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

03/2026 Congratulations to Chenghao on receiving the Hassan Aref Memorial Award! This award is presented to honor an outstanding graduate student in fluid mechanics.
03/2026 Congratulations to Vinit on receiving the Stanley I. Weiss Outstanding Thesis Award for ME program in MechSE department!
03/2026 Congratulations to Zhengyu on receiving the Stanley I. Weiss Outstanding Thesis Award for TAM program in MechSE department!
01/2026 Congratulations to Zhengyu on a successful PhD defense! His thesis is about "Dynamics and transport related to jets produced by contaminated bubble bursting and the environmental implications".
12/2025 Our collaborated work on one of the first comprehensive experimental investigations of viscoelastic fluid–structure interactions in oscillatory confined flows is published in Journal of Fluid Mechanics, which is a configuration that is central to systems ranging from blood vessels to flexible and wearable microfluidic electronics. Congratulations, Anxu!
11/2025 Our work on thin-Film deposition dynamics by a confined bubble moving in viscoelastic Boger fluids is published in Applied Physics Letters. Congratulations, SungGyu and Shirui!
10/2025 Our recent publication in Nanoscale was selected for inclusion in the Royal Society of Chemistry’s U.S. National Nanotechnology Day 2025 Themed Collection. Only 36 papers were selected from those published between October 2024 and October 2025 across the journals Nanoscale Horizons, Nanoscale, Nanoscale Advances, and Environmental Science: Nano.
09/2025 Our work that explores flow rate-pressure drop relation in a deformable channel filled with viscoelastic Boger fluids is published in Physical Review Applied. Congratulations, SungGyu!
06/2025: Prof. Feng was recognized as an Emerging Investigator by Nanoscale.
06/2025: Our publication in Physical Review Letters on bubble bursting jet dynamics is highlighted in an APS Synopsis article: https://physics.aps.org/articles/v18/s78
05/2025: Our work that explores jet size prediction in multiphase bubble bursting is published in Physical Review Letters. It was selected as Editors' suggestions for papers to be particularly important, interesting, and well written. Congratulations, Zhengyu!

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