AES
Electrophoresis Society
"Advancing Electrokinetic Science"
2023 AES Election
Candidate Statements
President
Michael Roper
Michael Roper obtained his PhD from Prof. Robert T. Kennedy in 2003 performing electrophoretic separations on microfluidic devices. He then did postdoctoral research with Prof. James P. Landers at the University of Virginia where he continued to work with microfluidic devices applied to various areas. In 2006, he joined the faculty at Florida State University. The Roper research group has developed a number of separation-based approaches for the quantitative measurement of small molecules and peptides secreted from cellular tissues with high temporal resolution. In particular, his group has examined the endocrine portion of the pancreas, islets of Langerhans, which are responsible for controlling blood glucose levels through the release of hormone peptides. In 2013, Roper was awarded the American Chemical Society Division of Analytical Chemistry’s Young Investigator Award in Separation Science and the 2018 Mid-Career Award by the American Electrophoresis Society.
I believe the role of the American Electrophoresis Society should be to help scientists who use all the various techniques related to electrophoresis have a community where they can interact, collaborate, and share their findings. I see the role of president as ensuring a stable base of support at the member and sponsor level, finding new opportunities for growth of the society, communicating with our members, and helping to recruit the next generation of members.
Vice President
Christopher Easley
It is an honor to be nominated for the role of Vice President of the AES Electrophoresis Society. Currently, I serve as the C. Dent Williams Professor and Graduate Program Officer at Auburn University in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and I have just started a Faculty Fellow role with the Associate Dean of Research at the College of Sciences and Mathematics. Within the broad area of bioanalytical chemistry, my lab members and I develop microfluidic methods and compatible small-volume fluorescence and electrochemical assays to help us study and understand the dynamic function of endocrine tissues that play important roles in diabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndrome. My research has been continuously funded by the National Institutes of Health or the National Science Foundation since 2011, and the laboratory is currently made up of 9 graduate students, 2 undergraduate researchers, and 1 postdoc. I have served as the AES Awards Chair for the society since February 2022, and I have been actively involved in organizing, attending, and presenting in AES sessions at SciX since 2018. I was also chosen as the AES Mid-Career Achievement Awardee in 2019. Based on my interactions with this group over the past 5 years, it has become clear that the AES society is strong at its core, including a diverse group of passionate and active members ranging from graduate students to emeritus faculty. To build on its strengths, in my view, there are 3 major challenges for the society to address over the next 1-2 years, and I would be happy to work with the President and the membership to address these and other challenges by making strategic investments. 1) The partnership with SciX must be reassessed, and other potential partnerships should be explored. 2) The society’s budget model should be studied and assessed, and budget projections should be made to ensure continued solvency. 3) The visibility of the society should be prioritized and enhanced through website improvements, social media presence, and advertising in field-specific publications. Thank you for this opportunity to help!
Executive Vice President
Erin Henslee
I am a founding faculty and Assistant Professor of Engineering at Wake Forest University. I received my BS degrees in Engineering Science and Mechanics and Computational Mathematics from Virginia Tech, my MS degree in Biomedical Engineering from Virginia Tech - Wake Forest University, my PhD in Biomedical Engineering and a graduate certificate in Teaching and Learning from the University of Surrey.
I have spent 15 years developing Dielectrophoresis-based tools and applications. I have been fortunate to have worked with a variety of collaborators across the globe primarily applying DEP-based characterization in the areas of cancer, chronobiology, blood physiology, and stem cells. I was recently awarded the NSF CAREER award to develop electrokinetic assays to characterize red blood cell (RBCs) pathophysiology.
I have served as an AES councilor for the last 3 years and am passionate about reinvigorating the society post COVID. Through all stages of my career, as a graduate student, post-doc and new faculty member, AES was pivotal in providing me with networking opportunities, visibility for my research, and a supportive space to share ideas. I hope to continue this practice with AES through focusing efforts in securing funding for students and early career researchers to travel for AES-sponsored seminars/meetings, industry partnerships, and the annual conference. I would also like to see a more formalized mentorship program established and an improved virtual mechanism (through websites, social media, and communication apps) for all members to engage with each other both socially and scientifically.
