The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation announced on Tuesday that Assistant Professor of Physics Yann R. Chemla is one of 118 early career scientists and researchers chosen across seven disciplines, nationwide, to receive a prestigious 2010 Sloan Research Fellowship. In keeping with its goal of recognizing potential groundbreakers in their respective fields, the Sloan Foundation selects fellows based on their outstanding promise and demonstrated intellectual creativity. Sloan funding allows fellows to pursue their choice of research topics and gives them flexibility in applying funds toward their research.
Chemla’s research focuses on molecular motors—complex molecules that carry out specialized tasks within the cell, such as gene replication or cellular transport. He uses tools developed by physicists, such as the so-called optical "tweezers" that utilize the force generated by focused laser light to manipulate microscopic objects, to study biological systems.