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| Low-cost microfluidics and diagnostic assay research in Australian Pulp and Paper Institute |
Presented by Wei Shen, Australian Pulp and Paper Institute, Department of Chemical Engineering Monash University, Victoria, Australia. Time: 10:00 a.m., Dec 12, 2013 Location: A718, SINANO Chair: Renjun Pei Abstract: Australian Pulp and Paper Institute (APPI) has been the core research institution in two Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) programs, which lasted 15 years in total. The CRC programs established an international reputation and world-class facilities in pulp, paper and printing research. After the CRC programs came to an end in 2008, APPI has engaged in a number of new research activities and ventures. The new APPI research program steps out the conventional pulp, paper and printing research area, but still uses the skills we have developed during the CRCs, to lead innovations in bio-active paper, bio-functional printing, new cellulosic and composite materials and low-cost diagnostic sensors. APPI has been actively seeking for new research directions and partners to further its new research programs. This seminar presents an overview of the low-cost diagnostic microfluidics research, which is one of the several new research areas APPI is undertaking. It focuses on our direction in this new area of research, opportunities of postgraduate research, as well as postgraduate research training aspects in APPI. The new research programs in APPI have redefined its roles in the current and future collaborations with the new industrial partners. Biography: Professor Wei Shen received his BEng (Chem) degree from Tsinghua University, China in 1982. He then worked for four years in Beijing Printing Institute as teaching and research assistant. In 1987 Professor Shen went to Australia and pursued his PhD study in La Trobe University and got his PhD in physical chemistry in 1991, followed by a postdoctoral appointment in La Trobe University. Professor Shen joined the Department of Chemical Engineering of Monash University in 1995 as a research fellow. His research was on paper surface modification and printing engineering. Since 2008, Professor Shen started a new research in bioactive paper-based microfluidic sensors. His group applied their skills in paper surface modification and printing to fabricate microfluidic systems on paper, thread and polymer films. More recently Professor Shen started new application research of powder-liquid interfaces. Professor Shen has eight PhD students; he strongly emphasizes on postgraduate education and open-minded research approach. The research work of Professor Shen’s group has been reported by international media (BBC, ABC, Discovery channel, Washington Post, French TV, UK podcast, etc.), as well as by ACS, RSC, C&EN, Lab on a Chip, Australia’s leading newspaper The Age, The Australian and Monash Magazine. In 2012, Professor Shen’s group has won the Australian Museum Eureka Prize and the IChemE Award (UK) for their innovation in paper-based diagnostic sensors. In 2013, Professor Shen was selected as a finalist of the Australian Innovation Challenge. |
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