The stakes of the microsystems for biology are to integrate and to automate the protocols of diagnosis for health applications. In this domain, microfluidics appears as a key contributor. Particularly, our laboratory has been working for few years on polymer microfluidics components based on a credit card format and including microchannels and active functions such as valves. These developments led to the demonstration of several protocols, often complex. Thus this implies the use of an instrumentation for the valve actuation, the control of the flow rate inside the microchannels, the storage of liquid reagents… This results in a large non-autonomous demonstrator. Using the previous developments and internal skills, the main objective of the thesis is to integrate all these existing functions in a mobile and autonomous product to respond to current and future challenges in personalized medicine.

To achieve those objectives, the fluidic concepts will be easy and robust. After a first phase of exploration, the most pertinent concept will be developed. In fine, a real demonstrator based on a complex protocol (i.e. multiple reagents and multiple steps, e.g. enzyme immunoassay such as Elisa) will emphasize the potential of this promising technology.

Keywords: microfluidics, microsystems, lab-on-chip.

Skills: General engineer, fluid mechanics, microfluidics, engineering and conception skills, health and biology interest.

This position is open until it is filled.

Department: Département Microtechnologies pour la Biologie et la Santé (LETI)
Laboratory: Laboratoire Biologie et Architecture Microfluidiques
Start Date: 01-10-2015
ECA Code: SL-DRT-15-0087
Contact: yves.fouillet<στο>cea.fr