Welcome to the W. M. Keck Center For Nanoscale Optofluidics at UC Santa Cruz.

The W.M. Keck Center for Nanoscale Optofluidics was established with a $1.5 Million grant through the W.M. Keck Center Foundation's Science and Engineering Research Program. Its mission is the development of optofluidic devices and their application to single particle studies in molecular biology and biomedical diagnostics.

Optofluidics is the combination of both integrated optical and fluidic components in the same miniaturized system. The functionalities of optofluidic systems can be improved and expanded by addition of nanoscale features on the chip. The W.M. Keck Nanofabrication facility provides unique capabilities for creating this new type of integrated devices. The Center brings together an interdisciplinary mix of six research groups from five departments at UC Santa Cruz. In both individual and joint research efforts, these groups develop nanoscale optofluidics for fundamental research and biomedical applications.

» Upcoming Seminar: November 2, 2009 -- Dr. Michael Stone, Assistant Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry, UC Santa Cruz, "Single Molecule Studies of Telomerase Structure and Function".

» Applied Optics Group develops new on-chip optical particle trap: Official Press Release (June 2009).

» Graduate students Kaelyn Leake (Electrical Engineering) and Damon Wheeler (Chemistry) receive QB3 Fellowship for first-year Keck Center studies. (July 2009)

» Professor Bill Dunbar receives NSF Career grant for biomolecular control research: Press Release. (May 2009).

» W.M. Keck Foundation awards $1.5 Million to UCSC team to establish Center for Nanoscale Optofluidics: Official Press Release (January 2009).

We have regular openings for students at all levels (undergrad, MS, PhD, postdoc) who are interested in working on topics in nanoscale optofluidics and its applications. Please contact a Center faculty member in your area of interest.