Our mission is to develop innovative technological concepts and fabrication methods for microsystems for a wide range of applications. Our concepts are often inspired by biology, and our microsystems are often applied to understand biological processes that are important for health and disease.

Developing life-enhancing applications through research at the micro-scale

We develop innovative technological concepts and fabrication methods by carrying out research in our Microfab/lab, often in collaboration with industrial, biomedical, or clinical partners.  Practical applications of the group’s research range from organ-on-a-chip systems for cancer and brain research, point-of-care diagnostics, wearable health sensors, water and air quality monitoring and purification, lithography machines, displays, and brain-inspired computing, to soft microrobotics.

The section is structured around the senior scientists Jaap den Toonder (also head of the section), Regina Luttge, Hans Wyss, Yoeri van de Burgt and Erik Homburg, who collectively hold the expertise that defines the scientific identity of the section:

• Jaap den Toonder: microfluidics, micromechanics, organ-on-a-chip
• Regina Luttge: neuro-nanoscale engineering
• Hans Wyss: microfluidics, soft-matter  
• Yoeri van de Burgt: organic devices for brain-inspired (neuromorphic) computing
• Erik Homburg: Engineering design 

Together, the Microsystems scientists carry out research in four main research lines: Micro manufacturing technologies, Microfluidics, Biomedical microdevices, and Micro-electro-opto-mechanics.