BIOGRAPHY
Daniel is jointly enrolled at Berkeley and UCSF as a PhD student in the Department of Bioengineering with a bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering from Princeton (2008). In his current capacity, his research spans medical device design, lizard chasing, dinosaur biomechanics and micro-interfaces for tissue engineering.

Inkjet Interfaces for Controlling Biological Pattern Formation [BPN500]
We have successfully adapted a consumer-grade inkjet printer for use as a means of controlling spatio-temporal gene expression
in 2D cell culture. Specifically, we take advantage of a high-resolution printer designed to print on the surface of CDs. By modifying
CD surfaces to contain customized Petri dish wells, we are able to culture E. coli in the wells and print various morphogens onto the
surface of the culture. By varying the geometry of printed patterns of lactose and glucose we have demonstrated spatiotemporal
control over the genetic activity of the lac operon.

Having successfully demonstrated the technology, we are now examining the wide array of interesting dynamic effects we
encountered such as propagating mRNA waves and counter-diffusion boundary control. We are also examining the possibility of
adapting this system for use with mammalian cells. Current mammalian culture systems cannot produce 2D gradients within the
culture material, meaning that an inkjet system capable of doing this would open up a number of interesting research areas.