Bioengineering: Unlocking mysteries, enabling impact

Fall 2023 | EQuad News 35, Issue 1

At Princeton’s new institute, the quest for better lives starts with curiosity.

Portrait of researcher in lab near microscope. — Clifford Brangwynne, the June K. Wu ’92 Professor in Engineering. (Photo by Denise Applewhite)

The materials scientist who upended cell biology

Daniel Cohen (right) and research team — Daniel Cohen (right) and his research team are creating devices that use electricity to herd communities of cells. Photo by Tori Repp/Fotobuddy

Raising bioelectric sheepdogs to herd flocks of cells

Three researchers in lab coats examine a sample while one points at the material — José Avalos (center) in the laboratory with graduate students Sarah Kwartler (left) and José Montaño-López (right). Photo by Adena Stevens

Transforming microbes into factories for the future

Ellen Zhong in a computer lab — Ellen Zhong in the Imaging and Analysis Center at Princeton. Photo by Tori Repp/Fotobuddy

Using computer vision to see proteins

Two researchers looking at petri dish under miscroscope illuminated by blue light. — Postdoctoral fellows Meisam Zaferani (left) and Ryungeun Song are building microfluidic devices to harness the capabilities of microtubules. Photo by Sameer A. Khan/Fotobuddy

Channeling the cell’s cytoskeleton into a nimble nanomachine

A group of six researchers sits around a table and discusses molecular models, which are visible on a screen behind them and in physical form on the table. — Jerelle Joseph (third from right) and her team use computer simulations to examine the formation of biomolecular condensates. Photo by Sameer A. Khan/Fotobuddy

Simulations reveal workings of droplets that underlie life’s functions

Microscope image of the brain's cerebellum, showing multiple folds and layers labeled in green and blue. — Ben Raphael and his research team are developing computational methods to interpret data about when and where genes are active in tissue samples. Their studies have explored tissues such as the accordion-like layers of the cerebellum, the brain’s locomotion control center. Image by Thomas Deerinck, National Center for Microscopy and Imaging Research, University of California-San Diego

Spatial data adds ‘great new dimension’ to studies on cancer and development

Linnea Lemma — Linnea Lemma. Photo by Sameer A. Khan/Fotobuddy

Bioengineering postdoc Linnea Lemma selected for prestigious fellowship

Four researchers in the laboratory. — Professor Mark Brynildsen (second from right) with Ph.D. students (from left) Katherine Sniezek, Nashaly Soto-Echevarria, and Gabrielle Leon. Photo by Tori Repp/Fotobuddy

Probing bacterial persistence to battle superbugs

Smiling man with folded arms stands in front of researchers working at computers — Yuri Pritykin’s research group is working to create new medical treatments by unraveling the genome’s complex code. Photo by Sameer A. Khan/Fotobuddy

Bridging experiments and data to decode the genome

Researcher standing by equipment cabinet holding a setup of lasers and mirrors — Tian-Ming Fu is pioneering a new science of cellular imaging that allows researchers to observe cells in their natural environment with high resolution. Photo by Sameer A. Khan/Fotobuddy

Advanced optics reveal how cells and molecules squirm, pulse and ooze

Group of researchers gathered around computer screen in a lab. — José Avalos (right) and his research team engineer microbes in his lab to address global challenges in renewable energy and sustainable manufacturing. Photo by Sameer A. Khan/Fotobuddy

At new institute, quest for better lives starts with curiosity