Applied Miniaturisation Laboratory

Dr. Christopher Backhouse is a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Alberta with an interest in the life sciences, space, RF MEMs and miniaturised instrumentation. These interests involve the application of micro- and nanotechnologies for uses ranging from nanobiotechnology for medical diagnostics to microfabricated devices for use in space. His past industrial experience has been in the application of quantum devices to medical imaging and of microfabricated devices to the life sciences. The current research of Dr. Backhouse spans microfabricated devices and systems, RF systems, radio astronomy and ion thrusters. A dominant theme in this research is that often humanity has the technologies to solve a given problem but cannot afford to apply them. Much of the research in the Applied Miniaturisation Laboratory (AML) is directed to making important technologies more accessible through miniaturisation and integration. Nowhere is this more important than in applying nanobiotechnologies.