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Scholarly Interest Report
         
Ching-Hwa Kiang
Associate Professor
Associate Professor of Physics and Astronomy and Bioengineering
 
e-mail:chkiang@rice.edu
 
  • BS (1987) National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
  • Ph.D. (1995) California Institute of Technology
 
Primary Department
   Department of Physics and Astronomy
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Department Affiliations
 
  • Department of Bioengineering
  • Institute of Biosciences and Bioengineering
  • Keck Center for Quantitative Biomedical Sciences
  • Rice Quantum Institute
  • Smalley Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology
  •  
    Other Affiliations
     
  • Baylor College of Medicine
  •  
    Websites
     Ching-Hwa Kiang Research Group
     Ching-Hwa Kiang Group
     Ching-Hwa Kiang Group
     Ching-Hwa Kiang's home page
     
    Research Areas
     Single cell studies of physics of cancer. Mechanical Biology of Cancer Cells. Single molecule manipulation of biological molecules. DNA melting and unstacking. Mechanobiology. Mechanical activation of proteins. Von Willebration factor and platelet aggregation. RNA assembly. ECM proteins and their interaction with cell surfaces. Jarzynski’s equality and its application to biological systems. Single cell studies of physics of cancer. Single-walled carbon nanotubes, carbon nanoribbons, and graphene. DNA-gold assbemblies.
     
    Von Willerband Factor in Platelet Adhesion
     

    Von Willebrand factor (VWF) is a large glycoprotein in the blood that is responsible for blood clotting, or thrombosis, at the sites of vascular injury. To maintain hemostasis, VWF mediates platelet adhesion to the subendothelial connective tissue that lines the interior of all blood vessels and binds to the clotting factor VIII. As a glycoprotein, it can reach up to 100 micrometers in length and can exhibit tremendous flexibility in its structure. VWF function is activated by an allosteric mechanism or by high-shear induced force. Beyond the allosteric model, VWF are generally regulated by hydrodynamic forces within the blood vessels. In blood vessels, the shear rate of fluid is at its maximum near the subendothelial wall. Shear-induced adhesion enables VWF to bind to the endothelial under pathophysiological conditions and to initiate the blood clotting process at the site of vessel damage. We are studying VWF and ultra-large VWF resistance to mechanical forces and the effect of shear induced property changes. We will also study the VWF properties in the presence of ADAMTS-13 to test its reductase activity.

     
    Nonequilibrium Measurements and Free Energy Lanscapes
     

    Kiang uses atomic force microscopy to study the protein unfolding force of single biological molecules. The development of single-molecule techniques to study protein funciton at the molecular level has expanded our understanding on the details of how biology and medicine function at the macroscopic level. Her research focuses on the mechanical properties of titin, with an emphasis on applying Jarzynski's equality to determine the free energy of titin unfolding.

     

    Single-cell studies of physics of cancer.

     

    Kiang's research interests include understanding the properties of cancer cells.   Single cell force studies is used to probe the change in mecchanics and binding strength of cancer cells.

     

    Single molecule manipulation of biological molecules.

     

    The research focuses on understanding the interactions of biological molecules. Atomic force microscopy is used to study the forces between and within single biological molecules. The development of single-molecule techniques to studying molecular properties at the molecular level has expanded our understanding on the details of how biology and medicine function at the microscopic level. Kiang's group is studying proteins and DNA mechanics as well as developing new nanomanipulation techniques to study the properties of single-molecules.

     

    Mechanical Biology of Cancer Cells

     

     Cancer microenvironment plays a critical role in the last step of cancer metastasis – colonization. While the majority of early steps of cancer invasion-metastasis cascade are similar in different types of cancers, the colonization, including the attachment and growth of the secondary tumors, depends on the complex interactions between the metastasizing cells and the cancer microenvironment of the host tissues where they land.  Currently, in vitro cancer cell adhesion studies are primarily performed on monolayer culture grown on two-dimensional rigid polystyrene surfaces, while in vivo cancer microenvironment typically involves much softer substrates.  Recreating the cancer microenvironment mimicking the conditions for in vitro studies of cancer metastasis would provide valuable knowledge on how cancers spread.  Cell adhesion force is a key parameter for cancer attachment and, therefore, may be used as the potential diagnostic and prognostic marker for cancer metastasis.  This project utilizes single cell force measurement techniques to quantitatively study the effect of the substrate stiffness on cancer cell adhesion.  Overall, this research may ultimately provide pertinent information on the key steps in cancer metastasis in a more physiological relevant context, thus improving upon current approaches in therapeutic development.

