Kevin Plaxco

Kevin Plaxco is a Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Mechanical Engineering, and Biomolecular Science and Engineering at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). He also serves as Associate Director of the Center for Bioengineering and the Biological Engineering PhD Program. His research focuses on biomolecular folding physics and its engineering applications, including the development of sensors, adaptable surfaces, and smart materials. He has co-authored over 200 papers and holds a dozen patents, earning recognition as one of the most highly cited chemists by Thomson Reuters.

Dr. Plaxco earned his Ph.D. from Caltech, followed by postdoctoral research at Oxford University and the University of Washington. His interdisciplinary Plaxco Group combines expertise in electrochemistry, materials science, and molecular biophysics to advance bioanalytical sensors and protein dynamics research. Notable projects include real-time, high-frequency molecular sensing in vivo and closed-loop drug delivery systems.

Research interests include: biomolecular folding kinetics, electrochemical aptamer-based sensors, protein-surface interactions, and feedback-controlled drug monitoring. His group collaborates with biotechnology firms to commercialize technologies like smart DNA hydrogels and molecular quality control systems.

Selected awards include recognition for high citation impact and contributions to biotechnology innovation. Current lab efforts emphasize wearable sensors, multiplexed detection systems, and in vivo pharmacokinetic modeling.