Etelka Chung is a Research Fellow at the University of Hertfordshire, where she is engaged in exciting research that utilises her background in biology and materials science. With aims to address global issues related to air quality and microbial threats, Etelka’s experimental research focuses on the areas of aerosol collection and biodetection. 

What are you working on as part of the Hub?

As shown by the COVID-19 pandemic, bioaerosols are a deadly threat, and there is a critical need for environmental monitoring systems that could offer early detection. Despite the existing air sampling devices, there are currently no systems for real-time identification to monitor the transmission of infectious pathogens. As part of the hub, I am looking at bridging this gap by investigating techniques to collect aerosols directly onto a liquid film to minimise systems and interface losses, and to increase the concentration in the collected sample. This entails exploring methods to employ surfaces with specific hydrophilic and hydrophobic areas, inkjet printed EWOD systems, and dielectrophoretic-enhanced particle capture systems. 

What is exciting you the most about your current research? 

I am hoping that our research will lead to new findings and provide a better understanding of what technologies can be used to identify airborne biomaterials. I am excited about conducting research in an area that can contribute to society by potentially reducing the transmission of infectious pathogens and their socio-economic burden. This includes the opportunity to collaborate with external partners, such as industry and government agencies, to test the novel detection approaches in real-world environments, ranging from crop fields to public transport.  

What difference do you hope your research will make?

With the increase of antibiotic resistance and transmission of infectious diseases, I hope my research will contribute towards tackling these global concerns. It would be nice to see a final detection device being used to aid society in having a safer environment against airborne transmissible diseases by providing real-time identification of airborne pathogens. 

What are you most proud of in your research career?

I am most proud that my background in biology and developing skills in engineering have enabled me to provide the linkage between the research spanning diverse areas of biodetection, including the biological challenges, to the development of potential engineering solutions.