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Merlin L. Bruening is the Donald and Susan Rice Professor of Engineering and a full Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Notre Dame . Leading the Bruening Lab , he oversees a multidisciplinary team of six graduate students, two postdocs, and two undergraduates. Education & Career Postdoc , NIH Fellow, Texas A&M University, 1995–1997 PhD in Chemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science, 1990–1995 MS in Chemistry, Brigham Young University, 1989–1990 BS in Chemical Engineering, Magna Cum Laude , Brigham Young University, 1983–1989 Assistant → Associate → Full Professor , Michigan State University (1997–2016) Full Professor , University of Notre Dame (2016–present) Research Interests The Bruening group develops functional thin films and membranes for: Protein purification via high-capacity affinity membranes. Ion separations using electrodialysis and counter-flow electromigration for battery, rare-earth, and salt recycling applications. Controlled proteolysis with enzyme-immobilized membranes to accelerate mass-spectrometry workflows for antibody characterization and glycosylation analysis. Microfluidic integration of membranes for point-of-care quantitation of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies in serum. Publication Trends Recent publications (2022–2025) emphasize electrically driven membrane processes for critical mineral recovery, rapid quantitation of therapeutic antibodies , and environmental contaminant detection (PFAS, opioids). The work spans analytical chemistry, membrane science, biopharmaceutical analytics, and environmental engineering , reflecting a commitment to both fundamental transport phenomena and translational applications. Awards & Honors Benedetti-Pichler Award, American Microchemical Society (2016) MSU Innovation of the Year (2015) MSU College of Natural Science Distinguished Faculty Award (2014) Society for Electroanalytical Chemistry Young Investigator Award (2000) Notre Dame College of Engineering Outstanding Teacher (2025) Funding & Collaborations Current research is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy (DE-SC0017618) , the National Science Foundation (CHE-1903967, 1916601, RAPID-IIP-2031090), and the NIH (1R21AG062144 with Prof. Amanda Hummon, OSU). These grants enable collaborative efforts in electrodialysis, membrane-based proteomics, and tissue imaging . Group & Alumni The lab has graduated >30 PhD and MS students and >35 undergraduates who now hold positions in industry (Dow, Janssen, Abbott, Intel) and academia worldwide. Active students include Chao Tang, Joshua Berwanger, Hui Yin Tan, and Dong Ding , among others.

• Membrane separations
• Protein purification
• Ion-selective electrodialysis
• +5 more

Juhong Chen serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Systems Engineering at Virginia Tech's College of Engineering. With research expertise spanning food safety engineering, biosensors, and bioinstrumentation, Dr. Chen develops cutting-edge technologies for pathogen detection in agricultural and food systems. His work integrates nanomaterials, bacteriophage engineering, CRISPR technology, microfluidics, and artificial intelligence to address critical food safety challenges. Dr. Chen earned his Ph.D. in Food Science from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2016 and completed postdoctoral training at both Cornell University and the University of California, Berkeley before joining Virginia Tech in 2019. His educational background includes a B.Eng. in Biological Engineering from East China University of Science and Technology. Research interests focus on developing innovative biosensing approaches to detect biological and chemical contaminants in food systems. Dr. Chen's lab specializes in creating functional antimicrobial surfaces, advanced magnetic nanosensors, engineered bacteriophages, CRISPR-Cas systems, and portable microfluidic chips. His work addresses major challenges in food safety including pathogen detection, antimicrobial resistance monitoring, and food authenticity verification. Analysis of recent publications reveals a strong trend toward CRISPR-based diagnostics, with increasing focus on amplification-free detection methods, portable point-of-care systems, and integration of multiple technologies for enhanced sensitivity and specificity. His research spans food safety, veterinary diagnostics, and medical applications, demonstrating the broad applicability of his biosensing approaches. Scientific recognition includes: Travel grant for Nanoscale Science and Engineering, Agriculture and Food Systems, Gordon Research Conference (2018) Outstanding contribution in reviewing the journal of Biosensors and Bioelectronics (2018) Withycombe-Charalambous Award for Graduate Student Symposium, Agricultural and Food Chemistry, American Chemical Society Dr. Chen has secured significant research funding including a $450,463 USDA NIFA grant for developing CRISPR-equipped engineered phages (CREEPs), a $20,000 Virginia Tech CeZAP grant for viral pathogen detection, and a $740,537 USDA NIFA co-PI grant for digital nanofluidic chip development. He teaches courses in unit operations, biological processing, and food process engineering. The Bioengineering and Biosensing (BeBs) Lab, led by Dr. Chen, focuses on sustainable agriculture and food systems challenges, developing innovative tools including CRISPR, phages, yeasts, and enzymes to improve food production and safety from farm to fork.

