Mark Burns

Many biological assays require detection and quantification of chemical species in aqueous solutions. Dr. Burns has worked to develop inexpensive and easy ways to fabricate sensors that can detect proteins, small molecules, and ions in biological fluids such as blood, urine, and saliva. The sensors use a combination of electrochemical reactions, steric hinderance, and optical quantum dot excitation to perform the assays. Some examples of these systems are: an inclined channel to trap antibody-containing beads binding marker proteins associated with traumatic brain injury (TBI), a multi-electrode device to measure chloride ion concentrations in urine, and a spatially controlled deposition of metals and oxides to detect impurities in liquids. In developing these systems, he has found that using data science tools such as random forest models can help increase the sensitivity and extend the life of sensors.