Soft materials, including everything from gel, rubber to most of what makes up the human body, are at the heart of Thuo’s research. The basis of his research is “frugal science,” or finding affordable solutions to some of the world’s most complex problems like clean water supply, health care, transportation and pollution. His research applies polymeric materials, and other soft materials, in low-cost nanofabrication, materials synthesis, self-assembly, and low-cost, bio-analytical devices. One project in his lab studies charge transport in small molecules. In this project, Thuo and his research team use self-assembly to create a single layer of molecules on a metal surface, the so-called self-assembled monolayers, as well as smooth electrodes that they use to contact the monolayers and measure electrical current going through the molecules. In another project, Thuo is working with an MSE graduate student to develop paper-based, low-cost diagnostic devices. The researchers combine advantages already inherent in paper as a material with polymer synthesis to create materials with tunable surface properties.