dr.ir. D. Fernandez Rivas (David)

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Please, take a look at my personal webpage: www.david-fernandez-rivas.com

I enjoy scientific research and ensuring its deployment into society on three topics: cavitation, renewable energy, and process intensification through microfluidics. Besides teaching and performing academic activities, I am a strong promotor of valorization and commercialization. I have controlled and utilized cavitation, or the appearance and collapse of bubbles with acoustics, electrochemistry, and microfluidics, for industrial applications such as water remediation, and materials modification.

Since 2014, I have focused on biomedical projects, such as improving diagnostics of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, with bubble acoustic excitation in bio-fluids such as sputum: Rapid microsensor to diagnose bacterial infection in COPD exacerbations.

My most ambitious research is the needle-free injection of fluids: www.bubble-gun.eu . I strive to reduce production and usage costs of this technology, improving its reliability, and make it accessible for developing countries and millions of people worldwide. This project has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (Grant agreement No. 851630).

My ultimate goal is to become an independent scientist, leading motivated professionals into exciting research at the interface of physics and biomedicine.

Affiliation to MIT since 2017: https://bioinstrumentation.mit.edu/people.html

Chemistry

# Bubble
# Cavitation
# Jet

Physics & Astronomy

# Bubbles
# Cavitation Flow

Engineering & Materials Science

# Cavitation
# Sonochemistry
# Ultrasonics

Mechanical Engineering Department, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT
Research Affiliate
BuBclean
Co-founder, I act mainly as advisor and providing a scientific angle.
FlowBeams BV
Manager FlowBeams
JBD Health
Advisory board

I am interested in original and challenging applicable research; meaning that I want to achieve scientific results, apply them in the most efficient way, and ensure its deployment into society in the shortest time feasible.

My research focus is on two themes: BioEngineering and Greentech

Why bubbles? Cavitation - appearance and collapse of bubbles- can provide novel ways to purify water, modify materials, the creation of jets for medical applications, and many others. Nevertheless, the presence of a bubble is often seen as a negative event by the majority of scientists. This notoriousness comes from the difficulties in controlling bubbles, and because the utilization of their effects is not an easy task. If we are to control and utilize cavitation for societally relevant applications, first there are scientific questions that need to be addressed. We therefore need to develop techniques and engineering systems to do it efficiently exploit bubbles.

Fernandez Rivas, D., & Cintas, P. (2022). On an intensification factor for green chemistry and engineering: The value of an operationally simple decision-making tool in process assessment. Sustainable Chemistry and Pharmacy, 27, [100651]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scp.2022.100651

Alveringh, D. , van der Ven, D. L. , Veltkamp, H-W. , Batenburg, K. M. , Sanders, R. G. P. , Fernandez Rivas, D. , & Wiegerink, R. J. (2022). Miniature robust high-bandwidth force sensor with mechanically amplified piezoresistive readout. In 2022 IEEE 35th International Conference on Micro Electro Mechanical Systems Conference (MEMS) (pp. 684-687). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/MEMS51670.2022.9699639

Schoppink, J. , & Fernandez Rivas, D. (2022). Jet injectors: Perspectives for small volume delivery with lasers. Advanced drug delivery reviews, 182, [114109]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addr.2021.114109

Dominik, M., Nzweundji, J. G., Ahmed, N., Carnicelli, S., Jalaluddin, N. S. M. , Rivas, D. F., Narita, V., Enany, S., & Rojas, C. R. (2022). Open Science – For Whom? Data Science Journal, 21(1), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.5334/dsj-2022-001

Lopez-Verges, S. L., Urbani, B. , Fernandez Rivas, D., & Carmona-Mora, P. (2021). Mitigating losses: how scientific organisations can help address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on early-career researchers. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 8, [284]. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-021-00944-1

Mercuri, M. , & Fernandez Rivas, D. (2021). Challenges and opportunities for small volumes delivery into the skin. Biomicrofluidics, 15(1), [011301]. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0030163

Lopez-Verges, S. L., Valiente-Echeverría, F., Godoy-Faúndez, A. , Fernandez Rivas, D., Urbani, B., Berger, J. J., & Carmona-Mora, P. (2021). Call to action: Supporting Latin American early career researchers on the quest for sustainable development in the region. Frontiers in research metrics and analytics, 6, [657120]. https://doi.org/10.3389/frma.2021.657120

