Research Field:
Links:
What do we do?
Department of Chemistry
We're interdisciplinary.
We are interested in a wide range of questions concerning self-assembly, complex fluids, and soft matter systems,
with a focus on lipid membrane biophysics.
We build collaborations to assemble teams with broad expertise to which our group members bring their training in physical chemistry,
bioengineering, and soft condensed matter physics.
What is soft condensed matter? Daan Frankel calls it
"anything you can't take on an airplane", e.g. gels, aerosols, and fluids.
Current Group Members and Affiliates:
Sarah L. Keller - Professor of Chemistry (and Physics).
How to pronounce my name: Sarah
Keller,
the Duane
and Barbara
LaViolette Professor of Chemistry
Links:
UW Chem. Dept. Page,
Former Assoc. Dean Links,
Other,
Downloadable Bio (pdf),
Downloadable CV (pdf)
Professional Profiles: Google Scholar Profile
My Career Path: "Living Histories" talk archived on YouTube
(Alphabetical by first name):
Angelique Madrigal - Undergraduate Student.
Awards at UW: UW LSAMP Scientist Research Program Fellow, ACS Grad School Readiness and Professional Development Bootcamp Scholarship
Danielle Sorg - Graduate Student in Chemistry - Autumn 2024 Rotation.
Gunnar Goetz - Graduate Student in Chemistry.
More photos.
Awards at UW: Excellence in Chemistry Graduate Fellowship Award
Professional Profiles: LinkedIn
Ido Levin - Postdoctoral Fellow.
More photos.
Awards at UW: 2021-2022 Fulbright Fellow, 2022 Washington Research Foundation Fellow, 2022 HFSP Fellow (declined), Best Poster of 2023 Gordon Conference on Complex Active & Adaptive Material Systems
Online presentations:
2022 Soft Active and Adaptive Living Matter (SLAAM) Seminar
Jack Gipson - Graduate Student in Chemistry.
Awards at UW:
Kent Wilson - Graduate Student in Physics.
More photos.
Awards at UW: 2023-24 Excellence in Graduate Research Award (UW Dept of Chemistry), 2024 Biophysical Society Travel Award, 2024 Finalist Biophysical Society SRAA Poster Competition, 2024 Fellowship to Boulder Summer School in Biological Physics
Roy Black - Affiliate Professor of Bioengineering.
More photos
Sasha Naomi Sawyer - Graduate Student in Chemistry.
Awards at UW:
Sena Noaman - Graduate Student in Chemistry.
Awards at UW: 2023 Excellence in Chemistry Graduate Award, 2023 Lewis & Joan Honnen Endowed Fellowship in Chemistry,
2024 Fellowship to the Cold Spring Harbor Course on Yeast Genetics & Genomics, Presenter at Autumn 2024 UW Scholar's Studio
Publications, Press, and Open Source Code
What Keller Lab Members Need to Know
(Safety, Procedures, Travel, Posters/Papers, Ethics, etc.)
Get yourself a Fellowship, Job, Grant, Plan, Mentor, Career
UW Seminars Related to Biophysics
Sarah Keller's Teaching Page
2024 lecture (30 min)
MRSEC Seminar at Brandeis, for a broad audience.
Alumni: Post-Docs, Ph.D.s & Masters (and awards while in our lab)
2021 Intro to the Lab (downloadable .mp4) or
YouTube Link (3 minutes)
For prospective graduate students considering joining our research group.
2020 tutorial (30 min)
Biophysics & Physical Biology tutorial on membrane phase separation.
2020 lecture (30 min)
Biophysics & Physical Biology Seminar on (1) yeast vacuoles, (2) modulated phases/microemulsions.
2020 lecture (49 min)
UW Astrobiology Seminar.
2017 lecture (55 min)
Fermilab Colloquium on (1) origins of life, (2) dynamic critical phenomena.
2016 lecture (55 min)
UC Berkeley joint physics and MCB colloquium highlighting results published in 2015-2016.
