September 2016

Looking for an exciting post-doctoral opportunity? We’re hiring!

We’re currently looking for a post-doctoral researcher to join our team! The start date is expected to be September 2017. Applicants must have experience with cell culture and standard molecular biology techniques. Interested applicants please email Prof. Nair (Nikhil.Nair_at_tufts.edu) a summary of your current research and your research interests. Please also provide contact information of 2-3 references, including your current PhD thesis adviser.

July 2016

Maya Vaishnaw (rising Junior at Concord Academy) completed her 6 week internship in the lab. She did a fantastic job, and we all wish her the best in her future endeavors!

June 2016

Maya Vaishnaw joins the lab from Concord Academy for 6 weeks as a summer intern!


The lab attends Boston Bacterial Meeting at MIT.

Joe & Zac and Todd present posters there and their posters were swamped by interested attendees!

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The Nair lab returns to Medford High School

We engaged and educated Honors Biology students (freshman and sophomores) about Chemical & Biological Engineering and Synthetic Biology. This time we expanded our effort from last year to a three-day module where the students got to transform a reporter plasmid into E. coli and generate an arabinose biosensor! They then used this biosensor for a CSI-style investigation into to identify the “ground zero” of a Intestinal Candidiasis infection that is being spread downriver by infected patients. Slides for Day 1Day 2, Day 3, and  transformation  protocol are available for others to use. Thanks again for Karen O’Hagan (Tufts), Ms. Audrey Feitor (MHS), and Mr. Rocco Cieri (MHS) for working with us on this! Pictures from our visit are below:

Dr. Nair explains how engineering and science are distinct, but related. Also explaining how engineering design principles are used to build a living sensor.

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The students use a UV box to identify patients with Candidiasis that test positive with their engineered biosensor.

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Venkatesh, Todd, Zac, and Cassidy discuss their experience with engineering with the students.

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