Seamus Holden

Seamus is currently studying towards a DPhil (doctorate) in Biological Physics at the University of Oxford, UK, in the research group of Dr. Achillefs Kapanidis. He obtained my Masters degree in Physics from the University of Oxford. Seamus’s primary research interests currently focus on improving and quantifying the limits of spatial and temporal resolution of single molecule FRET via TIRF imaging, including the image analysis techniques used in data extraction and the statistical analysis techniques applied to collected datasets. Other research interests include super-resolution imaging and the study of E.Coli polymerases using single molecule techniques.

http://www.physics.ox.ac.uk/users/kapanidis/group/index.html

Analysis of molecular heterogeneity with single molecule FRET

The ability to resolve heterogeneity within a molecular ensemble is one of the most fundamental advantages of single molecule techniques. This heterogeneity may arise either from stable, distinct subpopulations of molecules (static heterogeneity), or from dynamic fluctuations within a molecule over time (dynamic heterogeneity). For single molecule FRET measurements, I will discuss the methods available to extract information on the presence, magnitude and sources of heterogeneity, to distinguish between static or dynamic heterogeneity, and to test observed heterogeneity against the predictions of theory and simulation.  I will also discuss the primary considerations and pitfalls in the practical application of these methods.