My primary research lies in the area of thermofluids with emphasis on interfacial effects. The basic strategy of my research is to synthesize thermofluid theory with electrokinetic transport phenomena and colloid and  interfacial science and to apply them to transport phenomena associated with colloidal particle dispersion, liquid-fluid interfaces and solid-liquid interfaces. I studied the attachment of microbubbles from a hydrodynamic flow onto solid surfaces having different surface wetting characteristics (e.g., hydrophilic and hydrophobic) using a unique and well-controlled flow deposition technique. I also developed a microelectrophoresis-based system to measure the electrokinetic potential of microbubbles in aqueous solutions. Currently, other than conducting fundamental research on liquid flow and heat transfer in microchannels with electrokinetic effects, AC driven electroosmotic flow in microchannels, electroosmotic flow in porous media, electrokinetic transport of colloidal particles and droplets, nanofluids heat transfer, and Joule heating effects on capillary electrophoresis, my  research group is working on the development of numerous high-performance on-chip microfluidic devices; electrokinetic micropump, surface tension driven capillary pump, electrokinetic micromixers, electrophoretic separator, dielectrophoresis based particle separator and sorter, and lab-on-a-chip for cell analysis are just few to name. Applications can be found in many areas of applied science and engineering including Lab-on-a Chip (or BioMEMS) design and development, control of fouling membrane, and cooling of microelectronic devices.

• Development of novel microfluidic devices for electrokinetic pump, separator and micromixer 
• Thermal aspects of electroosmotic flow and capillary electrophoresis in BioMEMS
• Microchannel flow and heat transfer
• Colloidal particle interaction, transport ,and deposition
• Manipulation  of charged particles and droplets in microchannels by electrophoresis and dielectrophoresis for cell separation and sorting
• Analytical solute injection, transport, mixing and separation processes in a microchannel network
• Wetting, spreading, and capillary phenomena

• Mr. Yue Jun Kang, Ph.D. (2001 - 2004) GRADUATED
• Mr. G. Y. Tang, Ph.D. (2002 - 2005 ) GRADUATED
• Mr. Harikrishaan Narayanan Unni, Ph.D. (2002 - 2005)  GRADUATED
• Mr. D. G. Yan, Ph.D. (Sept. 2003 -)
• Mr. Marcos, M.Eng (2003 - 2005) GRADUATED
• Ms. Y. L. Leu, M.Eng. (Oct. 2001 - Sept. 2003 ) GRADUATED