Dr Yueting Sun

Supervisor Details

Contact Details

y.sun.9@bham.ac.uk

Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Birmingham

Scientific Background

Research Interests

We work across nanoporous materials such as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), dynamic and impact mechanics, and nanofluidics. Our recent work focuses on energy absorption using non-wetting liquid intrusion in nanopores or phase transitions in porous materials, with the goal of addressing scientific challenges and developing new applications through an interdisciplinary approach. Applying this research to understanding and mitigating biological injury is one of our research interests. We welcome candidates from one of the following disciplines: engineering, chemistry, materials, physics, bioscience, or biomedical.

Research Groups

Sun Research Group

Supervision Style

In three words or phrases: student-centred, collaborative, inclusive.

Provision of Training

You will receive technical training related to your project (likely across multiple disciplines) and non-technical training on transferable skills for your professional and career development. We will arrange regular development review meetings to identify your development needs and support your ongoing growth.

Progression Monitoring and Management

I am always around to provide you with the strongest support and resources promptly, but I expect you to take ownership of your research and manage progress through regular discussions and review meetings with me.

Communication

In addition to regular face-to-face discussions, you can reach me online when needed. We have well-maintained channels and chats on MS Teams where you can receive prompt responses and support from me and experienced team members.

Meetings

PhD Students can expect scheduled meetings with me at least once per month. These meetings will be face-to-face and I am usually contactable for an instant response (if required) on every working day.

Work Patterns

The timing of work in my lab is completely flexible, and (other than attending pre-arranged meetings) I expect students to manage their own time.

Notice Period for Feedback

I need at least 2 weeks’ notice to provide feedback on written work of up to 5000 words.

MIBTP Project Details

Primary supervisor for:

Understanding and preventing shock-induced tissue injury using dynamic nanofluidics

See the PhD Opportunities section to see if this project is currently open for applications via MIBTP.

Please Note: The main page lists projects via BBSRC Research Theme(s) quoted and then relevant Topic(s).

Understanding and preventing shock-induced tissue injury using dynamic nanofluidics

Secondary Supervisor(s):

University of Registration: University of Birmingham

BBSRC Research Themes:

Integrated Understanding of Health (Regenerative Biology)

Project Outline

Mechanical shock is a common source of cellular and tissue damage, which may further trigger inflammation and degeneration. We currently lack a well-established understanding of the quantitative correlation between biological injuries and detailed mechanical conditions (e.g., shock magnitude, duration, rise time, and loading rate), particularly across different timescales. This limits our ability to understand and prevent damage from slower blunt-force trauma to higher-rate impact and shock.

Our previous work (Nat Mater 20, 1015, 2021) demonstrated a new molecular mechanism for efficient and reusable shock absorption by squeezing water into hydrophobic nanopores, effective down to nanosecond timescales. We will bring this concept into biology to explore how this mechanism shapes stress waves and the mechanical energy transmitted to tissues, and how these changes regulate biological injury.

Using our suite of compression and shock techniques (with in-situ characterisation capability), from static loading to microsecond and nanosecond pulses, combined with a flexible material platform incorporating various porous materials (metal-organic frameworks, zeolites, silica, aerogels) and liquids, we will be able to tune loading timescale, rise time, pressure amplitude, and transmitted energy onto different biological systems. The local placement and design of porous materials may also allow spatial control of the mechanical microenvironment. Example biological outcomes will include cell viability and deformation, stress and inflammatory gene expression, and tissue integrity and cracking damage.

By correlating mechanical inputs, water intrusion, and biological outcomes, we will build fundamental knowledge at the interface of high-rate nanofluidics and mechanobiology, where nanofluidic energy absorption is exploited as both a protective mechanism and a tool to control mechanical conditions for biological tissues.