Scot C. Kuo

Scot C. Kuo, PhD, is an Associate Professor in Biomedical Engineering and Cell Biology at Johns Hopkins University, and Director of the Microscope Facility. He holds a PhD in Biochemistry from UC Berkeley (1988) and a BA in Biochemistry from Harvard University (1982). His research focuses on developing optical tools to study cell motility and mechanics, particularly using advanced microscopy techniques such as laser-scanning confocal microscopy and nano-tracking microrheology.

Key research interests include understanding actin cytoskeleton dynamics during cell migration, cytokinesis mechanics, and pathogen-host interactions (e.g., Listeria monocytogenes). His lab pioneered techniques like microrheology to measure cellular viscoelasticity and developed the FluoMALDI pipeline for integrated fluorescence and MALDI imaging. Notably, he received a $17M Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Award in 2019 for collaborative biomedical engineering projects.

• Lab: Advanced Imaging for Molecular and Cellular Studies
• Key Contributions: Optical tweezers, cell migration modeling, and actin-based motility discoveries

Dr. Kuo’s work bridges engineering and biology, emphasizing instrumentation innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration. His research has been featured in high-impact journals like Nature and Cell, with over 25 years of continuous NIH funding.