The Scott Building Research Pods

The following research pods will be located in the building: Biomedical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Synthetic Biology, and Bioanalytic Devices. Listed below, in alphabetical order, is a small sampling of the faculty conducting innovative, meaningful work that will take place in the Scott Building.

Click on the professor's name for more information.

Randy Bartels High-speed biomedical microscopies

Randy Bartels' multidisciplinary work in ultrafast light pulses is leading to high-speed biomedical microscopies, to improve our knowledge of the brain by mapping neuron connections in space and time. This can also aid the study of embryonic heart development, to understand congenital heart defects. Improved microscopy will also allow us to study cell signaling communications and understand the biochemistry of disease in much more detail than is currently possible. His lab is also studying fundamental processes that limit the performance of dye-based solar cells, which are substantially cheaper than any current technology, but currently limited in efficiency and lifespan.
Ken Carlson Water treatment and contamination detection

Ken Carlson's research in water treatment and contamination detection has already led to new systems that can identify pollutants in water and alert utility officers of contaminants in real time. Some of his recent projects focus on removing contaminants from rivers and streams, and recycling water used in water treatment plants. His work will enable utilities to use less water as they maintain water quality and supply, while also enhancing the safety of our water supply.
David Dandy Nanoscale integrated biosensors

David Dandy’s work is creating the next generation of nanoscale integrated biosensors, which will lead to better detection of bioterrorism agents, environmental contaminants, and viruses and bacteria. He is helping to improve “lab on a chip” technology that will make it cheaper, easier and quicker to detect and study chemicals in the atmosphere and the human body.?
Susan De Long New molecular biology tools

Susan De Long has developed new molecular biology tools to study the genes involved in perchlorate treatment, so that bacteria can be used to remove perchlorate and other contaminants from drinking water. The biological processes she studies have applications that range from water treatment and remediation to biofuels, and ultimately will lead to a world where water treatment has less impact on the environment.
Nick Fisk Biological systems for photovoltaics

Nick Fisk's research stands to make an impact in two key areas: energy and human health. He is designing biological systems to "grow" photovoltaics, meaning that renewable energy could be a low-cost reality with minimal infrastructure, even for the developing world. He is also engineering bacterial virus particles to be low-cost diagnostics, having broad impacts on the quality of life of large numbers of people. One of his current projects is developing a phage particle that can detect a protein found in the urine of active Tuberculosis patients, in an effort to make it quicker and easier to diagnose Tuberculosis.
Chuck Henry Miniaturized analysis systems

Chuck Henry's work enhances the use of miniaturized analysis systems (also called "lab-on-a chip" systems) to detect disease and pinpoint environmental contaminants, leading to systems that will more quickly detect and remediate pollutants. He is also developing new techniques to determine the best plant species to cultivate for biofuels.
Sue James Biomaterials & medical devices

Sue James' research in biomaterials will improve the quality of life of people who receive a wide range of medical devices. Progress in biomaterials research will help treat cartilage defects in the knee; strengthen total joint replacements, spine repair, and fracture fixation; and lead to more life-long durable artificial heart valves that do not require anti-coagulation and are much more affordable. Better, less expensive devices can serve the needs of unmet markets in the developing world, including the worldwide pediatric population.
Diego Krapf Nanoscale single-molecule biophysics

Diego Krapf's work focuses on nanoscale single-molecule biophysics: more specifically, studying membrane dynamics and protein-DNA interactions to develop optical platforms for low-cost, high-sensitive sensors to diagnose infectious diseases. This work can help doctors to treat disease outbreaks before they become pandemics.
Kevin Lear Photonic biosensors & optical communications

Kevin Lear is pioneering advances in photonic biosensors and optical communications, leading to improvements in "lab on a chip" devices and microprocessors. Improved biosensors will help diagnose diseases in remote or developing locations, and better chips will enable devices to operate more and more quickly while generating less heat, leading to more efficient devices.
Christie Peebles Metabolic engineering & systems biology

Christie Peebles' research focuses on metabolic engineering and systems biology in plants, bacteria and yeast. Some of her work has already led to the increased production of key anticancer drugs, and in the future, other plant metabolic engineering may enable enhanced production of others. Her work also has important implications for the production of other bio-based chemicals and fuels.
Ketul Popat High-speed biomedical microscopies

Ketul Popat is developing specialized nanoscale surfaces for a variety of medical implants, to make orthopedic, dermatological, and neural implants more successful in the body. His work is also helping to develop more effective methods of drug delivery, so that drugs can be more easily focused toward the site rather than given systemically, as so many cancer treatments currently are.?
Ken Reardon Biofuel production & pollutant detection

Ken Reardon is a leading expert in the areas of biofuel production and environmental pollutant detection. Last year, his work led to the spinoff of a new company, OptiEnz Sensors, which will develop, manufacture and sell biosensors that detect contaminants in food and water. He is also an internationally recognized biofuels researcher and directs the CSU NSF-funded bioenergy PhD program as well as the university's Sustainable Bioenergy Development Center.
Brad Reisfeld Drug therapies & environmental pollutants

Brad Reisfeld's research focuses on the impact of foreign chemicals ? particularly drugs and environmental pollutants ? on human health. His work is leading to improved drug therapies to treat infectious diseases, as well as better methods for assessing the risks of environmental pollutants.