     

    DNA-gold assemblies

     

    The DNA-gold nanoparticle system is a model for phase transitions. Melting of short, free DNA is not a phase transition. However, when short DNA are bound to gold particles, the system undergoes a phase transition because the DNA-gold particles form networks of micrometer size, which is approaching a bulk phase. Thus, the binding transition in the network is much sharper than that of free DNA in solution, due to the cooperative melting process. Many fundamental aspects of phase transitions may be investigated with this biomolecular system.

     
    DNA Mechanics
     

    We use single-molecule technique to measure the force and to determine the free energy associated with single-stranded DNA unstacking and double-stranded DNA unzipping transition. The mechanics of dsDNA separation into ssDNA are key to the DNA replication and transcription processes. DNA is highly compacted in many instances. The mechanics and energetics of bending are applicable for fabrication of artificial DNA structures, as well as providing information about the forces that must be overcome by molecular machines and motors during the packaging process of DNA into a viral capsid. We wish to determine forces and free energies of DNA stretching and unzipping, which will allow us to quantify these transitions and to obtain a physical picture of these events.

     
    Protein-Nucleic Acid Interactions
     

    We are interested in the nucleic acid mechanical properties altered by DNA/RNA binding proteins. The change in stiffness of nucleic acids upon protein binding can be detected with single-molecule force spectroscopy. Protein binding to nucleic acids is important in many processes such as DNA repair, DNA/RNA replication, and genetic recombination. We are investigating the change in nucleic acid properties as it undergoes such transitions.

     
    Teaching Areas
     Biological Physics. Molecular Biophysics.
     
    Selected Publications
     Refereed articles
     

    E. W. Frey, J. Li, S. S. Wijeratne, and C.-H. Kiang "Reconstructing Multiple Free Energy Pathways of DNA Stretching from Single Molecule Experiments." J. Phys. Chem. B, 119 (2015) : 5132--5135.

     
     

    J. Li, S. S. Wijeratne, X. Qiu, and C.-H. Kiang "DNA under Force: Mechanics, Electrostatics, and Hydration." Frontiers in Nucleic Acid Nanotechnology, 5 (2015) : 246--267.

     
     

    S. S. Wijeratne, H.-C. Yeh , Z. Zhou , A. L. Bergeron, J. Li, E. W. Frey, J. L. Moake, J.-f. Dong, and C.-H. Kiang, "Single Molecule Force Measurements of a Dimeric von Willebrand Factor." Phys. Rev. E, 93 (2016) : 012410.

     
     

    S. S. Wijeratne, J. Martinez, B. J. Grindel, E. W. Frey, J. Li, L. Wang, M. C. Farach-Carson, and C.-H Kiang, "Single Molecule Force Measurements of Perlecan/HSPG2: A Key Component of the Osteocyte Pericellular Matrix."  Matrix Biology (2015) In Press

     
     

    E. W. Frey, J. Li, S. S. Wijeratne, and C.-H. Kiang, "Reconstructing Multiple Free Energy Pathways of DNA Stretching from Single Molecule Experiments ." Submitted

     
     

    J. Li, S. S. Wijeratne , X. Qiu , and C.-H. Kiang "DNA under Force: Mechanics, Electrostatics, and Hydration ." In Press

     
     

    S. S. Wijeratne, J. Martinez, B. J. Grindel, E. W. Frey, J. Li, M. C. Farach-Carson, and C.-H Kiang, "Mechanical Property of a Large Extracellular Proteoglycan, Perlecan/HSPG2 from Single Molecule Force Studies, ." Submitted

     
     

    C. Guo, N. C. Harris, S. S. Wijeratne, E. W. Frey, and C.-H. Kiang, "Multiscale Mechanobiology : Mechanics at the Molecular, Cellular, and Tissue Levels," special issue on Functional
    Nanomaterials, Cell & Bioscience 3 (2013) 25.

     
     

    S. S. Wijeratne, E. Botello, H.-C. Yeh, Z. Zhou, A. Bergeron, E. W. Frey, J. M. Patel, L. Nolasco, N. Turner, J. Moake, J.-f. Dong, and C.-H. Kiang, "Mechanical Activation of a Multimeric Adhesive Protein Through Domain Conformational Change," Phys. Rev. Lett. 110 (2013) 108102.

     
     

    E. W. Frey, A. A. Gooding, S. S. Wijeratne, and C.-H. Kiang, "Understanding the Physics of DNA Using Nanoscale Single-Molecule Manipulation," Frontiers of Physics, 7 (2012) 576-581.

     
     

    S. S. Wijeratne, J. M. Patel, and C.-H. Kiang, "Melting Transitions of DNA-Capped Gold Nanoparticle Assemblies," Rev. Plasmonics 2010, (2012) 269-282.

