Microfluidics Research Lab
Research Field
My career began as an acoustics consultant, and later I worked as a mechanical engineer at Motorola, gaining four years of industry experience mainly in acoustics technology and product evaluation. In 2009, I completed my PhD at Monash University in Australia, where I received the Bill Melbourne Medal for the best doctoral thesis in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. I then conducted two years of postdoctoral research at Monash University and the University of Notre Dame in the United States. My academic career started in 2011 at Swinburne University of Technology (Sarawak Campus), and in 2013 I joined Monash University Malaysia, where I was promoted to Associate Professor in 2023. During that time, I established an impactful microfluidics research team focusing on portable aerosol generation technology, enhanced wastewater treatment, and heat transfer improvement. My work has been published in multiple T1 and Q1 journals, and I have successfully secured several government and industry research grants. Since 2025, I have been serving as an Associate Professor at Ming Chi University of Technology, continuing to advance research and cross‑disciplinary collaboration in the field of microfluidics.
The Microfluidics Laboratory is dedicated to developing technology platforms centered on microscale manipulation, utilizing microfluidic operations, surface acoustic waves, and plasma‑driven interfacial phenomena to address key challenges in healthcare, environmental engineering, and thermal management. Through experimental and computational microfluidics research, the laboratory investigates and controls fluid behavior at small scales, enabling advancements in portable aerosol generation, microscale disinfection, wastewater treatment enhancement, thermal management, and bio‑stimulation. By integrating expertise in microfluidic device design, acoustofluidic techniques, and plasma–liquid interactions, the lab develops compact, efficient, and application‑oriented solutions. We also work closely with academic institutions and industry partners to facilitate the translation of scientific discoveries into practical technologies, while providing a multidisciplinary research environment to train students and researchers with strong capabilities in microscale engineering and advanced fluid innovation.
- Portable Plasma‑Activated Aerosol and Surface Disinfection System
This research focuses on developing miniaturized systems that integrate microfluidic platforms with surface acoustic waves (SAWs) and plasma‑activation technology to generate disinfecting aerosols directly at the point of use. The resulting aerosol provides rapid and effective microbial inactivation, offering a portable surface‑disinfection solution suitable for medical, public health, and personal protection applications. - Acoustic‑Enhanced Wastewater Treatment Technology
This research topic investigates the use of high‑frequency, megahertz‑range (MHz) acoustic waves to enhance aerobic biological treatment processes. By introducing high‑frequency acoustic fields, mass transfer, dissolved oxygen levels, and microbial activity can be significantly improved, effectively shortening treatment time and enhancing water‑quality outcomes. This approach represents an important direction for developing compact, energy‑efficient wastewater treatment systems. - Applications of Plasma‑Activated Water in Thermal Management
This research examines the use of plasma‑activated water (PAW) as a next‑generation coolant for microscale heat‑dissipation applications. By tuning the physicochemical properties of PAW—such as electrical conductivity, density, and surface tension—its evaporation rate and cooling efficiency can be substantially enhanced. PAW can also increase the Leidenfrost point and reduce surface oxidation, offering new solutions for future micro‑cooling and thermal‑management systems. - Plasma‑Activated Nanofluids
Building on existing research on plasma‑activated water, the laboratory is expanding into the development of plasma‑activated nanofluids. This research direction explores dispersing nanoparticles into plasma‑treated liquids and studying how plasma‑generated reactive species modify nanoparticle interfacial behavior to achieve tunable thermophysical properties. This technology shows strong potential for high‑efficiency heat transfer, microscale cooling, and advanced thermal‑management applications.
Bill Melbourne Medal for the most outstanding PhD Thesis in the Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Australia
- 2009 Ph.D., Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton Campus, Australia
- 2002 Bachelor of Engineering (Hons), Mechanical Engineering, Monash University, Malaysia Campus, Malaysia
Job Description
Interfacial Phenomena and High‑Speed Imaging in Plasma‑Activated Fluids
This role focuses on studying interfacial behavior and microscale heat‑transfer mechanisms in plasma‑activated nanofluids using advanced visualization techniques. The intern will explore droplet dynamics, boiling phenomena, and evaporative cooling behavior.
Key Responsibilities
- Conduct high‑speed photography and optical imaging to capture droplet spreading, evaporation, boiling nucleation, and interfacial motion.
- Contribute to experimental design, data interpretation, and documentation for research presentations or reports.
Preferred Intern Educational Level
Final‑year undergraduate student in Mechanical Engineering
Skill sets or Qualities
Basic knowledge of heat transfer, fluid mechanics, and thermodynamics.
Experience with laboratory experiments or hands‑on engineering projects.
Attention to detail, safety, and laboratory discipline.
Good problem‑solving skills and willingness to troubleshoot experiments.
Good communication skills for documenting and presenting results.