Research

Our research interests lie at the interface of nanotechnology and cellular biophysics, and focus on the physics of signaling at the cell membrane. Some of us develop and investigate thermo-magnetic remote stimulation of proteins and cells using nanotechnology to study signaling networks. Others in our group investigate the cell membrane ultra-structure and how it modulates cell signaling for which we have developed two methods to image the nanoscale structure. Currently, we investigate how temperature, calcium concentration, protein-dimerization and cholesterol influence the ultrastructure, and how this structure modulates immune cell signaling.

More details are here:
1. Local magnetic nanoparticle heating for protein and cell stimulation
2. Thermal noise imaging to resolve membrane ultra-structure
3. bimFCS - studying the influence of membrane ultra-structure on immune cell signaling:
- How do adjuvants or fever help immune signaling?
- How does Ca⁺⁺ influence membrane structure?

Post-doc and Student Opportunities

We have several NIH- and HFSP-funded post-doctoral positions available. We are looking for one or two people with backgrounds in Neuroscience, Bioengineering or Biophysics to join our efforts in thermomagnetic stiumulation of cells. In addition, we want a person with Biophysics or Immunology background to join our studies of the effects of adjuvants on the cell. Please apply with your CV to Arnd Pralle.
We are always looking for motivated, hard-working graduate and undergraduate students to join us. Please email Arnd Pralle for more information.

News

April 2013
- welcome Shahnaz as postdoc
March 2013
- welcome Jason to our group
- Hongwang presents at the APS meeting
- congrats to Junhong for being accepted to grad schoo in Stanford, Urbana, Ann Arbor and Chicago
Feb 2013
- Arnd presented an invited talk at the BiOS/Photonics West SPIE conference
- Heng, Jin, Muhammed, Yunhsiang and Junhong present at 57th Ann. Biophysics Conf
Jan 2013
- a video summary of our publication with Sheldon Park's group has been posted
Nov 2012
- Junhong receives a Honors College Research Creativity Grant. Congrats!
Oct 2012
- Heng defends her Ph.D. thesis - congratulations! well done
- we've submitted a record 6 abstracts for the Biophysics conference in Feb. 2013
Sept 2012
- Evan's paper on Thermal modulation of lymphocyte activation gets submitted!
Aug 2012
- Arnd is interviewed by NOVA ScienceNOW and Discovery Magazine for future episodes on brain stimulation techniques
July 2012
- Katie moves to Cornell to begin her graduate studies - we wish her success
- Arnd presents Yunhsiang's results at the Single Molecule GRC in Vermont
May 2012
- Physics UGs Junhong Choi and Zach van Zant join the lab to do their honors theses
- Katie graduates with honors and decides to spend the summer in the lab
April 2012
- Graduate student Maral and Jin both receive a Cambi fellowhip to pursuit Biophysics research
- Katie presents her honors thesis on modeling nanoparticle heating
- Arnd presents a talk on membrane structure at UIUC
March 2012
Feb 2012
- Katie, Heng, Muhammed, Yunhsiang and Arnd went to the Biophysics conference and presented their work
older news here