People

Michael Schertzer, PhD

Michael Schertzer, PhD

Dr. Schertzer is primarily interested in droplet based microfluidic technologies for applications in point of care medical diagnostics, multiphase heat transfer and energy generation. His contributions to these areas have focused on developing a deeper fundamental and practical understanding of fluid mechanics and heat transfer as well as the development of novel techniques for sensing and control in microfluidic devices. As a result of this work he is also developed a practical understanding of several microfabrication techniques.

Education

  • BEng&Mgt in Mechanical Engineering and Commerce, McMaster University, 2003
  • MASc, Mechanical Engineering - Two-Phase Heat Transfer, McMaster University, 2005
  • PhD in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering - Design of Droplet Based Microfluidic Systems, University of Toronto, 2010

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Graduate Students

Collin Burkhart

Collin Burkhart

Collin previously completed a Master's thesis in the DMFL focusing on evaporating droplets.   He analyzed particle deposition in colloidal droplets with and without electric fields.  In his doctoral work, he is focusing on transporting droplets via digital microfluidics.  Currently, he is working on a low-cost device fabrication technique.

Education

  • BS/MS in Mechanical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, 2016
  • PhD in Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, in progress
  • Expected graduation: July, 2019

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Xi Li

Xi Li

In his previous Master's research, Xi studied drug delivery using porous silicate nanoparticles. In his current doctoral research, he is developing a technique to use colloidal interactions in evaporating droplets to perform diagnostic tests.

Education

  • BS in Chemical Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, 2012
  • MS in Materials Science, University of Rochester, 2015
  • PhD in Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, in progress
  • Expected graduation: July, 2019
Umesh Sojitra

Umesh Sojitra

Umesh is a researcher in the lab this summer working on using dielectrophoresis to concentrate particles in evaporating droplets.

Education

  • BS in Mechanical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, 2016
  • MEng in Mechanical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, in progress
  • Expected graduation: December, 2017

Undergraduate Students

Hee Tae An

Hee Tae An

Hee Tae works with Semiconductor and Microsystems Fabrication Lab at RIT to microfabricate devices for the DMFL.

Education

  • BS in Microelectronic Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, in progress
  • Expected graduation: May, 2018
Kimmy Bernetski

Kimmy Bernetski

Kimmy is a reasearcher in the lab this summer working on low-cost DMF fabrication and studying the effects of electric fields on droplets.

Education

  • BS in Mechanical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, in progress
  • Expected graduation: May, 2019
Cristina Guzman-Moumtzis

Cristina Guzman-Moumtzis

Cristina is a first-year honors program summer researcher working on using colloidal deposition of proteins to perform diagnostic tests.

Education

  • BS in Biomedical Engineering and Microbiology, Rochester Institute of Technology, in progress
  • Expected graduation: May, 2021
AJ Longabucco

AJ Longabucco

AJ is a researcher in the lab this summer working on integrating carbon nanotubes into gel beads for energy harvesters.

Education

  • BS in Mechanical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, in progress
  • Expected graduation: May, 2018
Uyen Nguyen

Uyen Nguyen

Uyen is a first-year honors program summer reasearcher working on using dielectrophoresis to concentrate particles in evaporating droplets.

Education

  • BS in Chemical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, in progress
  • Expected graduation: May, 2021
Clayton Terry

Clayton Terry

Clayton is a first-year honors program summer researcher working on integrating carbon nanotubes into gel beads for energy harvesters.

Education

  • BS in Mechanical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, in progress
  • Expected graduation: May, 2021
Dhanya Thiyagarajan

Dhanya Thiyagarajan

Dhanya is a first-year honors program summer researcher working on low-cost DMF fabrication and studying the effects of electric fields on droplets.

Education

  • BS in Chemical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, in progress
  • Expected graduation: May, 2021
Anna Tilstra-Smith

Anna Tilstra-Smith

Anna is a first-year honors program summer researcher working on low-cost DMF fabrication and studying the effects of electric fields on droplets.

Education

  • BS in Biomedical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, in progress
  • Expected graduation: May, 2021

Lab Alumni

  • Rakesh Chokanathan, MS in Microelectronic Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, 2016
  • Peter Dunning, BS/MS in Mechanical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, 2015
  • Thesis: Controlling the Transient Interface Shape and Deposition Profile Left by Desiccation of Colloidal Droplets on Multiple Polymer Surfaces
  • Kaushik Kudtarkar, MS in Mechanical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, 2016
  • Thesis: Harvesting a Sustainable Energy Future: Examining the Effect of Chemical Composition on the Electromechanical Properties of Polymer Gel Beads
  • Wilkie Olin-Ammentorp, BS/MS in Microelectronic Engineering and Materials Science, Rochester Institute of Technology, 2015
  • Sanskar Panse, MS in Mechanical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, 2016
  • Corry Straathof, BS/MS in Mechanical Engineering and BS in Applied Mathematics, Rochester Institute of Technology, 2018
  • Anil Adharapurapu, BS in Biomedical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, 2020
  • Nicholas Amato, BS in Mechanical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, 2019
  • Yohance Basdeo, BS in Electrical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, 2019
  • Tinuola Bolarin, BS in Biomedical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, 2020
  • Jonathan Bontemps, BS in Mechanical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, 2016
  • Ryan Carrazzone, BS in Biochemistry, Rochester Institute of Technology, 2016
  • Mark Davis, BS in Microelectronic Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, 2018
  • Benjamin Grimsley, BS in Mechanical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, 2016
  • Carlos Gutierrez, BS in Mechanical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, 2017
  • Mahdi Haji, BS in Electrical Engineering, Monroe County Community College, 2017
  • Sari Houchaimi, BS in Mechanical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, 2018
  • Cammie Johanning, BS in Mechanical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, 2017
  • David Lanza, BS in Mechanical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, 2017
  • Jake Leone, BS in Mechanical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, 2014
  • Sydney Lizarazo, BS in Mechanical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, 2018
  • Leah Matczak, BS in Mechanical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, 2017
  • Kevin Millar, BS in Computer Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, 2019
  • Lorenzo Nuñez, BS in Mechanical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, 2017
  • Matthew Nygren, BS in Mechanical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, 2019
  • Amit Rogel, BS in Mechanical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, 2020
  • Daniel Ryckman, BS in Mechanical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, 2020
  • Emrys Scott-Murrell, BS in Mechanical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, 2017
  • Ethan Spence, BS in Mechanical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, 2020
  • Humza Syed, BS in Computer Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, 2019
  • Jean Valoy, BS in Mechanical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, 2018
  • Pablo Wiener, BS in Computer Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, 2020

P15610: Digital Microfluidics Control System, Kenneth Bean, Kevin Cho, Patrick Crilly, Michael Dushkoff, Zachary Heifferon, Zachary Santagata, Adam Wardas, 2015

P15611: Digital Microfluidics Environmental Enclosure, Illmar Begishev, Clair Cunninhham, Angel Ortiz, Alex Ryan, Brody Smith, 2015