Microfluidics and Microfabrication in a Chemical Engineering Lab

Authors

  • Shivaun D. Archer Cornell University

Abstract

Microfluidics, the manipulation of fluids in channels with micron dimensions, has emerged as an exciting new field that impacts the broad area of nano/microtechnology. This is an important area to train the next generation of chemical engineers. This paper describes an experiment where students are given a problem to design a microfluidic mixer that can be used to mix two fluids. The students design, fabricate, and test their device using computer aided design, soft lithography, and image analysis software. This lab demonstrates fundamental fluid mechanics and mass transport principles.

Author Biography

Shivaun D. Archer, Cornell University

Shivaun D. Archer is a senior lecturer in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Cornell University. She received her B.A. and M. Eng. in chemical engineering from the University of Cambridge, England, and her Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the University of California, Davis. She teaches lab courses covering nanobiotechnology, molecular and tissue engineering, and physiology.

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Published

2011-09-01

Issue

Vol. 45 No. 4 (2011): Fall 2011

Section

Manuscripts