The Biophysics and Bioanalytical Technology Group consists of 7 principal investigators and 2 adjunct research fellows. The group is established aiming at (1) understanding the fundamental principles governing life phenomena in general, (2) exploiting and developing new analytical tools to interrogate complex biological systems, and (3) combining experiments and theories to solve complicated biological problems. Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry is one of the key technologies used in this group.

The theoretical team, led by Dah-Yen Yang, has developed analytical theories for protein folding/unfolding/refolding thermodynamics and kinetics, as well as theories to account for ultrafast electron and energy transfer reactions occurring in photosynthetic reaction centers. Ab initio calculations and molecular dynamics simulations are also carried out to analyze structures energetics of membrane proteins and charge conductivity in polypeptide chains.

Wen-Bih Tzeng studies biologically significant molecules in the gas phase with two-color resonance-enhanced multi-photon ionization spectroscopy in conjunction with ab initio calculations. Ta-Chau Chang conducts micro-spectroscopic studies on dye-DNA interaction, DNA conformational structures, pathways of drug delivery, and also develops fluorescence probes for G-quadruplex structure in human telomeres and quadruplex stabilizers for inhibiting cancer cell growth. Wunshain Fann develops a sub-micron microscopic instrument to address fundamental questions in biophysics such as the Brownian motion of a single DNA molecule in confined space and direct imaging of protein binding to DNA.

The research effort of Huan-Cheng Chang is devoted to development of biological whole cell mass spectrometry and use of diamond nanoparticles as solid-phase extraction supports and fluorescent probes for biomolecules and cells. Collaborating with H.-C. Chang, Chau-Chung Han applies mass spectrometry-based analytical techniques to search for potential human disease biomarkers present in humoral fluids that can be acquired noninvasively.

The research interests of two adjunct members are magnetic resonance studies of the structure and dynamics of biomolecules in solution (Lian-Pin Hwang), and development of genomic and proteomic technologies including biomolecular mass spectrometry and microarray hybridization detection (Chung-Hsuan Chen). The recent research interests of Y.-T. Chen are fabrication and spectroscopic characterization of nano-materials.