Coaxial electrospinning is a versatile technique to produce core-sheath structured coaxial nanofibers with precisely controlled structural and functional properties. In our research, we have utilized coaxial electrospinning to integrate multiple functions such as mechanical support, molecular encapsulation, and release behavior into a fiber by engineering the core and sheath layers. This approach allows us to overcome key limitations of conventional single-fluid electrospinning, particularly for applications requiring sustained, sequential, or stimuli-responsive delivery of therapeutic agents.

Using this technique, we have developed the nanofiber-based drug delivery platform for localized cancer therapy, including multi-drug and combination therapies, oxygen-releasing systems, and nanocomposite fibers incorporating functional nanoparticles. These platforms enable encapsulation and protection of labile bioactive agents, and tunable release kinetics with minimal burst release, considering specific therapeutic microenvironments.

Beyond drug delivery, our work demonstrates the broader potential of coaxial electrospinning for advanced biomedical and bioelectronic applications, such as implantable membranes, wound healing scaffolds, and functional interfaces for sensing and modulation of biological systems. This research establishes coaxial electrospinning as a scalable and adaptable platform for next-generation therapeutic and diagnostic technologies.

The Large-Scale Additive Manufacturing (LSAM) process is a form of Extrusion Deposition Additive Manufacturing (EDAM) that uses fiber-reinforced thermoplastics to achieve deposition rates of up to 220 kg/hr. This enables the rapid fabrication of multi-meter long tooling for producing composite parts in the aerospace, automotive, wind energy, and marine industries. However, the intrinsic characteristics of fiber-reinforced composite materials, which are highly anisotropic, and the non-isothermal nature of additive manufacturing produce stresses that can lead to deformation and delamination of the printed geometry. This challenge motivated the development of a physics-based virtual twin for additive manufacturing, ADDITIVE3D, which predicts residual stresses, deformation, interlayer bonding, and potential delamination. Additionally, this virtual twin enables the investigation of the performance of the as-printed state, considering effects such as residual stresses, global material orientation, and interlayer bonding developed during printing. Predicting and compensating for shape changes due to printing, machining, and during the operation of printed autoclave tooling at temperatures of up to 180°C is of paramount importance for the successful implementation of this technology.

This presents an overview of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs), highlighting development, significance, and potential applications. It explains the triboelectric effect and various charge transfer mechanisms essential for understanding contact electrification processes. 

I introduced a new cationic material structure and assembly of multi-layered TENGs in improving output performance and stability. The resulting TENG with MoS2/SiO2/Ni-mesh produced 13 times higher output power and lower impedance compared to a control Ni-mesh-based TENGs. The enhanced output power is attributed to a high charge density (1,072 μC/m2) created through contact electrification. This high charge density is due to efficient charge transfer by the low work function of MoS2, charge migration facilitated by an electric field, and high charge storage capability of SiO2. Synchrotron radiation photoemission spectroscopy indicated that the energy band at the MoS2–SiO2 surface was bent upward, creating an electric field that drives charge migration. Our TENGs demonstrated excellent charge retention and produced an average output power of about 14.75 W/m2 in gear-cam mode.

I introduced the development of highly dispersible core-shell hybrids (P2VP@BaTiO3) for use in triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs), form high-quality uniform films that maximize dielectric constants. It exhibits excellent device stability, maintaining nearly 100% of maximum output voltage for 54,000 cycles and 68.7% voltage retention at 99% humidity. Additionally, incorporating a MoS2/SiO2/Ni-mesh layer into the double-layer TENG achieves an ultrahigh charge density of up to 1,228 μC/m2, the highest reported for TENGs. I also demonstrated a near-field communication-based sensing system for CO2 monitoring using the developed self-powered generator with enhanced output and robustness.

These advancements contribute to the development of sustainable energy technologies capable of supporting the global transition to carbon neutrality.

This talk explores what seemingly different scientific fields - such as astronomy and pharmacokinetics - have in common. Drawing on experiences working in both academia and the pharmaceutical industry, I discuss how researchers across disciplines analyze noisy data, model uncertainty, and make inferences from limited observations. Using accessible examples, I highlight the shared structure underlying modern scientific inquiry and the transferable skills that connect fields. As science becomes increasingly data-rich and interdisciplinary, these common foundations offer insights into the future of research and scientific careers.

Environmental sustainability is one of the most critical challenges that the global society is facing. At the same time, increased consumer awareness of environmental sustainability has led to heightened pressure on firms to take actions. In this session, we will examine how these evolving expectations reshape the front lines of operations management, by focusing on examples of consumer waste, consumer-paid carbon offset, and renewable energy investment.

The presentation will introduce recently developed portable sensing systems for environmental water monitoring. The speaker will go through a brief introduction on miniaturized systems and sensors and then move to sensing systems utilizing fluorescent and resonant measurements for the applications in environmental water monitoring.

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) enable compact, low-cost optical sensing that integrates readily with portable electronics and provides on-site analytical performance comparable to benchtop instruments. Using multiple excitation wavelengths and a silicon photomultiplier, species-specific fluorescence from microalgal species in environmental samples is captured and processed through pattern-recognition algorithms for selective, reliable quantification. Complementing this approach, a miniaturized, battery-operated resonator system tracks frequency shifts to detect volatile organic compounds in water, achieving laboratory-grade resonance sensing in field environments. The presentation concludes with highlights of related sensor research at Michigan Technological University.

Environmental sustainability is one of the most critical challenges that the global society is facing. At the same time, increased consumer awareness of environmental sustainability has led to heightened pressure on firms to take actions. In this session, we will examine how these evolving expectations reshape the front lines of operations management, by focusing on examples of consumer waste, consumer-paid carbon offset, and renewable energy investment.