Information Storage and Processing Using Time-Ordered Strings of Molbytes, and Molecular Processes

Northwestern will be responsible for developing arrays of peptides to encode information. This work will include the synthesis of design and peptides, the patterning of peptide mixtures on monolayer array plates, and the analysis of the arrays using, for example, mass spectrometry. The project will explore methods for synthesizing peptides, for immobilizing mixtures of peptides and for using peptide analogues that can later be activated to encode information, and will be concerned with optimizing the time and cost to print and read information, including gaining an understanding of the scaling of cost, information density, and speed. The work will be directed by Dr. Mrksich and will be performed in close collaboration with the group of Dr. Whitesides.