UNC PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY COLLOQUIUM
David Erickson, Cornell University
“Rescheduled for September 22”
Since its initial formation as a field nearly 10 years ago, Optofluidics has had a large scientific and technological impact. In this talk I will review some of the progress over that time period, focusing specifically on areas of: mobile and global health, nanoparticle analysis, and bioenergy. With regards to the first topic, I will demonstrate how the existing roadblock to the deployment of common molecular diagnostic techniques to the consumer market can be fundamentally altered by taking advantage of the now ubiquitous installed base of smartphones and combining it with optofluidic technologies. In the second part of my talk I will overview recent advancements in micro- and nanoparticle analysis using optofluidic NanoTweezer technology. In the third part, I will describe how we are using optofluidic techniques to develop a transformative concept for microalgae photobioreactors that addresses the engineering challenges from light collection and carbon delivery to product extraction and lifecycle analysis. In addition to covering the basic physics and engineering science advancements that led to the development of these technologies, I will also discuss our strategies for deployment and commercialization.

*Refreshments will be in Chapman at 3:00pm before the Colloquia starts. Please go to Phillips Room 215 for this Colloquia.