Walter Reisner

Walter Reisner is a Full Professor in the Department of Physics and Associate Member in the Department of Bioengineering at McGill University, with additional affiliations in the Quantitative Life Sciences and Biophysics programs.

His research pioneers nanofluidics—developing chip-based networks of nanoscale fluid-filled structures (1-100 nm) that enable single-biomolecule analysis without amplification. This approach preserves critical biological heterogeneity obscured by traditional ensemble methods, with direct applications in medical diagnostics and therapeutics. The lab elucidates fundamental soft-matter physics in nanoconfined systems while advancing diagnostic tools.

Current projects include:

• Dual nanopore devices for DNA feature mapping
• Nanoscale boxes for quantifying DNA interactions
• Electric field-controlled parallel nanoconfinement
• Nanophotonic analysis of extracellular vesicles (with S. Mahshid)
• Atomic force microscope nanopore fabrication (with P. Grutter)

Prof. Reisner actively recruits graduate students through Physics, Bioengineering, Quantitative Life Sciences, and Biophysics programs, providing dedicated support for NSERC, FQRNT, and Marie Curie fellowship applications. The Reisner Nanobiophysics Lab operates from Rutherford Hall (rooms 441 and 418), leveraging McGill's nanofabrication infrastructure for cutting-edge biophysical research at the molecular scale.