     
     

    W.-H. Chen, J. D. Wilson, S. S. Wijeratne, S. A. Southmayd, K.-J. Lin, and C.-H. Kiang, "Principles of Single-Molecule Manipulation and Its Application in Biological Physics," International Journal of Modern Physics B, 26 (2012) 1230006.

     
     

    S. S. Wijeratne, N. C. Harris, and C.-H. Kiang, "Global and Regional Helicity Distributions of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes and Its Implication on the Growth Mechanism," Materials 3 (2010) 2725-2734.

     
     

    W.-S. Chen, W.-H. Chen, Z. Chen, A. A. Gooding, K.-J. Lin, and C.-H. Kiang, "Direct Observation of Multiple Pathways of Single-Stranded DNA Stretching," Phys. Rev. Lett. 105 (2010) 218104.

     
     

    C. P. Calderon, N. C. Harris, C.-H. Kiang, and D. D. Cox, “Analyzing
    Single-Molecule Manipulation Experiments,” J. Mol. Recognit. 22 (2009) 356–362.

     
     

    C. P. Calderon, N. C. Harris, C.-H. Kiang, and D. D. Cox, “Quantifying Multiscale
    Noise Sources in Single-Molecule Time Series,” J. Phys. Chem. B 113 (2009) 10549–11047. Also appears on the cover page.

     
     

    C. P. Calderon, W.-H. Chen, K.-J. Lin, N. C. Harris, and C.-H. Kiang, “Quantifying
    DNA Melting Transitions using Single-Molecule Force Spectroscopy,” invited paper
    in special issue on DNA Melting, J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 21 (2009) 034114.

     
     

    E. Botello, N. C. Harris, J. Sargent, W.-H. Chen, K.-J. Lin, and C.-H. Kiang,
    “Temperature and Chemical Denaturant Dependence of Forced-Unfolding of Titin
    I27,” J. Phys. Chem. B 113 (2009) 10549–11047. Also appears on the cover page.

     
     

    N. C. Harris and C.-H. Kiang, “Velocity Convergence of Free Energy Surfaces From
    Single-Molecule Measurements Using Jarzynski’s Equality,” Phys. Rev. E 79 (2009)
    041912.

     
     

    S. S. Wijeratne, N. C. Harris, J. M. Cowley, and C.-H. Kiang, “Global and Regional
    Helicity Distributions of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes and Its Implication on
    the Growth Mechanism,”(2009), submitted.

     
     

    C. P. Calderon, N. C. Harris, C.-H. Kiang, and D. D. Cox "Quantifying Multiscale Noise Sources in Single-Molecule Time Series." J. Phys. Chem. (2008) In Press

     
     

    C. P. Calderon, N. C. Harris, and C.-H. Kiang, and D. D. Cox "Analyzing Single-Molecule Manipulation Experiments."  (2008) Submitted

     
     

    C. P. Calderon, W.-H. Chen, K.-J. Lin, N. C. Harris, and C.-H. Kiang "Quantifying DNA Melting Transitions using Single-Molecule Force Spectroscopy." J. Phys.: Condens. Matter, 21 (2009) : 034114.

     
     

    E. Botello, N. C. Harris, J. Sargent, W.-H. Chen, K.-J. Lin, and C.-H. Kiang "Temperature and Chemical Denaturant Dependence of Forced-Unfolding of Titin I27."  (2008) Submitted

     
     

    N. C. Harris and C.-H. Kiang "Velocity Convergence of Free Energy Surfaces From Single-Molecule Measurements Using Jarzynski's Equality."  (2008) Submitted

     
     

    N. C. Harris, J. M. Cowley, and C.-H. Kiang "Global and Regional Helicity Distributions of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes and Its Implication on the Growth Mechanism."  (2008) In Press

     
     

    N. C. Harris, Y. Song, and C.-H. Kiang "Reply to Comment on ``Experimental Free Energy Surface Reconstruction From Single-Molecule Force Spectroscopy Using Jarzynski's Equality." Phys. Rev. Lett., 100 (2008) : 019802.

     
     

    N. C. Harris, Y. Song, and C.-H. Kiang, "Experimental Free Energy Surface Reconstruction From Single-Molecule Force Spectroscopy Using Jarzynski's Equality." Physical Review Letters, 99 (2007) : 068101.

     
     

    Y. Sun, N. C. Harris, and C.-H. Kiang "Phase Transition and Optical Properties of DNA-Gold Nanoparticle Assemblies." Plasmonics, 2 (2007) : 193--199.

