Movement is a fundamental characteristic of living organisms. It facilitates survival, growth, and adaptation, allowing organisms to interact with their environment, seek for resources, and respond to changes.

The fundamental physical and molecular mechanisms by which molecules create such purposeful and functional motion, on all length scales of matter, remain mainly unknown.

Our research team seeks to identify the fundamental chemical and physical rules that induce microscopic movement in fluids, and shape changes in soft materials. 

Because purposeful movement is such a defining feature of life, our research contributes to the fundamental question of life's origins. In addition, the rules we define for artificial systems may provide strategies towards future unconventional materials, from shape-changing robots to swimming micromotors.