Sam Wilken

Biological systems encompass a rich array of features that scientists have yet to reproduce in synthetic systems, from the arrangement of photoreceptors in the avian retina, to the emergence of brilliant colors in tropical bird feathers. I am an experimental physicist interested in utilizing the combination of precision microscopy, large-scale simulation, and nanoscale biomolecular design to investigate the far-from-equilibrium organizational mechanisms by which biology has evolved truly unique disordered materials. These mechanisms will not only illuminate our fundamental understanding of biological function but will also enable the engineering of novel materials that transport light, stress, and biochemical signals in new ways.

Here you can learn more about my past work and current research interests.