This program is a Multi University Research Initiative (MURI) on
“Multimodal UltraMicro Spectroscope (MUMS)”
In this MURI project we plan to investigate, invent, and develop a suite of next-generation tools for the modern bioengineer and life scientist: instruments that will make rapid, detailed and highly sensitive spectroscopic identification and characterization of peptides, proteins and viruses in their native environments feasible. Our approach is based on applying the newly developed tools of the emerging field of plasmon-based nanoscale optics to dramatically enhance the sensitivity of the most useful optical spectroscopies for biomolecules.
Nanoshells, nanostars, nanorice and other tunable plasmonic nanostructures that provide controlled, selective spectroscopic enhancements are being developed as substrates for sensitive detection of chemical species and small molecules.
This highly collaborative multidisciplinary team consists of researchers in the departments of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, and Bioengineering at Rice, and the department of Physics at UT (Austin)
Faculty
Naomi Halas
Peter Nordlander
Bruce Johnson
Jason Hafner
Gennady Shvets
Kevin Kelley
Jefferey Hartgerink
Robert Raphael
Yehia Massoud
DoD U.S. Army Research Office
