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Professor Brian Kirby
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Recipients of the 2006 Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers pose with President George W. Bush Thursday, Nov. 1, 2007, on the North Portico of the White House. Professor Kirby is rightmost in the front row. Established in 1996, PECASE represents the highest honor that any young scientist or engineer can receive in the United States. White House photo by Chris Greenberg. |
Professor Kirby receives PECASE award in White House ceremony
Assistant Professor Brian Kirby recently received the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) in ceremonies at the White House and at the Department of Energy. According to the US Office of Science and Technology Policy, the PECASE award is based on "a combination of innovative research at the frontiers of science and technology and community service demonstrated through scientific leadership and community outreach" and is "the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government on outstanding scientists and engineers beginning their independent careers." DOE's press release quotes Professor Kirby's "...pioneering work in nanoscale electrokinetic transport, pathogen and chemical detection, quantum data storage, and advanced microsystems that are critical to developing technical capabilities for stockpile stewardship, enhanced surety and non-proliferation."
About Professor Kirby's Research:
Professor Kirby's research is focused on fluid mechanical transport at micro- and nanometer length scales, with application to biological analysis and materials fabrication. Fluid mechanics at small scales involves exciting physics and leads to a number of compelling technological advantages. Micro- and nanoscale transport hightens the importance of interfacial phenomena such as surface tension, as well as electrohydrodynamic coupling. Professor Kirby directs the Cornell Micro/Nanofluidics Laboratory, which is currently engaged in a number of projects, implementing small-scale fluidic devices for a broad set of applications. |
Electrokinetic phenomena in microscale systems allow facile incorporation of fluid actuation, pressure generation, and cellular/molecular sorting in integrated systems. These phenomena, including electroosmosis, electrophoresis, and dielectrophoresis, are being studied in detail in Professor Kirby's group. Dielectrophoretic phenomena are being used to develop cellular screens to study tuberculosis, while the relation of interfacial effects on electroosmosis are being used to understand how to develop engineering models to predict electrokinetic actuation in low-cost, mass-produced polymeric microsystems. |
Professor Kirby's research group also focuses on novel material techniques, including both (a) techniques for materials fab inside microdevices to generate novel functionality and (b) techniques that use microdevices to create materials with unique properties or efficient throughput. One key thrust of his group has been laser-fabrication of polymeric microstructures, currently in development for water sampling and analysis. His group also develops microfluidic techniques for processing novel textiles and photonic fibers as well as refolding proteins for pharmaceuticals. |
Professor Kirby's research has been funded by the American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund, the National Science Foundation, The New York Office of Science, Technology, and Research, Sandia National Laboratories, and Jim and Becky Morgan. Collaborators at Cornell include Antje Baeumner (Biological and Environmental Engineering), Lawrence Bonassar (Biomedical and Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering), Alex Gaeta (Applied and Engineering Physics, Juan Hinestroza (Fiber Science and Apparel Design), and Farhan Rana (Electrical and Computer Engineering). |
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