BSc, University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka
MS, PhD, Northeastern University
Dr. Thayaparan Paramanathan (Dr. Thaya) is a biophysicist whose research integrates advanced physics techniques with biological questions at the single-molecule level.
Dr. Thaya earned his Bachelor of Science with Honors in Physics from the University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka, before pursuing doctoral studies in the United States. He received his PhD in Physics from Northeastern University, where he investigated the interactions between anticancer drugs and DNA using optical tweezers under the mentorship of Professor Mark C. Williams, a Fellow of the American Physical Society and a leading scientist in single-molecule studies. Following his doctoral studies, Dr. Thaya completed postdoctoral research at Brandeis University, working with Professor Jeff Gelles, a pioneer in single-molecule fluorescence imaging, and Professor Jane Kondev, an internationally recognized biophysicist. At Brandeis, he studied how competitor molecules influence the dissociation of non-covalently bound biomolecules using Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence (TIRF) Microscopy, a powerful single-molecule technique that enables simultaneous observation of multiple biomolecular interactions.
Dr. Thaya’s research is centered on understanding the interactions between anticancer drugs and DNA at the single-molecule level. To support this work, he established the Single Molecule Biophysics Laboratory at Bridgewater State University (BSU SMB Lab). Under his mentorship, undergraduate researchers designed and built a custom dual-beam optical tweezers system that uses counter-propagating lasers to manipulate and study individual DNA molecules. His research contributions have had a significant international impact, with his publications receiving more than 800 citations worldwide. In recognition of the quality and significance of his work, a recent publication coauthored with undergraduate researchers from Bridgewater State University was selected for inclusion in the special issue of the Biophysical Journal titled “Biophysics of Cancer.”
Dr. Thaya began his teaching career as a substitute teacher at St. John’s College, Jaffna, and later served as a lecturer at the University of Jaffna before moving to the United States for graduate studies. Prior to joining Bridgewater State University in 2014, he accumulated nearly four years of full-time undergraduate teaching experience at the University of Jaffna and at Assumption College in Worcester, Massachusetts. Throughout his academic career, Dr. Thaya has been deeply committed to undergraduate education, research mentoring, and student success. From 2017 to 2020, he served as Coordinator of Bridgewater State University's flagship summer research initiative, the Adrian Tinsley Program. His excellence in teaching and mentorship has been recognized through numerous honors, including the DiNardo Award for Excellence in Teaching, the Outstanding Faculty Award from the Honors Program, the Online Teaching Innovation Award, and the Excellence in Advising Award. Most recently, Dr. Thaya received international recognition from the Biophysical Society, which honored him with the Excellence in Undergraduate Education Award for his outstanding contributions to undergraduate teaching, mentoring, and research training in biophysics.