Kevin Plaxco

Biography

Kevin Plaxco is a Professor in Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mechanical Engineering, and the Biomolecular Science and Engineering Graduate Program and serves as Associate Director of campus’s Center for Bioengineering and Biological Engineering PhD Program. Prior to joining UCSB in 1998 Dr. Plaxco received his Ph.D. from Caltech followed by postdocs at Oxford and the University of Washington. Dr. Plaxco’s research focuses on the physics of biomolecular folding and its engineering applications. A major aim of the group’s applied research is to harness the speed and specificity of folding in the development of sensors, adaptable surfaces, and smart materials. Dr. Plaxco has co-authored more than 200 papers and a dozen patents and is recognized by Thomson Reuters at one of the most highly cited chemists of the prior decade. He serves on the scientific boards of a half dozen biotechnology firms (several of which are commercializing technologies developed by his group), and has also written a popular science book on Astrobiology.

Research

The Plaxco Group is a highly interdisciplinary research group (involving electrochemists, mechanical engineers, materials scientists and molecular biophysicsts) in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry at the University of California, Santa Barbara, headed by Prof. Kevin W. Plaxco. In short, we build bioanalytical sensors and investigate protein biophysics, among other basic and applied research thrusts.

Mentoring Priorities

"We focus equally on both hard skills (technical abilities) and on soft skills, such as building creativity "muscles," critical thinking, and clear and compelling communication."