cell positioned within a controlled recording environment, where a precision glass pipette establishes a high-resistance seal with the cell membrane. This interface forms the critical electrical junction that enables direct measurement of ionic currents flowing through membrane-embedded ion channels. The schematic emphasizes the physical continuity between the biological membrane and the electronic detection system, highlighting how microscopic charge transport events become accessible as measurable electrical signals. The depiction of the automated Patchliner system reflects the evolution of electrophysiology from manually intensive techniques toward high-stability, high-throughput experimental platforms. By automating seal formation, membrane access, and solution exchange, such systems enable reproducible measurements across large datasets, reducing variability while expanding experimental possibilities. In this context, the figure symbolizes not only a measurement method but a discovery infrastructure capable of systematically probing membrane excitability, channel kinetics, and adaptive cellular responses.
The magnified inset reinforces a central biophysical idea: electrical recordings are fundamentally linked to molecular-scale processes. Ion channels, lipid organization, and interfacial electrostatics collectively shape the observed currents. Fluctuations in channel conformation, membrane tension, and local ionic environments are translated into dynamic electrical signatures. The image therefore captures the multiscale nature of membrane biophysics, where nanoscale structural dynamics give rise to macroscopic observables.
More broadly, the illustration represents the convergence of biology, physics, and instrumentation science. It conveys how modern electrophysiological platforms transform living cells into quantitative physical systems, enabling rigorous investigation of conductivity, nonlinear electrical behavior, stochastic fluctuations, and history-dependent responses. In doing so, the schematic reflects a wider scientific perspective: understanding cellular function through measurable physical principles, where electrical signals become a primary language for exploring adaptation, regulation, and emergent behavior in biological matter.
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