2015 lecture (40 min)
Membrane P-chem of Harden McConnell and how it relates to our lab.
(3:18:55-3:58:30 only. Click for transcript/slides.)
2012 lecture (30 min)
KITP seminar with research relevant to theoretical physicists.
Jake Ashcraft -
M.S. in Chemistry, 2009.
Alumni: Undergraduate Researchers (alphabetical by last name)
Associate Dean and Professor at South Seattle College.
Awards at UW: Natt-Lingafelter Grad Award, UW-Chem. Travel Award,
Puget Sound Soc for Technical Communication Scholarship.
Photos.
Adrienne Battle -
Ph.D. in Physics, 2007.
Current Assoc. Prof. at Green River Community College. Awards at UW: ARCS Fellowship, Dept of Physics Fellowship,
IGERT Award from the UW Center for Nanotechnology.
Mebbie Beattie (Landsness) -
M.S. in Chemistry, 2004.
Current Chemistry teacher. Awards at UW: Outstanding TA Award 2003, UW GK-12 Fellowship.
Photos.
Joan Bleecker -
Ph.D. in Chemistry, 2015.
Current Chemistry Lecturer at UW Tacoma. Awards at UW: Molecular Biophysics Fellowship 2011-2013, UW-GSFEI travel grant to 2012 Faraday Discussions (London),
2012-2013 and 2014-2015 UW Chem Grad Student Merit Fellowship, 2013 Biophysical Soc Travel Award,
2013 Lindau Fellow,
UW-GSFEI travel grant to 2015 Biophysical Soc Meeting, 2015 Ford Foundation Fellowship Honorable Mention.
Photos.
Matt Blosser -
Ph.D. in Physics, 2014.
Current postdoctoral fellow at USC. Awards at UW: UW Graduate School Top Scholar Award, Molecular Biophysics Fellowship (twice),
finalist 2010 Biophysical Soc Student Research Achievement Award,
2012 Biophysical Soc Travel Award, UW's 2014 Lindau Fellow Nominee,
2014 Washington NASA Space Grant Consortium Fellowship,
2014 Dehmelt Prize in Experimental Physics.
Photos.
Zack R. Cohen -
Ph.D. in Chemistry and Astrobiology, 2023.
Current postdoctoral fellow at NASA. Awards at UW: 2017 Astrobiology Scholar Award, 2018 Young Investigator Presenter at Origins of Life Gordon Conference,
2018-2020 Science Communication Fellow at the Pacific Science Center, 2018 NSF Graduate Fellow,
Finalist for 2019 Biophysical Society Student Research Achievement Award, 2018-2019 UW Chem Grad Student Merit Fellowship,
2021 Josep Comas i Sola International Summer School Travel Award, 2022 UW GPSS Travel Award, 2022 NASA Astrobiology Program Travel Grant.
Online presentations: NASA 2022 Astrobiology Workshop,
UW 2022 Astrobiology Panel.
Photos.
Marcus Collins -
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2006-2008.
Current Scientist/Senior Fellow at Placed, Inc.
Awards at UW: Ruth Kirschstein NIH Postdoctoral Fellowship.
Photos.
Caitlin E. Cornell -
Ph.D. in Chemistry, 2020.
Current James S. McDonnell Fellow at UC Berkeley.
Awards at UW: 2015 NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Honorable Mention, S.P. Pavlou & D.E. Strayer Fellowship in Chemistry,
2015 NIH Molecular Biophysics Fellowship, 2016 Biophysical Society Student Research Achievement Award,
Biophysical Society 2017 Education Travel Award, Scholarship to Woods Hole MBL 2017 Summer Course in Physiology,
MBL Physiology Post Course Research Fellow, NC State Building Future Faculty Fellow, 2017-18 UW Chem Grad Student Merit Fellowship,
2018 Biophysical Society of Canada Travel award & Poster Prize, 2019-2020 UW Alma Mater Travel Award, 2019-2020 UW Chem Grad Student Merit Fellowship,
2020 UW Chem Nominee for UW Graduate Medal, 2020 Anna Louise Hoffman Award for Outstanding Achievement in Graduate Research,
2020 JSMF Postdoctoral Fellowship, 2021 UW Graduate School Distinguished Dissertation Award in the Biological Sciences,
2021 Proquest/Council of Graduate Schools Distinguished Dissertation Award in Biological and Life Sciences. Photos.
Marci DeLeon -
M.S. in Chemistry, 2002.
