Nan Zhang
Assistant Professor/Lecturer (UCD)
Principal Investigator
Founder of MiNAN Technologies
My research areas include precision fabrication of plastic microfluidic and their applications towards nanomedicine and molecular diagnostics, functional surfaces and polymeric miniatured medical devices, Atomic and close-to-atomic scale manufacturing.
My research vision is to focus on biomedical applications, but relies on developing advanced manufacturing technologies from micro scale to nano and atomic scale to critical challenges for emerging medical product development.
I am encouraging interdisciplinary thinking and high degree concentration on emerging problems with novel solutions. We welcome all kinds of collaborations relevant to my research.
CURRENT MEMBERS
JIANRUI ZHANG
Visiting Scholar (2022-present)
Jianrui Zhang is a visiting student of UCD, Ph.D. of Northwestern Polytechnical University, and associate professor of Longdong University，a visiting student at University College Dublin and a Ph.D. in Northwestern Polytechnical University. He has received his B.S. and M.S. degree in Mechatronic Engineering from Yanshan University in 2006 and 2009, respectively. Previously, he was an associate professor in College of Mechanical Engineering, Longdong University. His research interests include Mechatronics and robotics. He has published 1 monograph, published more than 20 papers, authorized 10 patents, and 6 computer software copyrights. He presided over 10 research projects.
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 (2018-2019). 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 dimensional bioprinting, Micro/Nano fabrication technology. Application areas: Organ-on-a-chip, Microfluidics,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."
WEIXIN HONG
Master Student (2021-present)
I completed my bachelor's degree at Chang'an University. My major at UCD is Materials Science and Engineering. Currently, I am in charge of building mathematical models for DLP printing in my project team.
RUIBO YU
Master Student (2021-present)
Ruibo obtained his bachelor’s degree in Northeast Forestry University. He is working on
tribological test of nickel-based abrasives coatings.
JIAQI LI
Master Student (2021-present)
Jiaqi Li graduated from Northeast Forestry University majoring in polymer material science and engineering and now studying for a ME degree in Materials science & engineering in UCD. Her research is focus on bonding microfluidic chips.
YUFAN LIU
Master Student (2021-present)
I am a master student of Mechanical Engineering, and obtained my bachelor degree in
Measurement and Control Technology and Instrumentation from Beijing Information Science and Technology University. I am working on instrument control in Prof. Zhang’s group.
PRANAY SHAH
Research Assistant (2022-present)
I have completed my master’s in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Trinity College Dublin and have experience in working in nanomedicine synthesis and gene therapy. I am currently working as a research assistant for the development of microfluidic based nanoparticle flow synthesis platform for formulation discovery and optimisation of nanomedicine.
FORMER MEMBERS
YUYUANG ZHOU
Postdoc Researcher (2020-2021)
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.
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."
Sineenat Yuket
Master Student (2020-2021)
SIndy Master's research direction is "microfluidic chip surface modification and bonding". Her thesis title is "Investigation on uniformity, surface wettability and bonding strength of the thermoplastic microfluidic chip by precision thermal bonding"
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."
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."