Unit Members

In 2014, I moved from University of Washington to start my new lab at OIST on micro- and bio-fluidics, and anything squishy! Outside work I enjoy the beach, yoga, and exploring/learning more about Okinawa, a perfect work and living paradise. If you are interested in working with us, feel free to contact me or any unit members.

I completed my Ph.D in Physics in 2002 under the supervision of Dr. Jeff Odell from the University of Bristol (UK) and Prof. Alejandro Muller from Simon Bolivar University (Venezuela). Following postdoctoral research positions first at Bristol, then at MIT with Prof. Gareth McKinley, I obtained a Marie Curie International Research Fellowship which I carried out at the University of Porto (Portugal). I joined OIST as Group Leader for the Micro/Bio/Nanofluidics (Shen) Unit in September 2014. Away from the lab, my main activity is road cycling. In Okinawa I’m also keen to take up sea kayaking and scuba diving.

I am originally from San Luis Potosi, Mexico. In 2014 I finished my bachelor's in Engineering Physics at ITESM in Monterrey, Mexico. In 2015 I moved to The Netherlands to do a 2 years masters supervised by Prof. Devaraj van der Meer at the Physics of Fluids group from the University of Twente. During that time, we worked on shear-thickening suspensions. In 2017 I started my Ph.D. under the supervision of Prof. Detlef Lohse and Prof. Xuehua Zhang. My research projects included the Marangoni instability of evaporating binary and ternary mixtures, the ouzo effect, and the dissolution of droplets. I joined the Micro/Bio/Nanofluidics Unit as a postdoc in March 2022 to study the behavior of complex fluids and their interaction with different kinds of solid structures within microfluidic devices. Outside the lab I like to do bouldering and running. While in OIST I would like to explore Okinawa and get to know more about Japanese culture.

After a career in industry (as an analytical chemist) and teaching (ages 11-18), I completed my PhD in Molecularly Imprinted Polymers in 2019 from the University of Central Lancashire (UK) under the guidance of Prof. Sub. Reddy and Dr. Joe Hayes. I then moved to De Montfort University (UK) to complete my first post-doctoral project, under Prof. Nick Tuner, on aptamer-molecularly imprinted nanoparticle hybrids, before moving to the University of Sheffield with Prof. Nick Turner for a second post-doc. My main research is to develop new synthetic recognition materials as alternatives to antibodies. I joined OIST and the Micro/Bio/Nanofluidics (Shen Unit) in May 2024, to develop new materials for biosensing and diagnostics. Away from the lab, I enjoy running, cycling, and board sports. I currently have a sponsorship for a UK electric skateboard company to race boards for them, and was rank 3rd Master at the 2023 World Championships (France).

After a biotechnology engineering master in France, I spent two years in Ireland building analytical chemistry skills in the drug discovery field from marine invertebrates. Next, the focus of my PhD at the University of Strathclyde (UK) with Prof. Damion Corrigan was on developing electrochemical-based biosensors to detect antibiotics and antibiotic susceptibility. I then moved to the University of Sheffield in Prof. Nick Turner's group to monitor oral cancer biomarkers using molecularly imprinted polymers and returned to the University of Strathclyde to become more familiar with solid state nanopores, each for 9 months. Research interests at OIST include expanding multidisciplinary knowledge by learning more techniques to complement each other or merge them together, ideally with higher throughput, in the biosensing field. In my free time, I enjoy exploring in various forms such as walking/hiking, running, travelling, cooking or connecting with people.

My academic journey began in Xi'an, China, where I earned a Bachelor's in Energy and Power Engineering from Xi'an Jiaotong University. Later, I relocated to the United States to pursue a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Minnesota under the guidance of Prof. Sungyon Lee. My doctoral research focused on instabilities in confined suspension flows, investigating phenomena such as particle-induced viscous fingering and interfacial particle accumulation experimentally and theoretically. Since 2022, I have been a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Department of Engineering Science and Applied Mathematics at Northwestern University, working with Prof. Petia Vlahovska. My current work explores the collective dynamics of colloidal particles under electric fields and the emergence of turbulent-like flows in dense active suspensions.I am excited to join the OIST MBN Unit to leverage its renowned expertise in microfluidics and viscoelastic fluids. My goal is to expand my research into the transport phenomena of complex and active fluids within porous media. Outside of work, I enjoy gym training and look forward to trying Okinawa's foods and water sports.

