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