Biophysical sensing at the micro- and nano-scale

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There is an ever-growing need for novel and more powerful quantitative analytical techniques used to explore the complex world of biological systems. In the last decade or so, new microfabrication technologies have begun to bridge the gap between silicon processing and biology, enabling the design of micro- and nano-scale sensors used to detect biological matter with unprecedented levels of sensitivity. Moreover, micro- and nano-fluidic technologies allow for the manipulation of extremely small volumes of biological matter, ultimately increasing efficiency, reducing costs and providing access to new phenomena. This research program will offer new tools and methods for the detection and analysis of biological material, including biomolecules, viruses, bacteria and other types of cells. Research into the development of new microfluidic biosensing platforms will be driven by the need to provide novel approaches to detection for various applications including medical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, rare cell screening (e.g. circulating cancer cells), pathogen detection (e.g. food safety), environmental monitoring, as well as for enabling new measurement capabilities used to conduct fundamental studies on biological systems. This program will see the design of novel microfluidic platforms capable of both manipulating and detecting complex biological samples. This multidisciplinary effort addresses a dynamic and exciting area of research. While initially application-driven, these technologies will also encourage collaborative efforts by providing new quantitative and real-time analytical techniques complementing existing approaches used in biology to study cells. Moreover, this program will offer unique opportunities to HQP, providing training in experimental physics, microfabrication, surface chemistry, mechanical/electrical engineering, cell culture, single cell biology, etc. This interdisciplinary training in bio-nano-technology will provide HQP with a broad set of invaluable skills and knowledge empowering them in their future careers.