Joseph Rufo

Biography

     I received my PhD from Duke University, conducting research in The Acoustofluidics Lab under the supervision of Dr. Tony Huang. My PhD research focused on the development of acoustofluidic technologies for manipulating biological nanoparticles. By coupling acoustic waves with fluids to generate acoustic radiation forces and acoustic streaming, acoustofluidic technologies offer a contact-free method for manipulating particles and actuating fluids. However, as the size of target particles decreases, it becomes increasingly challenging to generate enough force for reliable and precise manipulation. In my research, I overcame these challenges through the use of novel acoustic transducer designs and incorporation of thermoresponsive polymers, to greatly expand the use of acoustofluidics at the nanoscale. These technologies have found applications in the following research areas: the development of acoustoelectronic nanotweezers, point-of-care diagnostics and liquid biopsies, and the development of harmonic acoustics for non-contact, dynamic and selective (HANDS) particle manipulation. During my postdoc, I am seeking to apply my engineering skill set to the fields of stem cell biology and developmental biology to help better understand human development.

Research

     My research focuses on the development of high-throughput engineering platforms which offer precise and tunable control over individual developmental parameters (i.e., cell number, cell type, local mechanics, etc.) in 2D and 3D stem-cell based models of embryonic development. By establishing the relationships between individual developmental parameters and their associated developmental phenotypes, I hope to develop a more comprehensive understanding of enigmatic developmental processes, such as primate gastrulation. Specifically, I hope to help answer the question of why so many primate embryos fail during gastrulation. The insights from my research can lead to improved treatments for infertility and enhanced screening criteria for quality embryos for in vitro fertilization.

     Specifically, I am developing a microfluidic system that can control the number of cells, types of cells, and local mechanical environment and can also be integrated with downstream optogenetic stimulation in order to study the mechanisms of primate gastrulation. Achieving these goals requires tools from different disciplines – stem cell biology, optogenetics and microfluidics – as well as innovative approaches for engineering materials and conducting high-throughput screening. I am already an expert in some of these approaches, being very familiar with a wide array of microfluidic and acoustofluidic strategies for manipulating cells in a contact-free and label-free manner. By receiving postdoctoral training in the Wilson lab, I hope to expand my expertise into the field of optogenetics to place developmental signaling pathways under optogenetic control and develop improved, high-throughput, stem cell-based models of embryonic development..