My research interests focus on understanding the molecular mechanism of the mechanotransduction (conversion of sound, a mechanical vibration, into neuronal firing) in sensory hair cells in hearing and deafness, one of the key questions in sensory neurobiology that has puzzled researchers for more than 4 decades. We are also interested in mechanical and chemical regulation of other ion channels. We employ a multidisciplinary approach that harnesses the power of cutting-edge techniques in molecular biology, cell biology, biophysics, and engineering.