Furong Tian

Dr. Furong Tian is a Lecturer at Technological University Dublin (TUDublin) within the School of Food Science and Environmental Health. She serves as Research Director of the Nanolab Research Centre at the Physical to Life Science Research Hub and holds multiple hub associate positions including Health, Engineering and Materials Science Research Hub, Physical to Life Sciences Research Hub, and Sustainability & Health Research Hub. Her research spans nanotechnology applications for disease diagnosis and treatment, with significant contributions to biosensors, point-of-care diagnostics, and nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems.

Dr. Tian earned her Bachelor's degree in Medicine from Xi'an Jiaotong University (1994), followed by a Master's in Biochemistry from the Fourth Military Medical University (2002), and completed her PhD in Chemistry from Stuttgart University and Max-Planck Institute for Metal Research in 2006. Her postdoctoral career included positions as a visiting Research Scientist at Kyoto University and National Institute for Materials Science in Japan, a postdoc researcher at the Institute of Inhalation Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München (supported by Helmholtz-DAAD scholarship, ANTICARBON Seventh Framework Programme and NANOTRUCK), and a Marie Curie senior research fellow at Nano lab in FOCAS Research Institute.

Dr. Tian's research focuses on developing novel diagnostic and therapeutic technologies for diseases, particularly cancers and chronic conditions. Her work encompasses smart multifunctional molecular imaging nanoprobes, ultrasensitive detection technologies based on nanoparticles for tumor biomarkers, biosensors, point-of-care lateral flow strips for cancer and pathogens, cold atmosphere plasma applications, sustainable plant-based extraction methods, and novel drug delivery systems. She has made significant contributions to gold nanoparticle applications in biosensing, particularly for mycotoxin detection in food samples and environmental monitoring of heavy metals and arsenic.

Analysis of Dr. Tian's recent publications reveals a strong trend toward practical applications of nanotechnology in food safety and environmental health. Her work increasingly focuses on developing point-of-care diagnostic tools using gold nanoparticles in lateral flow assays for mycotoxin detection, while maintaining parallel research in environmental monitoring of heavy metals and arsenic contamination. There's notable emphasis on translating laboratory findings into practical solutions for real-world food safety and environmental health challenges.

• Best Poster Award, Annual Science Research Day 2024, TU Dublin
• Best PG Research Poster Award: Annual Research & Innovation Showcase 2022 (School of Food Science & Environmental Health, TU Dublin, Ireland)

Dr. Tian has successfully supervised six PhD students and one Marie Curie Postdoc, and currently serves as lead supervisor for six additional PhD students. She leads the Nanolab Research Centre and has secured research funding including the 'Design and Commercialization of Gold Nanoparticle-based Immunochromatographic Digital Multi-color Strips to Detect Mycotoxins in Food Samples' project (2021-2024). Her research has resulted in over 130 publications with more than 52,000 reads and 6,000 citations on ResearchGate, demonstrating significant impact in her field.

As Director of the Nanolab Research Centre at TUDublin's Physical to Life Sciences Research Hub, Dr. Tian leads a multidisciplinary team focused on developing nanotechnology solutions for healthcare and environmental challenges. Her lab specializes in gold nanoparticle synthesis and application, biosensor development, and point-of-care diagnostic tools, with strong industry connections for commercialization of research outcomes.