Wei-Chun Chin

Professor Wei-Chun Chin is a faculty member at the School of Engineering, University of California, Merced, specializing in Chemical and Materials Engineering. His research bridges polymer physics, microfabrication, and biological systems, with affiliations in interdisciplinary graduate groups including Quantitative and Systems Biology (QSB), Environmental Systems (ES), and Materials and Biomaterials Science and Engineering (MBSE).

• Ph.D., 2000 — University of Washington
• M.S.E., 1996 — University of Washington
• M.S., 1989 — National Tsing-Hua University (Taiwan)
• B.S., 1987 — National Tsing-Hua University (Taiwan)

His research focuses on intracellular signaling in diseases like acute pancreatitis and cystic fibrosis, microenvironment effects on stem cell differentiation via microfabrication, spontaneous polymer gel assembly in aqueous environments, and microplastic impacts on marine ecosystems. Recent work explores nanoplastic-induced alterations in mucin rheology and exopolymeric substances (EPS) in marine carbon cycling.

Professor Chin’s publications (2010–2025) span environmental nanotoxicology, bioengineering, and marine organic matter dynamics, with a emphasis on nanoparticle-biological interactions and climate regulation. His studies on microplastics and EPS have advanced understanding of marine oil snow, carbon fluxes, and pollutant interactions.

He employs advanced microfluidic and biosensor technologies, such as light-addressable potentiometric sensors (LAPS) and graphene-based platforms, for real-time cellular and environmental monitoring.