Chemical Biology Seminar: Professor Zeinab Jahed, UC San Diego
About the Seminar
Nano-bioelectronic platforms for intracellular sensing and delivery
The ability to interface with cells at the nanoscale opens new possibilities for decoding cellular behavior and delivering therapeutics with unprecedented precision. However, biological membranes pose a major barrier to accessing the intracellular environment without causing damage or loss of function. My lab develops nano-bioelectronic platforms that overcome this challenge by creating minimally invasive technologies that can probe and manipulate cells. We engineer nano-electrodes that are over 100 times smaller than a single cell, enabling localized and reversible disruption of the plasma and nuclear membranes. These tools allow real-time intracellular electrical and electrochemical recordings from neurons and cardiomyocytes, and facilitate the targeted delivery of genetic material directly into the nucleus, where gene expression occurs. We have also developed surface-engineered substrates that control nuclear deformation, rupture, and repair, offering new ways to study how physical forces influence cell fate decisions. To interpret the complex datasets generated by these platforms, we integrate machine learning methods that reveal patterns in membrane repair dynamics and therapeutic uptake. Together, our technologies provide a powerful framework for studying cellular mechanisms, improving non-viral gene delivery, and enabling precision bioelectronic therapies.
About the Speaker
Zeinab Jahed is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical and Nano Engineering and an Affiliate Faculty member in Bioengineering at the University of California San Diego. She completed her Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in the Department of Chemistry at Stanford University in 2020 and obtained her PhD in Applied Science and Technology from UC Berkeley’s Departments of Mechanical and Bioengineering in 2018. Before moving to sunny California, Zeinab was recognized among Canada's top early-career researchers, receiving prestigious awards such as the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship, awarded to only 24 individuals nationally (top 0.05%), and ranking first nationally in Chemical, Biomedical, and Material Science and Engineering in the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Postdoctoral Fellowship competition. In 2022, she was awarded the Air Force Office of Scientific Research Young Investigator Award for her work in nano-bioelectronics. Her current research focuses on developing innovative nano-bioelectronic tools that enable precise cellular sensing and targeted therapeutic delivery, advancing our understanding and control of biological processes at the nanoscale.