     
     

    N. C. Harris and C.-H. Kiang, "Defects Can Increase the The Melting Temperature of DNA-Nanoparticle Assemblies." Journal of Physical Chemistry, 110 (2006) : 16393-16396.

     
     

    N. C. Harris and C.- H. Kiang "Disorder in DNA-Linked Gold Nanoparticle Assemblies." Physical Review Letters, 95 (2005) : 046101-4.

     
     

    Y. Sun, N. C. Harris and C.-H. Kiang "Melting Transition of Directly-Linked Gold Nanoparticle DNA Assembly." Physica A, 350 (2005) : 89-94.

     
     

    Y. Sun, N. C. Harris, and C.-H. Kiang "The Reversible Phase Transition of DNA-Linked Colloidal Gold Assemblies." Physica A, 354 (2005) : 1-9.

     
     

    Kiang, C.-H. "Phase Transition in DNA-Gold Nanoparticle System." Physica A, 321 (2003) : 164-169.

     
     Book chapters
     

    S. S. Wijeratne, J. M. Patel, and C.-H. Kiang, "Melting Transitions of DNA-Capped Gold Nanoparticle Assemblies," invited review chapter, Ann. Rev. Plasmonics (2012).

     
     

    Y. Sun and C.-H. Kiang "Handbook of Nanostructured Biomaterials and Their Applications in Nanobiotechnology." Handbook of Nanostructured Biomaterials and Their Applications Applications, 224-2462 (2005) : 224-246.

     
     Conference papers
     

    N. C. Harris and C.-H. Kiang "Modulation of Melting Temperature by Disorder and Defects in DNA-Linked Nanoparticle Assemblies." 

     
    Presentations
     Conference Committee Member
     

    "Nonequilibrium Statistical Mechanics: Fundamental Problems and Applications." 2009 Boulder School for Condensed Matter and Materials Physics, Boulder, CO. (6-31 July 2009)

     
     Invited Talks
     

    "Forces in Biomolecules and Cells: From Statistical Physics to Cancer," Texas Mechanobiology Symposium, National Center for Therapeutics Manufacturing at Texas A & M University, College Station, Texas, 25 October 2015.

     
     

    Mechanical Activation of Multimeric Forms of von Willebrand Factor, 1st International SHENC Symposium on function of VWF in primary and secondary hemostasis, Hamburg, Germany, 14-15 September 2015.

     
     

    From Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes to Single Biomolecules, The Kavli Prize Scientific Symposium & Laureate Lecture, The Carnegie Institution, Washington DC, 24 October 2013.

     
     

    "Force Measurement and Nanoparticle Aggregation for Probing Biomolecular Interactions," TAMU/Princeton Summer Workshop on Quantum Optics and Molecular Physics, Casper, WY, 16-21 July 2012.

     
     

    "Force as a Probe for Detecting Dynamic States of Proteins and DNA," The Spring 2012 ACS Meeting, San Diego, CA, 25-29 March 2012.

     
     

    "Single-Molecule Force Signature as a Probe for Dynamic States of DNA and Proteins," Multiscale Methods and Validation in Medicine and Biology I: Biomechanics and Mechanobiology, San Francisco, CA, 13-14 February 2012.

     
     

    "Single-Molecule Manipulation and Nanoparticle Aggregation for Probing Biomolecular Interaction," Physics & Astronomy Colloquium, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 12 April 2012.

     
     

    Direct Observation of State-to-State Transitions From Single-Molecule Manipulation Studies," In Rise of the Machines: Integration of experiment, simulation and theory for a mechanistic understanding of biomolecular machines, Telluride Science Research Center, Telluride Intermediate School, Telluride, CO, 8-12 August 2011.

     
     

    "Multiple Pathways of Single-Stranded DNA Stretching Observed Using Single-Molecule Manipulation," The 2011 APS March Meeting, Dallas, TX, 21-25 March 2011.

     
     

    "Observing Dynamic States of DNA and Proteins Using Single-Molecule Manipulation," Single Cell Biology & Real Time PCR-Boston-2011-Meeting, Waltham, MA, 4-5 April, 2011.

     
     

    "Observing Dynamic States of DNA and Proteins Using Single-Molecule Manipulation," invited talk at the Interdisciplinary Meeting on Mechanical Biology, Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan, 17 December 2011.

     
     

    "Probing Dynamic States of DNA and Proteins Using Single-Molecule Manipulation," the 7th Joint Meeting of Chinese Physicists Worldwide International Conference on Physics Education and Frontier Physics (OCPA7), Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 1-5 August 2011.

     
     

    "Probing Equilibrium and Dynamic States by Single-Molecule Pulling Experiments," In Single-Molecule Dynamics, Telluride Science Research Center, Telluride Intermediate School, Telluride, CO, 27 June-1 July 2011.