Secretary
Aliaksei ‘Alex’ Boika
Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, University of Akron
Education:
- PhD, University of Saskatchewan, 2010
- Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Chemistry and Center for Electrochemistry, University of Texas at Austin, 2011-2013
Research Interests:
- AC Electrokinetics
- Analytical Chemistry
- Energy Applications
- Machine Learning / Artificial Intelligence in Chemistry
Key Contributions:
- Development and application of single-entity electrochemistry methods for analyzing pathogens, single-cell organisms, and microplastics.
- Pioneering the integration of ML/AI techniques for enhancing electrochemical sensing capabilities, aiming at highly sensitive and selective detection.
Vision Statement for the AES Electrophoresis Society:
As an aspiring secretary for the AES, my vision is anchored in revitalizing the society’s role in the scientific community. Leveraging my extensive experience in electrochemistry and analytical chemistry fields, I am dedicated to enhancing the visibility and recognition of the AES Electrophoresis Society, positioning it as a pivotal contributor to the scientific community.
My Goals:
1. Membership Growth and Engagement: Revitalize AES by attracting a diverse range of new members, including young scientists and professionals from interdisciplinary fields.
2. Innovative Research and Collaboration: Foster a collaborative environment that encourages innovative research, especially at the crossroads of traditional electrochemistry and electrokinetics, and emerging technologies like ML/AI.
3. Educational Outreach: Amplify AES’s impact in the scientific community through enhanced educational initiatives, workshops, and seminars that reflect the latest advancements in separation science, electrochemistry, and related fields.
4. Networking: Expand AES’s footprint by establishing partnerships with national and international organizations and researchers, promoting exchange of knowledge and ideas.
I am committed to dedicating my energy and expertise to the AES Electrophoresis Society. Through collective efforts, we can ensure AES regains its strength as a leading organization in electrokinetics and separation science, contributing significantly to scientific advancement and societal progress.
Co-Treasurer
Tayloria Adams
Dr. Tayloria N.G. Adams graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a B.S. in Chemical and Life Science Engineering and a B.S. in Applied Mathematics. She earned her M.S. and Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Michigan Technological University (MTU). Her doctoral research examined human mesenchymal stem cells’ dielectric behavior for cell sorting, and she has a patent for a handheld dielectrophoresis device to analyze blood samples (US Patent # 10,012,613). Dr. Adams completed her postdoctoral training at the University of California Irvine (UCI) in the Department of Neurology and the Stem Cell Research Center. There she studied the dielectric and differentiation properties of neural stem cells for stroke therapeutics. Now, Dr. Adams is an Assistant Professor and Henry Samueli Career Development Chair in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at UCI. Her lab focuses on using electrokinetic techniques to develop membrane capacitance and other cellular properties as reliable label-free biomarkers. Dr. Adams recently earned the NSF CAREER Award (2021-2026) and an award from the University of California Cancer Research Coordinating Committee. She is a former NSF Research Postdoctoral Fellow in Biology (2016-2018) and UCI Chancellor’s ADVANCE Postdoctoral Fellow (2016). Dr. Adams is a member of several professional societies including the National Society of Black Engineers, Society of Women Engineers, Biomedical Engineering Society, and AES Electrophoresis Society.
As a candidate for co-treasurer of the AES Electrophoresis Society, I am committed to supporting the current treasurer and steering our financial course towards a robust and resilient future. I will uphold a high standard of financial integrity and transparency to ensure the society’s fiscal health and sustainability. I will support the maintenance of accurate and meticulous financial records, utilizing best practices to streamline processes. My goal is to provide comprehensive financial summaries for both the membership and the executive board during monthly and annual meetings, offering insights that enable informed decision-making. By presenting clear and concise reports, I aim to enhance understanding and engagement within the society.
