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Sensing molecules. Interpreting signals. Enabling decisions.
The Liu Smart Molecular Sensing Lab combines synthetic recognition materials, sensor devices, computational tools, and data models to translate complex chemical and biological signals into reliable measurements for health, food safety, environmental monitoring, and clean energy.
RESEARCH AT A GLANCE
RESEARCH AT A GLANCE
Synthetic molecular recognition through molecular imprinting
Trace hydrogen sensing for clean-energy infrastructure
Multiplexed biosensor arrays for biomarker panels
Electronic noses for complex gas mixtures
Wearable and point-of-care sensing platforms
Computational and data-driven design of sensing materials
RECENT HIGHLIGHTS
RECENT HIGHLIGHTS
BHAKTA RATH AWARD
BHAKTA RATH AWARD
June 2026 — Grace Dykstra and Yixin Liu received Michigan Tech’s Bhakta Rath Research Award for advances in molecularly imprinted polymer biosensors.
NIH MIRA AWARD
NIH MIRA AWARD
May 2026 — A five-year NIH/NIGMS MIRA (R35) supports our work on low-cost synthetic biosensor arrays for rapid multiplex biomarker detection.
NEW ACS SENSORS PAPER
NEW ACS SENSORS PAPER
March 2026 — Our ACS Sensors paper reports Sm-doped SnO₂ nanofibers with ppb-level H₂ detection enabled by electronic trap-state engineering.
Selected Journal Covers
Selected Journal Covers
Research SuPPORT
Research SuPPORT
We gratefully acknowledge research support from:
Laboratory Address:
Chemical Sciences and Engineering Building 307
1400 Townsend Drive
Houghton, MI 49931
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