Next Generation Single-Molecule Biophysics

CHIRLMIN JOO LAB

Using next-generation single-molecule techniques and machine learning, we investigate fundamental biological processes, focusing on the early stages of molecular interactions that are undetectable with conventional biochemistry. Our research spans from small regulatory RNA in gene silencing (RNA interference) and anti-viral defense (CRISPR immunity) to the dynamics of immune recognition, such as HLA-TCR interactions. A key tool in our work is SPARXS (Single-molecule Parallel Analysis for Rapid eXploration of Sequence space), a novel multiplexing single-molecule technique that allows us to probe interactions on a large scale with unprecedented resolution. We also develop single-molecule protein sequencing techniques for advanced proteomics analysis. We have organized  conferences in 2017, 2019, 2022, and 2025.