Riboglow probes undergo fluorescence turn-on when bound to specific RNA sequences (in green). The chemical linkers of these probes can be varied to modulate fluorescence properties, enabling strategic linker design to enhance RNA detection with the Riboglow-FLIM platform. These findings underline the importance of rational probe design and demonstrate the sensitivity of fluorescence to subtle differences in linker chemical structure.
This publication stems from a long-standing collaboration with Dr. Van Dyke at Fairfield University, a primarily undergraduate institution (PUI). Undergraduate students from his lab are co-authors on the paper, along with Georgetown undergraduate Giulia Chitu. The work also benefited from frequent and productive discussions within the ISM community, as highlighted in the acknowledgements, underscoring the collaborative environment that helped drive the project forward.
Credit: Luke Shafik
Read more: HERE
ISM 2026 – 2027 Soft Matter Graduate Fellowship Recipients
June 17th, 2026
The Institute for Soft Matter Synthesis and Metrology (ISM) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2026–2027 Soft Matter Graduate Fellowship: Elena Marchetti and Luke Shafik.…
ISM Students Earn National Recognition at Global Physics Summit
April 8th, 2026
Two ISM Graduate Students in Professor Del Gado’s lab, Rose Tchuenkam Batoum and Logan Bayer, were recognized for their research at the American Physical Society (APS) Global Summit, one of the largest and most influential gatherings in the field of physics.…
2025 ISM–NIST Fellows: Narayan Das and Ruth Crothers
March 20th, 2026
The Institute for Soft Matter and Metrology (ISM) is pleased to welcome the 2025 ISM–NIST Fellows, Narayan Das and Ruth Crothers, whose research spans polymer mechanics, colloidal materials, and advanced measurement techniques. …
ISM Professor Dan Blair Contributes to $9M Multidisciplinary Naval Research Initiative
March 18th, 2026
Professor Dan Blair, a member of Georgetown’s Institute for Soft Matter Synthesis and Metrology (ISM), is part of a newly funded $9 million Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI) led by Virginia Tech and supported by the Office of Naval Research. …
Recent Soft Matter Seminars Explore Lung Mechanics and Cellular Organization
March 5th, 2026
ISM recently hosted two Soft Matter Seminars that showcased the breadth of soft matter research, from the mechanics of lung interfaces to the physical principles underlying gene regulation. …
Welcoming Dr. Priyanka Joshi to the Institute for Soft Matter Synthesis and Metrology
February 11th, 2026
ISM is pleased to welcome Dr. Priyanka Joshi as a new Institute member. Dr. Joshi is a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology at Georgetown University Medical Center, where she directs the Laboratory of Biomolecular Homeostasis and Resilience.…
Uric Acid Microspheres: Unexpected Architecture in Reptile Waste Reveals New Soft Matter Insights
December 10th, 2025
A newly published study led by ISM member Prof. Jennifer Swift and collaborators, “Uric Acid Monohydrate Nanocrystals: An Adaptable Platform for Nitrogen and Salt Management in Reptiles,” explores the surprising nanostructure of uric acid waste produced by ball pythons.…
Professor Blair elected APS Fellow
October 27th, 2025
Professor Dan Blair, Director of Graduate Studies, has been named Fellow of the American Physical Society, for the Division of Soft Matter Physics. Read more in the College story here.…
