Guest Lecture | Addressing unmet needs with 3D printed bioelectronics
Prof. Yong Lin Kong will speak in a guest lecture sponsored by the Institute for Matter & Systems
Abstract: The integration of electronics with 3D constructs can enable advanced sensing, actuation, and computational capability. Yet, at the fundamental level, such integration remains challenging due to the inherent geometrical, mechanical, and material dichotomies between conventional manufactured electronics and three-dimensional systems. My research develops electronics printing strategies that are fundamentally free from the constraints of the conventional manufacturing approach, enabling the creation of biomedical devices and architecture with an unprecedented level of functional integration. First, we demonstrated the ability to incorporate active electronics with a three-dimensional construct by achieving multiscale control of nanomaterials assembly with soft matter physics phenomena. Second, we developed the ability to selectively anneal nanomaterials on temperature-sensitive constructs by exploiting metamaterials-inspired electromagnetic structure, enabling local programming of electronic and mechanical properties of spatially freeform microstructure on biomedical devices and biological constructs. Third, we explored the integration of freeform electronics with digitally designed architecture and metastructure to create next-generation bioelectronics, such as ingestible gastric resident electronics systems, that can potentially realize a surgical-free digital-based diagnosis and treatment strategy. Ultimately, we strive to overcome challenges associated with the conventional manufacturing approach, creating fundamentally new classes of bioelectronics that can address a broad range of unmet clinical, defense, and societal needs.
Bio: Prof. Yong Lin Kong is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Rice University. He received his Ph.D. from Princeton University in 2016 and was a postdoctoral associate at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Before joining Rice University, he joined the University of Utah as an Assistant Professor in 2018 and was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure at the University of Utah in 2024. Yong Lin’s research focuses on the additive manufacturing of nanomaterial-based functional devices and biomedical devices. He has been awarded patents in “3D printed active electronic materials and devices”, “3D printed multi-functional hybrid devices and structures”, and “gastric resident electronics.” He is a recipient of the Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Program (ONR YIP) Award, National Institutes of Health Trailblazer Award, 3M Non-Tenured Faculty Award, SME Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer Award, SPIE Rising Researcher Award, ASME Rising Star Award, ORAU Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award, TMS Young Leaders Professional Development Award and MIT Technology Review Innovators Under 35 Asia Award.