Carolyn Ren

Carolyn Ren is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering at the University of Waterloo, holding the Canada Research Chair in Microfluidic Technologies. She specializes in microfluidics, soft robotics, and biomedical engineering applications. Her research focuses on developing advanced sensing systems for environmental monitoring (e.g., microplastics detection), medical diagnostics, and wearable robotics. Key affiliations include the Blue Economy and Water Quality Measurement research groups. Her work bridges fluid dynamics, materials science, and engineering to address challenges in healthcare, environmental science, and robotics.

Dr. Ren's research interests span microfluidic device design, biosensor development, and soft robotic systems. She has pioneered technologies such as microwave-based sensors for rapid pathogen detection and air microfluidics-enabled prosthetic liners for dynamic pressure management. Her contributions include integrating microfluidics with soft robotics for applications like lymphedema treatment and osteoarthritis management.

• Scientific Awards: Canada Research Chair in Microfluidic Technologies
• Labs/Teams: Hybrid Soft-Rigid Active Prosthetics Lab, Microfluidics and Soft Robotics Group

Her research emphasizes practical, scalable solutions for real-world problems, with a focus on translating lab innovations into clinical and environmental applications. Recent work includes reagent-free virus detection systems and adaptive wearable devices for biomechanical support.