Peter Lillehoj

Current Research

My research interests include micro-electrical-mechanical systems (MEMS), BioMEMS, microfluidics, micro-total-analysis systems (µTAS) and lab-on-chips (LOCs).  Specifically, my work focuses on the design, fabrication and integration of microsystems for various biological applications including cell separation, bio-detection and clinical diagnostics.  Through my current and future research, I hope to contribute toward the improvement of global healthcare by developing point-of-care diagnostic platforms that are readily distributable, low cost and easy to operate.

Education

Ph.D. candidate, Mechanical Engineering, expected December 2010

University of California, Los Angeles, Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science

M.S., Mechanical Engineering, December 2007

University of California, Los Angeles, Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science

B.S., Mechanical Engineering, May 2006

Johns Hopkins University, Whiting School of Engineering

Work Experience

Graduate Student Researcher (September 2006 - )
Molecular Mechanics Laboratory, University of California, Los Angeles

Undergraduate Research Assistant (December 2005 - May 2006)
BioMEMS and Single Molecule Dynamics Lab, Johns Hopkins University

Undergraduate Research Assistant (May 2003 - December 2005)
Advanced Metallic and Ceramic Systems Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University

Summer Intern (June 2000 – August 2000)

Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, United States Department of Agriculture

Patents

1. “Simple and robust hydrophilic coatings on poly(dimethylsiloxane)”, UCLA invention disclosure.  Inventor: Peter Lillehoj (2008)

 Publications

1. P.B. Lillehoj, F. Wei, and C.M. Ho, “A self-pumping lab-on-a-chip for rapid dection of botulinum toxin”, in progress
2. P.B. Lillehoj and C.M. Ho, “A long-term, stable hydrophilic poly(dimethylsiloxane) coating for capillary-based pumping”, in progress
3. P. Lillehoj, N. Li, H. Tsutsui, and C.M. Ho, “A Compact Microfluidic Continuous Flow Separator for Particle and Cell Sorting” Proceedings of 21st Annual IEEE International Conference on Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS’08), Tucson, AZ, USA (2008)

Conference/Workshop Presentations

1. P. Lillehoj, N. Li, H. Tsutsui, and C.M. Ho, “A Compact Microfluidic Continuous Flow Separator for Particle and Cell Sorting”, Poster presentation for the 21st Annual IEEE International Conference on Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS’08), Tucson, AZ (2008)
2. H.C. Yeh, C.M. Puleo, T.C. Lim, P.B. Lillehoj, Y.P. Ho, K. Liu, and T.H. Wang, "Evaluation of Doxorubicin as Inhibitor of Sp1-DNA Complex by Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy on a Microfluidic Chip", The Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Meeting (BMES2006), Chicago, IL, Oct. 11-14 (2006)
3. C.M. Puleo, H.C. Yeh, Y.P. Ho, P. Lillehoj, I.M. Shih, and T.H. Wang, "Assessment of Allelic Imbalance Using Microfluidic Enabled Single Molecule PCR", The Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Meeting (BMES2006), Chicago, IL, Oct. 11-14 (2006)
4. P. Lillehoj, N. Li, H. Tsutsui, and C.M. Ho, “A Compact Microfluidic Continuous Flow Separator for Particle and Cell Sorting”, Poster presentation for the UCLA Engineering Technology Forum, Los Angeles, CA (2007)
5. R. Thompson, P. Lillehoj, C. Cionea, and K. Hemker, “Determining the mechanical properties of bond coats with microsample testing”, Poster presentation for the ONR/NSF Workshop on Thermal Barrier Coatings, Santa Barbara, CA (2005)
6. P. Lillehoj, K. Hemker, “Development of Strain Measurement Techniques in Microsample Testing”, Poster presentation for the Provost’s Undergraduate Research Awards, Baltimore, MD (2004)

Honors and Awards

1. UCLA Dentist-Scientist and Oral-Health-Scientist Training Program (2009-current)
2. Xerox Technical Minority Scholarship (2009)
3. UCLA Graduate Research Mentorship Fellowship (2008-2009)
4. 1^st Place, Johns Hopkins Mechanical Engineering Senior Design Project (2006)
5. Vredenburg Scholarship (2005)
6. Provost's Undergraduate Research Award (2004)
7. 2^nd Place, Johns Hopkins Mechanical Engineering Design Competition (2002)  
8. Papa John’s Scholarship (2002)

7. Maryland Distinguished Scholar (2001)

Contact Info

Mailing Address:
15-155 Engineering IV
420 Westwood Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90095

Phone:310-825-9540
Fax:310-825-1350
Email: plillehoj@ucla.edu