Dan Luo

Doctorate
The Ohio State University
1997

Bachelor of Science
University of Science and Technology of China
1989

Nucleic acids play a critical role in living organisms as the carriers of genetic information. The Luo Lab has been using DNA as a true polymer and has developed generic DNA materials, including tree-shaped DNA, DNA gels, and DNA-nanoparticle hybrid assemblies. With these novel DNA materials, Professor Luo’s group is exploring real-world applications from biology to materials in diagnostics, pharmaceutics, protein production, drug delivery, cell culture, and optoelectronics.

• Cornell Outstanding Educator for having most influenced a Merrill Presidential Scholar (2015) Cornell University
• College Fellow (2013) American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering
• Outstanding Accomplishments in Basic Research (2012) Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
• Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Grand Challenge Diagnostics Award recipient (2011) Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
• Plenary speaker, 2nd Nano Today Conference (2011) Nano Today

Professor Luo’s teaching emphasizes active learning, and students are exposed to real-world problems and solutions. His current course is BEE 7600 Nucleic Acid Engineering, where students learn the structure-property-function relationship of nucleic acids.

• ENGRI 1337: Introduction to Biological Engineering
• BEE 5951: Master of Engineering Design Project
• BME 5920: Performance of Design Project
• BEE 4990: Undergraduate Research