I am originally from Seattle where I received my undergraduate degree in Applied and Computational Mathematical Sciences from the University of Washington. Although my background is in math I am fascinated with the more tangible sciences. I recently moved to Okinawa from Hawaii and I brought a few ukuleles with me. I have a wide range of artistic and physical hobbies but my favorites are woodcarving, hiking/camping, snorkeling, bicycling, music, chess, traveling and general goofiness. OIST is quite an amazing place and I am grateful to be here.

ResearcherID Profile

I received my BSc and MSc degrees at ETH in Zurich studying Computational Science and Engineering, specializing in (computational) chemistry and physics, respectively. After joining OIST remotely in September 2021, my interest in fluid mechanics started to grow as well as my interest in experiments. I am particularly interested in viscoelastic instabilities and elastic turbulence. Outside of work, I enjoy hiking but still have to get used to the weather in Okinawa.

I completed my BEng degree in Xi’an Jiaotong University in China, mainly studying thermal fluid and droplet dynamics. Then I joined OIST remotely as a PhD student in January 2022. Now I am doing my second rotation here and will join this unit for my thesis research from January 2023. My rotation project is about colloidal alignment, a relatively new topic for me. I really enjoy this learning process and exploring many possibilities of my future research topics with all the other fantastic group members. Outside work, I enjoy reading, photography, playing games and exploring the island. Okinawa is such an interesting place that just walking around randomly or simply enjoying the beautiful ocean view can make me very happy. I also want to try various sea sports, but I guess I have to learn how to swim first.

I received my BSc degree in Chemistry and MSc degree in Macromolecular science under the supervision of Prof. Tadashi Inoue from Osaka University in Japan.
I visited Shen unit twice as an intern student (2020 September - December and 2021 July - October). And I got interested in microfluidics during these internships, so I decided to join this unit as a PhD student. My research interests are elastic flow instability and the interaction between flow and geometry. Besides the research, I will enjoy exploring Okinawa and the world.

I completed both my B.Sc and M. Sc in Biotechnology at ITESM in Mexico City, where I focused on studying hydrogel-based extracellular matrixes and cell culture on-a-chip. Following my interest on microfluidics I joined for an internship at Shen Unit where I further developed my scientific interests. After this, I decided to join OIST and after my rotations I joined the unit as a PhD student. My research interests are the study of biophysical properties of biological complex fluids and their response to environmental factors. Outside work I like working out, cooking, watching anime and going to concerts.

I have completed my BSc and MSc in Lomonosov MSU, Russia, in material science department, with my research work mainly focused on liposomal drug delivery systems. During my internship at OIST I was impressed a lot by a versatile research options and international community, and I am really grateful for being here as a graduate student now. My first project in Shen Unit was on the 3D-printed surface imprinted polymers as biosensors for bacteria, and now I’m interested in organ-on-a-chip systems for my PhD project. Besides the research I love exploring this beautiful tropical island and gorgeous Japan, as well as enjoying TV shows, movies, embroidery and well written books in English and Russian.

I am Spanish-Mexican, but I lived all my life in the Netherlands while following French education from elementary to high school (simple as that!). I have a BSc and MSc in Molecular Life Sciences from Wageningen University & Research, where I specialized in Physical Chemistry. I have previously worked on nanoparticle-based delivery systems for transient gene transfection in plant cells. I have first joined the Micro/Bio/Nanofluidics (Shen) unit for a rotation, where I helped in the chemical characterization of biological complex fluids. For my PhD at Shen unit, I will focus on developing novel polymer-based recognition materials for biosensing applications. Outside of research, you can find me drawing, going snorkeling, or compulsively buying too many plants.

I am from Tottori, Japan and got my BSc in biology in the University of Tokyo. I developed an molecular detecting system using solid-state nanopore as my undergraduate research. I am interested in laboratory automation systems for biological experiments and want to use microfluidic devices for them in my PhD. Outside of work, I like to explore Yambaru to see the grate Okinawa nature.

I completed my BSc and MSc in Life Science and Technology at the Tokyo Institute of Technology, where I specialized in drug delivery systems and the synthesis of functional polymers. My research focused on enhancing the delivery efficiency of adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) to glioblastoma for cancer gene therapy. Currently, I am particularly interested in developing novel diagnostic platforms for neurological diseases and exploring the gut-brain axis.
Outside the lab, I enjoy traveling, hiking, playing badminton, cooking, and baking bread.