Current Chemist with the USDA.
Christina Faller (Guvench) -
M.S. in Chemistry and Biophysical Structure and Design, 2015.
Current technical marketing manager at SilcsBio.
Photos.
Kim Giebenhain -
M.S. in Physics, 2020.
Awards at UW: DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austausdeinst) German Academic Exchange
Michael Halter -
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2004-2005.
Current NIST Research Scientist. Awards at UW: UW-MDITR STC Postdoctoral Travel Grant.
Aurelia Honerkamp-Smith -
Ph.D. in Chemistry, 2010.
Current Asst Professor of Physics at Lehigh University.
Awards at UW: Natt-Lingafelter Grad Award, Molecular Biophysics Fellowship, Nanotechnology Fellowship (twice),
2007 Biophysical Soc Travel Award, Travel Award to 2007 Gordon Conf on Mechanisms of Cell Signaling (Oxford, UK),
Fellowship to Boulder Summer School for Complex Fluids & Biological Materials,
UW-Chem Rabinovitch Fellowship, UW-Chem Travel Award, Best Poster at Geilo (Norway)
Advanced Study Inst Winter School on Order, Robustness & Instabilities in Complex Systems,
2009 Soft Condensed Matter Gordon Conf Travel Award,
UW 2009 CNT Student Symp Best Presentation/Travel Award, UW Rowland Endowed Research Merit Award in Chem,
National 2010 Anna Louise Hoffman Award
for Outstanding Achievement in Grad Research,
National 2010 IGERT Project Mtg Poster Award,
2011 College of Arts & Sciences
Dean's Medal for Outstanding Graduate Student in Natural Sciences, 2011 UW Grad School
Distinguished Dissertation Award.
Photos.
Heena Lakhani -
M.S. in Chemistry, 2007.
Current NSF staff in the Directorate for Education and Human Resources.
Awards at UW: UW GK-12 Fellowship.
Chantelle L. Leveille -
Ph.D. in Chemistry, 2022.
Current staff scientist at the Allen Brain Institute.
Awards at UW: 2016 Rowland Endowed Fellowship in Chemistry, 2018 Biophysical Society of Canada Poster Prize,
2018 First Alternate for UW MBTG Fellowship, 2019 Biophysical Society Travel Award,
2019 Biophysical Society Student Research Achievement Award, 2018-2019 UW Chem Grad Student Merit Fellowship,
2020 Travel Grant from The Company of Biologists, 2021 Biophysical Society Student Research Achievement Award.
Photos.
Jonathan Litz -
Ph.D. in Chemistry, 2015.
Current Software Engineer, Data Sciences Group, Microsoft.
Awards at UW: Leon J. Slutsky Fellowship in Chem, Brian R. Reid Fellowship in Chem, NSF Graduate Fellow,
2012 Lindau Fellow, 2012 UW Travel Award, 2013 Biophysical Soc Travel Award,
PBS Newshour STEM superstar, 2012-13 and 2014-15 UW Chem Grad Student Merit Fellowship,
2014 UW Excellence in Teaching nominee.
Photos.
Thomas Portet -
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2011-2013.
Current Software Engineer, Data Sciences Group, Microsoft.
Awards at UW: La Fondation Bettencourt Prix pour les Jeunes Chercheurs, UW Sackler Fellow,
2011 Travel Award to Soft Condensed Matter Gordon Conf,
Prix Novela (City of Toulouse),
Prix de l'Academie des Sciences - Inscriptions et Belles Lettres de Toulouse,
Skinner Prize
for Best Poster at the Faraday Discussion 161 on Lipids and Membrane Biophysics (London),
2013 UW Postdoctoral Mentor Award Honorable Mention.
Photos.
