Sascha Hilgenfeldt

Education

• Ph.D. Physics University of Marburg, Germany 1997
• Diploma Physics Munich University (MUT) 1995
• B.A. Mathematics University of Munich (LMU) 1995
• B.A. Physics Munich University of Technology 1991

Academic Positions

• Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, April 1, 2008-2015
• Visiting Professor, Northwestern University, April 1, 2008-date
• Associate Professor, Northwestern University, August 2004-April 2008
• Visiting Scholar, University of Chicago, 2001-2004
• Assistant Professor, University of Twente, The Netherlands, 2000-2004
• Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard University, 1998-2000
• Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Theoretical Physics, University of Marburg, 1997-1998
• Research Affiliate, University of Chicago, Summer 1997
• Research Affiliate, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Spring 1997
• Visiting Scientist, Center for Complex Systems Research, Beckman Institute, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Spring 1992

Research Statement

Professor Hilgenfeldt conducts theoretical and experimental research on the interfacial structure and dynamical evolution of foam and soft condensed matter. He has elucidated fundamental processes in interface dynamics, including sonoluminescence and domain coarsening, and applied results to develop a new and powerful kind of microfluidic flow excitation. His research has important implications for drug delivery, gene therapy and cell diagnostics, as well as generally enhancing the understanding of the mechanics of life.

Working with colleagues in the biological sciences, he recently created a functional equation that describes how living cells pack together to create fruit fly eyes. He created the quantitative model of cell geometries using only two factors: the energy of the adhesion molecules that hold nearby cells together and the energy from the stretching of the cells' membranes. The model helps researchers understand how adhesion energy changes the shape of the eye and allows them to study how such molecules develop and function during embryo development. His group is currently testing whether this model can be applied to different kinds of tissues, which could lead to advances in regenerative medicine.