I grew up in Austria where I did my BSc and MSc at the University of Vienna. During this time, I specialized in Molecular Biology and Genetics, working mainly on plant model systems. During my master’s, I worked on signal transduction pathways in Arabidopsis. There, I worked with genetically encoded GFP-based sensors for in vivo real-time detection of specific secondary messengers, using RootChip. After finishing my MSc, I spent almost two years in science communication as a practical lab tutor at the Vienna Open Lab. Starting my PhD at OIST, I hope that my first rotation in the Micro/Bio/Nanofluidics (Shen) unit will bring me closer not only to the field of microfluidic research but also to a deeper understanding of the problems underlying PFAS pollution.

I completed my BSc degree in Mechanical Engineering at TU Eindhoven. During my bachelor’s studies, I developed a particular interest in how materials interact with their environment and how their internal structure determines performance, which motivated me to continue my MSc in Mechanical Engineering at TU Eindhoven. I am currently part of the Processing and Performance of Materials group. Through my current internship, I am broadening my knowledge by working with new materials and techniques, with a particular focus on corals. I hope to further explore how fundamental insights into material behavior can be applied to practical systems and innovative design. Outside of my academic work, I enjoy playing football, hiking, and cooking, and I am always eager to learn from new experiences and international environments.

I obtained my bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Kent in the UK, followed by completing my M(RES) at the University of Sheffield, where I focused mainly on biochemistry and biocompatible polymers, conducting research under Professor Nick Turner. In 2024, I joined Professor Marloes Peeters' group at the University of Manchester, where I am studying biomimicry to deliver drugs using synthetic antibodies for my PhD. I have also joined OIST, specifically Professor Amy Shen's Unit, to develop cells on a microfluidics device- ' cells-on-a-chip'- to test the in vitro capabilities of my drug delivery system.

I was curious to uncover Earth’s history and human evolution, so I did a BSc in archaeological sciences (University of Bradford, UK). After, I did a master’s in molecular biology at the University of Queensland (Australia). Here, I optimised a method to recover viral DNA and identify novel viruses, to study their role in ocean ecosystems and microbial evolution. In 2023, I joined the Earth-Life Science Institute, at Science Tokyo, as a PhD student in the origin of life. My research uses microfluidic chips to simulate hydrothermal vents, exploring whether mineral-molecule interactions could have led to the formation and evolution of primitive compartments, or protocells.

My family jokes I should be sent to the Moon, so they’ll know where I am, as I’m often on the move, exploring new places. I enjoy hiking, climbing, water sports, and I practice rugby and karate.

In 2022, I completed my Ph. D degree in Engineering at Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology under supervision of Prof. Susumu Inasawa. After that I belonged to the same university as a postdoc researcher for one year, including 8-month visiting in Nottingham Trent University (UK) hosted by Prof. Lucas Goehring. In April 2023, I joined Micro/Bio/Nanofluidic Unit in OIST as a research fellow. I have been working on drying kinetics of suspension or emulsion, which is accompanied by alignment, compression and deformation of particles or droplets. In this unit, I intend to work on new project relating to unstable flow or rheology as well as develop my original research area. I believe that my staying in OIST is a great opportunity for me to realize it. I was born in Hokkaido, the north island in Japan, and was originally brought up there for 19 years. I could not have imagined that I went across from north to south in Japan. I am looking forward to visiting a lot of good places in Okinawa!

I'm originally from Sendai, Japan. In March 2024, I completed my Ph.D. in the Department of Mechanical Systems Engineering at the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (TUAT) under the supervision of Prof. Yoshiyuki Tagawa. During my Ph.D., I focused on droplet impact and studied the stress field in the elastic substrate when a droplet impacts. Besides this project, I also worked on the flow birefringence of nanocrystals in a flow channel. In April 2024, I joined the Micro/Bio/Nanofluids Unit at OIST as a JSPS postdoc researcher, aiming to understand complex fluids’ flow birefringence behavior. My hobbies, besides research, are drinking, running, cooking, and going to the park and museum. I’m looking forward to doing them in Okinawa:)

I am originally from the heart of Tokyo, and I got my bachelor’s in sociology in Canada. I am super grateful to work under Prof. Amy Shen and be part of such a diverse unit. Outside work, I love dancing classical ballet, working out, Pilates, scuba diving etc!