Glennis Rayermann -
Ph.D. in Chemistry, 2018.
Current Visiting Professor of Conservation Science at NYU. Awards at UW: ARCS Fellow, NDSEG Fellow, NSF Graduate Fellow, UW Chem. Dept. Nominee for Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting,
Travel Awards from the: (1) 2018 Doerner Inst. Conference (Tempera Painting 1800-1950, Munich),
(2) Foundation of the American Inst. for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works, (3) Biophysical Society (2018 Meeting),
(4) 2018 UW Graduate School Fund for Excellence and Innovation, (5) 2018 UW Graduate and Professional Student Senate.
Professional Profiles: Downloadable CV (pdf), Google Scholar Profile,
Research Gate Profile.
More photos, plus outreach video from
Artrageous with Nate
Scott Rayermann -
Ph.D. in Chemistry, 2017.
Current Chemistry Lecturer at UW Tacoma. Awards at UW: George and Agnes Irene Cady Fellowship in Chemistry,
Lloyd and Florence West Fellowship in Chemistry,
2013-14 Teaching Excellence Award from UW's Alpha Epsilon Delta,
UW-GSFEI travel grant to 2015 Biophysical Society Meeting, Biophysical Society 2016 Education Travel Award.
Photos.
Cynthia Stanich -
Ph.D. in Chemistry, 2012.
Current Chemistry Subject Matter Expert for W. W. Norton & Co.
Awards at UW:
Honen Fellowship, Travel Award to Chemistry Education Research Grad Student Conference,
Travel Award to 2010 Biophysical Soc Conference,
2nd Place 2011 Biophysical Soc Student Research Achievement Award,
UW Dept of Chem 2010-2011 Outstanding Teaching Award,
1st Place 2012 Biophysical Soc Student Research Achievement Award,
Travel Award to 2012 Conf on Transforming Research in Undergraduate STEM Education (TRUSE).
Photos.
Ben Stottrup -
Ph.D. in Physics, 2005.
Current Professor, Department Chair, and
Distinguished Mentor in Physics at Augsburg College.
Awards at UW: Nanotechnology Fellowship Award, ASCB Travel Award.
Photos.
Sarah Veatch -
Ph.D. in Physics, 2004; Postdoctoral Fellow, 2004-2005.
Current Associate Professor in Biophysics at the University of Michigan.
Awards at UW: Henderson Prize in Physics, Karrer Prize in Physics, Nanotechnology Fellowship Award, BMSD Fellowship Award,
2003 Biophysical Soc SRAA Award, Travel Award NATO Biophysics Summer School,
Poster Competition NATO Biophysics Summer School, ASCB Travel Award, Biophysical Soc Travel Award.
Photos.
Heidi Weakly -
Ph.D. in Chemistry, 2024.
Awards at UW: 2019-2021 NIH Molecular Biophysics Fellowship, 2019 UW MBTG Retreat Poster Award,
2019-2020 UW Chem Grad Student Merit Fellowship, 2021-2022 WRF Venture Analyst,
2021-2022 STEP-UP Fellow
(Science Teaching Experience Program for Upcoming PhDs)
Olive Lee White -
M.S. in Chemistry, 2024.
LinkedIn
Laniesha Cobb (Sanders) -
UW NSF REU Participant; Current Chief Product Officer at Braven.
Catherine Chang -
Terry Scurry Scholarship, University Scholarship-Seattle, OMAD Mentor Power for Success,
UW Honors Program Peer Mentor, UW Undergrad Research Leader, 2017 UW Chem Hanahan Scholarship,
2018 UW Undergrad Research Program Travel Award, 2018 Mary Gates Scholar,
2018 UW Chem Undergrad Research Award; Current UW medical student.
Photos.
Sean Dickson -
Became employed at Recombia Biosciences.
