Microtechnology Lab, Michigan State University, E. Lansing, MI         2024 - Present

One of the most fascinating aspects of nano-engineering is the art of designing surfaces to change their morphology and chemistry in ways that fundamentally reshape device behavior. What intrigued me for the first time was a level 1000 cleanroom visit where I got to see a silicon wafer that appeared flat and shiny to my naked eye yet had mountain-like terrain seen with an electron microscope that could detect invisible chemicals. My early interest in nano-engineered devices led me to join the Microtechnology Group as an undergraduate research assistant under professor Dr. Wen Li to develop a low-cost microfluidic platform for heavy metal detection using nanostructured boron-doped diamond and nanotube carbon electrodes.

To understand what effect the surface morphology had on the nanostructured boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrodes, I did my first research study by carrying out extensive electrochemical experiments, discovering that microfabrication parameters directly influenced sensitivity and detection accuracy of the electrodes. I found out a longer reactive-ion etching (RIE) period produced a rougher surface, increasing the effective surface area and enabling more sensitive detection of heavy metals and arsenic. This study amazed me to find out how a small change in roughness on the nanoscale changed the accuracy of detection and made me interested in studying micro and nanofabrication techniques to control surface morphology.

In my current research study, I am integrating electrode sensors into a field-deployable microfluidic platform. I am bench testing our microfluidic platform with custom-designed potentiostat hardware’s efficiency in comparison to alternative expensive commercial solutions. My study revealed unexpected findings on how subtle changes in microfluidic chamber geometry and flow dynamics decreased noise and increased measurement stability at the electrode. Through this study, I not only learned how to analyze large datasets and apply signal-processing techniques but also translate experimental insights into quantifiable analytics.

I co-authored a conference paper at the 2025 IEEE 38th International Conference on Micro Electromechanical Systems (MEMS) and presented a poster at the University Undergraduate Research & Arts Forum (UURAF), MSU, further solidifying my dedication to integrated sensing systems working both independently and collaboratively within multidisciplinary research teams.