Current Team Members
Dr. Francis Lin, Ph.D.
Francis Lin is currently the Health Logic Professor in Chip Innovation and Professor in Physics and Astronomy at the University of Manitoba. After twenty years of research career, Francis still enjoys daily imagination of impossible ideas, then convinces his research team to explore such impossibility, and once in a while celebrates with great joy when some of these ideas actually worked. At work, Francis has a strong passion toward interdisciplinary research, education and collaborations. When not at work, Francis enjoys long road trips, workout and Chinese Calligraphy.
Dr. Yang Liu, Ph.D.
Yang Liu is a Research Associate in Dr. Francis Lin’s lab at the University of Manitoba. Having over ten years of professional biomedical experience, Yang is dedicating to bringing productivity, focus, ideas and creativity to the Lab-on-Chip area research under a genuine team-based environment. Outside of work, enjoys spending time with family & friends, and loves Yoga.
Nicholas Palmerley, Ph.D. student
Nick received his B.Sc. degree from the University of Victoria in Physics in 2022 and has recently transferred from the Masters program into the PhD program at the University of Manitoba. Using his advanced knowledge in Physics and computer science, Nick is exploring the effects of wireless bioelectricity on cell migration.
Dumitru Tomsa, M.Sc. student
Dmitry received his B.Sc. degree in Electrical Engineering at the University of Manitoba. He is bringing his engineering perspective into biomedical research and likes to search for original solutions to emerging problems. Dmitry is excited about observing how ideas are transforming into physical objects.
Amir Hossein Abolfathi, M.Sc. student
Amir, a graduate student, specializes in Applied Chemistry. He is passionate about instrumental analytical chemistry and separation techniques, particularly their application in designing miniaturized Point-of-Care devices. During his leisure time, he finds pleasure in cooking Middle-Eastern cuisine, watching sci-fi movies, and engaging in exercise.
Maria Hangad, M.Sc. student
Maria received her BSc Combined Honours in Biochemistry and Chemistry from the University of Victoria in 2024. Her previous research experience consists of 3D bioprinting neural tissues, and microfluidics for synthesis of drug-releasing microparticles. In the Lin lab and in collaboration with Prof. Sam Kung (Department of Immunology), she will focus on developing organ-on-chip models to investigate tumour-immune cell interactions as well as creating high-throughput platforms for the screening of genetically engineered immunotherapies. When not in the lab, Maria can be found touching grass (she hikes outside), baking X-treme sweets, and bouldering at her local climbing gym.
