Jonathan West graduated with a B.Sc. in medical microbiology from the University of Edinburgh in 1997. He spent a year doing functional genetics research in the Department of Microbiology at University College Cork before embarking on his Ph.D. at the Tyndall National Institute (formerly NMRC) where he explored the use of miniaturized sensor and actuator technologies for DNA diagnostics. In 2003, he moved to INEX at the University of Newcastle, UK, working on microfluidic and microparticle technologies for clinical diagnostics and homeland security market sectors. In 2006, he joined ISAS−the Institute for Analytical Sciences−in Dortmund, Germany, to enjoy research concerning lipid nano- and microtubule fabrication. He continues to look for exciting opportunities at the interface between scientific disciplines, and is currently engineering surfaces for the life sciences.

Marco Becker studied information technology between 1999 and 2006 at the Technische Universität Dortmund, Germany. During his diploma thesis, he worked on the simulation and fabrication of optofluidic devices. The research focused on the integration of low-attenuation optical waveguides, microlenses, and beam splitter microstructures. In 2006, he started his Ph.D. in the group of Professor Andreas Manz at the Institute for Analytical Sciences in Dortmund, Germany. He is working with Dirk Janasek in the area of miniaturized biomolecular separations, with research centered on the coupling of free-flow electrophoresis with advanced spectroscopy techniques.

Sven Tombrink studied electrical engineering at the Universität Dortmund (now called Technische Universität Dortmund). His diploma thesis involved the development of hybrid electrical-optical circuit boards, comprising the incorporation of robust polymer-waveguide layers. In 2005, he worked at AG MST Universität Dortmund for the fabrication and assembly of integrated micromirrors and VCSEL elements for coupling optoelectronic modules to the boards. In 2006, he joined Andreas Manz at ISAS in Dortmund, Germany. He is currently undertaking his Ph.D. under the supervision of Joachim Franzke, exploring microplasma spectroscopy integration within microfluidic systems.

Andreas Manz obtained his Ph.D. from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, Switzerland, with Professor W. Simon. His thesis dealt with the use of microelectrodes as detectors for picoliter-size volumes. He spent one year at Hitachi Central Research Lab in Tokyo, Japan, as a postdoctoral fellow and produced liquid chromatography column on a chip. At Ciba-Geigy, Basel, Switzerland, he developed the concept of miniaturized total analysis systems and built a research team on chip-based analytical instrumentation during 1988−1995. He was professor for analytical chemistry at Imperial College in London, 1995−2003. Since 2003, he is the head of ISAS in Dortmund, Germany, and a professor for analytical chemistry at the University of Dortmund. His research interests include fluid handling and detection principles for chemical analysis, bioassays, and synthesis using microfabricated devices.