Research group

Microfluidics and Sensors

Two fingers wearing globes holding a microchip

Microfluidics is the interdisciplinary study of the behaviour, manipulation and application of fluid at the microscale. It underpins the concept of the lab-on-a-chip, where multiple key components and operations are integrated onto one small platform.

About

 

This is an important underlying technology with applications across a diverse range of fields including medicine, chemistry and oceanic research. 

Scientists across the Institute of Life Sciences have been driving microfluidics research and application forward for more than two decades. With a translational approach many of our fundamental science discoveries have resulted in novel micro-engineered devices which have paved the way for how patients are treated in hospital.  

Our research teams span fields from engineering and physics to medicine and biology and are carrying out research into areas such as single cell analysis, organ-on-a-chip, neuroscience, clinical diagnostics, personalised medicine and environmental monitoring. Our scientists use microfluidic devices and systems to find solutions to some of today’s biggest challenges including antimicrobial resistance and ocean climate changes. 

As well as using microfluidics to provide engineering solutions for biological and healthcare applications our scientists are also training the next generation of microfluidics experts. Our postgraduate students work alongside international leaders in their field, shaping and developing research projects as well as conducting their own research investigations. 

Staff and students alike also have access to cutting-edge facilities which contain state of the art analytical equipment, dedicated cell and tissue culture laboratory and rapid prototyping clean rooms. 

People, projects and publications

People

Professor Adam Prugel-Bennett

Prof of Electronics & Computer Science
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Dr Adriana Wilde PhD

Lecturer

Research interests

  • Safe, inclusive, and secure digital technologies for health to empower people to live independently

Accepting applications from PhD students

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Dr Afaf El-Sagheer

Lecturer in Chemistry

Accepting applications from PhD students

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Professor Age Chapman

Professor of Computer Science
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Dr Al Edwards

Associate Professor

Research interests

  • Affordable microfluidic diagnostics and "µMicro" miniaturised microbiology
  • Engineering next generation vaccines: formulation and function

Accepting applications from PhD students

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Professor Alain Zemkoho

Professor of Mathematical Optimization

Research interests

  • Bilevel and hierarchical optimization
  • First and second order numerical methods for continuous optimization
  • Nonsmooth and nonconvex optimization

Accepting applications from PhD students

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Professor Alan Marchant

Professorial Fellow-Education

Research interests

  • My previous research interests centred on the role of auxin transport in plant development and the synthesis and function of the plant cell wall. I use my experience in these research areas to inform the teaching that I deliver.
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Dr Alessio Bellato Ph.D., MSc, BSc, FHEA, PGCHE

Lecturer

Research interests

  • Emotion regulation & dysregulation
  • Psychophysiology
  • ADHD & autism

Accepting applications from PhD students

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Dr Alex Couto Alves

Senior Lecturer in Statistical Genomics
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Professor Alex Dickinson

Professor

Accepting applications from PhD students

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Interdisciplinary research teams collaborate across engineering technologies with applications in medicine, biology and environment to create novel and disruptive research activity in areas including diagnostics, infectious diseases and water testing.
Professor of Bioelectronics

Contact us

Contact us

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