Frontiers of Nano-Bio-Computing

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• Prof Sonia Contera
• Saturday 28 October 2023, 15:00-16:00
• Venue to be confirmed.

If you have a question about this talk, please contact Dr Siddharth Ghosh.

This talk is postponed. We will keep you informed about a possible date.

In the ever-evolving landscape of science, we are honoured to welcome Professor Contera as our esteemed guest. She stands as a beacon of interdisciplinary brilliance, and in this seminar, she will guide us through a captivating journey that transcends the boundaries of conventional knowledge. The seminar promises a voyage into the enigmatic world of thermosensitive TRP ion channels, where Professor Contera will unveil the mysteries of non-Markovian rate processes governing their behaviour. But that is just the beginning. She will also delve deeper into the microscopic world, exploring the intriguing potential of magnetic micro-particles. With her expertise in nanoscale rheology and Dynamic Mechanical Analysis, Professor Contera will demonstrate the ground-breaking capabilities of Photothermal Actuation Atomic Force Microscopy. Prepare to be fascinated as Professor Contera unravels the profound coupling between viscoelasticity and electrophysiological activity in individual neurons, a discovery that showcases the intricate interplay between physical and biological phenomena. From there, the seminar will transition to the electrochemical and nanostructural characterisation of innovative coatings, illustrating their profound effects on cell wall fucosylation in Arabidopsis. This research goes beyond biology, delving into the mechanical properties and water loss control that have far-reaching implications. Our journey continues, exploring the superfluidic nature of self-driven nanofluidics at liquid-gas interfaces and emphasising the central role of communication in advancing scientific missions. Professor Contera will then lead us into the world of mapping cellular nanoscale viscoelasticity, a pioneering endeavour with direct relevance to the growth of living Arabidopsis thaliana plants. Beyond the confines of the biological sciences, Professor Contera will showcase the intersection of biotechnology, nanotechnology, and medicine, introducing us to the possibilities of reconfigurable DNA origami and the exciting field of bioelectrical understanding and engineering. The seminar will also unveil the biophysical characterizations of DNA origami nanostructures, revealing their unique properties. Moreover, Professor Contera will present the cutting-edge “Lab-on-a-graphene-FET” technology, which holds promise for detecting key molecular events during influenza virus infection and evaluating the impact of antiviral drugs. But the journey doesn’t end here. Professor Contera will push the boundaries of our imagination by introducing the concept of nanorobots, breathing life into the field of artificial life and unconventional computing.

Professor Sonia Contera is the Associate Head of the Department of Physics, University of Oxford, and the author of Nano Comes to Life. She is a Professor of Physics and an avid admirer of Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose. She will remind us of the extraordinary contributions of Sir JC Bose, a legacy that transcended geographical boundaries from Calcutta to Cambridge by weaving it with her pioneering modern interdisciplinary research. Please join us for this intellectually stimulating seminar where the boundaries of disciplines blur and questions the constrains of the limit function. We invite you to embark on a comprehensive exploration of scientific frontiers, one that mirrors the spirit of her own interdisciplinary pursuits.

This talk is part of the Sir JC Bose Seminar of Interdisciplinary Research series.

This talk is included in these lists:

• MR3, Centre for Mathematical Sciences, Wilberforce Road, Cambridge
• Sir JC Bose Seminar of Interdisciplinary Research
• Venue to be confirmed

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