Principal Investigator

Prof. Seth Fraden

Professor of Physics

MRSEC Director

Email: fraden@brandeis.edu

Phone: (781) 736-2888

Fax: (781) 736-2915

Dr. John Berezney 

Email: berezney@brandeis.edu

Dr. Wei-Shao Wei

Project: DNA Origami

Email: wswei@brandeis.edu

Wei-Shao is a postdoctoral associate in the Fraden Lab. Current research focuses on characterizing the kinetics of self-limited assembly of DNA origami, quantifying their block-block interactions, and exploring potential applications such as encapsulation. He holds a B.S. in Physics at National Taiwan University and earned his Ph.D. in Physics at University of Pennsylvania working with Prof. Arjun Yodh. During his doctoral work, he studied assembly and self-shaping behavior of liquid crystals (LCs) in confined environments and characterized dynamic properties of LC-mediated colloidal crystals. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, photography, and sketching.

Dr. Michael Stehnach

Project: Microfluidics

Email: michaelstehnach@brandeis.edu

As a postdoctoral associate in the Fraden Lab, Michael’s current research focuses on designing and fabricating new microfluidic devices for drug discovery applications and active matter systems. Additionally, he is the manager of the MRSEC microfabrication facility on campus. After completing his bachelor’s degree from Merrimack College, he earned a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Tufts University working with Prof. Jeff Guasto, where he studied cell motility in complex inhomogeneous fluid environments. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, skiing, and music.

Dr. Katsu Nishiyama

Project: Active nematics

Email: nishiyama@brandeis.edu

Katsu is a postdoctoral associate in the Fraden Lab. He is currently working on active nematics. He holds Bachelor of Engineering and Master of Science at Waseda University. He earned Doctor of Science at Waseda University working with Prof. Yuka Tabe, where he studied nonequilibrium dynamics and dissipative structure in cholesteric liquid crystals. In his free time, he enjoys music and reading.

Dr. Quang Tran

Project: Active nematics

Email: quangtran@brandeis.edu

Quang joins the Fraden Group as a postdoctoral associate, working on cytoskeletal active nematics. He obtained his PhD at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore with studies on biophysics of cells and tissues in vitro. He then pursued his first postdoc at multiple institutions in France including Institut de Physique de Nice, Pasteur Institute and Institut Jacques Monod, working on active soft matters and assembly of cytoskeletal proteins. Quang loves baking and hiking in his free time.

Dr. Pragya Arora

Project: Self assembly

Email: pragyaarora@brandeis.edu

Pragya did her PhD at Jawaharlal Nehru Center for Advanced Scientific Research, India. During her PhD, She aimed to explore the interplay of nature and the degree of activity, chirality, and deformability in glassy slowing down. The development of synthetic active matter systems that capture certain key features of living ones allows for a systematic investigation of how activity alters the transition from a fluid to a dense amorphous solid. To this end, she developed a model system of vertically vibrated granules, providing a controlled setting to explore this interplay. In my free time, Pragya likes to paint, sketch, meditate and explore new places to eat. 

Zahra Zarei

Project: Active nematics

Email: zahrazarei@brandeis.edu  

Rupam Saha

Project: DNA Origami

Email: rupamsaha@brandeis.edu  

Rupam did his Bachelor in Physics from Scottish Church College affiliated to University of Calcutta and Master in Physics from University of Hyderabad. Currently, He is working on templated self assembly with the help of DNA origami. He is also the webmaster of Fraden Lab. Rupam loves mobile photography, exploring new places and does regular experiments with cooking.

Hope Zhou

Project: DNA origami

Email: hopezhou@brandeis.edu 

Hope is an undergraduate researcher majoring in biology at Brandeis University. In the Fraden lab, she is currently studying the self-assembly strategy of DNA origami as well as the relationship between the triangular subunits. Hope is interested in exploring potential applications of DNA origami to the medical field in the future. In her free time, she enjoys reading, exploring new restaurants, and spending time with her cat.