Name: Sean M. Burrows, PHD

Area of Study / Position Title:  Assistant Professor: bioanalytical chemistry, laser spectroscopy, innovations in biosensor and instrumentation technologies, and cellular analysis.

Why chemistry? (What about it initially interested you?): Curiosity, forensic science, and DNA sequencing at Tufts University as a freshman in high school. In addition, chemistry was the only subject I was any good at in high school and college.

Research focus (in non-science terms) or basic job duties? Our laboratory focuses on the innovation of biosensors and laser-based technologies for qualitative and quantitative analysis of biomarkers in biological systems. More specifically, we aim to image cellular regulatory biomarkers indicative of disease (cancer) development and progression. Providing diagnostic tools and discovering answers to fundamental questions about molecular regulation of diseases and cancers through sensing and imaging is a major interest to our group. Ultimately, our group aims to bridge bioanalytical chemistry, laser spectroscopy, and molecular biology to solve complex biological problems.

One thing you truly love about your job? Working with and training students in chemistry, watching students learn and make discoveries on their own, contributing to the community through innovation and discovery, and playing with lasers.

One interesting/strange factoid about yourself. I used to restore antique stoves from the late 1880’s to early 1940’s.