• Food Safety Engineering
• Biosensors
• Bioinstrumentation
• +7 more

Souman Das is a tenured Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he has directed the Direct Digital Manufacturing Laboratory since 2007. Previously he served as tenured Associate Professor (2006-2007) and Assistant Professor (2000-2006) at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Education Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, 1998 M.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, 1996 B.Tech., Indian Institute of Technology Madras, 1990 Research Interests Professor Das pursues interdisciplinary research that bridges advanced manufacturing with materials science and engineering. His work focuses on additive manufacturing , direct digital manufacturing , and micro-/nanofabrication of ceramics, metals, polymers and composites. Specific thrust areas include 3D printing of high-temperature alloys for turbine engines, maskless lithography, laser materials processing, tissue-engineered scaffolds, and energy-efficient desalination devices. The overarching goal is to translate fundamental insights in processing science into scalable manufacturing routes that yield devices with unprecedented functionality, performance and cost benefits. Publication Trends Recent publications (2018-2022) reflect a dual emphasis on process innovation —new additive-manufacturing systems and repair techniques—and materials performance , ranging from nickel-based superalloys and bainitic steels to optical fibres and bio-recognition molecules. The works span mechanical, materials, optical and biological domains, underscoring the laboratory’s cross-cutting expertise. Funding & Collaborations Research has been continuously supported by federal agencies and industry, including DARPA, NSF, NIH, NRL, ONR and Rolls-Royce. These partnerships enable translation of laboratory discoveries to aerospace, energy and biomedical applications. Laboratory & Team Professor Das leads the Direct Digital Manufacturing Laboratory at Georgia Tech, a facility equipped for additive manufacturing, laser processing, and micro-/nanofabrication. The group integrates graduate researchers, post-docs and industry collaborators to advance next-generation manufacturing technologies.

• Additive Manufacturing
• Direct Digital Manufacturing
• Advanced Materials Processing
• +7 more

Ming Xiao serves as a Professor in Drexel University's School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, where he leads pioneering research in genomic technology development with significant applications in molecular diagnostics, cell/gene therapies, and cancer screening. His work has established critical methodologies for understanding human genome structures and variations through innovative single-molecule approaches. His academic foundation includes: PhD in Biophysics from Baylor University (1997) BS in Biomedical Engineering from Huazhong University of Science and Technology (1988) Dr. Xiao's research program integrates micro/nanotechnology , single-molecule detection , and CRISPR-based systems to advance genomic analysis. His laboratory specializes in developing optical mapping techniques and nanofluidic platforms that enable high-resolution genome characterization, with particular emphasis on telomere biology, structural variation detection, and haplotype determination. These technologies bridge engineering principles with clinical applications in cancer diagnostics and precision medicine. Analysis of his publication history reveals a consistent trajectory from foundational single-molecule methods (2007-2012) toward sophisticated CRISPR-integrated genomic tools (2015-2024). Recent work demonstrates increasing focus on clinical translation, particularly in cancer genomics through telomere analysis and targeted resequencing strategies. His research consistently appears in high-impact journals including Nature Biotechnology , Nucleic Acids Research , and Genes , reflecting substantial contributions to both methodological innovation and biological discovery.