     
     

    "Single-Molecule Approaches to Biology and Medicine," Physics & Astronomy Colloquium, Texas A&M University, Commerce, Texas, 6 October 2011.

     
     

    "Single-Molecule Dynamics of DNA and Proteins," plenary talk at the 2011 Fall Joint Meeting, Texas Section of APS and AAPT, Texas A&M University, Commerce, Texas, 6-8 October 2011.

     
     

    "Dynamics of Proteins and DNA From Single-Molecule Manipulation Studies," The First National Conference on Biophysical Chemistry (NCBPC1), Beijing, China, 5-7 July, 2010.

     
     

    "Forces as a Probe for Dynamics of DNA and Proteins," seminar in Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China, 17 June 2010.

     
     

    "Novel Conformational States of Proteins and DNA Probed by Nanomanipulation and Nanoparticle Aggregation," The Fourth Shanghai International Conference on Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Shanghai, China, 8-12 August, 2010.

     
     

    "Probing Protein and DNA Interaction Forces Using Nanoparticle Aggregation and Single-Molecule Manipulation," seminar in Chemical Biology, Peking University Beijing, China, 23 March 2010.

     
     

    "Probing Protein and DNA Interaction Forces Using Single-Molecule Nanobiology," The 6th Sino-US Chemistry Professors Conference, Hangzhou, China, 15-17 June 2010.

     
     

    "Single-Molecule Manipulation Studies of Proteins and DNA," seminar in Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China, 22 March 2010.

     
     

    "Using Mechanical Forces to Study Nano-bio Materials Properties," the 18th Annual International Conference on Composites or Nano Engineering (ICCE-18), Anchorage, Alaska, 4-10 July, 2010.

     
     

    "Using Single-Molecule Manipulation to Probe Dynamic States of Proteins and DNA," seminar in Institute of Physics, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan, 22 June 2010.

     
     

    "Using Single-Molecule Manipulation to Probe Dynamic States of Proteins and DNA," seminar in Department of Photonics, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, 23 June 2010.

     
     

    "Using Single-Molecule Nanomanipulation to Unravel DNA and Proteins," The 7th Cross-Strait Workshop on Biology Inspired Theoretical Science (BITS7), National Cheng-Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan, 25-30 June 2010.

     
     

    “AFM Studies of the Resistance to Unfolding of Titin and von Willebrand Factor (VWF),” In session: “Track 2-2: Biological Significances of Protein Aggregation,  Folding/unfolding, and Signaling,” invited talk at the international conference BIT  Life Sciences’ 2nd annual PepCon-2009. Theme: Life, Knowledge & Bio-Economy,  Seoul, South Korea, 2–4 April 2009.

     
     

    "Observing Biological Interactions Using Nanoparticle Aggregation and Single-Molecule Manipulation." Department of Physics, Washington University, St. Louis, MO. (September 9, 2009)

     
     

    "Principles Involved in Interpreting Single-Molecule Manipulation of Biomolecules." Department of Physics, National University of Singapore, Singapore. (December 2, 2009)

     
     

    “Probing Protein and DNA Potentials with Single-Molecule Manipulation,”
    Seminar in Physics, Universita di Roma “La Sapienza,” Rome, Italy, 8 June 2009.

     
     

    “Protein Interaction Forces Studied with Single-Molecule Manipulation,” In session:
    “Track 1-2: Proteomics and Medical Implications,” invited talk at the international
    conference the 4th Medical Biotech Forum. Theme: Translating Bio-Innovations
    Into Industrialization, Dalian, China, 8–10 2009.

     
     

    “Seeing Biological Interactions at the Nanometer Scale,” seminar in Physics,
    University of Houston-Clear Lake, Houston, TX, 2 March 2009.

     
     

    "Single-Molecule Manipulation Studies of Proteins and DNA." IBT Information Exchange Seminar, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A & M Health Science Center, Houston, TX. (September 17, 2009)

     
     

    “Single-Molecule Manipulation of Biological Molecules,” invited talk at the
    international conference on physics education and frontier physics OCPA6,
    Lanzhou, China, 3–7 August 2009.

     
     

    “Single-Molecule Manipulation of DNA,” invited talk at the international
    conference From DNA-inspired Physics to Physics-inspired Biology International
    Center for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), Trieste-Miramare, Italy, 1–5 June 2009.

     
     

    "Using Single-Molecule Manipulation to Probe Protein and DNA Properties ." BIT Life Sciences’ 3rd Annual World Congress of Gene-2009, Foshan, China. (December 1-7, 2009)

     
     

    “Using Single-Molecule Manipulation to Probe the Dynamics of Protein and DNA
    Molecules,” Seminar in Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK, 15
    June 2009.