In summary, my vision is to serve as a dedicated custodian of the AES Electrophoresis Society’s financial health, fostering an environment of collaboration, and forward thinking.
Councilor
David Charlot
David Charlot, PHD, MSEng has 15 years of experience commercializing healthcare technology. His projects have positively impacted 0.5B lives and generated $2B in enterprise value across diagnostics, therapeutics and drug development.
He previously co-founded 2 biotech companies, holds 19 patents, and helped raise $45M for prior startups. Dr. Charlot specializes in Computational Analytics, Automation, Robotics, and microfluidics to address health challenges in cancer, allergy, and infectious disease.
Firms he helped co-found, Biological Dynamics (UCSD - Heller Lab) and CBio (ASU - Hayes / Ros Lab), use electrokinetics, microfluidics, and novel dynamic light scattering implementations to track nanoparticles that correlate with disease presence and progression.
Dr. Charlot is a proud graduate of HBCU Delaware State University with BS in Physics and UCSD with PhD in Bioengineering.
Dr Charlot’s interest in AES Society as a Councilor:
I would like to help shape the industry and startup focus of the organization. I see an opportunity to create a forum that will bring external sponsorship to AES as well as growth opportunities for many of the students interested in entrepreneurship.
Jonathan Cottet
Jonathan Cottet received a M.Sc. in Mechanics and Electronics from ENS Rennes and University of Rennes 1 (France) in 2013 and a M.Sc. in Microengineering on Micro and Nanosystems from EPFL (Switzerland) in 2015. He performed his Ph.D. between Ecole Centrale de Lyon and EPFL, focusing on the development of microsystems for the controlled formation of cell aggregates by dielectrophoresis. Dr. Cottet is currently a senior postdoctoral researcher at MIT. His research interests include design, fabrication and experimental characterization of lab-on-a-chip devices based on electric fields for biological applications. My expertise in electric fields for biological applications (M.Sc, PhD, Postdocs) for various applications (cell aggregates controlled creation, cell pairing, bioimpedance, electroporation, cell deposition, electrokinetics) could be of interest to become an AES councilor.
As external communications officer of the EPFL Postdoc Association (2019-2020) as well as Vice-President of the MIT Postdoctoral Association (2022-2023), I was in charge of updating the bylaws of the associations to make them more up to date with the current way the associations operated. I envision AES to have bylaws that will enable it to be more flexible and reactive. I have also overseen social media for several conferences (DEP 2020.1 and MicroTAS 2023) as well as organized a mentoring program for MicroTAS 2021. My vision for AES is to be more present on social media (mostly LinkedIn and X) to help disseminate the publications from our field and promote the visibility of our community.
Josie Duncan
Josie Duncan will be a post-doctoral researcher at Georgia Tech whose research focuses on sensitive separations using dielectrophoresis for studying the role of subpopulations in cancer. Josie has had the privilege to study under members of the AES Society for several years and has truly grown as a researcher because of the innate mentorship and community here. As councilor, Josie will provide a bridge between student and faculty experience, advocate for the value that AES Society can bring to its members, and encourage consistency and accountability among the society to contribute to the field of electrokinetics. Being introduced to this society as an undergraduate student gave Josie the resources she needed to continue exploring electrokinetics into her early career. As councilor, Josie will support the continuation and growth of the society with a special interest in opportunities that promote longevity and sustainability. These opportunities include recruiting new members in relevant fields and advocating for opportunities that support young researchers. With your support, Josie believes in our ability to lay the foundation for elevating the collective success of our members and positions us as a valuable resource in the field of electrokinetics.
