My laboratory takes a synthetic biology approach to designing proteins with new functions and engineering microbes for biosynthesis or bioremediation. We are particularly focused on designing proteins that respond to new ligands, with the goal of making novel protein-based small molecule sensors. We use these small-molecule sensors, along with high-throughput genome engineering, to engineer microbes to produce valuable molecules like natural products and biofuels. We are also interested in studying mechanisms of allosteric regulation at molecular-level resolution using systems biology principles.