Title: My Journey Through the Microscale World
Abstract: In this seminar, I will talk about the evolution of research at VT MEMS Lab and how we navigated through the microscale world to develop chips for bio/chem applications. I will share stories about my students and how they shaped the future of research in the lab. We will have a glance at both research thrusts, Bio (Cellular) MEMS and Micro Analytical Chemistry. First, I will go over the use of 3D MEMS cavities, atomic force microscopy, and microfluidics for deciphering cancer cell biomechanical and bioelectrical properties. I will demonstrate how biophysical properties at single cell level can be used as a potential marker for cancer treatment assessment. For the second thrust, I will demonstrate the innovations and research accomplishments from nano-structured material processing and synthesis to the development of key components of micro gas chromatography instruments including preconcentrator, microfluidic separation column, and gas detectors.
Biography: Masoud Agah received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Electrical Engineering from Sharif University of Technology (SUT), Iran, in 1996 and 1998, respectively, and his Ph.D. degree from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, in 2005. He joined the faculty of Virginia Tech in August 2005, where he is currently the Virginia Microelectronics Consortium (VMEC) Professor of Engineering in the Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. He established the VT MEMS Laboratory in 2005 and has focused his research on environmental and biomedical applications of MEMS and microfluidics. Dr. Agah, a senior IEEE member, received the National Science Foundation CAREER Award in 2008 for his research on micro gas chromatography, the Virginia Tech’s College of Engineering Outstanding New Assistant Professor Award in 2009, the Graduate School's Outstanding Dissertation Advisor Award in 2010, and the College of Engineering's Faculty Fellow Award in 2011. He recently co-founded Zebra Analytix, Inc. and currently serves as its CTO and board member to commercialize microGC technologies invented at his lab.