Small Methods · 2023
Telling similar proteins apart
Machine learning on single-molecule nanopore events identified similarly sized proteins without labels, with F-values up to 88.7%.
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Materials Molecules Machine learning
Small pores. Big questions.
Dr Shankar DuttResearch Fellow in Physics, Australian National University
Engineering nanopores to read single molecules and control the flow of ions.
Research
Where disciplines converge.
Selected research
Nucleic Acids Research · 2026
One tRNA, more than one shape
Nanopore signals revealed conformational changes caused by a disease-linked mutation in a neuron-specific tRNA.
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ACS Applied Nano Materials · 2023–2025
Conical pores that rectify ion flow
Ion-track-etched conical pores in silica pass more current in one direction, a property explored for osmotic power and electroosmotic pumping.
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Interactive
How a nanopore measurement works
Two simplified models: a molecule passing through a pore changes the ionic current, and a conical pore lets ions flow more easily in one direction.
Simulated translocation event
Follow one molecule through the pore
Cis chamberTrans chamberSolid-state membraneMembrane
Approaching the pore: open-pore current
Ionic current
Open pore → blockade → recoveryTime →
- Dwell time
- 1.0×relative to the protein
- ΔI/I0
- 0.27blockade depth
- Blockade shape
- Short, deep blockade
Depth reflects how much electrolyte the molecule displaces (its size and shape); dwell time reflects how quickly it passes (its charge, the voltage and interactions with the pore walls). Simulated values for illustration, not measurements. The motion is slowed down: real events last microseconds to milliseconds and vary from molecule to molecule.
Drag to follow the approach, the blockade and the recovery.
Record
Research record
- Journal articles
- 23
- Publication list · Oct 2026
- Citations
- 411
- Google Scholar · Oct 2026
- h-index
- 11
- Google Scholar · Oct 2026
- Patent applications
- 3
- CV · Aug 2026
- Students supervised
- 22
- CV · Aug 2026
Recognition
- 2026Winner, Symal Innovation Award7NEWS Australia Young Achiever Awards
- 2026SIEF–AAS Fellow, 75th Lindau Nobel Laureate MeetingOne of nine Australian Fellows
- 2025Finalist, AI Academic/Researcher of the YearAustralian AI Awards
- 2023Elsevier NIMB Young Researcher AwardNuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B
- 2022Jak Kelly AwardRoyal Society of New South Wales
Publications
Selected papers
- 2026Solid-state nanopore sensing reveals conformational changes induced by a mutation in a neuron-specific tRNAArgNucleic Acids Research (opens doi.org in a new tab)
- 2025Characterization of ion track-etched conical nanopores in thermal and PECVD SiO₂ using small angle X-ray scatteringBeilstein Journal of Nanotechnology (opens doi.org in a new tab)
- 2023High Accuracy Protein Identification: Fusion of Solid-State Nanopore Sensing and Machine LearningSmall Methods (opens doi.org in a new tab)
- 2023Ultrathin, High-Lifetime Silicon Nitride Membranes for Nanopore SensingAnalytical Chemistry (opens doi.org in a new tab)
Get in touch
Have a question a nanopore could answer?
I work with researchers and industry partners on nanopore sensing, materials and signal analysis, and supervise PhD, Honours and undergraduate students at ANU.