Squires Lab at The University of Chicago

group members

We believe that diverse training and perspectives are essential for doing great science. Our team works collaboratively to pursue our scientific goals. We value our inclusive and equitable research environment, and we are always working to improve our practices for training and collaboration.

Allison H. Squires

Neubauer Family Assistant Professor of Molecular Engineering

Postdoc: Chemistry, Stanford (W.E. Moerner)

Ph.D.: Biomedical Engineering, Boston University (Amit Meller)

B.S.Eng.: Mechanical and Aerospace Eng., Princeton University

AHS Office: ACC 202
AHS Phone: (773) 834-5113
asquires@uchicago.edu

Lab: GCIS ESB20 + W309
Student office: GCIS ESB22
Lab Phone: (773) 795-6647
squireslab@uchicago.edu

Group Admin: Keturah Mitchell
kkd7587@uchicago.edu

Keturah Mitchell

Group Administrator
Molecular Engineering

ACC 204 | 773-834-2201 kkd7587@uchicago.edu

Trevor Anderberg

Ph.D. Student
Physics

B.S. Physics, UC Santa Barbara
GCIS ESB22 | 773-795-6647 tanderberg@uchicago.edu

Sarah Christensen

Ph.D. Student
Biophysics

B.S. Physics, McGill University
GCIS ESB22 | 773-795-6647 sarahchristensen@uchicago.edu

Jiachong Chu

Ph.D. Student
Molecular Engineering

B.S. Chemistry, Purdue University
GCIS ESB22 | 773-795-6647 jcchu@uchicago.edu

Andrés Cook

Ph.D. Student
Physics

B.S. Physics, Harvey Mudd College
GCIS ESB22 | 773-795-6647 andcook@uchicago.edu

Aria Coraor

Postdoctoral Fellow
Molecular Engineering
CZ Biohub Postdoctoral Fellow

B.S. Chemical Eng., Cornell University
Ph.D. PME, University of Chicago
GCIS ESB22 | 773-795-6647 coraor@uchicago.edu

Kepler Domurat-Sousa

Research Tech
Molecular Engineering

B.S. Physics, University of Chicago
GCIS ESB22 | 773-795-6647 domuratsousa@uchicago.edu

Ayesha Ejaz

Ph.D. Student
Chemistry

B.S. Chemistry, University of North Carolina-Greensboro
GCIS ESB22 | 773-795-6647 aejaz@uchicago.edu

Maya Igarashi

Ph.D. Student
Biophysics

B.S. Physics & Japanese, Wellesley College
GCIS ESB22 | 773-795-6647 migarashi@uchicago.edu

Dana Lin

Undergrad Researcher
Molecular Engineering

University of Chicago
GCIS ESB22 | 773-795-6647 diangenlin@uchicago.edu

Kyle Lin

M.D./Ph.D. Student
MSTP / Biophysics

B.S. Chemistry, Stanford University
GCIS ESB22 | 773-795-6647 link@uchicago.edu

Maya McDaniel

Undergrad Researcher
Molecular Engineering

University of Chicago
GCIS ESB22 | 773-795-6647 msmcdaniel@uchicago.edu

Kavya Vaidya

Ph.D. Student
Molecular Engineering

B.S. Physics, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
GCIS ESB22 | 773-795-6647 kvaidya@uchicago.edu

Alumni

Undergrad alumni:

Olivia Schaffer
Major: Molecular Engineering
Group member: 2020-2023
Current position: Medical school (NYU)

João Shida
Major: Molecular Engineering + Physics
Group member: 2020-2022
Current position: Chemistry Ph.D. Student (MIT)

Maddie Joseph
Major: Molecular Engineering
Group member: 2019-2022
Current position: Chemical and Biological Engineering Ph.D. Student (Northwestern)

Summer Researchers:

George Turner
Program: QuBBE Quantum Academy
Group member: Summer 2022
Current position: Science teacher, Chicago Public Schools

Natalie Tsang
Program: Molecular Engineering REU
Group member: Summer 2021
Current position: Undergraduate, UIUC

Roy Hays
Program: QuBBE Quantum Academy
Group member: Summer 2023
Current position: Physics teacher, Chicago Public Schools

Mallie Fitzgerald
Program: Molecular Engineering REU
Group member: Summer 2023
Current position: Undergraduate, Indiana Wesleyan University

open positions

We are always looking for creative, technically minded young scientists to take on exciting new research projects. Please contact us per the instructions below if you'd like to learn more.

Graduate Students:

The Squires Group draws Ph.D. students from across Engineering (PME), chemistry, physics, and the biological sciences at UChicago. If you are a current Ph.D. student interested in joining our group, please reach out to AHS directly via email to introduce yourself and your research interests / background, so that we can schedule a meeting and arrange for you to learn more about our group. If you are a prospective Ph.D. student, the most important step will be to check out the various departments you can apply to at UChicago, because all Ph.D. admissions are handled at the department level (the buttons will take you directly to more admissions info). Please feel free to reach out to AHS with specific questions as you work through the application process.

PME Ph.D. Admissions

Other Ph.D. Programs

UChicago GRAD

Postdoctoral Scholars:

We're looking for postdocs with strong experimental and analytical backgrounds to join our team! Please reach out to AHS directly via email to introduce yourself and your research interests / background. You should attach your current CV and, if you would like, a copy of one of your papers that you're particularly proud of. AHS reviews these inquiries on a rolling basis. UChicago's vibrant and collaborative intellectual culture makes it a great place to do a postdoc! You can find out more about postdoc life here using the button links. Both internal and national fellowships are available depending on your interests and background, so please let AHS know if you are interested in preparing a fellowship application.

PME Postdoc Info

PSD Postdoc Info

Undergraduate Students and Summer Opportunities:

Undergraduate and summer researchers work closely with senior group members to build research skills towards leading their own independent research project in the lab. We take on a few UChicago undergraduates for year-round research. If you're a current undergraduate in engineering (PME), chemistry, physics, or the biological sciences here and you're interested in learning more, please contact AHS directly via email to introduce yourself and learn about possible openings. Prospective summer undergraduate students should check out our REU programs (PME, Physics, MRSEC) or, for UChicago students, summer funding opportunities through CCRF.
We've also hosted researchers at other career stages, for example through the QuBBE Quantum Academy for science teachers (see button link); please reach out to AHS via email with specific inquiries.

CCRF Research Grants

PME REU Program

Apply to UChicago

Quantum Academy

Promontory Point Potluck

Group dinner

Ice skating on campus

Group hike near Argonne

Distanced social during COVID