My research is at the intersection between nanotechnology, neuroscience, bioimaging and therapy. We focus on developing both small and bright tools for biology, that is, designing synthetic/semi-synthetic nanomaterials or small molecules with unique programmable physical properties for basic science and biomedical applications. These tools will be developed using a synergetic multidisciplinary approach, including synthetic chemistry, materials science, biochemistry, and cell biology. In particular, we are most interested in developing optically active nanomaterials/molecules for probing signal transduction pathways, single-molecule imaging, sptiotemperol activation of neurons as well as diagnosis and drug delivery.