Allison Squires

Allison H. Squires is the Neubauer Family Assistant Professor of Molecular Engineering at the University of Chicago's Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering. Her research focuses on single-molecule biophysics, biomedical devices, and nanoscale manipulation techniques. She received a BSE in mechanical and aerospace engineering from Princeton University, a PhD in biomedical engineering from Boston University, and completed postdoctoral training in chemistry at Stanford University.

Education:

• BSE in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University
• PhD in Biomedical Engineering, Boston University (NSF and Clare Boothe Luce Fellow)
• Postdoctoral Research, Chemistry Department, Stanford University

Research Interests:

Her work bridges nanoscale processes in biophysics with engineering solutions, including single-molecule trapping (e.g., ABEL trap), energy transfer networks on DNA, and adaptive mechanisms in photosynthesis. She develops tools like fluorescence-based sensors and polymer patterning techniques to study molecular dynamics in complex systems.

Awards:

• PIERS Young Scientist Award (2023)

Labs & Collaborations:

Her Squires Group includes researchers from engineering, physics, chemistry, and biophysics. Key collaborators include the Moerner Lab (Stanford), Esser-Kahn Group (UC Irvine), and Drummond Lab (UChicago). The lab is funded by the Simons Foundation, NIH, and DOE.

Grants & Future Work:

Ongoing projects explore low-dose PET imaging, FRET-based multiplexing, and cellular stress responses. Current funding includes DOE-NIH collaborations for medical applications and Simons Foundation support for biophysical instrumentation.