Elham Salimi

Dr. Elham Salimi is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Manitoba, affiliated with the Price Faculty of Engineering. Her research focuses on developing electrical-based microfluidic sensors for medical, biopharmaceutical, and environmental applications, with expertise in bioelectromagnetics, microfluidics, and dielectric characterization of biological systems. She leads the Biosensors Research Lab, equipped with microfluidic fabrication tools, cell culture facilities, and advanced microwave measurement systems.

Education:

• PhD, Electrical Engineering, University of Manitoba (2017)
• MSc, Electrical Engineering, University of Manitoba (2011)
• BSc, Electrical Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology (2007)

Research interests emphasize label-free analysis of biological phenomena such as apoptosis and electroporation, with applications in cell culture monitoring and biomedical diagnostics. Her lab has pioneered methods for single-cell dielectric characterization using dielectrophoresis and imaging flow cytometry, enabling high-throughput analysis of cellular properties like membrane capacitance and cytoplasm conductivity.

Publications highlight advancements in microfluidic sensors, dielectric spectroscopy, and integration of optical systems with electrical measurement platforms. Current work trends include optimizing lab-on-a-chip technologies for real-time bioprocess monitoring and developing compact dielectrophoretic cytometers for clinical and industrial applications.

Dr. Salimi’s lab actively explores microwave engineering applications for nanoparticle detection and has contributed to models explaining ion transport mechanisms in cells. Recent efforts focus on applying dielectric analysis to study mitochondrial dysfunction and cellular metabolic states under stress conditions.