Clara Tran

Dr. Clara Tran is a Research Fellow in the School of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Sydney. She holds a PhD and specializes in plasma surface engineering, focusing on modifying materials for biomedical and industrial applications. Her work includes developing plasma-activated coatings for medical devices, enhancing cell culture substrates, and improving bioethanol production efficiency. She supervises three PhD students and two honours students in areas such as microelectrode arrays and cell sorting technologies. Dr. Tran is affiliated with The Centre for Drug Discovery Innovation and The University of Sydney Nano Institute. Her research bridges fundamental plasma science with practical applications in healthcare and industry, emphasizing scalable, solvent-free surface treatments.

Her research interests revolve around plasma surface modification techniques to create functional materials for biomedicine and industry. Key projects include antimicrobial coatings for catheters, plasma-functionalized magnetic particles for cell sorting, and advanced microfluidic devices. Dr. Tran has contributed to over 20 peer-reviewed articles and holds a patent for a pump-out tube preform. Her work emphasizes translating plasma technologies into commercial products, such as the Culturon Pty Ltd cell culture platform.

Dr. Tran collaborates across disciplines, engaging with the School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering and School of Physics. Her grants include projects on bioinstructive cell culture systems and dopaminergic neuronal research. She advocates for plasma-based solutions to address challenges in personalized medicine, surgical robotics, and biosensing, prioritizing scalable manufacturing and clinical impact.