Selected Articles in Journals

• Newhall, K., L. Pontani, I. Jorjadze, S. Hilgenfeldt, and J. Brujic, "Size-topology Relations in Packings of Grains, Emulsions, Foams and Biological Cells," Physical Review Letters 108, 268001, 2012.
• Wang, C., S.V. Jalikop, and S. Hilgenfeldt, "Efficient Manipulation of Microparticles in Bubble Streaming Flows," Biomicrofluidics 6, 012801,2012.
• Arif, S., J.-C. Tsai, and S. Hilgenfeldt, "Spontaneous Brittle-to-Ductile-Transition in Aqueous Foams," Journal of Rheology 56:3,485-499, 2012.
• Miklius, M.P., and S. Hilgenfeldt, "Analytical Results for Size-Topology Correlations in 2D Disk and Cellular Packings," Physical Review Letters, 108, 015502, 2012.
• Gemp, I.M., R.W. Carthew, and S. Hilgenfeldt, "Cadherin-dependent Cell Morphology in an Epithelium: Constructing a Quantitative Dynamical Model," PLoS Computational Biology, 7:7, e1002115, 2011.
• Wang, C., S. Jalikop, and S. Hilgenfeldt, "Size-sensitive Sorting of Microparticles Through Control of Flow Geometry," Applied Physics Letters, 99, 034101, 2011.
• Miklius, M.P., and S. Hilgenfeldt, "Epithelial Tissue Statistics: Eliminating Bias Reveals Morphological and Morphogenetic Features," European Physical Journal E, 34:50, 2011.
• Arif, S., J.-C. Tsai, and S. Hilgenfeldt, "Speed of Crack Propagation in Dry Aqueous Foam," Europhysics Letters, 92, 38001, 2010.
• Marmottant, P., T. Biben, and S. Hilgenfeldt, "Deformation and Rupture of Lipid Vesicles in the Strong Shear Flow Generated by Ultrasound-driven Microbubbles," Proceedings of the Royal Society London A, 464, 1781-1800, 2008.
• Hilgenfeldt, S., S. Arif, and J.-C. Tsai, "Foam: A Multiphase System with Many Facets," Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A, 366, 2145-2159, 2008.
• Hilgenfeldt, S., S. Erisken, and R. W. Carthew, "Physical Modeling of Cell Geometric Order in an Epithelial Tissue," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 105:3, 907-911, 2008.
• Marmottant, P., J. P. Raven, H. Gardeniers, J. G. Bomer, and S. Hilgenfeldt, "Microfluidics with Ultrasound-drive Bubbles," Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 568, 109-118, 2006.
• Marmottant, P., M. Versluis, N. de Jong, S. Hilgenfeldt, and D. Lohse, “High-speed Imaging of an Ultrasound-driven Bubble in Contact with a Wall: “Narcissus” Effect and Resolved Acoustic Steaming,” Experiments in Fluids, 41:2, 147-153, 2006.
• Hilgenfeldt, S., “Sonoluminescence - Sound Basis for Light Emission,” Nature Physics, 2:7, 435-436, 2006.
• Marmottant, P., S. van der Meer, M. Emmer, M. Versluis, N. de Jong, S. Hilgenfeldt, and D. Lohse, “A Model for Large Amplitude Oscillations of Coated Bubbles Accounting for Buckling and Rupture,” Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 118:6, 3499-3505, 2005.
• van Nierop, E. A., M. A. Stijnman, and S. Hilgenfeldt, “Shape-induced Capillary Interactions of Colloidal Particles,” Europhysics Letters, 72:4, 671-677, 2005.
• Postema, M., P. Marmottant, C. Lancee, S. Hilgenfeldt, and N. De Jong, “Ultrasound-induced Microbubble Coalescence,” Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology, 30:10, 1337-1344, 2004.
• Hilgenfeldt, S., A. M. Kraynik, D. A. Reinelt, and J. M. Sullivan, “The Structure of Foam Cells: Isotropic Plateau Polyhedra,” Europhysics Letters, 67:3, 484-490, 2004.
• Koehler, S. A., S. Hilgenfeldt, E. R. Weeks, and H. A. Stone, “Foam Drainage on the Microscale – II. Imaging Flow Through Single Plateau Borders,” Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 276:2, 439-449, 2004.
• Koehler, S. A., S. Hilgenfeldt, and H. A. Stone, “Foam Drainage on the Microscale – I. Modeling Flow through Single Plateau Borders,” Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 276:2, 420-438, 2004.
• Marmottant, P. and S. Hilgenfeldt, “A Bubble-driven Microfluidic Transport Element for Bioengineering,” Proceedings of the National Academy of Science of the United States of America, 101:26, 9523-9527, 2004.
• Hilgenfeldt, S. and P. Marmottant, “Microbubbles: Tools for Vesicle Biomechanics,” Acta Acustica, 89, 727, 2003.
• Marmottant, P. and S. Hilgenfeldt, “Controlled Vesicle Deformation and Lysis by Single Oscillating Bubbles,” Nature, 423:6936, 153-156, 2003.
• Stone, H. A., S. A. Koehler, S. Hilgenfeldt, and M. Durand, “Perspectives on Foam Drainage and the Influence of Interfacial Rheology,” Journal of Physics-Condensed Matter, 15:1, Sp. Iss. SI, S283-S290, 2003.
• Koehler, S. A., S. Hilgenfeldt, E. R. Weeks, and H. A. Stone, “Drainage of Single Plateau Borders: Direct Observation of Rigid and Mobile Interfaces,” Physical Review E, 66:4, 04061, Part 1, 2002. Also featured in Virtual Journal of Biological Physics Research (http://vjbio.org), issue October 15, S283, 2003.
• Brenner, M. P., S. Hilgenfeldt, and D. Lohse, “Single-bubble Sonoluminescence,” Reviews of Modern Physics, 74:2, 425-484, 2002.
• Toegel, R., S. Hilgenfeldt, and D. Lohse, “Suppressing Dissociation in Sonoluminescing Bubbles: The Effect of Excluded Volume,” Physical Review Letters, 88:3, 034301, 2002.
• Hilgenfeldt, S., “Foam Structure: The Importance of Bubble Geometry,” Nieuw Archif voor Wiskunde, 5, 224, 2002.
