Atomic Force Microscopy

5 pm open house, tour of lab
6pm talks, Q@A
Bench to Breakthrough
Biocurious Speaker Series #1
Two world-class scientists bring decades of pioneering AFM research — from imaging single molecules to unlocking the secrets of biomineralization.
You can attend virtually
https://mit.zoom.us/j/9966594767
Dynamic Force Spectroscopy has an AFM at Biocurious.
Training to use the AFM is possible.
Atomic force microscopy maps surfaces with extraordinary resolution - angstroms in height, nanometers in lateral extent — enabling characterization of magnetic, electronic, mechanical, and topographic properties across biomaterials, energy materials, and functional surfaces.

How do proteins guide the formation of the hardest tissue in the human body? Recent AFM studies reveal how amelogenin regulates crystal growth in tooth enamel, how genetic mutations alter protein-mineral interactions, and how in-situ AFM opens new opportunities for designing biomaterials inspired by nature.

Dr. Jane Frommer PIONEER IN NANOSCIENCE & NANOTECHNOLOY
Caltech Ph.D Chemistry, IBM Research 1986-2018, ACS Award 2017
Perkin Medal 2020
At IBM Research, Frommer and colleagues demonstrated imaging and manipulation of single molecules with STM. At the University of Basel, her team expanded AFM's ability to distinguish molecular species within monolayers. Her career spanned lithography, 3D nanoprinting, polymers, and biologicalnanostructures. She consulted for Google on molecular data curation and served as Associate Editor at the Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology. Awarded more than 50 patents and author of more than 100 refereed publications. Active mentor of high school and community college students.

Dr.JinhuTao, Founder & Director of Tao Institute LLC
Zhejiang University Ph.D. 2009
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Postdoc 2009-2013
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Scientist / Senior Scientist 2013-2024
Founder and Director of Tao Institute LLC, with more than 17
years of experience developing and applying atomic force
microscopy to biomineralization, energy materials, and interfacial
science. His pioneering work revealed non-classical nucleation
pathways in calcium phosphate mineralization and established the
"Goldilocks Effect" in protein-regulated enamel
biomineralization. His research has also expanded in situ AFM
into studies of batteries, metal-organic frameworks, and electrochemical interfaces.

Author of more than 100 peer-reviewed publications, including papers in Science, PNAS, Nature Communications, ACS Nano, and other leading journals. More than 7,700 citations; h-index 44. His research has been supported by DOE, NIH, DOD, and industry.