HARNESING THE LIGHT AT THE NANOSCALE
Welcome to the Bio-Engineered Nanophotonics group. We innovate the light conversion field through a synergy between molecular biology and time-resolved spectroscopy.
Our mission is overcoming current challenges in developing efficient photosystems by setting-up new methods to control exciton decay mechanisms based on engineered interactions between proteins and chromophores.
Research approach: we use recombinant proteins designed with pockets to embed the chromophore in an environment that can be tuned at the nanoscale. Our designed protein scaffolds allow us to modify the protein-chromophore interaction's nature and strength in a controlled way and evaluate it as bio-chrome coupling. Using time-resolved spectroscopic methods, we track exciton evolution in real time and address key questions on the role of the amino acids in chromophore light conversion dynamics.
Our final goal is to establish the design rules for amino acid-controlled light conversion and optimize the bio-hybrid light conversion accordingly for applications in photonics, energy storage, and photochemistry.
Our group participated in the European researchers´Night. Teresa and Asier prepared a nice talk about the importance of the interdisciplinarity in science at the CaixaForum in Madrid (September 25, 2024)
TFM DEFENSE. Teresa and Asier defended thir TFM projects at UAM University (September 25, 2024).
PAPER PUBLISHED. We published our first group paper!! This time is a review about bio-hybrid development as a tool for understanding the photosynthesis. Check our paper section! (September 14, 2024).
WELCOME OUR NEW GROUP MEMBER: Adhil Kabeer (PhD student). Adhil will join as a PhD supported by the Marie Curie COFOUND grant! We are looking forward to working with you! (September 1, 2023)
WELCOME OUR NEW GROUP MEMBER: Atikur Rah (PhD student). Atikur is joining as a postdoc supported by the Marie Curie COFOUND Postdoctoral grant! We are looking forward to working with you! (September 1, 2023)
BEST POSTER PRIZE AWARD. Angelo was awarded with the Best Poster Prize award at UAM´s symposium in physical chemistry! WELL DONE ANGELO! (June 28, 2024)
Bio-Engineered Nanophotonics group
