The Nanoscale Function Group is a multidisciplinary team involved in a number of research areas in the field of nanoscience. By combining expertise in key scientific areas, we are concerned with understanding of the structure and function of molecular interactions on the nanometer scale and probing and exploiting functional properties of a wide variety of materials.

The group, aligned with the School of Physics, is located in the Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research at University College Dublin (UCD). Our research is mainly focused on the development and application of novel Atomic Force Microscopy instrumentation and techniques to find solutions for biomedical problems, at both the cellular and molecular scale, and address challenges in functional, primarily energy-related, materials. The principle measurement tool used by the group is the Atomic Force Microscope (AFM), which we utilize to study various functional materials at the nanoscale.

Fundamental Research Interests:

• Probing the solid-liquid interface

• Functional materials

• Bio-piezoelectricy

• Interactions at the membrane fluid interface

• Functional and pathogenic amyloid

• The role of water in mediating biological interactions

• Cellular signalling and mechanotransduction