WELCOME to the Fluids, Interfaces & Transport (FIT) Laboratory!

Principal Investigator

Jie Feng

PhD, Princeton University

We study micro-scale transport phenomena of structurally complex fluids and interfaces, to derive new insights in physico-chemical mechanisms and continuum-scale mechanics of multi-phase soft matter systems, as well as for their applications to solving some of most challenging problems in energy, environment and human health, such as pollutant and disease control, oil recovery, drug delivery and nanomedicines.

We actively tackle problems and explore new research directions by using microscopy, microfluidics, high-speed imaging and image analysis, materials processing and characterization. We also complement our experiments with theoretical modeling and numerical simulations, using ideas from fluid dynamics, polymer physics, colloidal science and biophysics. Our work is thus highly multi-disciplinary, combining expertise from engineering, physics, chemistry, materials science and biology. Our ultimate goal is to bridge fundamental research with meaningful and positive societal impacts.

We enjoy new challenges and collaborations. Feel free to visit us, either in person or on the web.

News

08/2024: First-year MechSE PhD student Chenghao Xu joined our group. Welcome!
08/2024: Our collaborated work on nanoparticles for efficient electrocatalysts is published in ACS Nano. Congratulations to the group!
08/2024: Our work that explores the stability of lipid vesicles under oxidative stress, with significant implications for biomembrane physics and biomedical engineering, is published in Advanced Science. Congratulations, Vinit!
04/2024: Our work on the effect of surface viscoelasticity is published in Soft Matter. It is selected as a cover article. Congratulations, Zhengyu!
03/2024: Prof. Feng's invited News is published in Droplet. Congratulations to the group!
04/2024: Our collaborated work on flow rate–pressure drop relations for shear-thinning fluids in deformable configurations for biomicrofluidic design is published in Physical Review Fluids. Congratulations, SungGyu!
04/2024: Our work on deposition of shear-thinning viscoelastic fluids by an elongated bubble in a circular channel is published in Droplet. Congratulations, SungGyu!
11/2023: Our work studying oil entrainment by compound bubbles bursting, which may provide guidance and modeling constraints for bubble-mediated contaminant transport in liquids, is published in Journal of Fluid Mechanics. Congratulations, Zhengyu!
09/2023: Our work documenting when a bubble bursts at a protein-laden surface, a secondary bubble is entrapped with no subsequent jet drop ejection, contrary to the counterpart observed at a Newtonian surface, is published in Physical Review Letters. Congratulations, Bing and Zhengyu!
08/2023: First-year MechSE master student Anxu Huang joined our group. Welcome!

Selected Publications

For a full list

Kumar, V., Pak, O., Feng, J*., 2024. Curvature-assisted vesicle explosion under light-induced asymmetric oxidation, Advanced Science.

Vesicle dynamics for drug delivery

Kumar, V., Pak, O., Feng, J*., 2024. Curvature-assisted vesicle explosion under light-induced asymmetric oxidation, Advanced Science.

Yang, Z., Ji, B., Feng, J*., 2024. Effect of surface viscoelasticity on top jet drops produce by bursting bubbles, Soft Matter, 20, 4868. (Selected as journal cover article)

Jets by bursting bubbles at a protein-laden interface

Yang, Z., Ji, B., Feng, J*., 2024. Effect of surface viscoelasticity on top jet drops produce by bursting bubbles, Soft Matter, 20, 4868. (Selected as journal cover article)

Yang, Z., Ji, B., Ault. J., Feng, J* 2023. Singular jets in oil-coated bubble bursting. Nature Physics, 19, 884–890.

Jets produced by bursting bubbles with a compound coating

Yang, Z., Ji, B., Ault. J., Feng, J* 2023. Singular jets in oil-coated bubble bursting. Nature Physics, 19, 884–890.

Ji, B., Singh., A., Feng, J*., 2022. Water-to-air transfer of nano/microsized particulates: Enrichment effect in bubble bursting jet drop, Nano Letters. (Selected as an ACS Editor's Choice)

bubble bursting jets for microplastic transfer

Ji, B., Singh., A., Feng, J*., 2022. Water-to-air transfer of Nano/Microsized particulates: Enrichment effect in bubble bursting jet drop, Nano Letters, accepted. (Selected as an ACS Editor's Choice)

Kumar, V., Pak, O., Feng, J*., 2022. Pore dynamics of lipid vesicles under light-induced osmotic stress, Physical Review Applied, 17.

vesicle pore dynamics

Kumar, V., Pak, O., Feng, J*., 2022. Pore dynamics of lipid vesicles under light-induced osmotic stress, Physical Review Applied, 17.

Ji, B., Yang, Z., Feng, J*., 2021. Compound jetting from bubble bursting at an air-oil-water interface. Nature Communications, 12, 1-10.

Bubble bursting for aerosol generation

Ji, B., Yang, Z., Feng, J*., 2021. Compound jetting from bubble bursting at an air-oil-water interface. Nature Communications, 12, 1-10.

Chun, S., Feng, J.*, 2021. Preparation of abamectin nanoparticles by Flash NanoPrecipitation for extended photostability and sustained pesticide release. ACS Applied Nano Materials, 4, 1228–1234.

Polymeric nanoparticles for drug delivery

Chun, S., Feng, J.*, 2021. Preparation of abamectin nanoparticles by Flash NanoPrecipitation for extended photostability and sustained pesticide release. ACS Applied Nano Materials, 4, 1228–1234.

Team

We are a diverse group of people with backgrounds in engineering, physics, and applied mathematics. Most problems we study lie in the broad space of the dynamics of complex fluids. Meet our group…

We are always looking for the highly motivated graduate students to join our group. Candidates with strong backgrounds in experimental fluid mechanics, microfluidics, and nanomaterials are strongly encouraged to contact Professor Feng for available opportunities with in our group. We also welcome undergraduate students interested in pursuing research in the group.

OutReach

The Feng Research Group is committed to STEM outreach. The recent activities include Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering (summer 2019), Creative Science Camp of the Orpheum Children’s Science Museum (fall 2019). Contact Us…

Equipment

OUTREACH

We are committed to STEM outreach. The recent activities include Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering and Creative Science Camp of the Orpheum Children’s Science Museum. Contact Us…

Acknowledgement of Support