Andrew Turberfield may not be a typical scientist, but the University of Oxford physicist's journey from academia to industry and then back again — with detours in biology and engineering — may resemble a common roadmap for nanotechnologists.

Turberfield, a semiconductor physicist by training, decided to spend 1998 on sabbatical at Lucent Technologies' Bell Labs in New Jersey because he was “keen to learn some biophysics”. When he actually got to work, he decided to look at the research from a different perspective — using a biological system for engineering purposes.

His approach was very successful; he talks fondly of the year he spent there working on molecular machines made from DNA. He describes the machines as tweezers with stiff arms seven nanometres long made from double-stranded DNA. Selectively adding complementary strands of DNA can open and close those arms.

Back in Oxford he is building a molecular motor that will move along a track. He is also investigating general strategies for nanostructure fabrication based on molecular recognition of DNA strands. The DNA motors could be used to control self-assembly of microscopic components, for example to create molecular-scale integrated circuits.

Turberfield is now developing an interdisciplinary research programme in collaboration with colleagues in the physical and life sciences departments. His alliance with Lucent is also still strong and his work with them continues.

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