People

Principal Investigator

PROF.CUI

 Tianhong Cui

  Distinguished McKnight University Professor
  Professor in Mechanical Engineering
  Affiliate Senior Member of the graduate faculty in Department of
  Electrical Engineering and Department of Biomedical Engineering
  E-mail: [email protected] 
 
 
 
  • Member, European Academy of Sciences and Arts, 2023
  • Visiting Professorship, EPFL, Switzerland, 2023
  • JSPS Faculty Fellow, University of Tokyo, Japan, 2023
  • Visiting Fellow, Sidney Sussex College, University of Cambridge, 2023
  • Bath Global Chair, University of Bath, 2022
  • Best Paper Award, International Conference on Manipulation, Automation, and Robotics at Small Scales, Toronto, Canada, July 25-29, 2022
  • Best Paper Award, MIT A+B Applied Energy Symposium, 2020
  • Outstanding Editor-in-Chief Award, Microsystems & Nanoengineering, Springer Nature, 2020
  • Best Paper Award, Light: Science & Applications, Springer Nature, 2020
  • Highly Cited Paper Award, Light: Science & Applications, Springer Nature, 2020
  • Best Conference Paper Award, IEEE Nano 2019
  • Distinguished Visiting Fellowship, Royal Academy of Engineering, UK, 2019
  • Fellow, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), 2018
  • Laureate of Blaise Pascal Chair for Excellence through École Normale Supérieure (ENS Paris), the most prestigious visiting professorship in France named after the famous scientist, Blaise Pascal, 2018
  • Distinguished McKnight University Professorship, University of Minnesota, 2017
  • International Exchange Award with University of Cambridge, Royal Society of UK, 2017
  • Distinguished Visiting Professorship, University of Paris East, France, 2017
     

Group Members

2020
2018
2009
20241218_010014

Alumni

Graduate Students

  1. Peng Zhou, Ph.D., “MEMS-Based Purification and Sensing Technologies for Sustainable Water Management”, Postdoc, University of Minnesota (Pui Best Dissertation Award)
  2. Jungyoon Kim, Ph.D., “Graphene Sensors and Perovskite Solar Cells for Water Detection”, Senior Engineer, Intel
  3. Bo Zhang, Ph.D., “Nanomaterial Based Biosensors Powered by Solar Cells”, CEO of a start-up company
  4. Longzhong Huang, “Synthetic Jet Flow and Heat Transfer for Electronics Cooling” (co-chair: Terrence Simon)
  5. Steven J. Eickhoff, Ph.D., “Design, Fabrication, and Analysis of Chemical Hydride-Based Micro Fuel Cells”, MEMS Group Leader, Honeywell Inc. 
  6. Smita Agrawal, Ph.D., “The Effects of Agitation on Convective Heat Transfer with Applications to Electronic Cooling”, Research Engineer, Dow Chemical Inc. (co-chair: Terrence Simon)
  7. Taiho Yeom, Ph.D., “A Piezoelectric Translational Flow Agitator for Active Air Cooling of Electronics”, Associate Professor, University of Mississippi
  8. Dongjin Lee, Ph.D., “Layer-by-Layer Nano Self-Assembly of Biosensors”, Full Professor at Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea
  9. Wei Xue, Ph.D., “Nano-Assembled Carbon Nanotube Thin Film Based Microstructures, Field-Effect Transistors, and Acetylcholine Biosensors”, Associate Professor at Rowan University
  10. Yi Liu, Ph.D., “Nano-Assembled Nanoparticle/Polymer based Field-Effect Transistors and Their Biosensing Applications”, Senior Engineer at Seagate Inc. (2006-present)
  11. Feng Hua, Ph.D., “Patterning Layer-by-Layer Self-Assembled Multilayer by Lithography and Its Applications to Thin Film Devices”, Associate Professor at Marion Technical College
  12. Yuxin Liu, Ph.D., “Polymer-based Capacitors, Junction Field-Effect Transistors, and a Follower Circuit by Lithography, Self-Assembly, Ink-Jet Printing Techniques”, Full Professor at West Virginia University
  13. Jing Wang, Ph.D., “Vertical Polymer Tunneling Sensor Platform by Hot Embossing Technique”, Group Leader at Fluidigm Inc.
  14. Yongjun Zhao, Ph.D., “Polymer-based Lateral Comb Drive Based on Hot Embossing Process”, Senior Engineer at Seagate Inc. 
  15. Guirong Liang, Ph.D., “Organic Diodes, Field-Effect Transistors, and an Inverter Circuit by Microfabrication Techniques”, Senior Device Engineer at San Disk Inc.
  16. Mengyan Li, Ph.D., “Cell Culture Scaffolds Using Micro/nanotechnologies to Study the Attachment and Alignment of Smooth Muscle Cells”, Senior Biomedical Engineering at MiMedx, Inc. (co-advisor: Mike McShane)
  17. Jingshi Shi, Ph.D., “LbL Nanoassembly Combined with Microfabrication Techniques for Microelectronics and MEMS” (co-advisor: Yuri Lvov)
  18. Mo Zhu, Ph.D., “Fabrication, Characterization, and Modeling of Organic Capacitors, Schottky Diodes, and Filed Effect Transistors”, Senior Engineer at Synopsys Inc. (co-advisor: Kody Varahramyan)
  19. Xiangyang Wei, Ph.D., “Perovskite Solar Cells Fabricated by Hybrid Physical-Chemical Vapor Deposition”
  20. Yanke Peng, Ph.D., “New Hybrid Evaporation/CVD Techniques to Deposit High-Quality Crystalline Perovskite Thin Films”
  21. Li Wang, Ph.D., “Micro Sensors for Detection of Trace Ions Based on Modified Electrodes”
  22. Guihua Xiao, Ph.D., “Sensitive Dopamine Sensor with Graphene Microelectrode”
  23. Tianyi Zhang, Ph.D, “Sensitivity Enhancement of a Resonant Mass Sensor Based on Internal Resonance”
  24. Peng Li, Ph.D., “Design, Fabrication, and Characterization of Graphene Switches”
  25. Lingjun Sun, Ph.D., “Design, Fabrication, and Characterization of Polymer Fuel Cells”
  26. Dongzhi Zhang, Ph.D., “Modeling and Fabrication of Self-Assembled Carbon Nanotube Composites”
  27. Mengwei Liu, Ph.D., “Microforce Sensors Based on Microcantilevers with Two Piezoelectric PZT Thin-Film Elements”
  28. Jianhua Tong, Ph.D., “Applications of Piezoelectric Bimorph Beams on Micromotors and Micro Force Sensors”
  29. Yingming Xu, M.S., “Ultra-Sensitive Graphene Water Sensors”
  30. Khoi Nguyen, M.S., “Graphene Heaters for Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)”
  31. Jitong Duan, M.S., “Design, Fabrication, and Testing of Flexible Perovskite Solar Cells”
  32. Shota Sando, M.S., “Self-Assembly of Graphene Gas Sensors”
  33. Keping Song, M.S., “Modeling of Flexible Nanostructured Solar Cells”
  34. Zhijiang Ye, M.S., “Thermally Enhanced Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Microfluidic Alignment”
  35. Vinnee B. A. Selvi, M.S., “MEMS-Based Synthetic Jets for Micro Air-Cooling Systems”
  36. Ben McDonald, M.S., “Surface Wetting Using Self Assembly of TiO2 Nanoparticles for Heat Pipes”
  37. Charles Groepper, M.S., “Integrated Pressure, Flow and Temperature Sensing for Fluid Power Systems” (co-advisor: Kim Stelson)
  38. Jing Wang, M.S., “Micromachined Wide-Bandwidth Magnetic Field Sensors Based on a PMMA Electron Tunneling Transducer”
  39. Yongjun Zhao, M.S., “Suspension Beam Strength Improvement by Shape Modification”
  40. Changyuan Chen, M.S., “Manufacturability in a 100 nm T-Gate SOI Recessed Channel MOSFET”
  41. Md Mazhar Ul Hoque, M.S., “Structural Health Monitoring of Underground Pipes with Embedded MEMS Sensors: an FEA Feasibility Study” (co-chair, Abdelkader Tayebi) 
  42. Yu Liang, M.S., “Applications of Thin Film Heaters and Temperature Sensors to Micro Reaction System”
  43. Adam G. Reppond, M.S., “Design, Fabrication, and Testing of a Micro flow Sensor”