Lisa Flanagan
Dr. Lisa Flanagan is Professor and Vice Chair for Academic Affairs in the Department of Neurology at the University of California, Irvine (UCI), with joint appointments in Biomedical Engineering and Anatomy and Neurobiology. Dr. Flanagan’s research program combines neural cell biology and bioengineering to develop non-invasive methods to identify the fate potential of stem cells and optimize transplantation scaffolds for neural stem cells with the goal of improving the use of these cells to repair the brain and spinal cord. Before joining UCI, Dr. Flanagan completed her Ph.D. at University of California, San Diego and post-doctoral training at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts. She received the National Science Foundation CAREER Award, serves on the Editorial Board for Scientific Reports, is a fellow of the Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, and has organized multiple international scientific conferences.
Dr. Flanagan has been a member of the AES Electrophoresis Society since 2014. In 2016, she co-organized the annual meeting in San Francisco with Dr. Fatima Labeed and served on the Governing Board from 2015-2017. She has served as a session chair at the annual meeting in 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2023. Dr. Flanagan co-organized the Dielectrophoresis Conference 2020.1 and recently helped create the Organizing Committee for the conference. She now holds the role of Secretary for the Organizing Committee and can provide a valuable conduit of information between AES and the Dielectrophoresis Conference.
AES is at a crossroads. While there will be challenges navigating this transition, it provides opportunities for new growth and evolution. At the 2023 annual meeting, it was clear that the members are dedicated to this society and strongly invested in its success. There were many outstanding ideas raised regarding ways to grow membership, collaborate with other society’s annual meetings to make attendance easier for members, and continue fostering the young investigators in the field that has always been a strength of the society. If elected as councilor, I will be happy to contribute to the society’s progress and development.
Chris Harrison
As a past president of AES (2020-2022) I wish to continue to actively support the society as it moves forward with new leadership. My desire is to assist the new president with advice and service to help them accomplish their goals and fulfill their vision for the society.
For those that may not know me well, I am an associate professor of chemistry at San Diego State University. My research focus is primarily in capillary electrophoresis, exploring capillary coatings and surface modifications to enable better separations of biomolecules. I have also been heavily involved in a number of projects related to advancing and improving teaching in analytical chemistry, particularly pioneering the use of flipped classrooms in analytical chemistry.
Ben Hawkins
“I am honored to be considered for a councilor position with AES. I’ve been engaged with the society since 2008, as a graduate student and later in 2012 as a councilor. I am looking forward to increasing my interaction and support of AES’ mission.
My research work focuses on dielectrophoresis and electrical impedance spectroscopy techniques for manipulating and measuring cell populations in both experimental and computational efforts. I started this work as a PhD student in Biomedical Engineering at Cornell University, then continued in the area during postdoctoral research at NIST. Over the last 10 years, I have continued to develop on-chip cell-culture analysis systems at San Jose State and Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. I now manage Cal Poly’s teaching cleanroom and teach courses in microscale physics/electrokinetics and microelectronics fabrication. AES has been an essential part of my connection to the larger community of researchers on these topics, and, if elected, I would continue to make efforts in this area. AES history and topical area is unique, with a small but impactful scope. I’m excited to be a part of the next chapter of AES.”
Blanca Lapizco
I have been a member of AES since 2008, and in 2009 I was elected Councilor. Since then, I have served as Councilor twice, Vice-President and Webmaster for AES. I have also served as chairman of the 2011 and 2018 AES Annual Meetings and served as the chair of the poster session for several years. I'm currently a Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Rochester Institute of Technology. I serve as Co-Editor-in-Chief of the journal ELECTROPHORESIS published by Wiley. The research interests of my group is microscale electrokinetics, with special focus on nonlinear electrokinetic effects. We aim to develop electrokinetic-based microdevices that would answer the needs of a wide array of applications, including cell assessments in clinical and biomedical analysis. I consider AES one of the most important forums for electrokinetics. AES is also a unique forum where students have the opportunity to present their work and receive feedback and guidance from the leading researchers in Electrokinetics. I wish to become a Councilor to support the growth of AES and its members. At this time, AES requires the support from its entire membership, I wish to do my part as one of the Councilors.