Lopez-Verges, S., Urbani, B. , Fernandez Rivas, D., Kaur-Ghumaan, S., Coussens, A. K., Moronta-Barrios, F., Bhattarai, S. , Niamir, L., Siciliano, V., Molnar, A., Weltman, A., Dhimal, M., Arya, S. S., Cloete, K. J., Awan, A. T., Kohler, S., Sharma, C. S., Rios Rojas, C., Shimpuku, Y., ... Carmona-Mora, P. (2021). Correction: Mitigating losses: how scientific organisations can help address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on early-career researchers. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 8(1), [313]. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-021-01000-8

Quetzeri-Santiago, M. A., Hunter, I. W. , van der Meer, D. , & Fernandez Rivas, D. (2021). Impact of a microfluidic jet on a pendant droplet. Soft matter, 17(32), 7466-7475. https://doi.org/10.1039/D1SM00706H

Karregat, J., Rustemeyer, T., van der Bent, S., Spiekstra, S., Thon, M. , Fernandez Rivas, D., & Gibbs, S. (2021). Assessment of cytotoxicity and sensitization potential of intradermally injected tattoo inks in reconstructed human skin. Contact Dermatitis, 85(3), 324-339. https://doi.org/10.1111/cod.13908

Pappaterra, M. , Xu, P. , van der Meer, W. , Faria, J. A. , & Rivas, D. F. (2021). Cavitation intensifying bags improve ultrasonic advanced oxidation with Pd/Al₂O₃ catalyst. Ultrasonics sonochemistry, 70, [105324]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ultsonch.2020.105324

Fernandez Rivas, D. , & Oyarte Galvez, L. A. (2020). Jet injection system. (Patent No. NL2025071).

Angulo, A. , van der Linde, P. , Gardeniers, H., Modestino, M. A. , & Fernandez Rivas, D. (2020). Influence of Bubbles on the Energy Conversion Efficiency of Electrochemical Reactors. Joule, 4(3), 555-579. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joule.2020.01.005

Fernandez Rivas, D., Boffito, D. C. , Faria-Albanese, J., Glassey, J., Afraz, N., Akse, H., Boodhoo, K. V. K., Bos, R., Cantin, J. , & van den Berg, H. (2020). Process intensification education contributes to sustainable development goals: Part 1. Education for Chemical Engineers, 32, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ece.2020.04.003

Rivas, D. F., Boffito, D. C. , Faria-Albanese, J., Glassey, J., Cantin, J., Afraz, N., Akse, H., Boodhoo, K. V. K., Bos, R., Chiang, Y. W., Commenge, J-M., Dubois, J-L., Galli, F., Harmsen, J., Kalra, S., Keil, F., Morales-Menendez, R., Navarro-Brull, F. J., Noël, T., ... Weber, R. S. (2020). Process Intensification education contributes to sustainable development goals: Part 2. Education for Chemical Engineers, 32, 15-24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ece.2020.05.001

Andrews, E. D. , Rivas, D. F. , & Peters, I. R. (2020). Cavity collapse near slot geometries. Journal of fluid mechanics, 901, [A29]. https://doi.org/10.1017/jfm.2020.552

Fernandez Rivas, D. , & Oyarte Galvez, L. A. (2020). Jet injection system. (Patent No. WO/2020/182665).

Fernandez Rivas, D., & Boffito, D. C. (2020). Intensifying Learning Processes. IChemE Educational Special Interest Group.

Boffito, D. C. , & Fernandez Rivas, D. (2020). Process intensification connects scales and disciplines towards sustainability. Canadian journal of chemical engineering, 98(12), 2489-2506. https://doi.org/10.1002/cjce.23871

Fernandez Rivas, D. (2020). Small bubbles and bubble bags: a scientific knowledge valorisation. The Cuban Scientist, 1(1), 23-24. https://cubanscientist.org/archive/1/1/23

Oyarte Galvez, L. A. , Fraters, A. B. , Offerhaus, H. L. , Versluis, M., Hunter, I. , & Fernandez Rivas, D. (2020). Microfluidics control the ballistic energy of thermocavitation liquid jets for needle-free injections. Journal of Applied Physics, 127(10), [104901]. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5140264