 

Post-Doc Advisees and Visiting Scholars

  1. Dr. Peng Zhou, senior research scientist, 2023-present
  2. Dr. Yang Wang, postdoctoral research associate, 2021-2022
  3. Dr. Tianyi Zhang, postdoctoral research associate, 2019-2022
  4. Dr. Jungyoon Kim, postdoctoral research associate, 2020-2021
  5. Dr. Xinyi Li, visiting scholar, 2019-2021 (co-host with Terrence Simon)
  6. Dr. Zongbo Zhang, visiting professor, 2018-2019 
  7. Dr. Xiaoyi Liu, postdoctoral fellow, 2018-2019
  8. Dr. Rui Zhu, visiting scholar, 2018-2019 (co-host with Terrence Simon)
  9. Dr. Chongqiu Yang, visiting scholar, 2017-2018
  10. Dr. Xiaoming Huang, visiting professor, 2017-2018
  11. Dr. Jianlin Chen, visiting professor, 2017-2018
  12. Dr. Jian Wang, visiting professor, 2016-2017
  13. Dr. Gongnan Xie, visiting professor, 2017
  14. Dr. Peng Li, postdoctoral research associate, 2013-2014
  15. Dr. Pingmei Ming, visiting professor, 2012-2013
  16. Dr. Tao Zhang, postdoctoral research associate, 2008-2012
  17. Dr. Min Zhang, postdoctoral research associate, 2009-2012
  18. Dr. Youmin Yu, postdoctoral research associate, 2009-2011
  19. Dr. Congshun Wang, postdoctoral research associate, 2009-2011
  20. Dr. Xuelin Zhu, postdoctoral research associate, 2009-2011
  21. Dr. Dongjin Lee, postdoctoral research associate, 2010-2011
  22. Dr. Karl Vollmer, postdoctoral research associate, 2009
  23. Dr. Jijun Xiong, visiting professor, 2009-2010
  24. Dr. Miao Lu, postdoctoral research associate, 2007-2009
  25. Dr. Yi Luo, visiting professor, 2007-2008
  26. Dr. Xiongying Ye, visiting professor, 2007
  27. Dr. Wei Xue, postdoctoral research associate, 2007
  28. Dr. Wendong Zhang, visiting professor, 2006
  29. Dr. Jing Wang, research associate, 2003
  30. Dr. Yongjun Zhao, research associate, 2003