Joel Kralj

Interview With a Scientist: Joel Kralj, Electromicist

Feb. 19, 2018

Every one of our thoughts, emotions, sensations, and movements arise from changes in the flow of electricity in the brain. Disruptions to the normal flow of electricity within and between cells is a hallmark of many diseases, especially neurological and cardiac diseases. The source of electricity within nerve cells (i.e.,...

Colorado Public Radio

Colorado Public Radio features Joel Kralj

Sept. 1, 2017

Here's A 'Touching' Discovery About Bacteria If University of Colorado scientists are right, bacteria have a sense of touch. Meaning, the little critters can detect the cells they need to glom onto to cause an infection. University biologist Joel Kralj says his lab showed bacteria have electrical activity going on...

Bacteria microscope image

Bacteria have feelings, too

Aug. 15, 2017

For humans, our sense of touch is relayed to the brain via small electrical pulses. Now, CU Boulder scientists have found that individual bacteria, too, can feel their external environment in a similar way. In a new study, CU Boulder researchers have demonstrated that E. coli bacteria cells get excited...

Graduate Research Assistant Giancarlo Bruni

Giancarlo Bruni named Gilliam fellow for minority mentorship

Aug. 14, 2017

The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) has announced today the 2017 Gilliam Fellowship awardees —exceptional doctoral students who have the potential to be leaders in their fields as well as the desire to advance diversity and inclusion in the sciences. CU Boulder Graduate Research Assistant Giancarlo Bruni is one of...

Assistant Professor in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Joel Kralj, a BioFrontiers Institute faculty member, became interested in measuring cellular voltage as a postdoctoral researcher.

Kralj NIH Innovation Award

Oct. 4, 2016

Innovator Award winner brings to light the electrical changes in cells Electric voltage powers life: Our brains use electrical transients to process every thought and every heartbeat arises from voltage changes in heart cells. Traditional measurements of voltage inside cells involve scientists making tiny wires and impaling cells, exactly the...

Joel Kralj is using fluorescent proteins to reveal how bacterial use electricity to stay alive.

Cracking the code on bacterial voltage

April 13, 2015

Searle Scholars Award winner is cracking the code on bacterial voltage Electric voltage powers life – Our brains use electrical transients to process every thought; every heartbeat arises from voltage changes in heart cells. Despite its importance, voltage changes in bacteria were never really studied because the cells were just...