GRADUATE SEMINAR 2 (2026)

Designing at the Nanoscale: Tools, Principles, and Programming Strategies in Structural DNA Nanotechnology

SpeakerProfessor Hao Yan, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, USA
Date/TimeThursday, 4 Jun, 10am
LocationLT27
ModeratorA/Prof Wang Zhisong

Abstract

The power of structural DNA nanotechnology lies in its precise, programmable control over molecular interactions and geometry. This seminar introduces the foundational design principles and practical tools used to engineer DNA-based nanostructures and dynamic systems. Topics include sequence design, motif selection, hierarchical assembly strategies, and error minimization, alongside widely used computational platforms for structure prediction and design automation. The seminar will also cover approaches for integrating functionality—such as sensing, actuation, and molecular computation—into DNA architectures. Through illustrative examples, attendees will gain insight into how abstract design rules translate into physical nanosystems, equipping them with a conceptual and technical framework to begin designing their own DNA-based devices and materials.

Biography

Hao Yan is the Regents Professor and Milton D. Glick Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Arizona State University, and Director of the Center for Molecular Design and Biomimetics in the Biodesign Institute. His honors include elected Fellow of AAAS, NAI, AIMBE, and EurASc, as well as the Feynman Prize in Nanotechnology, Humboldt Research Award, Rozenberg Tulip Award in DNA Computing, and Sloan Fellowship etc. He serves as Associate Editor for Science Advances and ACS Applied Bio Materials. A pioneer of structural DNA nanotechnology, he has helped establish it as a chemical and engineering discipline. As former President of the International Society for Nanoscale Science, Computation and Engineering and currently General Chair of the Annual FNANO conference, he has played a central role in shaping the global biomolecular nanoscience community.