Digital Microfluidics for Chemical and Biological sensing
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- Date: 08 Apr 2025
- Time: 02:30 PM UTC to 03:30 PM UTC
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- Starts 21 March 2025 04:30 AM UTC
- Ends 08 April 2025 02:15 PM UTC
- No Admission Charge
Speakers
Dr. Hyejin Moon of University of Texas at Arlington
Digital Microfluidics for Chemical and Biological Sensing
Biography:
Dr. Hyejin Moon is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA), where she also serves as the Director of the Integrated Micro and Nanofluidics Laboratory (IMNfL). She received her Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 2005, followed by postdoctoral research at the UCLA School of Dentistry and School of Engineering. She holds a B.S. (Cum Laude) and M.S. in Chemical Engineering from Sogang University in Seoul, Korea. Prior to pursuing her doctorate, Dr. Moon worked as a process control engineer at Honeywell-Korea, Co. Ltd. Dr. Moon’s research focuses on interfacial science, electrohydrodynamics, microfluidics, micro total analysis systems (μTAS), bioMEMS/NEMS, and microscale heat transfer and energy conversion technologies. Her work has been supported by funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF), Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. She is the recipient of the prestigious NSF CAREER Award and was selected as an IEEE Sensors Council Distinguished Lecturer (2005–2007). Recognized for her commitment to teaching, Dr. Moon received the UTA President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and is a member of the UTA Academy of Distinguished Teachers. She has authored or co-authored over 30 peer-reviewed journal articles and 60 conference papers, with her work cited more than 5,000 times in the scientific literature.
Email:
Address:Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Texas at Arlington, Texas, United States
Agenda
In this seminar, the speaker will discuss the integration of digital microfluidics (DMF) with chemical and biological sensors, exploring its transformative potential for sensing technologies. Digital microfluidics refers to the manipulation of fluids in discretized droplets using electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD), a surface tension modulation technique. Unlike continuous microfluidic channels, DMF enables precise and flexible control over individual droplets, offering capabilities such as multiplexing, reconfiguration, and dynamic analysis. The speaker will begin by introducing the fundamental principles of electrowetting-based fluid manipulation and its role in digital microfluidics. These principles allow for a range of fluidic operations, including droplet generation, merging, splitting, and transport, which are critical for sample preparation in sensing applications. Sample preparation methods enabled by DMF include concentration, extraction, and separation, all of which
enhance the accuracy and sensitivity of chemical and biological sensors. Building on this foundation, the speaker will present examples of how DMF has been integrated with sensors to achieve innovative outcomes. Case studies include sample purification for MALDI-MS, DNA isolation, and the development of reconfigurable ion-selective sensor arrays. These examples illustrate how DMF not only improves sensor performance but also expands the scope of real-time, on-chip analysis. The seminar will conclude with a discussion of future directions for DMF-enabled sensing platforms. By integrating digital microfluidics with advanced sensor technologies, researchers can address complex challenges in medical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and pharmaceutical research. The speaker will highlight the potential of this interdisciplinary approach to redefine sensing and fluidic systems, bridging the gap between real-world samples and laboratory-grade analyses.