Research endeavors in the Vanderlick Laboratory are motivated by the intriguing properties of surfaces and thin films.  Over the years, our group has focused on a broad range of topics spanning from fundamental studies of cold-welding between rough metallic surfaces to the design of novel biological membrane structures for use in in-vitro fertilization. What unites our efforts is the desire to apply the mind-set and principles of chemical engineering to interesting problems associated with interfacial phenomena. One particular problem that has captured our full current attention is the design and fabrication of “μ-dusters” – a novel methodology we have recently developed to non-invasively remove particulate contamination from delicate surfaces such as those found in integrated circuits, medical implants, and precious works of art.