About Us | Droplet Lab

Join Us in Simplifying Surface Science

Ever felt lost in the complex world of surface science? You’re not alone. At Droplet Lab, we’ve dedicated ourselves to bridging this gap, making surface science simple and accessible for everyone involved. Our motto? Surface Science Simplified.

Our Team

CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER & CO-FOUNDER

Jesus Muros-Cobos Ph.D.

Jesus has a Ph.D. in the fields of scientific instrumentation and remote engineering. He specialises in image processing algorithms and the software involved in image capture and processing

Chief Of Operations

Gurdeep Saini MSc

Having attained a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Ryerson University with a minor in physics, Gurdeep went on to gain a Masters in Applied Science from York University. He works primarily in the areas of design and instrumentation

Chief Executive Officer

Abhimanyu Bhandankar MBA

Abhimanyu gained an MBA from Schulich School of Business along with a Bachelor of Engineering in Information Technology. He joined Droplet Lab in July 2019 immediately after his MBA, where he now handles the company’s sales and marketing

Chief Science Officer & Co-Founder

Huanchen Chen Ph.D.

Huanchen attained his Ph.D. in interfacial fluid mechanics. from the University of Alberta and his master’s degree from Imperial College London, UK. Interfacial fluid mechanics brings together the fields of surface science, fluid mechanics, colloid and interface science, and material science. He leads Droplet Lab’s manufacturing and design process.

Scientific Advisor & Co-Founder

Alidad Amirfazli Ph.D., PEng,

Dr. Amirfazli has produced exciting results in the wetting behavior of surfaces, drop adhesion, and shedding, furthering the understanding and applications of superhydrophobic coatings. He has made more than 250 scientific contributions, many in prestigious peer-reviewed journals.

Beyond this, Dr. Amirfazli is the editor of Advances in Colloid and Interface Science, and an editorial board member of several other journals. He has been the recipient of the Martha Cook Piper Research Prize, Killam Annual Professorship, and Petro-Canada Young Innovator Award.

Dr. Amirfazli joined York University in 2013 where he was the founding Chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Prior to this, he held the Canada Research Chair in Surface Engineering at the University of Alberta, Canada where he also served as the Associate Chair for Research (ME) from 2009 to 2012. Dr. Amirfazli is currently the Interim Department Chair.

In 2014, he was inducted into the Royal Society of Canada’s College of New Scholars, Artists, and Scientists. He also served as the first President of the RSC’s College of New Scholars, Artists, and Scientists until 2016.

Chief Design Engineer

Pratik Sawardekar MEng

Pratik has a Master’s degree in the field of Industrial Engineering along with a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering majoring in Design. He joined Droplet Lab in July 2020 and now leads Droplet Lab’s instrument design and manufacturing process.

Our Timeline

Imagine trying to teach a highly intricate piece of equipment, like a tensiometer, to a classroom full of students. Our founder, Dr. Alidad, faced this exact challenge, and it sparked an idea that has now become our company’s mission: to provide seamless access to surface science.

The Spark

Dr. Alidad spotted a need - a tool that would make his life, and the lives of researchers and teachers like him, easier.
The Start

: Founded on 25th February 2016, we took our first steps.
Building Credibility

We didn't just claim our products were good; we proved it with two peer-reviewed papers — a Surface Tension paper in August 2017 and a Contact Angle paper in March 2018.
The Academic Focus

Initially, we made friends with university professors, to whom we provided portable instruments designed for research & teaching.
Growth & Change

Taken over by our talented ex-employees in July 2022, we started to innovate and pivot by offering industry-specific custom solutions, starting with fabric and benchtop samples
A New Direction

We're currently working on desktop-based processing and iOS apps to cater to high-throughput clients like P&G. Simultaneously, we are creating a Surface Science knowledge base with industry-specific guides.
Future Innovations

Our vision extends to exciting future projects, including developing fully automated measurement software with Machine Learning, a Temperature & Humidity Control Chamber, and integrating Hamilton Automatic Droppers.

Our Values

Our approach isn’t complex. We believe in getting it right the first time and striving to do that every time. But we also believe in sharing knowledge, making surface science accessible, and, above all, in innovation.

What’s In The Box?

We offer something unique: a hardware setup as light as a kilo, compact enough to fit in a suitcase, and smart enough to capture images on your Motorola Stylus or iPhone. Sounds interesting? Wait till you see what’s coming next!

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Who Benefits From Our Tools?

Our tools are designed with a unique blend of precision and portability, catering to the diverse needs of our valued clients.

Industry experts

looking for a portable instrument suitable for in-field use find our solutions integral to their on-the-go operations.

University professors

seeking effective tools for research and teaching appreciate the simplicity and versatility that our instruments offer.

R&D staff

with a cluttered lab who appreciate that it can be packed away when not needed.

Be it for fieldwork or the classroom, Droplet Lab is committed to providing solutions that advance understanding and application of surface science across various domains. Together, we’re driving innovation, one drop at a time.

Let's Start Something Exciting

Want to be part of a success story rooted in an approach that’s fresh, energetic, and downright passionate? Get in touch with our team to learn what our solutions can do for you.