Claudiu Gradinaru is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Toronto Mississauga. His research is primarily focused on biophysics, utilizing advanced laser detection technologies to capture the conformational dynamics of molecular interactions at the single-molecule level. His laboratory employs state-of-the-art ultrasensitive microscopes specifically designed for single-molecule fluorescence imaging and spectroscopy, which uniquely enhance experimental capabilities. Currently, the Gradinaru lab integrates single-molecule fluorescence with structural data derived from techniques such as NMR and SAXS to study the determinants of 'fuzzy structures' in intrinsically-disordered proteins (IDPs). Additionally, his research involves measuring nanometer-scale distances and dynamics of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), which represent a significant class of membrane proteins targeted by medicinal drugs. The ultimate objective of his work is to delineate the activation and oligomerization behaviors of GPCRs within cell membranes and how their innate structural flexibility influences quaternary organization and biased signaling.