Mechanical Engineering Research Story: Sean Clark

Sean Clark

Mechanical Engineering

What research did you complete and who did you complete it with?

I performed research under Dr. Elizabeth Lipke and Dr. Yuan Tian. I helped develop an ecosystem for commercial production of cell-laden hydrogel microsphere for drug discovery. This involved developing low-cost 3D printable microfluidics to produce droplets of cells and polymer, as well as an all-in-one lab machine which controls the creation and curing of the microsphere droplets.

What motivated you to participate in underrgaduate research?

I saw the opportunity to use my experience with mechanical and electronics design to contribute to research that directly impacts people's lives.

There seem to be a variety of ways to seek and secure research positions. How did you find this opportunity? Are there resources you found particularly helpful?

I was looking for a job my freshman year of college and saw an email from CDCR regarding the position. I thought that the position sounded interesting, and my past experience from engineering clubs in high school allowed me to meet the technical requirements. If I were not to have recieved this email, I likely would have never known about the position.

Tell us about your research experience. What types of tasks and projects did you engage in? Was there a particular part of the experience you learned the most from?

I was responsible for transforming an existing microfluidic device into a mass-manufacturable version. Throughout 2024, I explored numerous fabrication methods and designs, ultimately developing a mass-producible, 3D-printed microfluidic device. In 2025, I recieved an Undergraduate Research Fellowship, through which I helped integrate standalone lab equipment such as syringe pumps, light sources, temperature sensors, and collection hardware into a compact, all-in-one machine controlled through a touchscreen interface and a custom circuit board. Several aspects of this project required learning new interdisciplinary skills, either through reading literature or consulting with external expertise.

In what ways did this research experience help you prepare for your next steps after Auburn?

This experience has helped me tremendously, not only by strengthening my ability to learn new technical skills, but also by giving me the opportunity to lead an interdisciplinary project. Through this work, I have learned to manage projects more effectively, setting goals that are both ambitious and realistic.

In what ways did your coursework or other experiences at Auburn prepare you for your research? Are there specific topics or skills you learned from classes that you put into practice?

My coursework and hands-on experiences at Auburn University provided the technical foundation for my research. Classes in fluid mechanics, materials, and mechanical design informed my work on microfluidic design and manufacturability, while CAD-based projects supported rapid, and efficient iteration.

Do you have any advice for other students looking for research experience like yours?

Don’t be afraid to join a lab outside your department or primary area of study. Research often provides opportunities to learn skills and concepts you would never encounter through coursework alone.