Computer Science

Computer Science Colloquium

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ulf Schlichtmann
Technical University of Munich (TUM), Germany

Advancing the use of Microfluidic Biochips by Electronic Design Automation

Mon 28.01.2019, 13:00, 60 minutes
JKU, Science Park 1, room MT 128

Abstract

Microfluidic biochips provide a convenient and cost-effective way to conduct biochemical, biological, or medical experiments. Instead of conducting tests manually in a fully equipped lab using expensive lab equipment and human resources, these devices allow to conduct biochemical and medical experiments on a small chip. This approach requires much smaller sample/reagent volumes and leads to a significantly higher throughput.
However, designing the corresponding chips has become a considerably complex task. Depending on the respective platform thousands - or even tens of thousands - of components and features have to be put together.
Several methods and solutions for design automation of microfluidic devices have been proposed in the past years. They provide a starting point for introducing and exploiting EDA methods in the microfluidic domain. I will introduce EDA research for microfluidic biochips and give an overview of our recent work in this area. Specifically, I will discuss using channels also for storage, techniques for improving reliability and a concept to utilize a flexible, valve-based array. I will also introduce Columba, our specification-to-layout synthesis tool for microfluidics.

Bio

Ulf Schlichtmann holds a doctorate in electrical engineering from TUM, as well as a technology business degree. He spent about 10 years in the semiconductor industry (Siemens, Infineon) in various engineering, management and executive positions, working on design automation, design libraries, IP reuse, and product development.
In 2003, he joined TUM as professor and head of the Chair of Electronic Design Automation. From 2007- 2013 he served as Dean and Vice Dean of TUM's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE). Since 2013, he serves as Associate Dean of Studies for International Programs, overseeing both the Department's educational programs in Singapore and English language programs in Munich. He is also Program Director of TUM's research center in Singapore, TUMCREATE. Since 2016, Ulf is an elected member of TUM's Academic Senate as well as the TUM Board of Trustees. In addition, he serves on a number of advisory board of both research institutes and companies.
Ulf?s current research interests include computer-aided design of electronic circuits and systems, with an emphasis on designing reliable and robust systems. His research increasingly addresses emerging technologies, such as microfluidic biochips and photonic interconnects.
Invited by Univ.-Prof. Dr. Robert Wille, Institut für Integrierte Schaltungen, Abteilung Integrierter Schaltungs- und Systementwurf

The Computer Science Colloquium is organized by the Department of Coputer Science at JKU, the Österreichische Gesellschaft für Informatik (ÖGI) and the Österreichische Computergesellschaft (OCG).
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