Integrated Mechano Biosystems Lab
Research Field
Prof. Ting-Yuan (TY) Tu is a Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), Taiwan, and leads the Integrated MechanoBioSystems Lab (IMBSL). His research lies at the intersection of engineering, biology, and experimental system design, with a focus on building experimental platforms that are stable, reproducible, and scalable.
Prof. Tu received interdisciplinary training in mechanics, microfluidics, and mechanobiology, and his work has contributed to the development of microfluidic devices, three-dimensional in vitro tumor models, and quantitative imaging approaches for studying cancer invasion, metastasis, and treatment response. Rather than focusing on isolated experiments, his research philosophy emphasizes system-level thinking—designing experimental frameworks that can operate reliably over time and support meaningful biological interpretation.
Through close collaboration with researchers across engineering, life sciences, and clinical medicine, Prof. Tu aims to translate complex biological questions into engineered experimental systems that can serve as foundations for future biomedical research and precision medicine.
Founded in 2016, the Integrated MechanoBioSystems Lab (IMBSL) focuses on the development of engineered experimental systems for studying cell and tissue behavior under controlled microenvironmental conditions. The lab integrates device design, materials, imaging, and experimental workflows to create platforms that enable long-term, reproducible biological experiments.
A central theme of the lab is the transition from single-use or proof-of-concept devices toward integrated platforms that emphasize execution stability, repeatability, and usability. Recent efforts in the lab focus on the development of organ-on-chip systems, including the GelAtlas platform, which combines hydrogel microstructures, three-dimensional cell or organoid models, and chip-based architectures designed for long-term culture and observation.
In parallel, IMBSL places strong emphasis on experimental usability and system presentation. As experimental platforms become more complex and collaborative, the lab actively explores design-oriented approaches—including visual design, layout optimization, and system presentation—to improve clarity, communication, and overall usability of experimental setups. These efforts support not only scientific rigor, but also interdisciplinary collaboration and technology translation.
Research in the Integrated MechanoBioSystems Lab (IMBSL) focuses on building experimental systems that actually work—systems that are stable, reproducible, and usable by people from different backgrounds. We welcome students with engineering, design, or science training, and contributions are matched to background and duration of stay.
Below are the main areas where new members can get involved.
🔧 Experimental Systems, Devices & Automation
Best fit for: Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Applied Mechanics, Robotics, Automation
We design and build experimental systems that support long-term biological studies. This includes device structures, fixtures, control logic, and workflows that allow experiments to run reliably over days to weeks.
You may work on:
Device and fixture design (CAD-based)
System integration and layout planning
Automation-ready experimental workflows
Improving system stability and repeatability
Translating experimental concepts into physical setups
👉 No biology or cell experience is required for this area.
🧫 Organ-on-Chip Platforms
Best fit for: Biomedical Engineering, Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering (bio-oriented), Life Sciences
A core direction of the lab is the development of organ-on-chip platforms, including the GelAtlas system, which integrates hydrogel microstructures with 3D cell or tissue models.
Depending on experience and time commitment, you may contribute to:
Device-compatible experimental design
Development of chip-based culture platforms
Optimization of experimental workflows for long-term studies
Supporting system-level testing and validation
For short-term participants, the focus is on system operation and consistency, rather than advanced biological techniques.
🎨 Experimental Design, Visualization & System Presentation
Best fit for: Industrial Design, Visual Design, Architecture, Media Technology, Engineering with design interest
As our experimental systems become more complex, how they look and how they are communicated matters. We actively welcome contributors with a design background to help improve clarity, usability, and presentation of our platforms.
You may work on:
Visual layout of experimental systems
System schematics and illustrations
Improving usability and readability of setups
Creating visuals for communication, documentation, or presentation
👉 This area is especially suitable for short-term (≈3 months) participation and does not require biological training.
🤝 What Ties Everything Together
Regardless of entry point, all research in IMBSL contributes to a shared experimental platform. Engineering, biology, imaging, and design are not separate projects—they are different ways of strengthening the same system.
We value students who:
Enjoy building real systems
Care about execution quality
Are willing to improve things step by step
Want their work to be used by others
- K.T. Li Research Award, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan 2024
- Outstanding Youth in Society Award, Tainan City, Taiwan 2024
- Fulbright Scholar, Fulbright-Formosa Plastics Group Scholarship, 2023
- Ta-You Wu Memorial Award, National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), Taiwan 2023
- Outstanding Young Scholars Paper Award, Taiwan Chemical Sensors Association, Taiwan 2021
- Teaching Excellence Award, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan 2021
- Future Star Research Award, College of Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan 2021
Ph.D. in Mechanobiology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 2015
M.S. in Applied Mechanics, National Taiwan University, Taiwan, 2009
B.S. in Energy and AC&R, National Taipei University of Technology, Taiwan, 2007
Job Description
Responsibilities may include:
- Designing visual layouts of experimental systems and platforms
- Creating system schematics and technical illustrations
- Improving usability and spatial organization of setups
- Developing standardized visual templates for lab systems
- Producing presentation and publication-ready figures
- Supporting documentation, manuals, and communication materials
This position focuses on system usability and visualization. No biological or wet-lab experience is required.
Preferred Intern Educational Level
Undergraduate (Junior/Senior) or Master’s Level
(Design-focused disciplines preferred)
Skill sets or Qualities
Academic Background:
- Industrial Design
- Product Design
- Visual Communication Design
- Architecture
- Media / Digital Design
Preferred Skills:
- Adobe Illustrator / Photoshop / InDesign
- Figma or UI/UX layout tools
- 3D visualization or rendering (Blender, KeyShot, Fusion, etc.)
- Technical drawing or schematic illustration
- Information layout and visual hierarchy design
Personal Qualities:
- Able to translate complex systems into clear visuals
- Strong sense of spatial organization and readability
- Detail-oriented in presentation and layout
- Comfortable collaborating with engineers and researchers
- Interested in scientific or medical technology environments
Job Description
Responsibilities may include:
- Supporting organoid and 3D culture experimental setups
- Assisting organ-on-chip platform operation
- Preparing and maintaining chip-based culture workflows
- Monitoring long-term experiments and system performance
- Assisting hydrogel or microenvironment preparation
- Supporting testing, validation, and experimental documentation
- Performing routine and repetitive device preparation tasks
Note:
Organoid and organ-on-chip research requires meticulous and sometimes tedious device fabrication and preparation. Interns should be prepared to engage in repetitive hands-on work (e.g., chip preparation, gel loading, assembly, cleaning, and setup) as part of maintaining experimental consistency.
Preferred Intern Educational Level
Senior Undergraduate / Master’s Level
(Biomedical or life science–related programs)
Skill sets or Qualities
Academic Background:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Bioengineering
- Life Sciences
- Biotechnology
- Chemical Engineering (bio-oriented)
Preferred Skills:
- Basic cell culture or sterile technique experience
- Organoid or 3D culture exposure (helpful but not required)
- Microfluidics or lab-on-chip familiarity
- Microscopy or imaging operation (optional)
- Experimental workflow documentation
Personal Qualities:
- Patient and detail-oriented
- Comfortable with repetitive laboratory preparation work
- Able to maintain consistency over long-term experiments
- Careful in handling delicate devices and biological materials
- Reliable in execution-focused tasks