Banner1.png
Banner2.png
Banner3.png
Banner4.png
Banner5.png
Banner6.png
Banner7.png
AR_Optical Tweezers + Beads.gif
60x_kbuff_s-ns_reducedthird_crop_label_360.gif
WTCFL_T4-1.gif annotated.gif
ParticlesOnlyFL_T4-1.gif annotated.gif
KaiAEFL_T4reduced.gif annotated.gif

Welcome to the Robertson-Anderson Lab!

Our lab seeks to elucidate the microscale mechanics and macromolecular dynamics in bio-inspired soft and active matter systems and biopolymer networks. We engineer and use novel optical tweezers microrheology and fluorescence microscopy techniques to probe these systems across broad spatiotemporal scales and from steady-state to far from equilibrium. Inspired by the complexity of biological cells and fluids, we also design entangled, crowded, heterogeneous, topologically-distinct, and non-equilibrium biopolymer composites to address critical questions in soft matter, active matter, and polymer physics.

News Highlights

Recent Publications

Featured
Active and passive crosslinking of cytoskeleton scaffolds tune the effects of cell inclusions on composite structure
Active and passive crosslinking of cytoskeleton scaffolds tune the effects of cell inclusions on composite structure

Katarina Matic, Nimisha Krishnan, Eric Frank, Michael Arellano, Aditya Sriram, Moumita Das, Megan T. Valentine, Michael J. Rust, Rae M. Robertson-Anderson, Jennifer L. Ross. Soft Matter (2025)

Kinesin-Driven De-Mixing of Cytoskeleton Composites Drives Emergent Mechanical Properties
Kinesin-Driven De-Mixing of Cytoskeleton Composites Drives Emergent Mechanical Properties

Janet Sheung, Christopher Gunter, Katarina Matic, Mehrzad Sasanpour, Jennifer L. Ross, Parag Katira, Megan T. Valentine, Rae M. Robertson-Anderson. Macromolecular Rapid Communications (2025)

DNA Transport is Topologically Sculpted by Active Microtubule Dynamics
DNA Transport is Topologically Sculpted by Active Microtubule Dynamics

Dylan P. McCuskey, Raisa E. Achiriloaie, Claire Benjamin, Jemma Kushen, Isaac Blacklow, Omar Mnfy, Jennifer L. Ross, Rae M. Robertson-Anderson, and Janet Y. Sheung. PRX Life (2025)

Phage probes couple to DNA relaxation dynamics to reveal universal behavior across scales and regimes
Phage probes couple to DNA relaxation dynamics to reveal universal behavior across scales and regimes

Farshad Safi Samghabadi, Juexin Marfai, Camyla Cueva, Mehdi Shafiei Aporvari, Philip Neill, Maede Chabi, Rae Marie Robertson-Anderson, and Jacinta C. Conrad. Soft Matter (2025).

Programming scheduled self-assembly of circadian materials
Programming scheduled self-assembly of circadian materials

Gregor Leech, Lauren Melcher, Michelle Chiu, Maya Nugent, Shirlaine Juliano, Lily Burton, Janet Kang, Soo Ji Kim, Sourav Roy, Leila Farhadi, Jennifer L. Ross, Moumita Das, Michael J. Rust, and Rae M. Robertson-Anderson. Nature Communications (2025)

Topological DNA blends exhibit resonant deformation fields and strain propagation dynamics tuned by steric constraints
Topological DNA blends exhibit resonant deformation fields and strain propagation dynamics tuned by steric constraints

Karthik R. Peddireddy, Ryan McGorty, Rae M. Robertson-Anderson. Acta Biomaterials (2024)

NSF_DMREF.png
air-force-office-of-scientific-research.jpg
WMKeck.png
og_light.jpg
NIH.jpg