Bioelectricity —bacterial electrophysiology
We ask how a bacterial cell’s membrane voltage influence its physiology and its response to external stimuli. Our experiments combine membrane-potential imaging, perturbation and quantitative models.
Engineering biology
We develop optical, electrical and quantitative tools to measure and perturb membrane potential. These tools allow us to test how electrical dynamics influence biological function.
Our work also includes physical patterning of living bacterial colonies.
Emergence —from cellular states to collective dynamics
How does local interaction create organisation at a larger scale? We investigate biofilms and swarms through their electrical, mechanical and metabolic interactions.
Related collaborative work examines synchronised growth oscillations in filamentous fungi.
Journal of The Royal Society Interface · 2024Physics of Life
Across these projects, we ask how energetics, signalling and physical interaction shape living systems. Bacteria provide a way to test broad physical ideas through quantitative experiments. Understanding, measurement and engineering inform one another.
- Understand Physics of Life
- Measure Quantitative biology
- Control Electrical & optical inputs
- Engineer Engineering biology
Research support
We gratefully acknowledge the funding that makes our research possible:
