Dr. Carolyn Ren is a Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering Professor at the University of Waterloo whose main research interests and activities are in the area of biosensing and devices (bacterial, proteins, fluorescence), Lab-on-a-Chip technology (point-of-care biomedical diagnosis , chemical detection, protein separation and identification, environmental testing), and micro-scale fluid mechanics, droplet microfluidics and nanofluidics.
Carolyn Ren is supervising this project with the help of Owen Barrigar, who was in France as part of the student exchange program between Sorbonne Universities and the University of Waterloo. Owen is studying Chemical Engineering at the University of Waterloo and has been able to bring his expertise in this field to this project.
Owen used this exchange opportunity to grow professionally and personally. He was able to Practice communication in the context of different work culture, and was able to work on being adaptable. Personally, Owen said that the experience pushed him out of his comfort zone with speaking French, which was helpful. He compared this experience to when he lived in Gatineau for four months and hadn’t had that experience there. Additionally, he gained more comfort with travel, and learned how to deal with stressful administrative processes.
Owen said that, “the best part was seeing a beautiful, historical country and to really get the experience of living there. For example, watching the World Cup Final at Champs de Mars was a fantastic, was a once in a lifetime experience I wouldn’t have had from regular tourism. Similar to above, I wouldn’t have had any of the immersive cultural experiences – sports, leisure activities, gaining other perspectives on work and society. Practicing my French was a great challenge.”
France itself exceeded his expectations, since he has never seen and done so much outside of work on a co-op term. The apparent difference in professional culture was a bit surprising, but France wasn’t too drastically different to really shock him. His stated that his colleagues were all very kind and welcoming, and accepting of any shortcomings in terms of language/communication in French. They were inclusive and willing to share their games and pass-times. He said that his direct supervisor was knowledgeable and accessible when necessary. Getting used to the different work culture in terms of organization and pace took some patience for Owen. Once back in Canada Owen plans to finish his undergrad and continue to work on his French.
The project he was working on is attempting to develop a portable immunological pathogen detection system using electromagnetism and microfluidics. Owen’s work specifically focused on the microfluidic subsystem and its optimization. The objective of this research was to optimize the microfluidic reservoir geometry based on mass transport behavior and reaction kinetics. The aim was to have a new design simulated and tested qualitatively that could help improve the detection sensitivity.
Superparamagnetic nanoparticles coated in streptavidin are introduced into a microfluidic reservoir, where they are immobilized to the surface in the presence of a desired pathogen due to the surface chemistry of the reservoir. Once present, the nanoparticles can be detected using an electromagnetic field and the “frequency mixing technique”. What makes this method advantageous is that it should theoretically allow easy portability compared to other existing technologies, potentially at a lower cost and with sensitive detection thresholds.
Owen was able to come up with a new design for the reservoir that may improve the device. Simulations He conducted seemed to demonstrate that the design would be functional and effective. Applications of this technology can be seen in the provision of Healthcare, and the prevention of disease/pandemics.
This research will help the industry by providing portability and rapid test results that would give professionals in remote locations, or at points of interest, the ability to conduct tests otherwise limited to a large laboratory. Owen stated that “It may be brought to market, but that will rely on the current PhD student to complete the design and testing of the device over the next year or more.”