Ana Duarte -
2017-18 Mary Gates Scholar (declined), Physics Department Honors Program, NSF GRFP Fellow; Current physics grad student at Caltech.
Peter Duff -
Became lab analyst at Molecular Epidemiology Inc.
Moshe T. Gordon -
2014 UW Robinson Scholarship in Chemistry,
UW Undergrad Research Program Travel Award to 2015 Biophys Soc Conference,
2015-16 Undergraduate Research Leader,
2015-16 UW Mary Gates Research Scholar, 2015 UW-Chem Benson Scholarship,
2016 Dept of Chem Undergrad Research Award; Current UC Boulder Chemistry grad student.
Photos.
Marie Higinbotham -
2012 NSF REU Researcher; Current staff with Washington Service Corps.
Photos.
Marissa Hackett -
Became a staff scientist at Applied Precision.
Pokuan (Paul) Ho -
Current teacher with Taiwanese Educational Substitute Military Service.
Peter Holmes -
DDS from UW School of Dentistry; Current dentist.
Photos.
Ben Horst (Guthrie) -
Mary Gates Scholar, Washington Research Fdn. Fellow,
2011-12 UW Undergrad Research Conf Travel Award; PhD in Chemistry at UC Berkeley, Current postdoc at UCSF.
Photos.
Thien-An Hua -
2010 NSF REU Researcher; Current IT manager at SightLife.
Photos.
Ranee James -
UW Undergraduate Research Leader 2013-2016, 2014 Mary Gates Scholar,
2014 APS Minority Scholarship, 2014 UW Chem Boeing Scholarship,
UW Undergrad Research Program Travel Award to 2014 & 2015 Biophysical Society Conferences
and 2015 National Conference of Undergraduate Research
Photos.
Alex Kirkpatrick -
Current UW undergraduate researcher in neuroscience.
Kim Klonoff (Day) -
UW Chemical Sciences Research Fellow.
Andrea Lamprecht -
MD from University of Queensland, Current general practitioner at Holmead Road Medical.
Photos.
Jialing Li -
UW NSF REU Participant; Ph.D. in physics at MIT, Current data scientist at Pandora.
Matthew Loo -
UW Undergrad Research Symposium Participant, Current Boeing engineer.
Rayna Matsuno -
Ph.D. in epidemiology at Johns Hopkins; Current cancer epidemiologist at Leidos.
Photos.
Morgan McGuinness -
2011 NNIN REU Intern, Award for best NNIN poster; Current staff with Fast Enterprises.
Photos.
Nathan Pennock -
UW Mary Gates Undergrad Research Fellow; PhD in immunology at CU Anschutz, Current Research Assistant Prof at OHSU.
Andrew Ramsay -
Current employee at Adaptive Technologies.
Jordan Starr -
Undergrad Dream Team Researcher; M.D. from Univ of Michigan, Current anesthesiologist.
Photos.
Daniel Stevens -
Became graduate student at UCSB, then scientist at PATH.
Photos.
Mark Stevens -
2007 & 2008 Mary Gates Scholar, UW Arts & Sciences Research Award,
Chem Dept Merck Index Award, PhD at MIT; Current CEO and Co-founder of Travera.
Photos.
Emily Terrell -
UW Space Grant Summer Research Program; MSc in Wine Biotech from UBC; Current Asst Winemaker at Winderlea Vineyard.
Kathy Toreson -
Ph.D. in Neuroscience at Univ. of Maryland, Baltimore; Current Adjunct Prof at Univ. of Baltimore.
Cameron Turtle -
NSF REU, 2009-10 Mary Gates Scholar,
2011 Goldwater Scholar,
2012 Rhodes Scholar.
TEDx talk (see 5:30),
Photos. Became professor at Fred Hutch specializing in HCT / CAR-T
Bob Weng -
UW graduate: B.S. in Biohemistry, B.A. in Chemistry; Current medical student.
University of Washington Box 351700
Seattle, WA 98195-1700 USA
e-mail: slkeller -at- chem.washington.edu