Alexandra Ros
Dr. Alexandra Ros is Professor in the School of Molecular Sciences at Arizona State University (ASU) and faculty member of the Center for Applied Structural Discovery (CASD) at the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University. She received her Diploma in Chemistry from the Ruprecht-Karls-University in Heidelberg, Germany, and her PhD from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland. Dr. Ros joined the Biophysics and Nanoscience Group at Bielefeld University, Germany, in 2000 where she followed her interests in microfluidics and biophysics during her post-doctoral training. From 2001-07, she served as principle investigator at Bielefeld University, Germany, on several projects investigating migration mechanisms and single cell analysis in the microfluidic format. In 2007, she received her Habilitation in Experimental Physics from Bielefeld University. Dr. Ros joined ASU in 2008 as Assistant Professor where she was promoted to Associate Professor in 2014 and Professor in 2020. In 2014, she was also appointed faculty member of CASD at the Biodesign Institute and visiting scientist at the Georg-August University Göttingen, Germany, in 2015-16. She is recipient of an NSF Career Award, a Fellowship for Experienced Researchers from the Alexander-von-Humboldt Foundation, Germany, the FACSS Innovation Award and the AES Midcareer Award. Dr. Ros’ current research interests include migration mechanisms in the micro- and nanoenvironment for biomolecules and sub-cellular species with a focus on electrokinetic methods, approaches for single cell analysis, and developing microfluidic tools for emerging crystallography techniques.
Dr. Ros has been active in AES since moving to ASU. She sees the society as a vivid place to meet like-minded researchers in the field of electrokinetics and microfluidics. She has co-organized the annual meeting once in the past and served as board member and counselor for several years. She brings experience and relations to the organizations AES has programmed in the past and might in the future. She is very interested supporting AES to continue a sustained membership and an exciting annual meeting moving forward. She also believes that AES should be increasing offerings and programming for early-career researchers in the field of electrokinetics with a focus on diversity.
Gongchen Sun
I am currently an Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering in the University of Texas at San Antonio. My lab studies non-equilibrium electrokinetics and transport phenomena, using tools including microfluidics, additive manufacturing, electrochemical techniques, and engineered living systems. I earned my Ph.D. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from the University of Notre Dame in 2017, following a B.S. in Microelectronics from Peking University in 2012. My Ph.D. research, under Prof. Hsueh-Chia Chang, was on non-equilibrium ionic circuit devices and molecular liquid biopsy platforms for cancer screening. From 2017 to 2022, I worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow at Georgia Institute of Technology with Prof. Hang Lu, focusing on multiphase microfluidics, electrokinetics, and bioimaging in neuroscience, particularly with 3D multicellular model systems.
As a councilor candidate for the American Electrophoresis Society, my goal is to propel electrokinetic science forward through research, collaboration, and education. My vision revolves around three main objectives:
1. Enhancing the Annual Meeting: I plan to enrich our annual meeting by introducing interactive and interdisciplinary sessions, merging electrokinetic science with fields like biology and medical science. Leveraging my expertise, I aim to involve researchers from various disciplines such as molecular biology and tissue engineering, ensuring a more dynamic exchange of ideas. Additionally, I will utilize digital platforms and social media to expand participation and raise the profile of the AES community.
2. Promoting Diversity: With my role at UTSA, a Hispanic Serving Institution, I am well-placed to boost the involvement of underrepresented groups in electrokinetic science. I intend to start outreach programs and forge partnerships that encourage participation from these communities, offering mentorship and opportunities for their research to gain visibility.
3. Supporting Emerging Scientists: I am dedicated to creating a supportive environment for the upcoming generation of electrokinetic scientists. This includes establishing avenues in our annual meetings and society publications to showcase the work of trainees and early-career scientists, fostering their growth and facilitating networking with established researchers.
Through these efforts, I aspire to foster innovation in electrokinetics, enhance diversity and inclusivity, and position the American Electrophoresis Society as a leader in scientific progress.