Marit Nilsen-Hamilton

Marit Nilsen-Hamilton is a University Professor in the Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology at Iowa State University. Her research focuses on understanding molecular and cellular communication mechanisms, with a particular emphasis on aptamer technology, biomineralization, and plant-microbe interactions. She leads a multidisciplinary lab collaborating across fields including biochemistry, materials science, and engineering.

Her work spans aptamer-based biosensors for detecting pathogens and environmental threats, protein-driven magnetite nanoparticle formation, and real-time imaging of gene expression using RNA aptamers (IMAGEtags). Notable projects include developing aptasensors for Ebola virus detection and creating metamaterials using DNA origami templates. Collaborations involve experts in microbiology, computational modeling, and nanotechnology.

Research interests include: molecular interactions, aptamer applications in diagnostics and drug delivery (DRAGINs), and plant rhizosphere communication. She has published extensively on aptamer structure-function relationships, biomineralization proteins like Mms6, and nanoscale biosensor development.

Her lab’s innovations bridge biology and engineering, addressing challenges in environmental monitoring, infectious disease detection, and nanomaterial fabrication. Current efforts emphasize real-time sensing in natural environments (e.g., soil rhizosphere) and improving drug efficacy through aptamer-enhanced intracellular drug retention.