September / October, 2003

Research Interest – Finny P. Mathew

Title: Development of DNA-based biosensor for rapid detection of pathogens using porous silicon platform

One of the biggest problems that beset mankind in the 21st century include emerging diseases and disease causing agents (pathogens), terrorist attacks including bioterrorism and agro-terrorism threats. The underlying area of concern caused by these problems that will need to be addressed is ensuring a safe and sufficient source of nutrition for all human beings. My research topic under Dr. Evangelyn C Alocilja is in the area of developing biosensors for rapid detection of pathogens like Escherichia coli and Salmonella species in food using a porous silicon platform. The research will involve fabrication of porous silicon, biochemical modification of the porous silicon to attach DNA fragments that will bind complementary sequences of DNA unique to the pathogen of interest. The signal change resulting from the binding of complementary sequences of DNA will be measured using appropriate transducers and detection mechanism.

My upbringing in a developing country like India has helped me experience and understand the problems associated with contaminated (inadvertent or deliberate) food and water supply first hand and from that stems my passion to find feasible solutions to “the dearth of readily available, safe, and nutritious food and water”.

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Finny Mathew is a Biosystems Engineering student working towards his PhD

Agricultural Engineering
Michigan State University
A.W. Farrall Hall
East Lansing, MI 48824-1323
(517) 355-4720

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September 15, 2003