     
     

    “Using Single-Molecule Manipulation to Study Protein and Nucleic Acid
    Interactions,” invited talk at the Emerging Technologies for Systems Biology, MD
    Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 12 August 2009.

     
     

    "AFM Studies of the Resistance to Unfolding of Titin and von Willebrand Factor (VWF)." BIT Life Sciences' 2nd annual PepCon-2009, Seoul, South Korea. (2-4 April 2009)

     
     

    "Free Energy Surfaces of Protein Unfolding Determined Using Jarzynski's Equality." The 9th Taiwan International Symposium on Statistical Physics, Taipei, Taiwan. (8-12 July 2008)

     
     

    "Nonequilibrium experiments on single molecules." 2009 Boulder School for Condensed Matter and Materials Physics:Nonequilibrium Statistical Mechanics: Fundamental Problems and Applications, Boulder, CO. (6-24 July 2009)

     
     

    "Phase Behavior of DNA-Linked Gold Nanoparticle Assemblies." Progress in Electromagnetics Research Symposium (PIERS2008), Cambridge, MA. (2-6 July 2008)

     
     

    "Single-Molecule Manipulation of Biological Molecules." Iinternational Conference on Physics Education and Frontier Physics, Lanzhou, China. (3-7 August 2009)

     
     

    "Single-Molecule Manipulation of DNA." From DNA-inspired Physics to Physics-inspired Biology, International Center for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), Trieste-Miramare, Italy. (1--5 June 2009)

     
     

    "Velocity Convergence of Protein Folding Free Energy Surfaces Using Jarzynski's Equality." The 4th Cross Strait Conference on Statistical Physics, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. (14-17 July 2008)

     
     

    "DNA Nanoparticle Phase Transitions and Protein Folding Free Energy Reconstruction Using Jarzynski's Equality." Texas A&M University, College Station, TX. (7 November 2007)

     
     

    "Probing Molecular Biophysics of DNA and Proteins Through Nanobiology." Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China. (16 March 2007)

     
     

    "Sequence-Dependent Phase Transition of DNA-Linked Gold Nanoparticle Assemblies." Progress in Electromagnetics Research Symposium (PIERS2007), Prague, Czech Republic. (28 August 2007) With N. C. Harris

     
     

    "Biological Physics at The Nanometer Scale: DNA Nanoparticle Assemblies and Protein Single-Molecule Force Spectroscopy." Physics Colloquium, Department of Physics, University of Houston. (7 March 2006)

     
     

    "Direct Reconstruction of the Free Energy Surface From Single-Molecule Mechanical Unfolding of Proteins Using AFM." European Centre of Atomic and Molecular Computations (CECAM) workshop:Theory of single molecule force experiments and simulations, Lyon, France. (26--29 September 2006)

     
     

    "Direct Reconstruction of the Free Energy Surface for Mechanical Unfolding of Proteins." The 2006 Carolina Biophysics Symposium: Biology from Single Molecules:Bridging the Gap between Observation and Mechanism, Research Triangle Park, NC. (1--3 November 2006)

     
     

    "Disorder and Defects in DNA-Linked Nanoparticle Assemblies." The 3rd Annual Conference on Foundations of nanoscience:Self-Assembled Architecture and Devices (FNANO06), Snowbird, Utah. (23--27 April 2006)

     
     

    "Experimental Determination of Protein Unfolding Free Energy Surfaces." the 2006 NCTS December Workshop on Critical Phenomena and Complex Systems, Taipei, Taiwan. (15--16 December 2006)

     
     

    "Observation of Biological Physics at the Nanometer Scale." Physics Colloquium, Brown University, Providence, RI. (20 November 2006)

     
     

    speaker.  "Nanoscale Biological Physics: From DNA Nanoparticle Assemblies to Protein Single-Molecule Force Spectroscopy." Physics Seminar, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH. (5 October 2005)

     
     

    speaker.  "Protein Folding Pathways Studied with Single-Molecule Atomic Force Microscopy." The 2005 NCTS July Workshop on Macromolecules and Biological Systems, Taipei, Taiwan. (27-29 July 2005)

     
     

    speaker.  "Protein Unfolding Free Energies From Jarzynski's Equality." The 2005 Summer Symposium on Statistical and Nonlinear Physics (StatPhys-Taiwan 2005), Taipei, Taiwan. (31 July-6 August 2005)

     
     

    Speaker.  "Single-Molecule Dynamic Force Spectroscopy of Protein Unfolding." National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. (14 July 2005)

