Spotlight

Maxim Sheinin

Maxim Sheinin is a graduate student in Michelle Wang’s single molecule biophysics lab. He is using angular optical trap, a unique instrument recently developed in the lab, to probe the influence of torsion on single biomolecules, such as DNA. Torsion is essential in the life of the cell, as DNA and chromatin are constantly being twisted by the action of various molecular machines, during transcription, replication etc. Angular optical trap provides the opportunity to directly measure torques that arise as a result of these processes /in vitro/. Maxim’s current research is focused on understanding the mechanical properties of DNA itself under tension and torque, and specifically torque-induced
DNA denaturation.

  • Contact

    Department of Physics Cornell University 109 Clark Hall Ithaca, New York 14853-2501 Phone: (607) 255-6016 Fax: (607) 255-2643 General email: physics@cornell.edu

    Laboratory of Atomic and Solid-State Physics (LASSP) 511 Clark Hall Ithaca, New York 14853-2501 Phone: (607) 255-6053 Fax: (607) 255-6428

    Laboratory for Elementary-Particle Physics (LEPP) Newman Laboratory Cornell University Ithaca, New York 14853-2501 Phone: (607) 255-4951 Fax: (607) 254-4552