Speaker Bio and Abstract

Speaker

Weihua Guan
Assistant Professor
Department of Electrical Engineering
Department of Biomedical Engineering (courtesy appointment)
Pennsylvania State University, University Park
Web: http://sites.psu.edu/guanlab/
Email: w.guan@psu.edu
Phone: 1-(814) 867-5748

Seminar Title

“Electrofluidics and optofluidics: Bringing Moore's law to biomedical in-vitro diagnostics and life sciences"

Abstract

Whereas the complex computation problems have been efficiently tackled by the exponentially growing number of transistors integrated into a single chip, solving the incredible biomedical problems (especially at the molecular level) still faces many challenges. As the driving forces for Moore’s law in microelectronics, micro- and nano-scale technologies also hold great promise for unraveling the mystery in life sciences and developing the next generation of high throughput, easy-to-use, and reliable biomedical diagnostic devices and systems.

In this talk, I will discuss how microfluidic, microelectronic and optic technologies can be mingled together (electrofluidics and optofluidics) to develop lab-on-a-chip devices for highly sensitive, specific and reliable biosensing applications. Specifically, I will present three representative examples: (1) silicon-bio interfaces (electrofluidics), (2) ‘sample-in-answer-out’ point-of-care molecular diagnosis (electro opto-fluidics), and (3) digital microfluidics for single molecule detection (opto-fluidics).

Micro/nanotechnology-enabled devices and systems serve as a fascinating starting point to increase the bio-analytical power in an exponential fashion and to bring the Moore's law into biomedical diagnostics and life sciences. My vision is that the landscape for life science industry and biomedical in-vitro diagnostics is set to be transformed by continuing fundamental and translational electrofluidic and optofluidics research.

Speaker Bio

Dr. Guan’s research interests lie in the fundamental and translational understanding and application of microelectronic, optic, and microfluidic technologies in lab-on-a-chip devices for medical diagnostics and life sciences. Dr. Guan received his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Yale University in 2013. He is a member of IEEE and American Physics Society. Among other honors, Dr. Guan is a recipient of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute International Research Fellowship and Chinese Government Award for Outstanding Self-financed Students Abroad.

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The Penn State Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics (ESM) is an internationally distinguished department that is recognized for its globally competitive excellence in engineering and scientific accomplishments, research, and educational leadership.

Our Engineering Science program is the official undergraduate honors program of the College of Engineering, attracting the University’s brightest engineering students. We also offer graduate degrees in ESM, engineering mechanics, engineering at the nano-scale, and an integrated undergraduate/graduate program.

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