Dr Nan Zhang

HENGJI CONG

Postdoc Researcher (2020-present)

Hengji obtained his bachelor degree in Information Engineering from Nanjing University and PhD degree in Biomedical Engineering from The Chinese University of Hong Kong. His research is focused on molecular diagnosis with microfluidics, as well as optical and thermal tweezers. 

TIANYU GUAN

Master Gratuate (2016-2018). PhD Student (2020-present)

"I was a master student in Dr Zhang's group, and I was working on precision injection moulding of microfluidic devices and back end process development.

​

I started my PhD study in September 2020."

SANA ZAKI

PhD Student (2020-present)

Having 5 years of Industrial manufacturing experience particularly on latest emerging skills of additive manufacturing. I would like to integrate my research and manufacturing experience for the development of polymeric micro-fluidic structures. Some of my published research ( 2 Journal papers in IMECHE and 1 conference in ICTAM) is based on parametric study of chemical and kinetic projectiles.

XINHUI WANG

PhD Student (2021-present)

"I graduated from North University of China with a bachelor's degree and studied for a master's degree in Huazhong University of Science and Technology with a research direction of optical precision measurement and instrument development.My research interests include: Three dimension bioprinting, Micro/Nano fabrication technology. Application areas: Organ-on-a-chip, Microfludics,Biomedical devices."

MINGZHI YU

PhD Student (2021-present)

"Mingzhi Yu obtained his bacherlor's and master's degree in School of Mechanical Engineering from Shandong University. His research interests include: surface engineering, biomaterials micro/nano fabrication, additive manufacturing and nanoparticle drug delivery."

AKSHAYA JAGAN

PhD Student (2021-present)

"I am working towards early detection of infectious diseases by building and validating integrated point-of-care diagnostic systems. Point-of-care systems are used for rapid, high throughput detection of pathogen-specific markers from clinical samples, usually employing a molecular method. I am leveraging advanced molecular techniques like digital LAMP and CRISPR on micro-fluidics to develop a novel medical diagnostic device."

SEYED MASIH MOUSAViZADEH

PhD Student (2021-present)

I have a master degree in corrosion and material protection from Amirkabir University, Tehran, Iran. My field of study :Biodegradable Implants,Magnesium alloys, Heat-treatment, Casting, Corrosion testing and analyzing, Alloying, Corrosion observation in simulated body environments, Anodizing, Mechanical properties.

DOUGLAS CARTON

PhD Student (2021-present)

"I was a master student in Dr Zhang's group, and I worked with Prof. Zhang on microfluidic chip bonding and the development of a microfluidic nanoparticle synthesis device for my master's project.

​

I started my PhD study in September 2021."

YUYUANG ZHOU

Postdoc Researcher (2010-2021)

Dr Zhou used to be a research engineer in UCD School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering. He received his PhD degree in textile chemistry and dyeing&finishing engineering from Soochow University (China) in 2018. He studied at University of Borås (Sweden) during 2017-2018 and worked as a postdoc researcher at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (Hong Kong, China) during 2019-2020. He has 16 peer-reviewed publications (h-index 10), 1 book chapter and 3 granted patents. His research interests include functional materials, nanotechnology, green chemistry and sustainable production.

Jing Zhang

Postdoc Researcher (2019-2020)

"My research mainly focused on polymer chemistry and microfluidic nanoparticle synthesis. In specific, through the elegant chip design and integration of diverse polymeric nanoparticles, materials with optimized components and structures were constructed towards uses of specific functions such as therapeutic and optics. Related achievements have been published in comprehensive journals including Nano. Lett., Mater. Horiz., Adv. Funct. Mater., Chem. Mater.，J. Mater. Chem. A, Chem. Commun.etc.and also highlighted by Atlas of Science."

Honggang Zhang

PhD Student (2017-2021) Joint supervisory with Prof. Fang

"My research interests include: micro/nano electroforming, Nano composite coating, UV-lithography process development. Application areas: Microfludics, Optics, Functional surfaces."

Haoyang Zhang

PhD Student (2016-2020) Joint supervisory with Prof. Fang

Haoyang worked on microinjection moulding, precision injection moulding, micro hot embossing,  freeform optics fabrication, and theirs applications on medical devices.

Amat Alvarez Max 

Internship (2019-2020)

"I am a student of engineering in industrial technologies in Barcelona, and between my third and fourth year of studies I collaborate in the projects of Dr. Zhang. My job is to develop new geometries and mechanisms for different areas of research and innovation. Additionally I have done a brief introduction in the area of polymer nanostructure replication. I hope to put my knowledge into practice and learn more, contributing as much as possible in the time I am in the UCD School of Engineering and Materials Science."

Weiwei Sun

Research Assistant (2019-2020)

"I am working in Nan's group as a Software Engineer. My work duties include software platform development, hardware integration and experimental platform setting. "

Lin Lin

Research Assistant (2019-2020)

"I worked in Nan's group as a System Appearance Designer. I was responsible for software platform user interface design and integration."

Ajith Manoharan

Master​ Student and Research Assistant (2018-2020)

"I worked in Nan's group during 2018-2020, firstly as his Master student and then a research assistant. My work is to accomplish the mechanical design for the experimetnal system, my duties include mechanical structure design & prototyping, sensor & controller  instrumentation, SolidWorks, actuation (PiezoDrive) and force sensor integration."

Anu S. S. Pillai

Master​ Student (2018-2019)

"I am interested in different parts of science and technology, I am always inspired by the recent development in both fields. I like to spend more times for reading thesis in Google Scholar and trying to do new things in my current working project. I would like to work in surface coatings of different materials like metals, polymers, ceramics, developing different nanoparticles with outstanding properties and I like to spent time for developing a compactable design for medical device."

Jingzhi Fan

Master​ Student (2018-2019)

"I am a Master student in UCD major in Materials Science and Engineering. My background is mostly about biomedical implants and I have quite a little experience in laboratories with polymer coating, crosslinking cryogel, and biodegradable stents. I am now working on a project about stents in Nan's group. I like all kinds of sports and always have curiosity to new things."

Lorcan O'Toole

B.Eng. (2016-2018)

Lorcan’s project on “The characterisation of the heat transfer coefficient between polymer melt and mould cavity during micro injection moulding experiments” is a keen research area for micro and nano scale manufacturing and replication as micro injection moulding is an extremely versatile and efficient processing method of polymeric components with micro features. 

Dudu Geng

Master​ Student (2016-2018)

"My background was initially in metallic materials, especially in welding. I studied the effects of welding crack defects for nearly two years in China before coming to Ireland.
I decided to come here to study as I wanted to learn some other aspects in materials science and obviously, UCD was my preference. One reason for this is that it offers an incredibly broad curriculum, from start-of-the-art medical device technology to the materials science behind nanomaterials like graphene. Wherever your interests lie, this programme will give you a broad yet detailed understanding of materials science and its engineering applications.
More importantly, through this one-year programme you will learn how to work and get
along with people from different backgrounds which will give you new perspectives on how to tackle problems and build your teamwork ability as well as leadership."

Jingchuan Zhang

Master​ Student (2016-2018)

Thesis Title: Continuous-flow sorting of protein corona using magnetic system in a microfluidics device.

"I graduated form UCD in 2017, now I’m an Engineer in a Biomedical Company. My main interests include biomaterials and medical devices. It has been an honor for me to have the opportunity to work in Dr Nan Zhang’s lab. And learn from so many experienced teachers and technicians. Wherever your interests lie, he will give you a broad yet detailed understanding of materials science and its engineering applications."