PhD

Smart Systems and Energy Technology

• DNA analysis with a nanopore
• Reconfigurable biosensor arrays
• 3D-SOC integration by stacking heterogeneous IC technologies
• Technology aware design research
• Analog and RF circuit design for 45nm CMOS Cognitive Radio t
• CMOS design for mm-wave applications
• Cognitive radio processor architecture and platform
• Cognitive radio functionality
• Miniaturized Hyperspectral Vision System for the Embedded Do
• Multi-View Video
• Run-time resource management for dynamic Embedded Software
• Solar Cell Technology
• Organic electronics
• Wireless autonomous transducer solutions
• Ultra-high frequency communication with thin-film oxide elec

Reconfigurable biosensor arrays

Protein and DNA microarrays have become an invaluable tool in life sciences. Mostly, the biomolecules are spotted using microspotting robots on pre-activated substrates. In this process, homogeneity of chemical and physical structure, hydrophobicity or hydrophilicity, control of the density of and spacing between the probes are essential and have been largely optimized for various two-dimensional surfaces, in particular glass. With the development of new CMOS based nanoscale biosensor platforms, probing sites are too small for efficient delivery of biomolecules via conventional microspotting robots. State of the art nanospotting techniques include the immobilization of biomolecules by using scanning probe tools such as dip-pen lithography, nanopipetting, and by photolithographical processes or nano-imprinting. Moreover, reconfiguring the dense bionanoarrays is a highly desirable property. In addition active forces such as electrophoresis on charged molecules can be applied in order to bring the molecules to the desirable location in a reconfigurable way without losing their bioreactivity.

Responsible scientists: Karolien Jans ,Tim Stakenborg