• Hilgenfeldt, S., S. A. Koehler, and H. A. Stone, “Dynamics of Coarsening Foams: Accelerated and Self-limiting Drainage,” Physical Review Letters, 86:20, 4704-4707, 2001.
• Koehler, S. A., S. Hilgenfeldt, H. A. Stone, “Flow along Two Dimensions of Liquid Pulse in Foams: Experiment and Theory,” Europhysics Letters, 54:3, 335-341, 2001.
• Hilgenfeldt, S., A. M. Kraynik, S. A. Koehler, and H. A. Stone, “An Accurate von Neumann’s Law for Three-dimensional Foams,” Physical Review Letters, 34:29, 2685-2688, 2001.
• Hilgenfeldt, S., S. Grossman, and D. Lohse, “Cavitation Science – Is There a Simple Theory of Sonoluminescence? Reply,” Nature, 409:6822, 783, 2001.
• Koehler, S. A., S. Hilgenfeldt, and H. A. Stone, “A Generalized View of Foam Drainage: Experiment and Theory,” Langmuir, 16:15, 6327-6341, 2000.
• Hilgenfeldt, S., D. Lohse, and M. Zomack, “Sound Scattering and Localized Heat Deposition of Pulse Driven Micro-bubbles,” Journal of Acoustical Society of America, 107:6, 3530-3539, 2000.
• Hilgenfeldt, S. and D. Lohse, “The Acoustics of Diagnostic Microbubbles: Dissipative Effects and Heat Deposition,” Ultrasonics, 38:1-9, 99-104, 2000.
• Togel, R., S. Hilgenfeldt, and D. Lohse, “Squeezing Alcohols into Sonoluminescing Bubbles: The Universal Role of Surfactants,” Physical Review Letters, 84:11, 2509-2512, 2000.
• Hilgenfeldt, S. and D. Lohse, “Sonoluminescence: When Bubbles Glow,” Current Science, 78:3, 238-240, 2000.
• Hilgenfeldt, S., S. Grossman, and D. Lohse, “Response to “Comment on Sonoluminescence Light Emission,” Physics of Fluids, 12:2, 474-475, 2000.
• Lohse, D. and S. Hilgenfeldt, “Sonoluminescentie: Als Bellen Gloeien,” Nederlands tijdschrift voor natuurkunde, 66, 348, 2000.
• Hilgenfeldt, S., S. Grossman, and D. Lohse, “Sonolumineszenz,” Phys. Blätt., 56, 43, 2000.
• Hilgenfeldt, S., S. Grossman, and D. Lohse, “Sonoluminescence Light Emission,” Physics of Fluids, 11:6, 1318-1330, 1999.
• Koehler, S. A., S. Hilgenfeldt, and H. A. Stone, “Liquid Flow through Aqueous Foams: The Node-dominated Foam Drainage Equation,” Physical Review Letters, 82:21, 4232, 4235, 1999.
• Hilgenfeldt, S., S. Grossman, and D. Lohse, “A Simple Explanation of Light Emission in Sonoluminescence,” Nature, 398:6726, 402-405, 1999.
• Hilgenfeldt, S. and D. Lohse, “Predictions for Upscaling Sonoluminescence,” Nature, 398: 6726, 402-405, 1999.
• Hilgenfeldt, S. and D. Lohse, “Sonolumineszenz: ans Licht Gebracht,” Spektrum der Wissenschaft, 22, 1999. German edition of Scientific America.
• Hilgenfeldt, S., D. Lohse, and M. Zomack, “Response of Bubbles to Diagnostic Ultrasound: A Unifying Theoretical Approach,” European Physical Journal B, 4:2, 247-255, 1998.
• Hilgenfeldt, S., M. P. Brenner, S. Grossman, and D. Lohse, “Analysis of Rayleigh-Plesset Dynamics for Sonoluminescing Bubbles,” Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 365, 171-204, 1998.
• Brenner, M. P., T. F. Dupont, S. Hilgenfeldt, and D. Lohse, “Bubble Shape Oscillations and the Onset of Sonoluminescence,” Physical Review Letters, 80:16, 3668-3669, 1998.
• Hilgenfeldt, S., D. Lohse, and W. C. Moss, “Water Temperature Dependence of Single Bubble Sonoluminescence,” Physical Review Letters, 80:14, 3164, 1998.
• Hilgenfeldt, S., D. Lohse, and W. C. Moss, “Water Temperature Dependence of Single Bubble Sonoluminescence,” Physical Review Letters, 80:6, 1332-1335, 1998.
• Bauer, A., M. Zomack, D. Lohse, S. Hilgenfeldt, A. Urbank, and R. Schlief, “Acoustic Response of Microbubbles – Acoustic Emission and Localization Imaging,” Radiology, 205, 588, 1997.
• Lohse, D. and S. Hilgenfeldt, “Inert Gas Accumulation in Sonoluminescing Bubbles,” Journal of Chemical Physics, 107:17, 6986-6997, 1997.
• Grossmann, S. H., D. Lohse, and M. Zomack, “Sound Radiation of 3-MHz Driven Gas Bubbles,” Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 102:2, 1223-1230, 1997.
• Hilgenfeldt, S., D. Lohse, and M. P. Brenner, “Phase Diagrams for Sonoluminescing Bubbles,” Physics of Fluids, 9:8, 2462-2462, 1997.
• Lohse, D., M. P. Brenner, T. F. Dupont, S. Hilgenfeldt, and B. Johnson, “Sonoluminescing Air Bubbles Rectify Argon,” Physical Review Letters, 78:7, 1359-1362, 1997.
• Hilgenfeldt, S., D. Lohse, and M. P. Brenner, “Phase Diagrams for Sonoluminescing Bubbles,” Physics of Fluids, 8:11, 2808-2826, 1996. This work was selected as one of the 45 most significant publications in the history of American Institute of Physics Journals.
• Brenner, M. P., S. Hilgenfeldt, D. Lohse, and R. R. Rosales, “Acoustic Energy Storage in Single Bubble Sonoluminescence,” Physical Review Letters, 77:16, 3467-3470, 1996.
• Schulz, H.-C. and S. Hilgenfeldt, “Experimente zum Chaos” (Experiments in Chaos), Spektrum der Wissenschaft, January 1994. German Edition of Scientific American.

Professional Societies

• Member, Society of Rheology (SoR)
• Member, Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES)
• Member, Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM)
• Member, American Physical Society (APS)

Research Honors

• Fellow of the American Physical Society, since 2016
• Willett Faculty Scholar, University of Illinois, since 2015
• Ehrenfest Lecturer, University of Leiden, 2001