(7hj) Interfacial Transport Phenomena with Applications to the Environment and Human Health

Research Interests: Capillary and Wetting Phenomena, Multi-phase Flow, Nanoparticle Engineering, Controlled Drug Release, Laser Spectroscopy

Interfaces between two distinct phases are ubiquitous in nature and many engineering processes. From the fundamental studies in physics, material science and biology, to applications in various fields, the interface between two fluid phases includes complex molecular and particulate structures. The mechanical, chemical, thermal and transport properties of such complex interfaces are crucial to the responses of many natural and engineering systems. My research interests lie in understanding the fundamental interfacial transport phenomena for complex fluids and and structurally compound interfaces, to develop innovative materials synthesis platforms with applications to the environment and human health. I utilize a combination of experimental, analytical and numerical tools to investigate a wide range of systems inspired by nature and industrial observations, and I am also dedicated to applying what we learn from laboratory discoveries to tackling practical problems in different fields. Currently, my research includes the following thrusts: multi-phase flow for multi-functional and bioavailable nanocluster assembly and related processing optimization, complex structured micro-particle generation and sorting using microfluidics, thin-film dynamics and instability and materials characterization using laser spectroscopy.

Teaching Interests: Fluid Mechanics, Capillary Phenomena, Thermodynamics, Nanomaterials, Colloidal Science, Pharmaceutical Engineering, Materials Characterization

I am capable of teaching fundamental fluid mechanics and thermodynamic courses for undergraduates and low-Reynolds-number flow at the graduate level. I am also confident that I can develop and teach an undergraduate-level laboratory course with introductory fluid experiments, which includes independent projects of the students' design related to fluid mechanics, thermodynamics and data acquisition tools. In addition, I am able to teach engineering mathematics courses, such as the theory and applications of ordinary differential equations with an introduction to partial differential equations, and the fundamental courses for colloidal science and pharmaceutical engineering.