Jaap den Toonder
Department
RESEARCH PROFILE
Jaap den Toonder is full professor and Chair of the Microsystems research Section at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). His group focuses its research on the investigation and development of innovative technological concepts and fabrication methods for microsystems for a wide range of applications. The application focus is on microfluidic chips, biomedical microdevices, and soft microrobotics. The group’s research approaches are often biologically inspired, translating principles from nature into technological innovations. Den Toonder’s main personal research interests are microfluidics, mechanical properties of biological cells and tissues, nature-inspired micro-actuators and organs-on-chips to understand cancer. Den Toonder teaches courses on microfabrication methods, microfluidics, and heat and flow in microsystems, in which hands-on learning is a key element.
One of the most fascinating scientific trends of today is the merging of technology and biology: new technological solutions are inspired by biology, and technology is used to study, understand, and even steer biological processes.”
ACADEMIC BACKGROUND
Jaap den Toonder studied at Delft University of Technology where he obtained his MSc in Applied Mathematics (with honors). He received his PhD (with honors) from the same university on a numerical/theoretical and experimental study of drag reduction in turbulent flows by polymer additives. In 1995, he joined Philips Research Laboratories in Eindhoven, and began working in mechanics of solid materials. He worked on a wide variety of applications, such as ceramic capacitors, optical storage systems, IC low-k materials, RF MEMS, soft electronics, biomedical devices, polymer MEMS, and micro-fluidics. In 2008, he became Chief Technologist, leading the R&D program on (micro-)fluidics, and (starting 2011) materials science and engineering. He was involved in research programs on molecular diagnostics, lab-on-chip, immersion lithography and energy applications. In addition to his job at Philips, Jaap den Toonder was a part-time professor at the TU/e Materials Technology group between 2004 and 2013. He has (co-)authored over 100 scientific papers, as well as over 40 patent applications. He is a member of the Editorial Board of Lab on a Chip, Micro-and Nanoelectromechanical Systems, Micromachines, and Biomimetics. Den Toonder is recipient of an ERC Advancd Grant in 2019.
Key Publications
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Tanveer Ul Islam,Yves J. Bellouard,Jaap M.J. den Toonder
Highly motile nanoscale magnetic artificial cilia
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS) (2021) -
Marina Pilz da Cunha,Harkamaljot S. Kandail,Jaap M.J. den Toonder,Albert P.H.J. Schenning
An artificial aquatic polyp that wirelessly attracts, grasps, and releases objects
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS) (2020) -
Edwin De Jong,Ye Wang,Jaap den Toonder,Patrick R. Onck
Climbing droplets driven by mechanowetting on transverse waves
Science Advances (2019) -
S. Zhang,Y. Wang,Patrick R. Onck,J.M.J. den Toonder
Removal of microparticles by ciliated surfaces
Advanced Functional Materials (2019) -
H. Eslami Amirabadi,J.M.S. Frimat,R. Luttge,J.M.J. den Toonder
A novel method to understand tumor cell invasion: integrating extracellular matrix mimicking layers in microfluidic chips by "selective curing"
Biomedical Microdevices (2017)
- Device integrated responsive materials
- Heat and flow in microsystems
- Microfabrication methods
- Microfluidics put-to-work
Ancillary Activities
- Scientific Advisor, AZAR Innovations
- Scientific Advisor, ShanX Medtech
- Member of the Executive Board, human organ and Disease Model Technologies Institute (hDMT)
- Scientific advisor, InnoFluidics
- member of Editorial Board, Micromachines
- Editorial Board, Biomimetics
- Editorial Board, Biomicrofluidics