Professor Yu Sun
Ph.D. (U. of Minnesota), P.Eng., FIEEE, FASME, FAAAS, FNAI, FAIMBE, FCSME, FEIC, FCAE, FRSC, FCAHS
Tier I Canada Research Chair in Micro and Nano Engineering Systems
Areas of Research
Key Words: robotics and automation at micro-nanometer scales; medical robotics; precision instrumentation; MEMS and microfluidics; cell mechanobiology; experimental cell mechanics and nanomechanics; manipulation and characterization of cells, molecules, and nanomaterials.
My group designs and constructs enabling micro and nanosystems (e.g., micro-nanorobotic systems and MEMS/microfluidic devices) for automated operation at the micro and nanometer scales. We manipulate, characterize, and sense biological cells, biomolecules, and nanomaterials for both fundamental studies (e.g., molecule screen and genetics) and clinical/industrial applications (IVF, rare cell isolation, and precision instrumentation for industrial automation). The actively pursued areas are the manipulation and characterization of biological cells, molecules, and nanomaterials; microsystems and nanosystems; design and fabrication of MEMS and NEMS (micro-nanoelectromechanical systems); bioMEMS, sensors, actuators, and microfluidic devices; microrobotics and optical microscopy; nanorobotics and electron microscopy; automation at the micro-nanometer scales; cellular biophysics; and cellular biomechanics and mechanobiology.
My Advanced Micro and Nanosystems Laboratory (AMNL) is affiliated with Dept. of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Inst. of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Dept. of Computer Science. Our lab has an extensive collaborative network, with industry leaders (e.g., Hitachi High-Technologies), hospitals (e.g., Hospital for Sick Children), and collaborating researchers across continents. Our trainees are equipped with strong skills in instrumentation, micro-nano robotics, device design and microfabrication, computer vision microscopy, precision controls and measurement as well as strong communication skills, problem solving skills, and capabilities for interdisciplinary research and team work.
Here is a 1-min video introducing my group’s research
Visit the Advanced Micro and Nanosystems Laboratory
Open postdoc and graduate positions
Undergraduate research projects
Prof. Sun is jointly appointed in the Inst. of Biomedical Engineering, in the Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and in the Dept. of Computer Science.
Courses:
- MIE342: circuits with applications to mechanical engineering systems (3rd year)
- MIE404: control systems (4th year)
- MIE506: MEMS design and microfabrication (4th year capstone design course and graduate course)
- MIE1359: engineering cell biology and micro-nanoengineered platforms (graduate)
- MIE1080: introduction to healthcare robotics (graduate)
Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
University of Toronto
5 King’s College Road
Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G8
Email: sun@mie.utoronto.ca
Tel: 416-946-0549 (office)
Tel: 416-978-8663 (lab)
Fax: 416-978-7753