Jin Li
Lecturer
- lij40@cardiff.ac.uk
- S/0.46, Queen's Buildings - Central Building, 5 The Parade, Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 3AA
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Overview
I joined School of Engineering, Cardiff University as Lecturer of soft matter engineering in December 2022. I am Co-director of Applied Microfluidic Laboratory (https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/engineering/research/facilities/applied-microfluidics-laboratory), and the principal researcher of EU-H2020 FETPROCAT project, entitled with "Artificial Cells with Distributed Cores" (https://acdch2020.eu/).
My research focuses on the fundmental of microfluidics, micro-flow dynamics and soft materials. I investigate (i) the precesion formation of complex emulsions, (ii) the fabrication of functional microfluidic devices (integated with acoustics, optics, microwave elements, etc.), and (iii) the multiphyisics finite element modelling of droplet behaviours. My work has been applied to droplet based technology development, for the applications in synthetic biology (bottom-up artificial cell creation), cell biologoy (living cell encapsulation), and energy production (inertial fusion energy target fabrication).
Biography
Education:
- PhD (2012~2015), School of Engineering, Cardiff University, U.K.
- BEng (First, 2010~2012), School of Engineering, Cardiff Univeristy, U.K.
- BEng (Hons, 2008~2012), North China Electrical Power University (Beijing), China
Work Experience:
- 2019 - current, Pointed researcher of EU-H2020 project, entitled with “Artificial Cells with DistributedCores (PN 824060)”. Funded by European Research Council (ERC). Cardiff University. Duties of my role: Research on internal organisations and communications of artificial cell compartments.
- 2018 - 2019, PDRA, project: “Exosomes characterization in fluidic environment”. Funded by Medical Research Council (MRC). King’s College London. Duties of my role: Design and fabrication of optofluidic devices for cells and exosomes imaging.
- 2017 - 2018, PDRA, project: “Development of new microfluidic techniques for the production of artificial cells”. Funded by Medical Research Council (MRC). Cardiff University. Duties of my role: Design and fabrication of 3D printed fluidic devices for the creation of artificial cell chassis.
- 2015 - 2017, Pointed researcher of NRN project, entitled with “Laser and microfluidic manufacture of novel bio-diagnostic platforms”. Funded by National Research Network Wales. Cardiff University. Duties of my role: Generation of microcapsules with definable architectures for biological applications using multiphase microfluidics.
Honours and awards
- “Young Scientist Award Finalist” with certificate, by Microsystems & Nanoengineering (Springer Nature) Young Scientist Award Summit 2022.
Professional memberships
Member of European Synthetic Cell Initiative
Member of EU Artificial Cell with Distributed Cores project consortium (ACDC)
Member of King’s Imaging Network (KIN)
Member of The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)
Member of Cardiff Institute of Tissue Engineering and Repair (CITER)
Member of Cardiff Synthetic Biology Initiative (CSBI)
Speaking engagements
- Invited talk, “3D printing technologies and microfluidics for the generation of microspheres”, Li J, Royal Academic of Engineering- Young Researchers’ Futures’ Meeting, Edinburgh, U.K. 2018.
- Invited talk, “Droplet microfluidics: an emerging technology to bridge tissue engineering and synthetic biology” at CITER annual scientific meeting, 2022.
Committees and reviewing
Reviewer of Scietific Reports journal
Reviewer of Journal of Fusion Energy journal
Reviewer of Chemical Engineering Science journal
Publications
2023
- Moukachar, A. et al. 2023. Development and evaluation of a low‐cost lego 3d bioprinter: from building‐blocks to building blocks of life. Advanced Materials Technologies, article number: 2100868. (10.1002/admt.202100868)
2022
- Schneider, J. J. et al. 2022. Paths in a network of polydisperse spherical droplets. Presented at: ALIFE 2022: The 2022 Conference on Artificial Life, Online, 18-22 July 2022The 2022 Conference on Artificial Life Proceedings. MIT Press, (10.1162/isal_a_00502)
- Li, J. et al. 2022. Building programmable multicompartment artificial cells incorporating remotely activated protein channels using microfluidics and acoustic levitation. Nature Communications 13(1), article number: 4125. (10.1038/s41467-022-31898-w)
- Li, J., Dimitriou, P. and Barrow, D. 2022. Acoustic levitation of complex emulsions and hierarchical soft matter constructs. Presented at: MicroTAS 2022, Hangzhou, China, 23-27 October 2022.
