MICROFLUIDICS & LAB-ON-A-CHIP RESEARCH GROUP (MLRG)

ACTIVITIES:

The miniaturization trend of electronic components since 1970’s and the development of advanced fabrication techniques for micro and nanoscale devices since 1980’s led to the usage of devices having the dimensions of micrometers and nanometers in many fields. As a consequence a field of microfluidics which deals with fluid flow phenomena at microscale became an interesting, rich research field. Fundamental understanding of the fluid, thermal and mass transport at microscale is very critical for the design and process control of the microfluidic systems.

Lab-on-a-chip (LOC) devices are the microfluidic platforms that can integrate complex chemical management and analysis systems onto one chip just millimeters or centimeters in size and can be interfaced with electronics and optical detection systems. The ultimate goal of the LOC technology is to develop portable devices that can accomplish the same analytical tasks fast and accurately as its room-sized or benchtop-sized counterparts, however, at much lower manufacturing and operational cost, and more importantly which can accomplish in-situ testing and detection. This kind of devices are being demanded by life sciences, space explorations, defense industry, atmospheric sciences, pharmaceutical research etc.

Bilkent University Microfluidics & Lab-on-a-chip Research Group (BU-MLRG)’s interest lies in the fundamental and experimental investigations on transport phenomena in microchannel networks and development of the LOC technology for biomedical, biological and chemical applications.

Two PhD Positions in Microfluidics & Lab-on-a-chip Research Group

Position-1: Our group is starting a new project to develop an electrically actuated artificial cilia platform. The PhD work will focus on building a coupled BEM/FEM solver for the electro-elastohydrodynamic response of a cilium and deriving a reduced-order model for real-time use, as well as designing a model-based closed-loop controller for programmable metachronal wave generation. The computational phase will be followed by an experimental validation campaign in collaboration with Prof. Selim Hanay. Candidates with a background in numerical methods (FEM/BEM), fluid/solid mechanics, or control engineering are encouraged to apply.
Position-2: Leveraging the group’s expertise in 3D multiphysics solvers for microfluidic particulate flows, this position will extend the platform to Janus particles (asymmetric particles with distinct surface properties on each hemisphere). The work involves implementing the asymmetric boundary conditions and surface physics (electrokinetic slip, Maxwell stress) specific to Janus geometries, and studying self-propulsion, orientation dynamics, and collective behavior in microfluidic confinement. Candidates with a strong background in numerical methods, computational mechanics, or applied mathematics are encouraged to apply. If you are interested in any of these positions, please contact Prof. Barbaros Çetin at barbaros.cetin@bilkent.edu.tr with your CV and a brief statement of interest.