     
     

    speaker.  "Single-Molecule Dynamic Force Spectroscopy of Protein Unfolding." Physics and National Center of Theoreical Sciences, National Chung-Hsing University, Hsinchu, Taiwan. (26 July 2005)

     
     

    speaker.  "Single-Molecule Dynamic Force Spectroscopy of Protein Unfolding." Center of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan. (21 July 2005)

     
     

    "Biological and Nanoscale Physics." International Workshop on Biological and Nanoscale Physics, Taichung, Taiwan. (5-9 July 2004)

     
     

    "DNA-Based Nanostructures." Future Directions in Statistical Physics: Soft Materials and Biological Systems, Blacksburg, VA. (7 March 2004)

     
     

    "Disorder in DNA-Linked Colloidal Gold Assemblies." Department of Physics and National Center of Theoreical Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan. (12 July 2004)

     
     

    "Disorder in DNA-Linked Colloidal Gold Self-Assemblies." The 7th Taiwan International Symposium on Statistical Physics, Taipei, Taiwan. (26 June 2004)

     
     

    "Phase Transition of DNA-Gold Nanoparticle System." The 2nd APCTP and 6th Taiwan International Symposium on Statistical Physics ``StatPhys-Taiwan-2002: Lattice Models and Complex Systems'', Taipei, Taiwan. (26 May-1 June 2002)

     
     Keynote Speaker
     

    "Single Molecule and Single Cell Approaches to the Mechanical properties of Biomolecules and Live Cells," keynote speech at the Symposium on Analytical and Computational Modeling in Mechanobiology, in the 2015 Society of Engineering Science 52nd Annual Technical Meeting
    (SES2015), Texas A & M University, College Station, Texas, 26-28 October 2015.

     
     

    "Force Biomarker for Detecting Dynamic States of Proteins and DNA," keynote speech at the Biosensors & Bioelectronics-2012, Las Vegas, NV, 14-16 May 2012.

     
     

    "Principles Involved in Interpreting Single-Molecule Force Measurement of Biomolecules," keynote speech at the SEM XII International Congress & Exposition on Experimental & Applied Mechanics Theme: Measurement Challenges for New Structures and Material, 13th International Symposium on MEMS and Nanotechnology, Costa Mesa, CA, 11-14 June 2012.

     
     

    "Protein and DNA Interactions Studied Using Single-Molecule Manipulation," keynote speaker at the international conference BIT Life Sciences' 3nd Annual PepCon-2010, Beijing, China, 21-23 March 2010.

     
     Lectures
     

    "From Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes to Single Biomolecules and Single Cells," Physics Colloquium, The Frances E. Walker Lecture Series, George Washington University, Washington DC, 12 September 2014.

     
     

    "Single Molecule Manipulation Methods - Atomic Force Microscope and the Applications of the Jarzynski Equality," lecture in workshop on Mechanobiology of Chromatin and Transcription, Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 7-10 November 2012.

     
     

    “Nonequilibrium Experiments on Single Molecules,” 3 invited lectures in
    Nonequilibrium Statistical Mechanics: Fundamental Problems and Applications,
    2009 Boulder School for Condensed Matter and Materials Physics, Boulder, CO,
    6–24 July 2009.

     
     Other
     

    "Free Energy Surface Reconstruction of lambda-phage DNA Using Jarzynski's Equality." SCBA-Texas 2008 Symposium, Houston, TX. (SCBA-Texas 2008 Symposium}, 19 April 2008)

     
     

    Speaker.  "Free Energy Surface Reconstruction Using Jarzynski's Equality." The 2007 APS March Meeting, Denver, CO. (8 March 2007) With N. C. Harris

     
     Posters
     

    Advisor.  "Is End-to-End Distance a Good Reaction Coordinate?." Biophysical Society 53th Annual Meeting, Boston, MA. (28 February-4 March 2009) With N. C. Harris, E. Botello, W.-H. Chen, K.-J. Lin, and C.-H. Kiang

     
     

    Advisor.  "Single Molecule Manipulation Studies of the Influenza A Virus." Rice Quantum Institute Annual Research Colloquium, Houston, TX. (7 August 2009) With E. Rowe and C.-H. Kiang,

     
     Seminar Speaker
     

    "Mechanical Control and Free Energy Landscapes of Single Protein and DNA Molecules," seminar in Bioengineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 19 April 2012.

     
     

    "Single-Molecule Force Measurements and Free Energy Landscapes of DNA and Proteins,"
    seminar in Physics, University of Texas, Austin, TX, 19 March 2012.

     
     

    "Exploring Biology and Medicine Through Single-Molecule Manipulation," seminar in Physics, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, 15 December 2011.

