We are exploiting unique physics, microenvironment control, and the potential for automation associated with miniaturized systems for applications in basic biology, medical diagnostics, and cellular engineering. Current research is focused on:

(i) Quantitative cell biology and mechanics of cancer metastasis. Microfluidic methods to control the surface chemistry, mechanical, and soluble environment are well suited to address questions associated with cell migration and movement. We are particularly interested in the process of cancer metastasis and intravasation.

(ii) Nonlinear microfluidics. Nonlinear fluid dynamic effects are usually not considered in microfluidic systems but may provide simple methods to manipulate and sort rare populations of cells at high-throughputs. We are studying the physical basis of inertial migration of particles and engineering novel portable and robust diagnostic and analysis systems using this phenomenon for applications in the developed and developing world.

(iii) Microfluidic directed cellular evolution. Microfluidic technologies may offer advantages in creating new useful selection criteria for cellular evolution. Besides gaining an understanding of dominant molecular pathways in controlling these behaviors, the resultant evolved cell populations and genetic modifications may be useful for therapeutic applications.

• The Many Facets of Flow Cytometry | Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News, February 2023
• UCLA Team Uses Magnets, Microfluidics to Create Handheld Molecular Dx System | GenomeWeb, December 2022
• Ferrobots, Roll Out: Miniaturized “Warehouse Robots” Automate Viral Surveillance | GenEng News, December 2022
• Handheld Diagnostic Platform Could Help Combat Epidemics | Physics World, December 2022
• A Handheld Kit Provides Accessible Diagnoses for Future Pandemics | Springwise, December 2022
• Handheld Diagnostic Lab Uses “ferrobots” to Automate Viral Testing | Impact Lab, November 2022
• UCLA Team Uses Magnets, Microfluidics to Create Handheld Molecular Dx System | GenomeWeb, November 2022
• UCLA Team Develops Test Kit to Hasten Disease Diagnosis | The Engineer, November 2022
• Handheld Lab That Can Make Disease Testing Over Ten Times Cheaper | Cosmos Magazine, November 2022
• Handheld Diagnostic Device Could Increase Access to Testing in Future Pandemics | Engineering & Technology, November 2022
• Ferrobots, Roll Out: Miniaturized “Warehouse Robots” Automate Viral Surveillance | Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News, November 2022
• Tracking Transcripts in Biologics and Cell Therapies | Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News, 10/2022
• Improving Cell Therapies with Secretion-Based Screening | Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News, 9/2022
• Focused ultrasound: a potential treatment for type 2 diabetes? | Physics World, 5/2022
• Research Shows How Genetically Modified Cells may Help to Release Antibody Drug | AZO Nano, 4/2022
• Nanotechnology enables single-cell sorting by function | Phys Org, 4/2022
• Novel microscopic picoshell particles developed | Science Daily, 1/2022
• How Cytovale Is Set To Transform The Fight Against Sepsis | Forbes, 10/2021
• UCLA engineers develop miniaturized 'warehouse robots' for biotechnology applications | Eurekalert</a, 2/2020>
• Engineers develop miniaturized 'warehouse robots' for biotechnology applications | Tech Xplore, 2/2020
• UCLA Engineers Develop Miniaturized “Warehouse Robots” for Biotechnology Applications | Robotics Tomorrow, 2/2020

• B.S., University of California, Berkeley, 2002
• Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley and San Francisco, 2006
• Postdoctoral Training with Professor Mehmet Toner, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Center for Engineering in Medicine, 2006-2008

• Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), 2016
• Elected Fellow of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), 2016
• Materials Research Society Outstanding Young Investigator Award, 2016
• Pioneers of Miniaturization Prize, 2015
• Elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC), 2015
• Analytical Chemistry Young Innovator Award, 2014
• NSF CAREER Award, 2012
• ONR Young Investigator Award, 2012
• Packard Fellow, 2011
• DARPA Young Faculty Award, 2011
• NIH Director’s New Innovator Award, 2010
• Coulter Translational Research Award, 2010
• Postdoctoral Fellowship, American Cancer Society, 2007 – 2009
• Best Poster Award (for work on large scale single cell analysis in microfluidics), Micro Total Analysis Systems Conference, Boston, 2005
• Whitaker Foundation Graduate Fellowship, 2002 – 2006
• MESA Fellow, Sandia National Laboratories, 2002 – 2003
• Bioengineering Department Citation (one award given annually), 2001

• BE 167L Bioengineering Lab
• BE 177A Bioengineering Capstone Design I
• BE 177B Bioengineering Capstone Design II
• BE 155/255 Fluid-particle Fluid-structure Interactions in Microflows