Kaiyu Fu

Kaiyu Fu is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Notre Dame, where she leads a multidisciplinary research lab at the intersection of electrochemistry, nanoscience, and synthetic biology. Her work aims to develop ultrasensitive analytical platforms for biomedical applications, particularly in point-of-care diagnostics and chronic disease management.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Chemistry, University of Notre Dame (2018)
• M.S. in Polymer Chemistry, Fudan University, China (2014)
• B.E. in Polymer Science & Engineering, Sichuan University, China (2011)

Her research focuses on three core areas: (1) nanoscale electrochemistry enabling single-entity detection; (2) electrochemical biosensors for real-time, in vivo monitoring of therapeutic agents; and (3) nanobiotechnology, including DNA nanotechnology and directed evolution of nucleic acids for precise molecular recognition. Her lab develops innovative instrumentation and materials to overcome biofouling and enhance sensor performance. The recent publications highlight a strong trend toward implantable and miniaturized sensing systems, with applications in cancer therapeutics, drug delivery, and infectious disease diagnostics. These works span advanced materials, surface engineering, and hybrid electrophotonic systems.

Scientific Awards:

• ACS Division of Analytical Chemistry Graduate Fellowship (2018)
• J. Peter Grace Fellowship, University of Notre Dame (2014–2015)

Kaiyu Fu advises graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, and her lab actively recruits creative and dedicated individuals. She has secured research funding to support her innovative work in biosensor development and has contributed to significant advances in electrochemical detection mechanisms, including electron transfer acceleration in nanostructured electrodes and surface charge engineering for molecular discrimination. Her collaborative work with teams at Stanford and other institutions further strengthens her research impact.

The Fu lab is engaged in developing next-generation diagnostic platforms, including implantable microelectrode arrays for intratumoral pharmacokinetic monitoring and hydrogel-based aptamer switches for real-time signaling molecule detection. These projects involve interdisciplinary teams working across chemistry, engineering, and biomedical sciences.