Single-Molecule Sensing

Fluorescence Microscopy

Biomarker Detection

DNA Dynamics

Protein-DNA interactions

Force spectroscopy

Education

• Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Michigan, 2013-2016
• Ph.D., Kent State University, 2013
• M.S., Tribhuvan University, 2003
• B.S., Tribhuvan University, 2001

Research Interests

• Single-molecule sensing
• Biomarkers
• Protein-DNA interactions
• Fluorescence microscopy
• Force spectroscopy

Select Publications

Wijesinghe, K.M., Sabbih, G., Algama, C.H., Syed, R., Danquah, M.K., & Dhakal, S. (2023) FRET-based single-molecule detection of pathogen-protein IsdA using computationally selected aptamers, Anal. Chem., 2023, 95, 26, 9839–9846

Ghimire, M. L., Gibbs, D. R., Mahmoud, R., Dhakal, S. & Reiner, J.E. (2022) Nanopore analysis as a tool for studying rapid Holliday junction dynamics and analyte binding, Analytical Chemistry, 94, 28, 10027–10034

Wijesinghe, K.M., Kanak, M.A., Harrell, J.C. & Dhakal, S. (2022) Single-molecule sensor for high-confidence detection of miRNA, ACS Sensors, 7, 4, 1086–1094

Gibbs, D.R., Mahmoud, R., Kaur, A. & Dhakal, S. (2021) Direct unfolding of RuvA-HJ complex at the single-molecule level, Biophysical Journal, 120, 10, 1894-1902

Megalathan, A., Cox, B.D., Wilkerson, P.D., Kaur, A., Sapkota K., Reiner, J.E., and Dhakal, S. (2019) Single molecule analysis of i-motif within self-assembled DNA duplexes and nanocircles, Nucleic Acids Research, 47, 7199-7212

Courses

• Quantitative Analysis (CHEM 309)
• Instrumental Analysis (CHEM 409)
• Spectrochemical Analysis (CHEM 635)

Awards

• IchemE Global Award on the collaborative NSF project in the category “Biochemical Engineering,” 2023
• Graduate Student Senate (GSS) International Travel Award, Kent State University, 2011
• University Fellowship Award, Kent State University, 2010