Gaurav Jitendra Shah







 

 

 

 

 





 

Education

Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering (MEMS), UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA                   Dec '08
GPA: 3.95/4.00


Master of Science, Mechanical Engineering, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA             Jun ’05
GPA:    3.93/4.00


Bachelor of Technology, Mechanical Engineering, IIT Bombay, Mumbai, India       Aug ’03



Research Interests

My research is related to micro and nanotechnology, in particular as tools to create a “lab-on-a-chip”. My PhD was titled “Electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD) for biochemical applications: particle manipulation for target separation using droplet microfluidics”. Using techniques that exploit the unique characteristics of droplet microfluidics enabled by EWOD, we achieved high collection efficiency and high purity using magnetic separation. In addition, we integrated optoelectronic tweezers (OET) with EWOD to create a uniquely powerful platform for individual cell studies in isolated droplet microenvironments.


My current work focuses on the development of a diagnostic device for high-sensitivity detection of Tuberculosis without the use of PCR amplification.


Publications and Presentations


G.J. Shah, J.L. Veale, Y. Korin, E.F. Reed, H.A. Gritsch, C.-J. Kim, “Specific binding and magnetic collection of CD8+ T-lymphocytes on EWOD” (Submitted)


G.J. Shah, C.-J. Kim, “Fluidic conduits for highly efficient purification of target species in EWOD-driven droplet microfluidics” Lab chip (DOI: 10.1039/B823541D)


G.J. Shah, A.T. Ohta, P.Y. Chiou, M.C. Wu, C.-J. Kim, “EWOD-driven droplet microfluidic device integrated with optoelectronic tweezers as automated platform for cellular isolation and analysis” Lab Chip, vol. 9, 2009 (News article featured in Analytical Chemistry)


G.J. Shah, C.-J. Kim, “Meniscus-assisted high-efficiency magnetic collection and separation for EWOD droplet microfluidics” Journal of Microelectromechanical Systems, vol. 18, pp. 363-375, 2009


G.J. Shah, C.-J. Kim, “High purity separation of rare species in droplet microfluidics using droplet-conduit structures”, IEEE International Conf. MEMS, Sorrento, Italy, Jan. 2009, pp. 471-474.


G.J. Shah, J.L. Veale, Y. Korin, E.F. Reed, H.A. Gritsch, C.-J. Kim, “Concentration of CD8+ lymphocytes on EWOD platform for monitoring organ transplant rejection”, Solid-State Sensor, Actuator, and Microsystems Workshop, Hilton Head Island, SC, USA, Jun. 2008, pp. 28-31


G.J. Shah, E. Pierstorff, D. Ho, and C.-J. Kim, "Meniscus-assisted magnetic bead trapping on EWOD-based digital microfluidics for specific protein localization," in Proc. International Conf. Solid-State Sensors, Actuators and Microsystems, Lyon, France, Jun. 2007, pp. 707-710


G.J. Shah, P.Y. Chiou, J. Gong, A.T. Ohta, J.B. Chou, M.C. Wu, and C.-J. Kim, "Integrating optoelectronic tweezers for individual particle manipulation with digital microfluidics using EWOD," in Proc. IEEE International Conf. MEMS, Istanbul, Turkey, Jan. 2006, pp. 129-132

 


 

Patents

“Methods for Using Magnetic Beads in Droplet Microfluidics”, with C.-J. Kim, PCT (Utility) US Patent filed

“High-Purity Separation of Target Species Using Microfluidic Conduits”, with C.-J. Kim, Provisional US Patent filed

 “Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting (FACS)-on-a-chip”, with E.R. McCabe, J.K. Mazilu, C.-J. Kim, M.C. Wu, A.T. Ohta, W.S. Grundfest, Invention report filed with UCLA

Awards and Honors

Outstanding Doctor of Philosophy Award in Mechanical Engineering at UCLA, 2008-‘09


Presenting author at prestigious conferences, including podium talks at IEEE-MEMS (Istanbul, Turkey) 2006 and Hilton Head Workshop (Hilton Head Island, SC) 2008


NRT Fellowship plus Research Assistantship with Prof. C.-J. Kim at UCLA, 2003-’08


453rd among about 150,000 students at Joint Entrance Exam for IIT, India’s premier engineering school, 1999


5th in state at All-India SSCE, 1999


Top 0.1% in Science and Math at All India SSE 1997 , and in Physics and Chemistry at All India SSCE, 1999


Certificates of Merit at the Science Talent Search Exam 1995,’96, and Delhi Mathematics Olympiad, 1995,’96


All-India Talent Search Scholarship, 1991



Extra-Curricular Activities

* Volunteer and project coordinator for the Los Angeles chapter of AID India; helped raise over $25000, create awareness and support sustainable development projects, 2006-present.

* Chief Officer for the UCLA Bharatiyam (Indian Graduate Students Association), 2004-2005

* Member of college swim and water-polo team at the Inter-IIT Aquatics Meet in Chennai, 1999

* President's Award Scout, the highest scouting honor in India, 1997

* Winner of "All-Asia Inter-school Bournvita Quiz Contest", telecast across Asia on Zee TV, 1995-'96

* Dabbler in poetry in Hindi, Urdu and English

* Indoor and outdoor sports like racquetball, cricket, ultimate Frisbee and swimming

 

Contact Information

44-116C Engineering IV
420 Westwood Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90095

gjshah@ucla.edu
310-430-5420 (cell)