Virtual Tours

Introduction

Our research focus is to develop nano-wired biosensors for rapid and on-site detection of microbial pathogens and toxins in food, water, animals, plants, and the environment for the ultimate purpose of enhancing public health and biosecurity.

What is a BIOSENSOR?

A biosensor is a device that incorporates a biological recognition (sensing) element in close proximity or integrated with the signal transducer, to give a reagentless sensing system specific to a target compound (analyte).

Biosensor technology encompasses a wide range of disciplines due to the variety of biological recognition elements and signal transducers used. Typical biological recognition elements used in biosensors range from DNA probes, antibodies, enzymes, cells and tissues. The methods of signal transduction used range from electrical, optical, electrochemical, thermometric, piezoelectric and magnetic.

There are a wide variety of applications for biosensors, such as homeland security biological countermeasures, clinical diagnosis, food and water safety, fermentation control, bacterial and viral analysis, industrial effluent control, military operations, and space applications.

Lab Photos

Michael Wiederoder doing serial dilutions of bacterial cultures under the biosafety level 2 cabinet for use in his biosensor research.

Dr. Vangie Alocilja showing frozen stock cultures of microorganisms taken from the ultra-low freezer (-70 oC) storage behind her.

Some members of ARG, Alocilja Research Group.

Trevor Mclean checking out bacterial growth for his biosensor experiments.