Yann Robert Chemla

Yann Robert Chemla is a Professor and Associate Head in the Department of Physics at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. His research focuses on biophysical systems using advanced optical techniques, particularly optical tweezers and microscopy. Key areas of interest include molecular motor mechanisms, viral entry dynamics, and protein-protein interactions under cellular stress. He has pioneered studies on DNA replication processes and the development of light-based control systems for enzymatic activity.

• Received APS Fellow (2020), NSF CAREER Award (2010), and Sloan Research Fellowship (2010)
• Active in interdisciplinary collaborations across physics, biology, and chemistry

Recent work explores phage competition mechanisms, bacterial chemotaxis networks, and novel microscopy methods for in vivo protein analysis. His research bridges fundamental physics principles with biological systems at molecular scales.