- Dimitriou, P., Li, J., Jamieson, W., Castell, O. and Barrow, D. 2022. Active content release from synthetic cell interior towards a novel drug delivery method. Presented at: MicroTAS 2022, Hangzhou, China, 23-27 October 2022.
- Dimitriou, P., Li, J., Tornillo, G., Smalley, M. and Barrow, D. 2022. Droplet incubator: a new droplet-based model to investigate living cell-synthetic cell interactions. Presented at: MicroTAS 2022, Hangzhou, China, 23-27 October 2022.
2021
- Dimitriou, P., Li, J., Tornillo, G., McCloy, T. and Barrow, D. 2021. Droplet microfluidics for tumor drug-related studies and programmable artificial cells. Global Challenges 5(7), article number: 2000123. (10.1002/gch2.202000123)
- Schneider, J. J. et al. 2021. Influence of the geometry on the agglomeration of a polydisperse binary system of spherical particles. Presented at: ALIFE 2021: The 2021 Conference on Artificial Life, 19-23 July 2021Proceedings of the ALIFE 2022: The 2022 Conference on Artificial Life. ALIFE 2021: The 2021 Conference on Artificial Life.. MIT Press, (10.1162/isal_a_00392)
2020
- Li, J., Baxani Kamal, D., Jamieson, W. D., Xu, W., Garcia Rocha, V., Barrow, D. A. and Castell, O. K. 2020. Formation of polarised, functional artificial cells from compartmentalised droplet networks and nanomaterials, using one-step, dual-material 3D-printed microfluidics. Advanced Science 7(1), article number: 1901719. (10.1002/advs.201901719)
- Li, J., Dimitriou, P., Castell, O. and Barrow, D. 2020. Generation of complex emulsions using monolithic, dual material 3D-printed microfluidic devices. Presented at: The 24th International Conference on Miniaturized Systems for Chemistry and Life Sciences (µTAS 2020), 4-9 October 2020. Cardiff:
2018
- Thomas, R., Li, J., Ladak, S., Barrow, D. and Smowton, P. 2018. In-situ fabricated 3D micro-lenses for photonic integrated circuits. Optics Express 26(10), pp. 13436-13442. (10.1364/OE.26.013436)
2017
- Li, J. and Barrow, D. A. 2017. A new droplet-forming fluidic junction for the generation of highly compartmentalised capsules. Lab on a Chip 17(16), pp. 2873-2881. (10.1039/c7lc00618g)
- Li, J., Lindley-Start, J., Porch, A. and Barrow, D. 2017. Continuous and scalable polymer capsule processing for inertial fusion energy target shell fabrication using droplet microfluidics. Scientific Reports 7, article number: 6302. (10.1038/s41598-017-06746-3)
- Baxani Kamal, D., Morgan, A. J., Li, J., Barrow, D. A. and Castell, O. 2017. The microfluidic manufacture of encapsulated droplet interface bilayers using a hybrid 3D-printed coaxial device. Presented at: 20th International Conference on Miniaturized Systems for Chemistry and Life Sciences (MicroTAS 2016), Dublin, Ireland, 9-13 October 2016Proceedings of the 20th International Conference on Miniaturized Systems for Chemistry and Life Sciences (MicroTAS 2016). Red Hook, New York: Curran Associates, Inc.
