2024 Summer Work Study RA (WSRA)

Faculty Supervisor First Name: Dae kun	Faculty Supervisor Last Name: Hwang
Email Address: dkhwang@torontomu	Phone Number: 552989	Fax Number:
Department / School / Centre: Chemical Engineering	Faculty: Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science	Room Number: KHS 241K

Project Title: Microfluidics-based synthesis of porous hydrogels

Project Description: The manipulation of fluids at a small scale in confined geometries, known as microfluids has become a promising technique for the synthesis of polymeric microparticles. Microfluidics-based synthesis offers not only distinctive features in which particles are highly monodispersed, non-spherical, and multi-functional, but also precise control over their material properties (size, shape, chemical anisotropy, and functionality). For instance, microfluidics-based synthesis using stop-flow lithography (SFL) offers versatility for the direct fabrication of such microparticles with custom shape and multifunction/ composition. More importantly, the additional ability to tune the shape of highly homogeneous microhydrogels provides considerable advantages for tailoring drug-release kinetics for drug delivery applications. Furthermore, this method allows us to pattern multi-degradable sites in a single hydrogel microparticle, which can be exploited to create ideal degradation and drug-release profiles. The microporous profiles of such microparticles also play a critical role in controlling both particle degradation and drug release. The objective of this project is to generate hydrogel microparticles with controllable porous nanostructures using various porogens such as ethanol and polyethylene glycol.

RA Position Duties and Resposibilities (Include Interaction with Research Team Members, Supervisory Arrangements): The selected student will create hydrogel microparticles with desirable porous profiles using SFL. The student will investigate the effects of porogens on the porosity development of hydrogel microparticles and use image analysis and various analytical instruments such as scanning electron microscope (SEM) to quantitatively characterize the porosity profiles of resulting micropraticles. The student will also establish correlations between porogen concentration and porosity development. Dr. Hwang will provide the essential technical training to conduct planned experiments including image analysis. The student will write weekly progress reports and attend weekly group and individual meetings. The following are the specific involvements of the proposed student for this award: 1) synthesis of hydrogel

How Many Students Are Currently Under Your Supervision:  Undergraduate: 1   Masters: 3   Doctoral: 3

Animals Will Be Used In Research:       No

Human Subjects Involved:                     No

Hazardous Materials, Equipment, or Processes Will Be Involved in the Research:   Yes

Research Experience and Opportunites Offered RA: Through these hands-on experiences, the selected student will have many great opportunities to advance fundamental knowledge in material synthesis. The student will be exposed to sophisticated technical skills in optical microscopy, microfluidic fabrication, material synthesis, image analysis, and instrumental analysis, which are relevant skills for many scientific disciplines. Such hands-on knowledge is of great value in both the academic and industry sectors for advanced materials and biological applications. Dr. Hwang will closely work with the selected student by meeting the student weekly to discuss the student's progress and give the student's guidance, as well as providing hands-on technical, analytical, and writing support if necessary. Also, Dr. Hwang will create a collaborative environment where the student will be given opportunities to work on group projects to help the student develop student's interpersonal skills. In addition to student's research training in his lab, Dr. Hwang encourages his students to attend various workshops and training opportunities available at St. Michael’s Hospital Research Training Center, Ryerson University, iBEST, and the University of Toronto to broaden their professional and leadership skills. His students also have opportunities to work with Dr. Hwang’s industry partners. These connections help them to explore various environments outside of academe. Dr. Hwang creates a collaborative environment, where he provides his students with opportunities to develop their mentorship skills and interpersonal skills.

Specific Skills / Knowledge / Experience Required (Include Any Required Courses, Computer Programs, etc.): A student candidate is preferred to have the following qualifications: Third or fourth-year student in the department of chemical engineering, Mechanical Engineering or Biomedical Engineering.

Start Date: 06 May 2024	End Date: 23 Aug 2024
Hours: Maximum Program Hours: 490.00	Hourly Rate: 20.49

Method of Student Application: Mail Telephone Fax Email In Person

Student Application Materials Required: Resume Cover Letter Portfolio Transcript References (How Many:)  Language(s):  Other: