About

Adam Charles, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. His research focuses on understanding the brain through the development of powerful imaging and algorithmic tools to address the unique signal processing and machine learning challenges posed by neurophysiological data, neural imaging, and computational neuroscience. His lab aims to create the next generation of imaging systems and analysis tools capable of overcoming the high dimensionality and complexity of neural activity, involving the development of advanced recording technologies through collaborative hardware and algorithm design, as well as computational and theoretical frameworks for understanding biological and artificial neural systems. His research spans advancing specific technologies such as multi-photon calcium imaging via new data science and signal processing methods, the theoretical analysis and development of models in neuroscience like recurrent neural networks, and broader data science advances with applications beyond neuroscience. Dr. Charles has received recognition for his work, including a $2.7 million NIH grant to develop high-speed brain imaging systems and an NSF CAREER award to study the brain’s complex architecture, further establishing his contributions to the fields of neural imaging, computational neuroscience, and data science.

Research topics

• Physics
• Environmental science
• Geology
• Astronomy
• Astrobiology
• Earth science
• Chemistry
• Meteorology
• Geophysics

Selected publications

• Microfabricated Onsite Analyzer for Biomarkers (MOAB) for Automated Crew Health Monitoring

  ACS Sensors · 2025-06-11

  article

  iomarkers (MOAB), a state-of-the-art device designed for extraterrestrial missions capable of precise biomarker detection. First, the fluid manipulation capabilities of an integrated programmable microfluidic array (PMA) chip are characterized, resulting in high pumping resolution and repeatability, regardless of the microfluidic resistance of the path chosen through the PMA. The MOAB then demonstrates the detection of calcium, creatinine, and hydrogen peroxide after identifying reaction kinetics, incubation times, and the crosstalk of background metabolites for each of the three assays. We confirmed that the MOAB can automatically generate standard curves of each metabolite with high linearity and agreement with manually generated curves. Following successful single-plex tests, the MOAB showcased its ability to perform multiplexed assays by performing duplex and triplex assays in parallel in a single automated sequence. With success in the laboratory, the fluidic manipulation and metabolite detection performance of the MOAB were tested during various gravity conditions. We confirmed that the MOAB can perform multiplexed metabolite assays under various gravitational conditions on a ZeroG flight. This pioneering MOAB platform signifies a crucial proof of principle toward comprehensive astronaut health monitoring, calling for further optimization and sequence development for a broader range of assays for full mission implementation.

  PublisherDOI

• Integrated high performance microfluidic organic analysis instrument for planetary and space exploration

  Lab on a Chip · 2024-01-01 · 8 citations

  article

  . The LOD of LIF surpasses 100 pM (0.01 ppb), enabling biosignature detection in harsh environments on Earth. MOA is ideally suited for probing biosignatures in potentially habitable destinations on icy moons such as Europa and Enceladus, and on Mars.

  PublisherDOI

• High sensitivity fluorescent single particle and single molecule detection apparatus and method

  OSTI OAI (U.S. Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information) · 2023-01-23

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Apparatus is described for ultrasensitive detection of single fluorescent particles down to the single fluorescent molecule limit in a fluid or on a substrate comprising means for illuminating a predetermined volume of the fluid or area of the substrate whereby to emit light including background light from the fluid and burst of photons from particles residing in the area. The photon burst is detected in real time to generate output representative signal. The signal is received and the burst of energy from the fluorescent particles is distinguished from the background energy to provide an indication of the number, location or concentration of the particles or molecules.

  Publisher

• Laser excited confocal microscope fluorescence scanner and method

  OSTI OAI (U.S. Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information) · 2023-01-23 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  A fluorescent scanner for scanning the fluorescence from a fluorescence labeled separated sample on a sample carrier including a confocal microscope for illuminating a predetermined volume of the sample carrier and/or receiving and processing fluorescence emissions from said volume to provide a display of the separated sample.

  Publisher

• Separation system with a sheath-flow supported electrochemical detector

  OSTI OAI (U.S. Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information) · 2023-01-23

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  An electrochemical detector including side channels associated with a separation channel of a sample component separation apparatus is provided. The side channels of the detector, in one configuration, provide a sheath-flow for an analyte exiting the separation channel which directs the analyte to the electrically developed electrochemical detector.

  PublisherOA PDF

• Electrochemical detector integrated on microfabricated capillary electrophoresis chips

  OSTI OAI (U.S. Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information) · 2023-01-23 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  A microfabricated capillary electrophoresis chip which includes an integral thin film electrochemical detector for detecting molecules separated in the capillary.

  PublisherOA PDF

• Fluorescent labels and their use in separations

  OSTI OAI (U.S. Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information) · 2023-01-23

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Compositions are provided comprising sets of fluorescent labels carrying pairs of donor and acceptor dye molecules, designed for efficient excitation of the donors at a single wavelength and emission from the acceptor in each of the pairs at different wavelengths. The different molecules having different donor-acceptor pairs can be modified to have substantially the same mobility under separation conditions, by varying the distance between the donor and acceptor in a given pair. Particularly, the fluorescent compositions find use as labels in sequencing nucleic acids.

  PublisherOA PDF

• Operation of a programmable microfluidic organic analyzer under microgravity conditions simulating space flight environments

  npj Microgravity · 2023-06-07 · 5 citations

  articleOpen access

  A programmable microfluidic organic analyzer was developed for detecting life signatures beyond Earth and clinical monitoring of astronaut health. Extensive environmental tests, including various gravitational environments, are required to confirm the functionality of this analyzer and advance its overall Technology Readiness Level. This work examines how the programmable microfluidic analyzer performed under simulated Lunar, Martian, zero, and hypergravity conditions during a parabolic flight. We confirmed that the functionality of the programmable microfluidic analyzer was minimally affected by the significant changes in the gravitational field, thus paving the way for its use in a variety of space mission opportunities.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Microfabricated capillary electrophoresis chip and method for simultaneously detecting multiple redox labels

  OSTI OAI (U.S. Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information) · 2023-01-23

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  This invention relates to a microfabricated capillary electrophoresis chip for detecting multiple redox-active labels simultaneously using a matrix coding scheme and to a method of selectively labeling analytes for simultaneous electrochemical detection of multiple label-analyte conjugates after electrophoretic or chromatographic separation.

  PublisherOA PDF

• Electrochemical detector integrated on microfabricated capilliary electrophoresis chips

  OSTI OAI (U.S. Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information) · 2023-01-23

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  A microfabricated capillary electrophoresis chip which includes an integral thin film electrochemical detector for detecting molecules separated in the capillary.

  PublisherOA PDF

Frequent coauthors

• Johan Lugtenburg

  Leiden University

  187 shared

• Stephen P. A. Fodor

  79 shared

• Chris Winkel

  Givaudan (Netherlands)

  71 shared

• Ronald Gebhard

  66 shared

• Dagmar Ringe

  64 shared

• George Thomas

  64 shared

• Laurence A. Nafié

  Syracuse University

  64 shared

• Parade Kaback

  University of California, Berkeley

  64 shared

Education

• Helen Hay Whitney Postdoctoral Fellow, Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry

  Yale University

  1976

• Ph. D., Chemistry

  Cornell University

  1973

• BS, Chemistry

  University of Washington

  1968

Awards & honors

• NSF CAREER Award (2024)
• Johns Hopkins Discovery Awards (2024)
• Paul and Daisy Soros Fellow (2024)