Developing technologies at the micro-scale.

Conjugated polymer actuated self-folding box.	Live and dead yeast cells localized simultaneously using MFDEP. (M. Urdaneta)	Patterned free-standing films of Loctite 3108. (Delille, Urdaneta, Moseley)	Cell-based sensor concept, which combines MEMS, CMOS, and cells.	Rat olfactory epithelial culture on Si containing olfactory sensory neurons. (Kleman, Ronnett at JHU)	Two moments during the reduction of PPy with an ion barrier, showing the front of ions and oxidation level moving in from the sides. (X. Wang)
Concept for flying, walking, hopping robot the size of a grasshopper. (MAST CTA) Clicking here takes you to a news story off of my site.	Stretchable electrodes. (Urdaneta, Delille)	Lidded vials fabricated on the surface of a chip with sensors and circuitry. (M. Christophersen)	Nastic actuator based on electroosmotic pumping. (M. Piyasena)	Modeling a long period Bragg grating. (P. Jian)	Microchannel made using benchtop MEMS.

Research Focus

The Laboratory for MicroTechnologies focuses on creating new technologies that combine inorganic materials (silicon chips, optical fibers, etc.) with organic materials (polymers, cells, etc.) at the micro-scale.  For further information, look under Research or click one of the pictures above.

• We have a long history of working with artificial muscles, particularly conjugated polymers and more recently dielectric elastomer actuators and nastic actuators. 
• We are active in bioMEMS, working in the areas of cell-based sensing, cell manipulation, microfluidics, and PCR. 

News

PhD student Bavani Balakrisnan has been awarded an Ann G. Wylie Dissertation Fellowship.

Recently-graduated PhD student Michael Armani is in the Washington Post for his start-up company CloudSolar, which is commercializing a more efficient formula for a liquid that flows through solar panels to retain and circulate heat.  On April 1, 2011, CloudSolar won the prize for Tech Transfer company at the UMD Entrepreneurship Invitational.

Recently-defended PhD student Mark Kujawski is in the Washington Post for his start-up company Smart Composites , which is commercializing strain gauges as well as QuikHeat, a product based on exfoliated graphite / elastomer composites for melting snow on driveways, sidewalks, etc.

Web Site Updates

This site was last updated in April 2011.  

A new page was added in March on 2D PCR.

©2009

Contact Information

Elisabeth Smela

Tel:  +1 (301) 405-5265
Fax: +1 (301) 314-9477

Email:  smela@umd.edu