About

Soojung Claire Hur is an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. She is an expert in microfluidics and is a fellow of the Hopkins Extreme Materials Institute. Hur holds a secondary appointment in the Department of Oncology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and is an associate researcher at the Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology. Through her lab, the Hur Lab on Micro-Fluidic Biophysics, she works to develop microfluidic platforms to understand complex fluid dynamics principles and translate this knowledge into practical applications. Her research focuses on studying single-cell mechanics and understanding the correlations between cellular functions and their physical phenotypes. Her lab utilizes inertial focusing, a microscale hydrodynamic phenomenon, to achieve high-throughput target cell detection, cost-effective cell separation, and multimolecular delivery, with applications in oncology, immunology, gene therapy, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine.

Research topics

• Computer Science
• Computer Security
• Engineering
• Artificial Intelligence
• Data science
• Telecommunications
• Geography
• Risk analysis (engineering)
• Business
• Systems engineering
• Mathematics

Selected publications

• Biocompatible Microscale DNA Hydrogels with Programmable Swelling and Sequence-Specific Dissolution

  Open MIND · 2026-01-28

  preprintSenior author

  Stimulus-responsive DNA-hydrogels with swelling capabilities are a promising class of materials for biomedical applications such as drug delivery and biosensing. However, translation of these systems to microscale applications requires fabrication methods that are both biocompatible and material-efficient, while enabling precise control over stimulus-induced swelling and its impact on molecular transport. Here, we present a biocompatible fabrication and characterization platform for micron-scale DNA-hydrogels (microSDs) with tunable isotropic swelling and dissolving properties. Our approach includes a biocompatible, material-efficient fabrication workflow that conserves valuable DNA reagents by minimizing dead volume and process loss. We then demonstrated modular control over isotropic swelling in microSDs, achieving up to a two-fold size increase through programmable DNA design parameters. We further established a quantitative workflow to extract effective diffusivity and characterize swelling-induced modulation of molecular transport in spherical microSDs using YOYO-1. Finally, we demonstrate the dissolution of microSDs using a DNA strand and find that dissolution kinetics are governed by the rates of coupled strand-displacement reactions and diffusive transport. This platform enables programmable swelling and structural disassembly in microSDs. Swelling-induced network expansion further allows predictable modulation of molecular transport, thereby expanding the potential of microSDs for applications such as triggered drug delivery, multiplexed biosensing, and single-cell assays.

  DOI

• Fault-Induced Signal Distortion in FMCW Automotive Radar: A Simulation-Based Analysis

  PHM Society Asia-Pacific Conference · 2026-01-13

  articleOpen access

  Faults in automotive radar subsystems distort the radar signal and compromise system performance, especially in frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar architectures. However, the signal-level consequences of such faults remain underexplored. This paper presents a simulation-based analysis of signal distortions caused by five representative fault behaviors across three critical FMCW radar subsystems: the waveform generator, transmitter, and receiver. We examine the effects of each fault on complex baseband signals and range estimation accuracy, providing both qualitative and quantitative evaluations. The results reveal distinct distortion patterns and demonstrate that range errors and false negatives can occur independently, highlighting the need for diagnostic and fault-aware processing strategies. This work offers a foundational perspective on fault-induced anomalies in radar signal processing and supports the development of more robust FMCW radar systems.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Biocompatible Microscale DNA Hydrogels with Programmable Swelling and Sequence-Specific Dissolution

  ArXiv.org · 2026-01-28

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Stimulus-responsive DNA-hydrogels with swelling capabilities are a promising class of materials for biomedical applications such as drug delivery and biosensing. However, translation of these systems to microscale applications requires fabrication methods that are both biocompatible and material-efficient, while enabling precise control over stimulus-induced swelling and its impact on molecular transport. Here, we present a biocompatible fabrication and characterization platform for micron-scale DNA-hydrogels (microSDs) with tunable isotropic swelling and dissolving properties. Our approach includes a biocompatible, material-efficient fabrication workflow that conserves valuable DNA reagents by minimizing dead volume and process loss. We then demonstrated modular control over isotropic swelling in microSDs, achieving up to a two-fold size increase through programmable DNA design parameters. We further established a quantitative workflow to extract effective diffusivity and characterize swelling-induced modulation of molecular transport in spherical microSDs using YOYO-1. Finally, we demonstrate the dissolution of microSDs using a DNA strand and find that dissolution kinetics are governed by the rates of coupled strand-displacement reactions and diffusive transport. This platform enables programmable swelling and structural disassembly in microSDs. Swelling-induced network expansion further allows predictable modulation of molecular transport, thereby expanding the potential of microSDs for applications such as triggered drug delivery, multiplexed biosensing, and single-cell assays.