• Micro/nanotechnology
• single-molecule detection
• genomic technology
• +3 more

Scott T. Retterer is a Distinguished Staff Scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), where he serves as Director of the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences (CNMS) and Section Head for Nanomaterial Synthesis and Nanofabrication. His interdisciplinary work bridges the Physical Sciences Directorate and Biological and Environmental Systems Science Directorate, focusing on nanoscale interfaces with biological systems. His research explores: Nanoscale structure and molecular transport in biological processes Microfluidic/nanofluidic integration for functional assays Materials development for controlling cellular microenvironments Advanced nanofabrication techniques for device prototyping Biofilm dynamics and microbial interactions with surfaces Recent publications demonstrate strong emphases on: Nanoscale materials editing (2D materials, thin films) Microfluidic platforms for biological sampling Biofilm characterization and quantification Novel electrode and polymer designs Plant-microbe interactions in engineered systems Honors and awards include: NIH Review Panels (2015, 2008-2009) Battelle Multi-Scale Toxicology Initiative (2009) Harold A. Simon Memorial Award (1999) Leadership in Tau Beta Pi and Pi Tau Sigma honor societies He leads the Nanofabrication Research Laboratory and oversees CNMS user facilities that support national and international collaborations in nanoscience.

• Nanoscale Materials
• Microfluidics
• Biological Systems
• +3 more

Dr. Shainaz M. Landge is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biochemistry, Chemistry & Physics at Georgia Southern University's College of Science and Mathematics. She joined the university in August 2010 and maintains affiliate positions at multiple research centers including the Institute for Water & Health, James H. Oliver, Jr., Institute for Coastal Plain Science, National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Research Center, and CEMITURE. Her research spans synthetic organic chemistry, particularly the development of biologically active heterocyclic compounds using greener methods such as microwave irradiation and solid acid catalysts. She specializes in molecular sensor development for anion/cation recognition, triazole chemistry, and nanomaterials synthesis. Her educational research focuses on implementing visual analogies to improve student understanding of complex chemical concepts. Dr. Landge's publication record shows consistent scholarly productivity with 80 research outputs and an h-index of 18. Her recent work includes molecular switches for logic gate applications, tyrosinase inhibitors with potential neurological applications, and photophysical investigations of triazole-based sensors. Her research demonstrates strong interdisciplinary connections across chemistry subdisciplines and with other STEM fields. Scientific Awards: College of Science and Mathematics (COSM) - Excellence in Research Award - 2023 Dr. Landge actively mentors undergraduate researchers, with recent students receiving notable awards including the 2024 COUR Award and PIN research internships. Her research group participates in interdisciplinary initiatives like VIP (Vertically Integrated Projects), PRESS, and SURE, providing students with comprehensive research experiences. She has secured significant funding including an NSF MRI grant for a High-Resolution Mass Spectrometer and participation in the Gulf Research Program. The Landge Lab maintains strong connections with multiple research centers and departments across campus, facilitating collaborative projects that address complex scientific challenges through interdisciplinary approaches. Her work contributes to Sustainable Development Goals related to clean water, health, and quality education.

• Synthetic Organic Chemistry
• Medicinal Chemistry
• Supramolecular Chemistry
• +6 more

Dr. Jeff Darabi is a Professor and Ph.D. Program Director in the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE). He holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland. His research spans micro/nanofluidics, biomicrofluidics, energy systems, and multiphysics modeling, with applications in biomedical devices and thermal management. Research Interests: MEMS and Micro/Nanofluidics Biomicrofluidics for cell separation and diagnostics Nanoengineered thermal systems for electronics cooling Coupled physics simulations (fluid, thermal, electromagnetic) His recent publications (2016–2019) demonstrate a focus on magnetophoretic bioseparation chips, microfluidic device design, and advanced materials like copper-CNT composites. This work emphasizes computational modeling integrated with experimental validation.

• MEMS and Micro/Nanofluidics
• Biomicrofluidics
• Nanoengineered Energy Systems
• +2 more