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Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Cornell University

 

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Brian J. Kirby
Assistant Professor
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Research Group Web Page: Micro/Nanofluidics Laboratory
Address:    238 Upson Hall
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853
Phone: 
Fax:    
E-mail:
(607) 255-4379
607) 255-1222
bk88@cornell.edu

Dr. Kirby develops miniaturized devices for biochemical analysis, and has interests in micro- and nanoscale fluid transport, laser microfabrication, bioenergy conversion, fluorescence diagnostics, electrochemistry, and micro- and nanoparticle manipulation. Dr. Kirby is the director of the Micro/Nanofluidics Laboratory, and more information can be obtained at the Micro/Nanofluidics Laboratory website.

Research Positions
Features
Kirby Lab microfluidics nanofluidics laser microfabrication Laser microfabrication
How lasers can be combined with photopolymerization chemistry to make functional microstructures such as membranes, valves, and tissue scaffolds
Kirby Lab microfluidics nanofluidics Patterned surface microstructures
Studying neurobiology with microfluidic tools
Kirby Lab microfluidics nanofluidics microparticle processing Microparticle processing
Manipulating micro- and nanoparticles using nonlinear electrokinetic techniques
Honors and Awards
  • 2002 R&D 100 Top Invention Award
  • 2004 J.D. Watson Investigator Award
  • 2006 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) Award
Courses
  • MAE 427: Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer Laboratory
  • MAE 423/523: Intermediate Fluid Dynamics
  • MAE 524/624: Physics of Micro- and Nanoscale Fluid Mechanics
Undergraduate Advising
Selected Publications

PDF version of George, Rana, Hawkins, Kirby: 
Microfluidic devices for terahertz spectroscopy of biomolecules

George PA, Hui W, Rana F, Hawkins BG, Smith AE, Kirby BJ
"Integrated microfluidic devices for terahertz spectroscopy of biomolecules", Optics Express, 16(3) 1577-1582 (2008). pdf text

PDF version of Tandon V Bhagavatula SK Nelson WC Kirby BJ:
Zeta potential and electroosmotic mobility in microfluidic devices
fabricated from hydrophobic polymers: 1. The origins of charge

Tandon V, Bhagavatula SK, Nelson WC, Kirby BJ
"Zeta potential and electroosmotic mobility in microfluidic devices fabricated from hydrophobic polymers: 1. The origins of charge", Electrophoresis 29(5):1092-1101, 2008. doi pdf

PDF version of Tandon V Kirby BJ:
Zeta potential and electroosmotic mobility in microfluidic devices 
fabricated from hydrophobic polymers: 2. Slip and interfacial water structure

Tandon V, Kirby BJ
"Zeta potential and electroosmotic mobility in microfluidic devices fabricated from hydrophobic polymers: 2. Slip and interfacial water structure", Electrophoresis 29(5):1102-1114, 2008. doi pdf

PDF version of Benjamin G. Hawkins, A. Ezekial Smith, 
Yusef A. Syed, Brian J. Kirby: 
Continuous-Flow Particle Separation 
by 3D Insulative Dielectrophoresis 
Using Coherently Shaped, dc-Biased, ac Electric Fields

Hawkins BG, Smith AE, Syed YA, Kirby BJ
"Continuous-flow particle separation by 3D insulative dielectrophoresis using coherently shaped, DC-biased, AC electric fields," Analytical Chemistry, 2007. doi pdf text

PDF version of Ghosh, Bhagwat, Renshaw, Goh, Gaeta, Kirby: Low-light-level optical interactions with rubidium vapor in a photonic band-gap fiber

Ghosh S, Bhagwat AR, Renshaw CK, Goh S, Gaeta AL, Kirby BJ
"Low-light-level optical interactions with rubidium vapor in a photonic band-gap fiber," Physical Review Letters 97:023603 (2006). doi pdf arxiv

PDF version of Mela, van den Berg, Fintschenko, Cummings, Simmons, Kirby: The zeta potential of cyclo-olefin polymer microchannels and its effects on insulative (electrodeless) dielectrophoresis particle trapping devices

Mela P, van den Berg A, Fintschenko Y, Cummings EB, Simmons BA, Kirby BJ
"The zeta potential of cyclo-olefin polymer microchannels and its effects on insulative (electrodeless) dielectrophoresis particle trapping devices," Electrophoresis 26:1792-1799 (2005). doi pdf text

PDF version of Reichmuth, Shepodd, Kirby: Microchip HPLC of peptides and proteins

Reichmuth DS, Shepodd TJ, Kirby BJ
"Microchip HPLC of peptides and proteins," Analytical Chemistry 77:2997-3000 (2005). doi pdf text

PDF version of Reichmuth, Kirby: Effects of ammonioalkyl sulfonate internal salts on electrokinetic micropump performance and reversed-phase HPLC separations

Reichmuth DS, Kirby BJ
"Effects of Ammonioalkyl sulfonate internal salts on electrokinetic micropump performance and Reversed-Phase HPLC separations," Journal of Chromatography A, 1013:93-101 (2003). doi pdf text

PDF version of Reichmuth, Chirica, Kirby: Increasing the performance of high-pressure, high-efficiency electrokinetic micropumps using zwitterionic solute additives

Reichmuth DS, Chirica GS, Kirby BJ
"Increasing the Performance of High-Pressure, High-Efficiency Electrokinetic Micropumps Using Zwitterionic Solute Additives," Sensors and Actuators B-Chemical, 92:37-43 (2003). doi pdf text

PDF version of Kirby, Wheeler, Zare, Fruetel, Shepodd: Programmable modification of cell adhesion and zeta potential in silica microchips

Kirby BJ, Wheeler AR, Zare RN, Fruetel JA, Shepodd TJ
"Programmable Modification of Cell Adhesion and Zeta Potential in Silica Microchips,"Lab On a Chip 3:5-10 (2003). doi pdf text

Brian Kirby joined the Cornell MAE faculty in 2004. Previous to that, he was a research scientist at Sandia National Laboratories and Stanford University. See more at the Micro/Nanofluidics Laboratory website.

Education
Ph.D. 2001  -  Stanford University, Mechanical Engineering
M.S.E. 1996  -  University of Michigan, Mechanical Engineering
B.S.E. 1994  -  University of Michigan, Aerospace Engineering