We study how the motion of matter shapes the behavior of complex systems, from the collective vibrations of viruses to the flow of energy that drives chemical reactions and crystal growth. Our goal is to understand how nanoscale dynamics influence the processes that define both living and nonliving systems.
In biology, we use the natural vibrations of viruses and other biological particles to study their structure, interactions, and life cycle, and to develop new ways to detect them without labels. In materials science, we examine how energy moves and reorganizes during transformation, from the earliest stages of crystal formation to the emergence of new phases. These studies reveal how order develops, how systems respond to their surroundings, and how light can be used to guide those changes.
By combining ultrafast spectroscopy, imaging, and data-driven analysis, we aim to uncover the physical principles that connect motion and function across chemistry, materials, and biology, thereby opening paths to control reactivity, direct self-assembly, and illuminate the dynamics that underlie life.
