Charge Transport in DNA: From Fundamental Insights to Ultra-Sensitive Detection
Guest Speaker: Prof. Danny Porath, Chair Professor, Vice Dean Research, Faculty of Science, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem，Israel
Date & Time: 14:00-15:30, 9. July, 2026
Location: Meeting room 102, Materials Innovation Building
Inviter: Prof. Ke CHEN
Biography
Prof. Danny Porath holds the Etta and Paul Schankerman Chair of Molecular Biomedicine at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where he has led his research group at the Institute of Chemistry since 2001. He currently serves as Chairman of NanoIL 2027, the annual gathering of Israel's nanotechnology academic and industrial community and international partners.
He earned his BSc in Physics, Mathematics, and Electronics and his PhD in Physics, both at the Hebrew University, followed by postdoctoral research with Prof. Cees Dekker at Delft University of Technology.
His research focuses on ultra-sensitive detection of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) for pathogen and cancer identification, DNA-based nanoelectronics, scanning probe microscopy and spectroscopy of single molecules, and charge transport in molecular systems. This interdisciplinary work combines nanoscale physics with biomedical applications, with potential impact on early detection of infectious diseases and cancer.
Prof. Porath has served in several academic leadership roles, including Vice Dean for International Affairs (2021–2022), Vice Dean for Research (2018–2020), and Director of the Hebrew University Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (2011–2014). In his capacity as Vice Dean for Research, he also served in the founding team of the HUJI Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. He currently serves on advisory boards of the HUJI Nanocenter and the HUJI Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. He is a member of the editorial boards of Self-Assembly and Molecular Electronics, and Scientific Reports. His work has been recognized with several honors, including the American Vacuum Society’s Postdoctoral Award (2000) and the Israel Chemical Society Prize for Outstanding Young Scientist (2007).
Email: danny.porath@mail.huji.ac.il
Lab website: https://www.dannyporath-lab.org/
The ability to recognize and manipulate the DNA double helix opens new opportunities for molecular electronics. Our recent work (Nature Nanotechnology, 2020) demonstrated a breakthrough in measuring charge transport in DNA in a unique nanoscale configuration. This discovery is not only fundamental for understanding electrical properties in DNA but also holds broad implications for molecular electronics. Beyond its fundamental scientific value, this insight lays the foundation for the development of ultra sensitive, label-free DNA and RNA detection methods. Such advancements are particularly crucial for early cancer diagnosis, pathogen identification, emergency medicine, and pandemic preparedness, as seen in the case of COVID-19. In this seminar, I will present our approach to probing charge transport in DNA and discuss how we are leveraging this phenomenon for next-generation molecular detection technologies.