Paul R. Selvin

Paul R. Selvin is a Professor of Physics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with affiliations in Chemistry, Cell & Developmental Biology, Micro & Nanotechnology Lab, and the Center for Biophysics & Quantitative Biology. He holds a B.S. in Physics from the University of Michigan (1983) and a Ph.D. in Physics from UC Berkeley (1990). His research focuses on molecular motors, biophysical imaging techniques (e.g., FIONA, LRET), and their applications in understanding cellular processes.

Key achievements include discovering the walking motion of molecular motors using FIONA and pioneering super-resolution imaging. Awards include the Sackler Prize in Biophysics (2006) and NSF CAREER Award (2000). His lab integrates microscopy, nanotechnology, and biophysics to study motor proteins in vitro and in vivo. Current projects aim to observe motors in situ, such as in Planaria and C. Elegans.

Dr. Selvin has advised notable students like Ahmet Yildiz (Science grand prize winner for PhD thesis). His grants include support from NSF, Research Corporation, and the Beckman Institute. Collaborations span physics, chemistry, and biology, reflecting his interdisciplinary approach to biophysical challenges.