I am a postdoctoral scholar at the Querrey Simpson Institute for Bioelectronics at Northwestern University. My work lies in the intersection of nanomaterials, polymer science, and bioelectronics — taking an interdisciplinary approach to develop bioresorbable implants with programmable lifetimes and responsive biosensing interfaces for clinical translation.
Research
Ultrasound-Responsive Bioelectronic Systems
Developing platforms that use low-intensity focused ultrasound to interact with implantable systems in the body — from triggering bioresorbable device dissolution to enabling wireless actuation, drug delivery, and modulation of biological responses. These systems combine carefully designed microstructured resonators and ultrasound-responsive materials, enabling programmable control over implant function and lifetime.
Ultrasound Bioresorbable Implants Drug Delivery Wireless ActuationPolymer Brush Interfaces for Biosensing and Biointegration
Engineering in situ biosensing interfaces through surface-initiated polymer brush synthesis and nanofabrication. Investigating nanopatterned robust polymer coatings on transient sensor surfaces for glucose monitoring, cell-response control, and anti-fouling performance.
Polymer Brushes Biosensing BiointegrationStimuli-Responsive Materials for Transient Devices
Developing stimuli-responsive materials — reactive to temperature, pressure, X-ray irradiation, and more — through molecular design or adaptation of established chemistries for novel applications. These materials are integrated into miniaturized bioresorbable platforms with tailored readout strategies, from optical detection to biomedical imaging, expanding the functional scope of transient bioelectronics.
Stimuli-Responsive Materials Transient Devices Molecular DesignNews
- Dec 2025 US Patent 12,487,218 on nanopatterning polymer brushes via EBL has been approved.
- Sep 2024 Joined the Rogers Group at Northwestern University as a postdoctoral researcher.
- Jun 2024 Successfully defended my thesis at Cornell University.
- Feb 2024 My co-first author paper on glucose sensing nano arrays was published on Small.
Selected Publications
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TBA2026Manuscript in PreparationDetails forthcoming
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2025Nanoengineering Carbon Dot–Polymer Brush Interfaces for Adaptive Optical MaterialsAngewandte Chemie International Edition, 64(27), e202506448 -
2024Advancing Glucose Sensing Through Auto-Fluorescent Polymer Brushes: From Surface Design to Nano-ArraysSmall, 2024, 2309040 (†co-first author) -
2024Nanoengineering Spikey Surfaces: Investigation of Reversible Organizational Control of Surface-Tethered Polypeptide BrushesLangmuir, 2024, 40(45), 24045–24061 -
2021High-Resolution Nanopatterning of Free-Standing, Self-Supported Helical Polypeptide Rod Brushes via Electron Beam LithographyACS Macro Letters, 2021, 10, 755–759 (†co-first author) -
2018Ultrathin Trilayer Assemblies as Long-Lived Barriers against Water and Ion Penetration in Flexible Bioelectronic SystemsACS Nano, 2018, 12(10), 10317–10326
→ Full list on Google Scholar
Experience
Professional Experience
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Sep 2024 – Present
Postdoctoral Scholar, Northwestern University, Evanston, ILAdvisor: Prof. John A. Rogers
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Oct 2018 – Aug 2024
Graduate Research Assistant, Cornell University, Ithaca, NYAdvisor: Prof. Christopher K. Ober
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Oct 2020 – Jan 2021
Visiting Scholar, Peking University, Beijing, ChinaAdvisors: Prof. Xing-He Fan & Prof. Zhihao Shen
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Mar 2020 – Sep 2020
Research Intern, Joye-PPT, Guangzhou, China
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Jun 2019 – Jun 2020
Research Fellow, Cornell NanoScale Science & Technology Facility, Ithaca, NY
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Jun 2018 – Aug 2018
Analytics & Information Management Intern, Deloitte Consulting, Shanghai, China
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May 2017 – May 2018
Undergraduate Research Assistant, UIUC, Urbana, ILAdvisor: Prof. Steven C. Zimmerman
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Oct 2015 – May 2018
Undergraduate Research Assistant, UIUC, Urbana, IL
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Dec 2013 – Aug 2014
Research Assistant, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, ChinaAdvisor: Prof. Guang Shi
Selected Honors
- 2019 Cornell NanoScale Science & Technology Facility Fellowship
- 2018 Cornell Materials Science & Engineering Ph.D. Fellowship
- 2017 Earl J. Eckel Scholarship, UIUC MSE
- 2016 Wert Scholarship, UIUC MSE
- 2017 James Scholar, UIUC College of Engineering
- 2015–2017 Dean's List, UIUC
- 2012 Gold Prize, Singapore National Piano Competition (Junior College)
Conference Presentations
- 2024 Talk, ACS Meeting
- 2023 Invited Talk, CNF Annual Meeting
- 2023 Talk, ACS Meeting
- 2022 Talk & Poster, ACS Meeting
- 2021 Poster, ACS Meeting
Teaching
- 2021 Guest Instructor, Educational Programs Office, Cornell Center for Materials Research
- 2020 Research Mentor, South China Normal University
- 2019 Graduate TA, MSE 3010/5810 Materials Chemistry, Cornell University
Student Mentoring
- Yi-Chen ChenMSEVisiting ScholarNow PhD Candidate at National Chung Hsing University
- Zixi ChengECEGraduate Research Assistant
- Xihan ZengBMEGraduate Research Assistant
- Lingzhu ZhangBiotechGraduate Research Assistant
- Travis SaltzmanBMEUndergraduate Research Assistant
- Johnny MengBMEUndergraduate Research Assistant
- Jonathan SchiffChemEUndergraduate Research Assistant
Service
- 2022–2023 Volunteer, Young Global Leadership Foundation (UN NGO ECOSOC member)
- 2023 Volunteer, Expanding Your Horizons, Cornell
- 2021–2022 Volunteer & Seminar Speaker, PhD Visit Days, Cornell
- 2019 Volunteer, TEDxCornell
- 2015–2017 President & Music Composer, Jasmine Field Orchestra, UIUC
Patents
- 2023 US Patent 12,487,218 (August 03)
- 2022 CN 216584442U (May 24)
- 2022 CN 216171834U (April 05)
- 2022 CN 216172409U (April 05)
- 2021 CN 213854036U (August 03)
- 2021 CN 213528366U (June 25)
- 2021 CN 213527677U (June 25)
- 2016 CN 103483608 (March 30)
- 2016 CN 103483585 (January 30)