Yu Chen

Dr. Yu Chen is a Reader in the Department of Physics at the University of Strathclyde, United Kingdom, within the Faculty of Science. Her academic and research career has been centered on nanoscale physics, molecular nanometrology, and advanced imaging techniques. She leads a dynamic research group focused on the creation and characterization of nanomaterials with applications in biomedical sensing and imaging.

Dr. Chen earned her PhD in nanoscale physics from the University of Birmingham in 2000. In 2007, she was appointed to a lectureship at Strathclyde University, supported by an EPSRC Science and Innovation Award, marking the beginning of her independent research career.

Her research interests span the development and application of optical and electron microscopy and spectroscopy to study nanoscale structures. Key areas include surface plasmon resonance, two-photon luminescence, energy transfer, SERRS, nanoparticle-cell interactions, cytotoxicity, and 3D nanoparticle visualization. Her work has strong implications for biomedical imaging, drug delivery, and nanotoxicology.

The recent publications and research outputs reflect a consistent focus on fluorescence-based nanometrology, nanoparticle adsorption behaviors, computational modeling of molecular interactions, and the development of low-cost imaging technologies. Themes across these works include nanomaterial characterization, fluorescence dynamics, and translational applications in biomedicine.

• A Fellow of the Royal Microscopical Society (2007)
• Member of the European Microscopy Society
• Member of the Institute of Physics
• Member of the American Chemical Society
• Member of the Society of Chemical Industry
• Member of the Nanotechnology Knowledge Transfer Network

Dr. Chen has supervised doctoral researchers and co-investigated multiple funded projects, including those related to Alzheimer’s disease therapeutics and cancer detection technologies. She is active in professional service, serving as a journal referee, guest editor, conference organizer, and advisor for international scientific bodies such as the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST). Her collaborative network spans physics, chemistry, and biomedical engineering disciplines.

She leads and contributes to several research projects involving fluorescence imaging, nanoparticle characterization, and biosensing, often in collaboration with interdisciplinary teams. Her lab integrates experimental and computational approaches to understand nanomaterial behavior in biological contexts.