Interfacing Engineering with Biology: Xiang Li

Having joined Coe’s new Engineering Physics program in Fall 2025, Xiang Li is focused on rapid prototyping for biomedical applications. Here’re the skill sets you will be experienced with:

• Microfabrication (making small things)

• Biofabrication (making bio-related things)

• Digital design (CAD or PCB)

• Rapid prototyping (laser cutting, 3D printing, melting, cooling, coating, polishing, and sometimes gluing)

• Embedded system (from hardware to software) and robotics (form hardware to software)

Project 1: Biosensors

Standard silicon transistors are fast but struggle to interface with biology. We work with Organic Electrochemical Transistors (OECTs), devices that are biocompatible and thrive in liquid interface. Before I came to Coe, I used them before to detect biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and I am interested to see what else they can do, from clinical detection devices to water quality. With the help of embedded systems, we can have a real-world impact.

Project 2: Glass-ceramics based organ-on-a-chip device

Modern biology grows on plastics and other polymers. For some applications such as to grow a human liver on a chip, we are here to explore alternative material (glass/ceramics, beneficial for drug testing). And if we could create microstructures (50 – 120 um, the thickness of a human hair) to mimic the microenvironment of a human liver, even better.

Project 3: Robotics and Mechatronics

I believe the future of the biology involves robotics and automated systems that carry out repetitive tasks 24/7. With your help (and 3D printing, motors, sensors and coding), we can build a robotic micro hand to achieve sub-micron precision, and babysit cells.