ECE Colloquium: Yong Lin Kong (Rice)

Description

Addressing unmet needs with 3D printed bioelectronics

The integration of electronics with 3D constructs can enable advanced sensing, actuation, and computational capability. Yet, at the fundamental level, such integration remains challenging due to the inherent geometrical, mechanical, and material dichotomies between conventional manufactured electronics and three-dimensional systems. My research develops electronics printing strategies that are fundamentally free from the constraints of the conventional manufacturing approach, enabling the creation of biomedical devices and architecture with an unprecedented level of functional integration. First, we demonstrated the ability to incorporate active electronics with a three-dimensional construct by achieving multiscale control of nanomaterials assembly with soft matter physics phenomena and machine intelligence. Second, we developed the ability to selectively anneal nanomaterials on temperature-sensitive constructs by exploiting metamaterials-inspired electromagnetic structure, enabling local programming of electronic and mechanical properties of spatially freeform microstructure on biomedical devices and biological constructs. Third, we explored the novel integration of freeform electronics with digitally designed architecture and metastructure to create next-generation bioelectronics, such as ingestible gastric resident electronics systems and self-learning robots that can realize a surgical-free digital-based diagnosis and treatment strategy. Ultimately, we strive to overcome challenges associated with the conventional manufacturing approach, creating fundamentally new classes of bioelectronics that can address a broad range of unmet clinical, defense, and societal needs.
 

Bio:
Yong Lin Kong is an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Rice University. He received his Ph.D. from Princeton University in 2016 and was a postdoctoral associate at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Before joining Rice University, he joined the University of Utah in 2018 and was promoted to associate professor with tenure in 2024. Yong Lin’s research focuses on the additive manufacturing of nanomaterial-based functional devices and biomedical devices. He has been awarded patents in “3D printed active electronic materials and devices”, “3D printed multi-functional hybrid devices and structures”, and “gastric resident electronics.” He is a recipient of the Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Program Award, National Institutes of Health (NIH) Trailblazer Award, Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs Discovery Award, 3M Non-Tenured Faculty Award, SME Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer Award, SPIE Rising Researcher Award, ORAU Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award, TMS Young Leaders Professional Development Award, MIT Technology Review Innovators Under 35 Asia Award, and the University of Utah College of Engineering Top Undergraduate Teachers & Top Graduate Teachers Awards.