MEMS at UCLA
ABSTRACT
MEMS research is found in many labs across the schools at UCLA, from basic science to medical school. Five research groups centered around MEMS will be introduced.
In Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department, Prof. CJ Kim's Micro and Nano Fabrication Lab performs research in MEMS with a focus on utilizing surface tension as a mechanical force. Recognizing droplets as a mechanical object, the lab has pioneered electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD) technology and digital microfluidics (DMF), which it currently aims to democratize for all. Recognizing the air pockets on a superhydrophobic (SHPo) surface in water as a lubricator, the lab has pioneered hydrodynamic drag reduction and recently obtained a reduction of ~30% under a motorboat. Prof. Pei-Yu “Eric” Chiou's Optofluidics Systems Lab utilizes and advances photonics and microfluidics for biomedical applications. General research interests include laser manufacturing and rapid prototyping of functional micro and nanoscale structures and devices; optofluidics for micro and nano particles, cells, and molecules manipulation, patterning, and sorting; and acoustofluidics, electrokinetics, and biomechanics.
In Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Prof. Rob Candler's Sensors and Technology Lab performs research in MEMS and nanoscale devices, micromagnetic devices for advanced light sources, and biological and chemical sensing. Current interests include control of magnetism from the milli- to nanoscale, fundamental limits of physical sensors, and the use of cyberphysical systems to enhance human or machine performance. Prof. Sam Emaminejad's Interconnected & Integrated Bioelectronics Lab (I²BL) performs research in biological and chemical sensors, wearable and flexible electronics, microfluidics, fabrication and modeling, internet of things devices, technology development with the ultimate goal of personalized/precision medicine for everyone, emphasizing solutions that are simple, low-cost, and scalable, while bypassing performance boundaries of conventional biomedical tools.
In Bioengineering Department, Prof. Dino Di Carlo leverages microfluidics, microfabrication, and nanotechnologies to develop interfaces with cells and molecules for applications in disease diagnosis, therapeutic discovery, tissue regeneration, and directed evolution. These tools not only excel at the manipulation and analysis of single cells and molecules, but also are cost-effective and easily accessible -- thus democratizing advanced biotechnology capabilities to solve medical problems.
BIOGRAPHY
Professor CJ Kim is a Distinguished Professor and holds the Volgenau Endowed Chair in Engineering in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He received B.S. from Seoul National University, M.S. from Iowa State University, and Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, and had a postdoctoral visit to the University of Tokyo before joining UCLA in 1993.
Directing the Micro and Nano Manufacturing Lab, Prof. Kim performs research in MEMS with a focus on utilizing surface tension. The recipient of TRW Outstanding Young Teacher Award (UCLA), CAREER Award (NSF), Achievement Award (ALA), Samueli Outstanding Teacher Award (UCLA), Ho-Am Prize in Engineering (the Ho-Am Foundation), Robert Bosch Micro and Nano Electro Mechanical Systems Award (IEEE), he has been involved with numerous professional activities, including General Chair of the 2014 IEEE International Conference on MEMS.
An ASME Fellow, IEEE Fellow, and AIMBE Fellow, he is currently serving on the International Steering Committee of Transducers, on the International Steering Committee of Electrowetting Conference, on the Editorial Board of Micro and Nano Systems Letters, on the Editorial Advisory Board for the IEEJ Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Engineering, as Co-Editor-in-Chief of Functional Composites and Structures, and as Co-Editor-in-Chief for Droplet. Prof. CJ Kim has also been active in the commercial sector as a consultant, advisor, and startup founder.