Ali Yanik's current research focuses on Circulating Tumor Cell (CTC) detection from human blood, using nano-fluidic platforms for cancer diagnostics. His research interests includes nanoplasmonic and metamaterial devices for ultrasensitive infrared/terahertz spectroscopy of biomolecules/chemicals and high-throughput, cost-effective BioNEMS technologies for life sciences and point-of-care diagnostics. His expertise is in high-end nanolithography and bio-patterning as well as theory and engineering of nanophotonic devices.