     
     

    "Observation of Misfolded Proteins and DNA Through Single Molecule Force Measurements," seminar in Institute of Physics, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan, 26 December 2011.

     
     

    "Single-Molecule Investigation of Equilibrium and Dynamic Pathways of Biological Macromolecules," seminar in Chemistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC, 20 December 2011.

     
     

    ""Seeing" Protein and Nucleic Acid Properties at the Nanometer Scale,." Seeing at Nanoscale VII, Santa Barbara, CA. (28-31 July 2009)

     
     

    Advisor.  "Direct Observation of Multiple Overstretching Pathways of poly dA by Atomic Force Microscopy." Rice Quantum Institute Annual Research Colloquium, Houston, TX. (7 August 2009) With W.-S. Chen, W.-H. Chen and C.-H. Kiang

     
     

    "Direct Observation of Multiple Pathways of DNA Stacking Using Single-Molecule AFM." The 2009 APS March Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA. (16-20 March 2009)

     
     

    Advisor.  "Experimental Investigation of the Velocity Convergence of Jarzynski's Equality Using Single-Molecule AFM Pulling of Titin I27." The 2009 APS March Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA. (16-20 March 2009) With N. C. Harris and C.-H. Kiang

     
     

    Advisor.  "Free Energy Reconstruction of DNA Unstacking Using Jarzynski Equality and Crook's Fluctuation Theorem." Rice Quantum Institute Annual Research Colloquium, Houston, TX. (7 August 2009) With E. W. Frey, W.-H. Chen, and C.-H. Kiang

     
     

    Advisor.  "Increase in Mechanical Resistance to Force in a Shear-Activated Protein." The 2009 APS March Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA. (16-20 March 2009) With E. Botello, N. C. Harris, H. Choi, Z. Zhou, A. Bergeron, J. -F. Dong and C.-H. Kiang

     
     

    "Protein Unfolding Energy Determined by Jarzynski's Equality." The 2006 APS March Meeting, Baltimore, MD. (13--17 March 2006) With N. C. Harris, L. Li, Y. Song, and W. Liao

     
     Session Chair
     

    Chair for the Symposium on Analytical and Computational Modeling in Mechanobiology, in the 2015 Society of Engineering Science 52nd Annual Technical Meeting (SES2015), Texas A & M University, College Station, Texas, 27 October 2015.

     
     

    Chair for the focus session "Single Molecule Biophysics II: Novel single-molecule approaches to biology," The 2011 APS March Meeting, Dallas, TX, 21-25 March 2011.

     
     

    Chair for "Session 1-4: Proteins Interacting with DNA and RNA," BIT Life Sciences' 3nd annual PepCon-2010, Beijing, China, 21-23 March 2010.

     
     

    "A20: Proteins: Structure and Functions I." The 2009 APS March Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA. (16-20 March 2009)

     
     

    "Track 1-2: Proteomics and Medical Implications." The 4th Medical Biotech Forum, Dalian, China. (8-10 2009)

     
     

    "Track 2-2: Biological Significances of Protein Aggregation, Folding/unfolding, and Signaling." BIT Life Sciences' 2nd annual PepCon-2009, Seoul, South Korea. (2-4 April 2009)

     
     Workshops
     

    Invited participant.  "Synthetic Biology: Building on Nature's Inspiration." National Academies Keck Futures Initiative (NAKFI) conference, Irvine, CA. (19-22 November 2009)

     
    Supervised Theses & Dissertations
     Nolan Harris, BS Disorder in DNA-Linked Gold Nanoparticle Assemblies. (2004) (Thesis or Dissertation Director)

     Nolan C. Harris, PhD Nanoscale Manipulation and Studies of Individual Biomolecules and DNA-Based Nanostructures. (2009) (Thesis or Dissertation Director)

     Eric B. Botello, PhD Temperature and Chemical Denaturant Dependence of Forced-Unfolding of Titin I27. (2012) (Thesis or Dissertation Director)

     Sithara Suransi Wijeratne, PhD Single Molecule Force Signatures in Biological Physics. (2015) (Thesis or Dissertation Director)

     Jingqiang Li, PhD Single Molecule and Single Cell Studies of Biological Systems. (2017) (Thesis or Dissertation Director)

     Seth Coleman, PhD Single Cell Studies of Cancer Cells. (Thesis or Dissertation Director)

    Awards, Prizes, & Fellowships
     Fellow of the American Physical Society, American Physical Society (2010)

     Best of Small Tech Researcher of the Year, Small Times (15 November 2007)

    Positions Held
     Visiting Associate, California Institute of Technology. (2011 - 2011)