- Li, J., Baxani Kamal, D., Castell, O. and Barrow, D. 2017. Formation of chemically responsive multisomes using droplet microfluidics. Presented at: 20th International Conference on Miniaturized Systems for Chemistry and Life Sciences (MicroTAS 2016), Dublin, Ireland, 9-13 October 2016Proceedings of the 20th International Conference on Miniaturized Systems for Chemistry and Life Sciences (MicroTAS 2016). Red Hook, NY: Curran Associates, Inc.
- Li, J., Wu, F., Wang, H., Cuenca, J., Yang, X. and Barrow, D. 2017. An automated system for the shape optimization of double emulsion droplets used in the fabrication of Inertial Fusion Energy target shells. Presented at: The 21st International Conference on Miniaturized Systems for Chemistry and Life Sciences (MicroTAS 2017), Cardiff, 22-26 October 2017.
2016
- Li, J. 2016. A novel, planar, microfluidic junction for multiphase flow, exemplified through the production of fusion energy targets, encapsulated mouse neuron stem cells and multi-compartmental capsules. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University.
2014
- Li, J. and Barrow, D. 2014. Rapid and precision mass replication of inertial fusion energy targets with multiphase microfluidics. Presented at: The 18th International Conference on Miniaturized Systems for Chemistry and Life Sciences (MicroTAS 2014), Cardiff, 26 - 30 October 201418th International Conference on Miniaturized Systems for Chemistry and Life Sciences. USA: Chemical and Biological Microsystems Society pp. 1253-1255.
- Li, J. and Barrow, D. 2014. Microfluidic encapsulation of droplet assemblies. Presented at: 18th International Conference on Miniaturized Systems for Chemistry and Life Sciences (MicroTAS 2014), Cardiff, 26-30 October 2014.
Teaching
EN0019 Introduction to Calculus
EN0021 Engineering Applications
EN4100 Y4 Group Project
I am interested in all the science and applications of complex emulsions, soft matter materials and microfluidic technologies.
My current research focuses on the creation of bottom-up, multcompartment, synthetic cells, and their interaction with living cells, using 3D microfluidics. I am working as the principal researcher for an EU-H2020 project, entitled with "Artificial Cells with Distributed Cores" (https://acdch2020.eu/), with an interanational consoriutm of both academics and industrial partners.
Selected publications:
Acoustic Levitation and Synthetic Cell Processing: “Building programmable multicompartment artificial cells incorporating remotely activated protein channels using microfluidics and acoustic levitation”. Jin Li, William D. Jamieson, Pantelitsa Dimitriou, Wen Xu, Paul Rohde, Boris Martinac, Matthew Baker, Bruce W. Drinkwater, Oliver K. Castell, David A. Barrow, Nature Communications, 2022.
3D Printing and Functional Synthetic Cell: “Formation of Polarized, Functional Artificial Cells from Compartmentalized Droplet Networks and Nanomaterials, Using One-Step, Dual-Material 3D-Printed Microfluidics”. Li J, Baxani DK, Jamieson WD, Xu W, Rocha VG, Barrow DA and Castell OK, Advanced Science, 2020,
Droplet Formation and Compartmentalised Chemicals: “A new droplet forming fluidic junction for the generation of highly compartmentalised capsules”, Li J and Barrow DA, Lab on a chip, 2017, 17, 2873-2881.
Microcapsule and Inertial Fusion Energy Target Fabrication: “Continuous and scalable target-shell processing for inertial fusion energy”, Li J, Lindely-Start J, Porch A, Barrow DA, Scientific Reports, 2017, 7, 6302.
Supervision
I am interested in supervisign PhD students in the areas of:
- Microfluidics
- Complex emulsions
- Bottom-up synthetic biology
- Soft condensed matter
- Cell encapsulation
- Micro-/nanoengineering
Past projects
Co-Supervisor (& day-to-day response) for Pantelitsa Dimitriou
