En Cai

En Cai is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), affiliated with the Mellon College of Science. His research focuses on immune cell dynamics, T cell receptor scanning mechanisms, and advanced microscopy techniques. Cai holds a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and completed postdoctoral appointments at the same institution and the University of California, San Francisco.

• Education: Ph.D., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• Postdoctoral Training: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; UCSF

His work integrates biophysics and immunology to investigate how immune cells detect antigens and communicate through microvilli networks. Key areas include CAR-T cell engineering, tumor antigen transfer between dendritic cells, and the development of quantum dot-based super-resolution imaging tools. Recent studies explore the interplay between exhausted T cells and macrophages in cancer progression. Cai has pioneered techniques like FIONA (Fluorescence Imaging with One-Nanometer Accuracy) and utilizes blinking quantum dots for 3D cellular imaging.

His publications span high-impact journals such as Science, Cancer Cell, and eLife, focusing on cellular dynamics at the nanoscale. While no scientific awards are listed, his contributions to microscopy and immunology are recognized through collaborative lab efforts. He maintains an active research group without listed advisees at this time.