  PublisherOA PDF

• Social Network Analysis on LiDAR Research Through Relationship of Institutions and Authors

  Lecture notes in computer science · 2026-01-01

  book-chapter
  PublisherDOI

• Integrated Size-Selective Cell Purification and Electroporation for Genetic Manipulation of Primary Cells

  Micromachines · 2026-03-15

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Biologically relevant primary cell samples are inherently heterogeneous and often require selective enrichment prior to genetic manipulation. We previously demonstrated a vortex-assisted microfluidic platform that integrates size-selective cell trapping with electroporation; however, its limited processing capacity constrained applications requiring larger sample volumes. Here, we present a scaled version of this integrated system achieved through electrode array redesign and electrical optimization. The updated architecture increases processing capacity while preserving size-selective trapping behavior, electric field uniformity, and device stability. Systematic optimization of electrical and buffer conditions enables efficient delivery of plasmid DNA and in vitro-transcribed mRNA into primary human cells, with performance approaching benchmark chemical transfection methods. By scaling an integrated trapping-electroporation workflow without compromising delivery performance, this platform advances microfluidic cell engineering toward practical processing of heterogeneous primary cell samples.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Integrated vortex-assisted electroporation platform with enhanced throughput for genetic delivery to primary cells

  Open MIND · 2026-01-03

  preprintSenior author

  Primary human cells offer the most faithful representation of native human physiology, yet their practical utility is constrained by the difficulty of introducing exogenous genetic material. Electroporation provides a promising non-viral gene delivery approach; however, conventional bulk systems lack the uniformity and integration required for heterogeneous primary cell samples. Here, we present a vortex-assisted electroporation platform integrating size-selective cell trapping with enhanced throughput, parameter optimization across buffer and electrical conditions, and robust delivery of plasmid DNA and in vitro-transcribed mRNA in primary human cells. This integrated platform provides a unified workflow that addresses sample heterogeneity, throughput demands, and delivery efficiency, enabling broader implementation of non-viral gene delivery into primary cells for research and translational applications.

  DOI

• Integrated vortex-assisted electroporation platform with enhanced throughput for genetic delivery to primary cells

  ArXiv.org · 2026-01-03

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Primary human cells offer the most faithful representation of native human physiology, yet their practical utility is constrained by the difficulty of introducing exogenous genetic material. Electroporation provides a promising non-viral gene delivery approach; however, conventional bulk systems lack the uniformity and integration required for heterogeneous primary cell samples. Here, we present a vortex-assisted electroporation platform integrating size-selective cell trapping with enhanced throughput, parameter optimization across buffer and electrical conditions, and robust delivery of plasmid DNA and in vitro-transcribed mRNA in primary human cells. This integrated platform provides a unified workflow that addresses sample heterogeneity, throughput demands, and delivery efficiency, enabling broader implementation of non-viral gene delivery into primary cells for research and translational applications.

  PublisherOA PDF

• Geometry-driven computational optimization of microfluidic PLGA microparticle generation for drug delivery

  2026-03-13

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Triaxial Asymmetry Driven Rotational Dynamics and Lateral Equilibrium Position in Inertial Flow

  ArXiv.org · 2025-11-15

  preprintOpen accessSenior author

  The growing use of triaxial particles in microfluidic, microrobotic, and biological systems makes it essential to understand how their rotational dynamics couples with lateral migration in microscale flows. Our experiments in inertial Poiseuille flow reveal that geometric asymmetry in triaxial, multifaceted disks governs their orientation, migration, and rotational period, distinguishing them from classical axisymmetric objects. We identified a Reynolds- and geometry-dependent shift in preferred rotational orientation, arising from the Dzhanibekov effect, with transition modes determined by the particle's principal-axis configuration. We quantified a scalar offset from Jeffery's orbit prediction and introduced a fitting parameter that generalizes the Jeffery equation to include moment-of-inertia effects on rotational dynamics. Finally, we report the diameter of gyration as a predictor of the lateral equilibrium position of inertially focused triaxial particles. Our results link particle asymmetry to migration and rotation in flow, expanding our understanding of particle dynamics.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Data associated with the publication: Streamlined miRNA loading of surface protein-specific extracellular vesicle subpopulations through electroporation

  Open MIND · 2025-06-01

  datasetSenior author

  This dataset is associated with the publication Torabi C, Choi SE, Pisanic TR, Paulaitis M, Hur SC. Streamlined miRNA loading of surface protein-specific extracellular vesicle subpopulations through electroporation. BioMed Eng OnLine. 2024 Nov 21;23(1):116. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12938-024-01311-2. This research demonstrates a fast, integrated method to load protein-specific subpopulations of extracellular vesicles with miRNA.

  DOI

Recent grants

• Development of a microfluidic primary cell editing platform (pCEP) for personal gene therapy

  NIH · $551k · 2020–2024

• Lateral migration of droplets and vesicles in inertial microfluidics

  NSF · $337k · 2018–2022

• STEADI:System for Translational Exosome Analysis and Diagnostics through Integrating electroporation and single-molecule detection

  NIH · $424k · 2024–2026

Frequent coauthors

• Yongwan Park

  Yeungnam University

  54 shared

• Dino Di Carlo

  39 shared

• Imran Ashraf

  Yeungnam University

  35 shared

• Yongwan Park

  Yeungnam University

  16 shared

• Gunzung Kim

  Yeungnam University

  12 shared

• Albert J. Mach

  BD Biosciences (United States)

  11 shared

• Daniel R. Gossett

  10 shared

• Sung‐Eun Choi

  Johns Hopkins University

  10 shared

Education

• PhD, Mechanical Engineering

  University of California Los Angeles

  2011

Awards & honors

• Johns Hopkins Discovery Award (2024)
• Susan G. Komen Foundation’s Career Catalyst Award (2023)
• Edward K. Rice Outstanding Doctoral Student award
• HSSEAS UCLA academic scholarship
• UCLA Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department’s Chevr…