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We’ve got the essence.

Could traditional industry be impacted by an understanding of how fluids move at the nanoscale? Could laboratories be replaced by a single chip, of 1cm2? By controlling fluids at the tiniest scale, scientists are taking mechanical engineering to the nano-dimension.


Miniaturized micro- and nano-fluidic based diagnostic chips, sensors, batteries, stem-cell separation – these are just some applications unfolding at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. New faculty member Dr. Gilad Yossifon and his team at the Micro– and Nano–Fluidic Devices Laboratory promises to transform membrane, interface and colloid sciences in the service of energy, medicine, and the environment.

With the advent of nanofabrication technology, says Yossifon, scientists can now produce well-controlled nanofluidic structures. “My specialty is in electrokinetics, i.e. the interaction of fluids with electric fields, at the micro- and nano-scale. I can manipulate fluids and particles (e.g. cells, biomolecules) by applying electric fields,” he says.

As a source of expertise on nanofluidics, Yossifon attracts graduate students from the Russell Berrie Nanotechnology Institute (RBNI) who find diverse applications for the nano know-how, from single-molecule (e.g. DNA) manipulation, lab-on-a-chip, integrated nanofluidic circuits, artificial ion-channels, and energy conversion.

“Technion gives someone like me the tools to do truly interdisciplinary research,” he says. Raised in Beersheva, Yossifon whose recruitment to Technion was made possible by the Edmond J. Safra Philanthropic Foundation, is a second generation of Technion mechanical engineering graduates. “I understood very early on that I was attracted to engineering, through the living example in the house. You get it by diffusion…”

Fuel cells, diagnostic chips, sensors, stem-cell separation – these are just some applications unfolding at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. Dr. Gilad Yossifon and his team at the Micro and Nano Fluidic Devices Laboratory promises to transform membranes science in the service of energy, medicine and the environment.
With the advent of nanofabrication technology, says Yossifon, scientists can now fabricate well-controlled nanochannel structures. “My specialty is on the interaction of fluids with electric fields. I can manipulate fluids by applying electric fields,” he says.
As a source of knowhow on nanofluidics, Yossifon attracts graduate students from the Russel Berrie Nanotechnology Institute (RBNI) who find diverse applications for the nano know-how -, from DNA sequencing, lab on a chip, sensors and energy science.
“Technion gives one like me the tools to do truly interdisciplinary research,” he says. Raised in Beersheva, 

Yossifon is

the son of a teacher and a scientist. “I understood very early on that I was attracted to engineering, through the living example in the house. You get it by diffusion…”


Dr. Gilad Yossifon