The on-chip fabrication of biomaterial constructs comprising cells organized in specific 2-D and 3-D patterns is considered a key breakthrough in having microfluidics replace animal and human subjects for drug testing. However, there are still many limitations that must be addressed to compete with traditional forms of diagnostics. The MIT Mechanosynthesis Lab is in the process of creating a device that combines image-processing and direct write lithography to identify cells and anchor cells in certain arrangements in real time. In order to test this device, the lab will be using hepatocyte cells from the liver to measure their albumin output in certain microfluidic structures

I am very interested in biomedical applications in EECS and mechanical engineering. I have worked on a couple of projects to improve patient care, but I am excited to work on this project since it is at a much more fundamental level of research.