Innovative Dental Engineering Application Laboratory
IDEA LAB
The goal of the IDEA laboratory is to introduce new paradigms in oral health research. The long-term goal is to establish effective, innovative, and ecological biofilm prevention strategies that avoid off-target effects such as induction of antimicrobial resistance and disruption of microbiota homeostasis. To this end, we will apply various engineering concepts and methods to further advance the knowledge of the pathogenesis of oral diseases and develop novel therapeutic strategies. We will create an environment where multidisciplinary science can be flourished.
Open position
IDEA Lab at UPenn has an available Postdoc position focused on bioengineering research. Desired expertise includes microfluidics, biophysics, atomic force microscopy, confocal microscopy, mathematical modeling, material science, and evolutionary/molecular/cell biology for bioengineering research. Review of applications will begin immediately. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. To apply, please send a single PDF file containing curriculum vitae and the contact information of three references to 'geelsuh@upenn.edu'.
2023 NEWS
May Amanda Reisman and Madeline Stein joined our lab.
Apr "Addition of cariogenic pathogens to complex oral microflora drives significant changes in biofilm compositions and functionalities" has been accepted for publication in Microbiome.
Apr Dr. Meghana Rachapalli Veera Prathap joined our lab as a research intern.
Apr Dr. Junjira Tanum joined our lab as a postdoc researcher.
Feb A new National Institute of Health grant (R21; Bacterial Adhesion Inhibition and Biofilm Disruption by Adaptive Piezoelectric Biomaterial) was awarded to Dr. Hwang and Dr. Kim at U of South Florida. Congratulations!
Feb "Cerium oxide nanozymes confer a cytoprotective and bio-friendly surface micro-environment to methacrylate based oro-facial prostheses" has been accepted for publication in Biomaterials.
Jan Dr. Beibei Gao joined our lab as a postdoc researcher.
2022 NEWS
Nov "A Dental Implant-on-a-Chip for 3D Modeling of Host-Material-Pathogen Interaction and Therapeutic Testing Platform" has been accepted for publication in Lab on a Chip.
Oct "Effect of surface stiffness in initial adhesion of oral microorganisms under various environmental conditions" has been accepted for publication in Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces.
Sep A new National Science Foundation grant (ECCS; Collaborative Research: Smart Dental Implant for Ambulatory Dental Care) was awarded to Dr. Hwang and Dr. Kim at U of South Florida. Congratulations!
Sep Prof. Kyunghee Park joined our lab as a visiting scholar.
Jul Two DMD candidates Stephanie Dominguez and Teny Odaimi joined the summer research program in our lab.
Mar "A 3D-Printed Customizable Platform for Multiplex Dynamic Biofilm Studies" has been accepted for publication in Advanced Materials Technologies.
Feb "In it together: Candida-bacterial oral biofilms and therapeutic strategies" (invited review) has been accepted for publication in Environmental Microbiology Reports.
Jan Kevin Tao joined our lab as a volunteer.
2021 NEWS
Aug "Bimodal nanocomposite platform with antibiofilm and self-powering functionalities for biomedical applications" has been accepted for publication in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.
Jul Dr. Hwang's application (with Dr. Kim at Temple U) has been selected as a finalist for the 14th round of the Science Center research accelerator (QED Proof-of-Concept program). Congratulations!
Jul Dr. Atul Dhall was selected as a finalist in AADR Hatton Competition at the 2021 IADR/AADR general session. Congratulations!
Jun Two DMD candidates Cerjay Lugtu and Brett Kim joined the summer research program in our lab.
Jun Two Penn undergraduate students Ravikiran Ramjee and Tiffany Lee joined the summer research program in our lab.
May Dr. Hye-Eun Kim and Dr. Atul Dhall received an AADR Travel Award. Congratulations!
Apr Our previous lab member Sherry Zheng has received admission to NYU College of Dentistry. Big congrats!
Apr "Intervening in symbiotic cross-kingdom biofilm interactions: A binding mechanism-based non-microbicidal approach" has been accepted for publication in mBio.
Mar Prof. Kirim Kim joined our lab as a visiting scholar.
Feb "Diagnosis of Biofilm-Associated Peri-Implant Disease Using a Fluorescence-Based Approach" has been accepted for publication in Dentistry Journal.
Jan "Implication of surface properties, bacterial motility, and hydrodynamic conditions on bacterial surface sensing and their initial adhesion" has been accepted for publication in Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology.
2020 NEWS
Dec "Synergism of Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans reinforces biofilm maturation and acidogenicity in saliva: an in vitro study" has been accepted for publication in Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology.
Aug Dr. Minjun Oh joined our lab as a postdoc researcher.
Jul "Cross-kingdom cell-to-cell interactions in cariogenic biofilm initiation" has been accepted for publication in Journal of Dental Research.
Jun A research volunteer Sherry Zheng and two undergraduate students Joseph Heo and Le (Helen) He joined the summer research program in our lab.
Jun "Human Oral Motion-Powered Smart Dental Implant (SDI) for In Situ Ambulatory Photobiomodulation Therapy" has been accepted for publication in Advanced Healthcare Materials.
Mar "Antibiofilm activity of a novel pit and fissure self-adhesive sealant modified with metallic monomers" has been accepted for publication in Biofouling.
Feb "Dynamics of bacterial population growth in biofilms resemble spatial and structural aspects of urbanization" has been accepted for publication in Nature Communications.
2019 NEWS
Dec "A comprehensive analysis of near-contact photobiomodulation therapy in the host-bacteria interaction model using 3D-printed modular LED platform" has been accepted for publication in Advanced Biosystems.
Dec Dr. Marwa Bawazir joined our lab as a DScD student.
Sep Dr. Atul Dhall joined our lab as a postdoc researcher.
Jul Dr. Hwang was appointed as Assistant Professor in the Department of Preventive and Restorative Sciences.
May Dr. Hye-Eun Kim received an AADR Travel Award. Congratulations!
Apr "Catalytic antimicrobial robots for biofilm eradication" has been accepted for publication in Science Robotics.
2018 NEWS
Oct Dr. Hye-Eun Kim joined our lab as a postdoc researcher.
Jul Dr. Hwang received a National Institute of Health R01 grant.
May Dr. Hwang received The Joseph and Josephine Rabinowitz Award for Excellence in Research at The University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine.
