Marie-Eve Aubin-Tam (Associate Professor, BioNanoscience) uses single-molecule tools to study membrane proteins and cell biophysics. Research: (1) optical tweezers protein unfolding — mechanical unfolding of membrane proteins to probe folding landscape; (2) single-molecule cell biophysics — force spectroscopy on live cells; (3) synthetic biology applications — integrating engineered proteins with biophysical tools.

Cees Dekker (Distinguished University Professor, BioNanoscience/Kavli) pioneered solid-state nanopores and single-molecule biophysics. Research: (1) solid-state nanopores for protein sensing and sequencing — detecting individual protein molecules by current blockade; (2) DNA loop extrusion by condensin and cohesin at the single-molecule level; (3) chromatin structure and chromosome organisation with bacteria-on-chip; (4) synthetic cell construction from the bottom up; (5) diagnostic nanopores for neglected diseases. NanoFront 51M€ NWO program leader; 2019 Nature paper on real-time DNA loop extrusion imaging.

Nynke Dekker (Full Professor, BioNanoscience) leads single-molecule biophysics of DNA replication and topology. Research: (1) single-molecule force-fluorescence microscopy — integrated optical tweezers and fluorescence for real-time imaging of replication machinery; (2) DNA topology — supercoiling, gyrase, topoisomerase dynamics with magnetic tweezers; (3) DNA/RNA-processing molecular motors. EMBO member; KNAW member. 2024 integrated force-fluorescence toolbox published.

Chirlmin Joo (Full Professor, BioNanoscience) uses single-molecule fluorescence to study RNA dynamics and CRISPR-Cas. Research: (1) single-molecule FRET and direct RNA imaging — visualizing RNA folding, ribozyme catalysis, and mRNA translation dynamics; (2) CRISPR-Cas mechanism — real-time observation of Cas9 and Cas13 target search and cleavage; (3) nanopore-based protein sensing integration with optical tools. ERC Grant.