Khalid Salaita, PhD
Chemistry professor
Emory University
“If you’re curious and you see something that doesn’t make sense, you ask questions. And it takes you down a path that wasn’t intended in the beginning. That’s science.”
About Khalid Salaita, PhD
STEM Topics Related to His Work: chemistry, biomedical engineering, biology
How He Makes The World A Better Place Through STEM: I discover unknown things about our universe, like how our cells use forces. I make new types of medical tests and train future chemists and engineers.
Hobbies: running, spending time with family, and travel
Education: PhD, Chemistry, Northwestern University
Khalid Salaita, Ph.D. is a professor of chemistry at Emory University in Atlanta, GA who spends his time teaching and guiding students in research. His passion for science allows him to imagine the future and create discoveries that could improve the world, such as new medicines or machines. Inspired by a childhood TV show called Beyond 2000, Dr. Salaita has always been fascinated by imagining what the future might look like and figuring out how to shape it.
Dr. Salaita describes his work as coaching a team in sports. While he no longer handles experiments directly, he provides advice, guidance, and oversight to his students as they work on projects. His lab, consisting of various subgroups, focuses on DNA, but not in the way most people think of DNA as a blueprint for life. Instead, his team uses DNA as a material to create things like synthetic motors and sensors.
These DNA-based creations can do amazing things, like help understand the mechanics of cells or even predict blood clotting disorders. Dr. Salaita explains that DNA is like a set of Lego blocks—by understanding how its pieces fit together, scientists can design almost any shape or structure they want. For example, they could even make a smiley face out of DNA. Seriously.
A major focus of Dr. Salaita’s work is studying how tiny mechanical forces inside cells affect biology. These forces are so small that they’re measured in piconewtons, a unit as light as a billionth of a paperclip’s weight. His lab uses DNA sensors to measure these forces and learn about how they affect processes like blood clotting and immune responses. One of Dr. Salaita’s proudest achievements is his work on a project that aims to develop a faster, more accurate test for blood clotting disorders, particularly after surgeries. His team is currently running human trials to compare their new test, which gives results in about an hour, to the traditional method, which can take several days.
Dr. Salaita’s path to becoming a scientist wasn’t always easy. He grew up in Jordan and Saudi Arabia, and when he moved to the U.S. for college, it was tough being away from family. He also faced pressure to pursue a career in medicine or engineering, fields that were more stable back home. However, his love for science pulled him toward research, despite the challenges of being an international student. Later, he found himself looking for a job during the 2009 financial crisis. In the end, he secured a position at Emory University, where his lab is now thriving.
In 2023, Dr. Salaita won the Merck Future Insight Prize, a prestigious international award. He received this award for a creative and unusual idea—a synthetic DNA motor that could be used to detect viruses. This invention uses a smartphone camera to observe particles moving on a surface, offering a new and efficient way to test for viruses like SARS-CoV-2.
Looking back at his middle school years, Dr. Salaita wishes he had enjoyed the process of learning and growing more. His advice to students today: don’t take things too seriously and enjoy exploring your interests. Middle school is a great time to discover what you’re passionate about, just like he did when he started tinkering with science at a young age.
Dr. Salaita’s work is a reminder of the importance of curiosity, discovery, and innovation in science, as well as the joy of guiding the next generation of researchers.
