List of Announcements (details below):

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Seminar: Bioengineering: May 1, 12pm

Title:  Microfluidic Platforms for Cell Studies
Speaker:  Darwin R. Reyes, Ph.D., National Institutes of Standards and Technology

Thursday, May 1
12pm
Engineering Building, room 3507

Abstract

We have developed a number of approaches for cell manipulation spanning from polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM) microfluidic patterns to dielectrophoretic (DEP) trapping in microfluidic multilayer systems.  The electrostatic interactions between PEMs and cells have shown excellent results as a “universal glue” for cell attachment in our fluid flow field systems.  We have engineered a hybrid cell adhesive material (hCAM) and integrated in a microfluidic system with DEP trapping forces resulting in rapid cell adhesion.  Moreover, cell viability and function were maintained under DEP conditions.  This system has also shown promise for the development of multilayer microfluidic devices, where cells can be trapped on opposite sides of a permeable polyester (PET) membrane that separates two channels running perpendicular to each other.  These approaches can be used for studies such as cell-cell communication, cell migration and many other applications.

Speaker Bio

Dr. Reyes is a principal investigator in the Nanoscale Metrology Group in the Semiconductor & Dimensional Metrology Division of the Physical Measurement Laboratory (PML) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).  He received his Ph.D. and B.S. in chemistry from the University of Puerto Rico.  He also received a M.S. in Applied Biomedical Engineering from The Johns Hopkins University.  His research history covers diverse scientific fields, i.e., from toxicology and environmental analytical chemistry, to biomedical engineering and microfluidic systems.  In his doctoral work, he chemically characterized airborne particulate matter from an area in Puerto Rico of high incidence of cancer, asthma, and other respiratory diseases, using cell-based toxicological assays.  After completing his Ph.D. he was awarded with a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship to work with Professor Andreas Manz at Imperial College, London, U.K.  During this postdoctoral experience, he worked with microfluidic devices in developing two-dimensional separation systems and analog computing using glow discharge in microfluidic chips. 

Dr. Reyes joined NIST as a National Research Council postdoctoral fellow.  There he started integrating his previous research experiences in cell-based measurements and microfluidics with electronics manipulation and measurements developing bioelectronics-related technology.  Dr. Reyes has been developing microfluidic devices with integrated dielectrophoretic manipulation for long-term cell survival, and recently he started working towards the development of measurement tools for dynamic forces in mechanobiology.  Overall, his work has been cited more than 2,700 times.  At NIST, his work has been funded through various intramural programs including Advanced Technology Program (ATP), Director's Reserve Funds, and Innovations in Measurement Science (IMS) Program.

Dr. Reyes  was the co-chair of the 1st Annual Diversity Day celebrated at NIST in 2006 and was awarded the NIST EEO Diversity Award (2008) for his contribution in organizing that event. He was also an executive committee member of the NIST Sigma Xi Chapter.  Dr. Reyes is currently a member of the Nanoparticle Safety Committee as well as the NIST Biosafety Committee.

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NSF Seeks Representatives for Advisory Committees

[Adapted from an email message that I received. SGN]

The National Science Foundation (NSF) requests recommendations for membership on its scientific and technical federal advisory committees. Self recommendations are accepted. Committee members serve varying term lengths. NSF has 13 scientific and technical advisory committees, including:

Advisory Committee for Education and Human Resources [some members' terms expire May 30, 2014]
  http://www.nsf.gov/ehr/advisory.jsp

Advisory Committee for Computer and Information Science and Engineering
  http://www.nsf.gov/cise/advisory.jsp

Advisory Committee for Cyberinfrastructure
  http://www.nsf.gov/od/oci/advisory.jsp

Advisory Committee for Mathematical and Physical Sciences
  http://www.nsf.gov/mps/advisory.jsp

Advisory Committee for International Science and Engineering
  http://www.nsf.gov/od/oise/advisory.jsp

Committee on Equal Opportunities in Science and Engineering
  http://www.nsf.gov/od/oia/activities/ceose/http://www.nsf.gov/od/oia/activities/ceose/index.jsp

For a full list of committees and additional information on recommending yourself or someone else, see:   https://federalregister.gov/a/2014-08976

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New NSF Mathematical Sciences Innovation Incubator

[Adapted from an email message that I received. SGN]

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Mathematical Sciences (DMS) aims to enhance the synergistic relationships between the mathematical sciences and other NSF-supported disciplines through the Mathematical Sciences Innovation Incubator (MSII) activity. The MSII activity encourages and supports new research collaborations among mathematical scientists and other scientists and engineers working in NSF-supported research areas of high national priority by:
The ideas, tools, and language of mathematics and statistics play important roles in every area of science and engineering research supported by the NSF, and it is widely recognized that interactions between the mathematical sciences and other fields catalyze developments in both.

… The Division of Mathematical Sciences wishes to foster the participation of more mathematical scientists, from every area of mathematics and statistics, in such important interdisciplinary work. In support of this goal, the MSII activity provides funding to catalyze the involvement of mathematical scientists in research areas where the mathematical sciences are not yet playing large roles.

The MSII activity will emphasize scientific research areas of high national priority that would benefit from innovative developments in mathematics and statistics. … Areas of national high-priority scientific research in fiscal year 2014 identified by the U.S. Office of Science and Technology Policy include:

National Science Foundation programs addressing these areas of national priority in which mathematical scientists are not yet playing large roles are listed on the MSII web page:
    http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=505044&org=DMS

To apply for MSII support, after submitting a proposal to a non-DMS program for a research project that involves mathematical scientists, or a supplement request to include new mathematical scientists in a research project supported by a non-DMS award, the Principal Investigator must send an e-mail message specifying the name(s) and affiliation(s) of the mathematical scientist(s) and the NSF proposal ID to [ [log in to unmask] ]. Transmission of this e-mail message will constitute a request that DMS consider the proposal or supplement request for MSII funding.

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Qiliang Li Receives Funding from NIST

Qilian Li of the Electrical & Computer Engineering Department received $50K from the National Institute of Standards and Technology for his project, “  Two-Dimensional Atomic Crystal Field Transistors with Ultra-High Sensitivity.”

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Stephen G. Nash
Senior Associate Dean
Volgenau School of Engineering
George Mason University
Nguyen Engineering Building, Room 2500
Mailstop 5C8
Fairfax, VA 22030

[log in to unmask]
Phone: (703) 993-1505
Fax: (703) 993-1633
http://volgenau.gmu.edu/web/volgenau/senior-associate-dean