David W.M. Marr

The controlled assembly of colloidal particles has received significant attention in recent years because of their potential application as nano- and micro-structured materials. To vary their structure and behavior, we employ external fields, including applied time-varying electromagnetic, electric, and magnetic fields. One technique that we use to great extent is optical trapping in which a “tractor beam” like approach, using a focused laser, is used to manipulate individual cells and colloidal particles. Funded in recent years by the NIH, NSF and NASA for microfluidic applications, our goal is the creation of technologically-relevant platforms including micron-scale colloidal-based devices as well as optical-based cell sorters and stretchers for bioanalysis and biomedical assay development.

Education

• BS – University of California, Berkeley
• MS, PhD – Stanford University
• Post-Doctoral Study – Raychem Corporation
• Education Abroad – Georg-August-Universität Göttingen (Germany)

Selected Publications

• T.O. Tasci, P.S. Herson, K.B. Neeves, D.W.M. Marr, “Surface-Enabled Propulsion and Control of Colloidal Microwheels”, Nature Communications, 2016. DOI:10.1038/ncomms10225
• T. Sawetzki, C.D. Eggleton, S.A. Desai, D.W.M. Marr, “Dynamic Viscoelasticity as a Rapid Single-Cell Biomarker”, Biophysical Journal, 2013, 105(10), 2281-2288. DOI:10.1016/j.bpj.2013.10.003
• I. Sraj, C.D. Eggleton, R. Jimenez, E. Hoover, J. Squier, J. Chichester, D.W.M. Marr, “Cell Deformation Cytometry using Diode-Bar Optical Stretchers”, Journal of Biomedical Optics, 2010, 15, 047010. (Also featured in the Virtual Journal of Biological Physics Research).
• T. Sawetzki, S. Rahmouni, C. Bechinger, D.W.M. Marr, “In-Situ Assembly of Linked Geometrically-Coupled Microdevices”, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA, 2008, 150, 20141-20145. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0808808105
• R.W. Applegate Jr., J. Squier, T. Vestad, J. Oakey, D.W.M. Marr, P. Bado, M.A. Dugan, A.A. Said, “Microfluidic Sorting System Based on Optical Waveguide Integration and Diode Laser Bar Trapping”, Lab on a Chip, 2006, 6, 422.
• A. Terray, J. Oakey, D.W.M. Marr, “Microfluidic Control Using Colloidal Devices”, Science, 2002, 296, 1841.(Abstract, Full Text). DOI: 10.1126/science.1072133 (Also featured in Technology Research News).

Google Scholar Citations Page

Honors and Awards

• 2014 Faculty Senate Distinguished Lecturer
• 2007-2008 Visiting Professor, Kasetsart University, Bangkok Thailand
• 2007 Dean’s Excellence Award
• 2006 Space Act Award, NASA Inventions and Contributions Board
• 2005-2008 Alexander von Humboldt Fellow, Universität Stuttgart, Germany
• 2004 National Academy of Sciences, Frontiers of Science, Speaker; 1998 Participant
• 2000 Dow Outstanding New Faculty Award
• 1998-2002 NSF CAREER Award