The Walter lab leverages tools from chemical biology, analytical chemistry, biophysics, biochemistry, molecular biology, cell biology, and bioinformatics to define and unleash the powers of RNA biology and DNA nanotechnology. RNA is a magical molecule that both started life and sustains it today. Over 75% of our genome encodes highly conserved non-coding RNA molecules, compared with only <2% that encodes proteins. How this RNA machinery broadly guides cellular function – through the maintenance, processing and regulated expression of all genetic information – is still poorly understood. For an inspiring read on the prospects of RNA research, please check out this Paper. By comparison, DNA is better understood as the genetic blueprint of life, but recently its utility has dramatically expanded as a scaffold for nanodevices and nanorobots, heralding a modern materials science.