Richard C. Willson Research Group

University of Houston

Could a sensitive molecular test work with a smartphone and very little laboratory equipment? Richard Willson’s group applies molecular recognition to diagnostics, biological separations, and analytical tools for monitoring processes. Its published projects include smartphone-readable lateral flow tests, persistent luminescent reporters, and glow-based immunoassays designed to reduce equipment demands. The work brings chemical engineering together with biochemistry, microbiology, materials, and computation. A central challenge is translating the ability of molecules to recognize one another into measurements that are sensitive, practical, and easier to use.