Faculty

Erik Winfree

Professor of Computer Science, Computation and Neural Systems, and Bioengineering

B.S., University of Chicago, 1991; Ph.D., Caltech, 1998. Assistant Professor, 1999-2006; Associate Professor of Computer Science and Computation and Neural Systems, 2006-07; Associate Professor, 2007-10; Professor, 2010-.

Research Overview

Professor Winfree's research involves theoretical and experimental aspects of molecular programming. Models of computation are developed that incorporate essential features of molecular folding, molecular self-assembly, biochemical circuits, and molecular robotics. These models are studied to determine their expressiveness for programming behaviors such as memory, behavior, and morphogenesis.  Methods for compiling abstract molecular programs into actual molecules are developed and tested in the laboratory.

List of Research Areas

molecular programming, DNA nanotechnology, DNA Computing, nucleic acid systems, biophysics, complexity theory, programming languages and compilers, evolutionary systems

Research Centers

Center for Biological Circuit Design, The Kavli Nanoscience Institute, Center for the Physics of Information, Center for the Mathematics of Information