In this project, we aim to build a programmable protocell system by running RNA circuits inside a giant unilamellar vesicle functionalised with DNA-based synthetic nanopores. 

In this project, we use localised heat generated via the photothermal effect of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to fuel DNA reactions

In this project, we will build artificial cell systems to understand cellular heterogeneity in synthetic biology. A microfluidic device will be used to produce artificial cells capable of implementing genetic circuits. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), confocal microscopy and mathematical modelling will be used to understand the cellular heterogeneity in genetic networks at single-cell. 

In this project, we propose to investigate storing data in DNA nanostructures. Our approach is based on producing DNA nanostructures, like a breadboard, and attaching streptavidin at a given set of locations, to either write a one if streptavidin is present or a zero otherwise. The major benefit of our approach is that all possible nanostructures can be built out of a predefined, small set of DNA oligos which can be produced cheaply and en-masse. Writing is therefore substantially cheaper. With our approach, writing, reading (based on atomic force microscopy), and editing are also substantially faster. Editing information is currently infeasible with DNA storage based on oligos.