Faculty Labs and Research

The Aramaki Lab group focuses on experimental astrophysics research with an emphasis on dark matter searches and gamma-ray observations, engaging in SuperCDMS (Cryogenic Dark Matter Search), GAPS (General AntiParticle), and GRAMS (Gamma-Ray and AntiMatter Survey) projects.

The time-domain high-energy astrophysics group studies a large variety of high energy transient phenomena related to black holes of mass across all mass scale and neutron stars. This group focuses on tidal disruption of stars by massive black holes (tidal disruption events), the hunt for the rare intermediate-mass black holes, and multi-messenger astronomy (search for…

We aim to unravel the mysteries of the Universe, including the nature of dark energy and dark matter, the laws of gravity on the largest scales, and the earliest moments after the Big Bang. To study these topics, we model and analyze observations of galaxies and other astrophysical objects, especially from the Dark Energy Survey…

The Ocean Genome Legacy Center (OGL) at Northeastern University’s Marine Science Center is a non-profit research organization and biological specimen repository dedicated to exploring and preserving the wealth of information contained in the genomes of endangered, rare, unusual, and ecologically critical marine organisms. Its mission is to acquire, authenticate, study, preserve, develop, and distribute genetic…

The Distel Lab studies the evolution, physiological ecology, genomics, and metabolism of marine bacteria and bacteria-animal symbioses, with a focus on symbioses between bacteria and bivalve mollusks. Most recently, Dr. Distel and his colleagues have described two new species of shipworms, with unique symbionts, digestive strategies, and habitats

The Ionescu Lab studies skeletal development, pathology, and regeneration, focusing on stem cell fate mapping, lineage tracing, and single-cell transcriptomics to uncover mechanisms of skeletal growth and repair.

Work in the Subjectivity Lab focuses on understanding the subjective point of view of the mind: How we perceive the world around us, how the brain creates conscious experiences, and how introspection opens a window into our own minds. With an interdisciplinary approach that integrates tools from psychology, neuroscience, and philosophy, we aim to provide…

The Language Acquisition and Brain Lab (QLAB), directed by Dr. Zhenghan Qi, is dedicated to studying the brain organization of language development. We use a variety of behavioral and neuroimaging techniques such as eye-tracking, EEG, and MRI. We investigate how the neural organization for language processing changes from childhood through adulthood and how differently language…

Photocatalysis captures the energy of light to power chemical transformations. The Sayre Photocatalysis Research Group designs low-energy photocatalysts and investigates the mechanisms of light-activated chemistry. Applications of photocatalysis include solar fuels, pharmaceutical synthesis, plant-based products, and plastic recycling.

The Interdisciplinary Affective Science Laboratory (IASL) studies emotions what they are, and how they work— using experiential, behavioral, psychophysiological, and brain-imaging techniques. The IASL is located at Northeastern University, with a secondary site at Mass General Hospital.

The Williams Laboratory for Single Molecule Biophysics specializes in the development of single molecule methods for quantitatively probing the biophysical properties of DNA and RNA and for understanding the biophysics of their interactions with proteins and other DNA binding ligands.

Our work centers on the social worlds of teens, investigating how social experiences interact with ongoing cognitive and brain development to increase risk for mental health problems during adolescence, a period of heightened vulnerability.