Peñas, P. , van der Linde, P. , Vijselaar, W. , van der Meer, D. , Lohse, D. , Huskens, J. , Gardeniers, H., Modestino, M. A. , & Fernandez Rivas, D. (2019). Decoupling Gas Evolution from Water-Splitting Electrodes. Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 166(15), H769-H776. https://doi.org/10.1149/2.1381914jes

Nguyen, D. M., Sanathanan, M. S., Miao, J. , Rivas, D. F. , & Ohl, C-D. (2019). In-phase synchronization between two auto-oscillating bubbles. Physical review fluids, 4(4), [043601]. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevFluids.4.043601

Cu, K. , Bansal, R., Mitragotri, S. , & Fernandez Rivas, D. (2019). Delivery Strategies for Skin: Comparison of Nanoliter Jets, Needles and Topical Solutions. Annals of biomedical engineering, 48, 2028-2039. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-019-02383-1

Cu, K. , Bansal, R., Mitragotri, S. , & Rivas, D. F. (2019). A Comparison of Drug Delivery into Skin Using Topical Solutions, Needle Injections and Jet Injections. bioRxiv. https://doi.org/10.1101/694943

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View my profile

I see myself as a knowledge transfer agent between generations of professionals and the public in general. Continuous education is part of my lifelong learning plan, increasing my adaptability and personal development. My interest is to sharpen existing, or developing new skills such as critical thinking, creativity, and communication. These skills, transferred to my students and collaborators, will help us keep ahead of developments around us, in a constantly changing world.

Master

Chemical Engineering

Other

Honours programmes UT

Courses in the current academic year are added at the moment they are finalised in the Osiris system. Therefore it is possible that the list is not yet complete for the whole academic year.

I try to keep updated my personal webpage, and here you can find the Research activities.

In times of lockdown (October 2020)

This was the work team, November 2017

How can you get an injection without a needle? Universiteit van Nederland
De Ingenieur, interview Ik los graag praktische problemen op (in Dutch) “I like solving practical problems”, November 2020
NPO Radio 1, interview (in Dutch) about the possibilities of injecting without needles, March 15^th, 2020.
RTL Nieuws Editie NL, TV interview (in Dutch) online text and video, March 12^th, 2020.
Volkskrant interview, about my research regarding needle-free technology; printed and online version (in Dutch) March 7^th, 2020.
Euraxes Interview, giving tips to researchers interested in applying for ERC grants. December 2^nd, 2019.
Ecco il tatuaggio senza aghi, indolore e inteligente, Galileo, Popular Science Italian website. June 11th, 2019.
The Dutch radio station BNR Nieuws interviewed me on May 8^th, 2019 about the Needle-free technology that I am developing (in Dutch) (https://www.bnr.nl/player/archief/20190507175010175)
De Ingenieur, an article and interview were published in print and online version of this popular Dutch magazine (https://www.deingenieur.nl/artikel/spuitje-zonder-prik-hier-komt-de-naaldloze-injectie)
Tubantia published one full page in the weekend special an interview about injection of insulin and tattooing without needles May 2019; Extra zonnebrand smeren of insuline spuiten? UT onderzoekt mogelijkheden tattoos, (https://www.tubantia.nl/enschede/extra-zonnebrand-smeren-of-insuline-spuiten-ut-onderzoekt-mogelijkheden-tattoos~abaa7ead/) (http://davidfr.ddns.net/wordpress/index.php/2019/05/23/local-newspaper-interview/)
Optics.org provides daily coverage of the optics & photonics industry and the markets that it serves and wrote about my research https://optics.org/news/10/4/37.
Our skin as a platform, interview published in U-Today, regarding an event I organised March 21st 2019 (https://www.utoday.nl/news/66710/our-skin-is-a-platform)
The paper resulting from the Lorentz Center event I organized, Pathways to Solar Hydrogen Technologies, made it to the Energy and Environmental Science cover. (https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2018/ee/c8ee90055h/unauth#!divAbstract) https://www.lorentzcenter.nl/lc/web/2016/797/info.php3?wsid=797&venue=Oort
Opening up a path for solar hydrogen, U-Today, October 2018 (https://www.utoday.nl/science/66117/opening-up-a-path-for-solar-hydrogen)