I am Chad A. Mirkin, Professor of Chemistry and Director of the
International Institute for Nanotechnology at Northwestern University.
AMA about nanoscience, the commercialization of university inventions,
and more!
Abstract
Hello Reddit, I am a professor of Chemistry (as well as Biomedical
Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, and Medicine) and
Director of the International Institute for Nanotechnology at
Northwestern University. My research focuses on the development of
methods for controlling molecular architecture on the 1-100nm scale and
using such structures for inventing technologies that impact chemistry,
biology and medicine. My research group is best known for the discovery
and development of spherical nucleic acids (SNAs) as well as enabling
techniques such as dip-pen nanolithography (DPN), polymer pen
lithography (PPL) and beam pen lithography (BPL) – methods that allow
scientists to “draw” and create patterns of extraordinary
sophistication and complexity on a variety of surfaces using nanoscale
pens and chemicals and biological materials as inks. In addition to my
work at Northwestern, I am also a member of the President’s Council of
Advisors on Science & Technology (PCAST), and a member of all three
National Academies. I also serve as an Associate Editor of the Journal
of the American Chemical Society, the ACS’ flagship journal founded in
1879. I’ll be online at 11am EDT to answer your questions. Fire away! -
CAM Editing links - ACS Signing off - fingers are worn out! Sorry I
could not answer all of the questions, but thanks for a great
discussion. Chad