Erik Winfree

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

B.S., University of Chicago, 1991; Ph.D., Caltech, 1998. Assistant Professor, Caltech, 1999-2006; Associate Professor, 2006-10; Professor, 2010-.

Research interests: molecular programming, DNA nanotechnology, DNA computing, cell-free biochemical circuits, nucleic acid systems, biophysics, complexity theory, programming languages and compilers, evolutionary systems

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 molecular-level tasks including decision-making, memory, behavior, and morphogenesis. Methods for compiling abstract molecular programs into actual molecules are developed and tested in the laboratory.