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Interested in all things molecular engineering? Introducing the new MolES Newsletter

April 10, 2019

We've launched a new quarterly newsletter! Learn about the latest advances in molecular engineering research at UW, the students and faculty in the MolES community, new programs and events, as well as updates from the MAF. [...]

New method to assess platelet health could help ER doctors

March 14, 2019

A research team at the University of Washington, including MolES faculty member Nathan Sniadecki, an associate professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, has created a novel system that can measure platelet function within two minutes and can help doctors determine which trauma patients might need a blood transfusion upon being admitted to a hospital. The team published its results March 13 in Nature Communications. [...]

Computer-designed vaccine elicits potent antibodies to RSV

March 8, 2019

A recent publication from the Institute for Protein Design, located in the MolES building, describes a nanoparticle platform developed for a respiratory syncytial virus study that will also be applied to vaccine research on flu, HIV, and more. Seattle startup Icosavax will advance related clinical trials. [...]

It's all in the twist: Physicists stack 2D materials at angles to trap particles on the nanoscale, creating a unique platform to study quantum optical physics

February 26, 2019

Future technologies based on the principles of quantum mechanics could revolutionize information technology. But to realize the devices of tomorrow, today's physicists must develop precise and reliable platforms to trap and manipulate quantum-mechanical particles. In a paper published Feb. 25 in the journal Nature, a team of physicists led by MolES faculty member Xiaodong Xu, a Boeing Distinguished Professor of both physics and materials science and engineering, reports the development of a new system to trap individual excitons. [...]

Three awards from US Department of Energy to fuel UW solar cell research

January 16, 2019

Three teams led by University of Washington researchers have received competitive awards totaling more than $2.3 million from the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office for projects that will advance research and development in photovoltaic materials, which are an essential component of solar cells and impact the amount of sunlight that is converted into electricity. Two of the UW teams are led by MolES faculty members Scott Dunham, a professor of electrical and computer engineering and Hugh Hillhouse, a professor of chemical engineering. [...]

Surface analysis expert named Director of UW Molecular Analysis Facility

December 28, 2018

MolES is thrilled to announce that Lara Gamble, associate research professor in bioengineering at the University of Washington (UW), has been appointed director of the UW Molecular Analysis Facility (MAF), a fully-staffed instrumentation facility with extensive microscopy, spectroscopy, and surface science capabilities. Gamble will take over for long-time director Dave Castner, professor of bioengineering and chemical engineering at UW, who is retiring. Gamble has served as MAF associate director since 2013. She is also co-Director of NESAC/BIO, a preeminent surface science research center at UW, and was elected to the 2016-18 Board of Directors of the American Vacuum Society, an international community of scientists dedicated to promoting research in surface, interface, vacuum and thin film science. [...]

Scientists design protein filaments that snap themselves together like Lego blocks

November 8, 2018

Hao Shen, a molecular engineering PhD candidate in the lab of biochemistry Professor David Baker, was a lead author of a study published in Science describing the creation of self-assembling protein filaments from scratch. The filaments were built from identical protein subunits that snap together spontaneously to form long, helical, thread-like structures which could be used to create new materials for a range of applications, from diagnostics to nano-electronics. Learn more in a related Geekwire story! [...]

Navigating interdisciplinary research as a MolE PhD student

May 21, 2018

At the intersection of genetic engineering and nanoscience, second-year MolE PhD candidate Tyler (Ty) Jorgenson is developing a set of design rules for devices that join biology with solid-state materials. His research focuses on the self-assembly of solid-binding peptides and their interfaces with single-layer atomic (2D) materials, which he says is particularly promising for bioelectronic devices. [...]

Hybrid optics bring color imaging using ultrathin metalenses into focus

February 13, 2018

In a paper published Feb. 9 in Science Advances, scientists at the University of Washington announced that they have successfully combined two different imaging methods "” a type of lens designed for nanoscale interaction with lightwaves, along with robust computational processing "” to create full-color images. [...]

UW team develops fast, cheap method to make supercapacitor electrodes for electric cars, high-powered lasers

July 18, 2017

University of Washington researchers have developed a fast, inexpensive method to make electrodes for supercapacitors, with applications in electric cars, wireless telecommunications and high-powered lasers. [...]

MolES Informer: A Season of Change

July 3, 2017

In this edition — – MolES welcomes Mechanical Engineering Professor Corie Cobb, who came to the UW from Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), Inc., to pursue novel manufacturing and design methods for energy devices and materials. -The Molecular Analysis Facility announces, in partnership with the UW School of Pharmacy, the integration of the Analytical Biopharmacy [...]

MolES Community Wikipedia Edit-a-Thon

August 16, 2016

MolES students, faculty, and staff gathered last Saturday to improve information on molecular engineering available on Wikipedia. The group contributed information on the history of the discipline, applications, instruments and methodology. Special thanks to Sawyer Morgan, graduate student in Chemical Engineering, for showing our brand-new editors the ropes! This was our first Edit-a-Thon but won’t be [...]

MolES Faculty Earn 2016 Distinguished Teaching Award

March 30, 2016

Two MolES faculty members are being honored as 2016 Awards of Excellence winners, both for their achievements in teaching. Cole Deforest, assistant professor, chemical engineering and Wendy Thomas, associate professor, bioengineering will be honored June 9, 2016 at a ceremony on campus. The Distinguished Teaching Award is given annually to seven [...]

Nature Biotechnology’s ‘greatest hits’ includes MolES faculty

March 29, 2016

Professor Shaoyi Jiang’s research focuses on helping the body accept medical devices and implants that it naturally wants to reject. His 2013 paper on using zwitterionic hydrogels to eliminate the foreign body response to implants was selected as one of eight major hits in 20 years of Nature Biotechnology biomedical research. The March 2016 issue [...]

Pat Stayton accepts appointment extension as MolES Director

January 6, 2016

Pat Stayton, Director of the Molecular Engineering and Sciences Institute (MoIES) and Distinguished Career Professor of Bioengineering, will remain MolES Director for an additional five years. [...]

UW-NIMS agreement launches new biomaterials collaboration

December 11, 2015

December 4, 2015 The Molecular Engineering & Sciences Institutes celebrates signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the National Institute of Materials Science (NIMS) and the University of Washington (UW) The MolES Institute welcomed MANA Researcher Dr. Mitsuhiro Ebara, a former UW postdoctoral fellow in Bioengineering, for a signing celebration on December 4, followed [...]

Light-based chemistry to manipulate stem cells

September 28, 2015

Professor Cole DeForest is researching new ways to coerce stem cells into transforming into other cell types. Ultimately, his research could make huge impacts in medicine by engineering organs and tissues to combat heart disease. DeForest is an assistant professor of chemical engineering and a member of the Molecular Engineering & Sciences institute faculty. Read more at [...]

UW Nanofab, molecular analysis labs win $4.5 million NSF grant

September 20, 2015

The University of Washington and Oregon State University have won a $4.5 million, five-year grant from the National Science Foundation to advance nanoscale science, engineering and technology research in the Pacific Northwest and support a new network of user sites across the country. The regional partnership was selected as one of 16 sites for a [...]

Washington Nanofabrication Facility to receive $37M to expand

August 3, 2015

The Washington Nanofabrication Facility is home to more than 140 scientists and engineers every month and is used by researchers and businesses. It is the closest and most affordable facility for startups in the region that need access to the expensive machines to build products [...]

Interdisciplinary MolES team programs yeast cells to say "˜Hello'!

July 1, 2015

A team of University of Washington researchers has engineered yeast cells that can "talk" to one another, using a versatile plant hormone called auxin. [...]