Bryan Chin, faculty member in Auburn University’s materials engineering program, has been awarded a National Science Foundation grant to investigate and develop autonomous sensors that detect and capture pathogens in food.

His research, "Autonomous Sentinels for the Detection and Capture of Invasive Pathogens," looks at a system that mimics the function of naturally occurring biological defenses, such as white blood cells, by detecting and removing invasive bacteria, spores and toxins in liquid environments.

Chin’s project could be used to identify food contamination, as well as provide a significant impact on devices for food safety, biosecurity, point of care, home care and environmental monitoring.