David B. Phillips

University of Exeter, University of Glasgow

Papers

Total Citations

148

H-Index

About

David B. Phillips is a leading figure in the field of optical micromanipulation and nanophotonics, whose work bridges the gap between fundamental physics and practical micro-robotics. His primary research focuses on developing non-invasive optical trapping techniques and fabricating microscopic tools for hydrodynamic manipulation. Phillips’s most significant contribution is the invention of indirect optical trapping using light-driven micro-rotors, a breakthrough that circumvents the damaging effects of direct laser illumination on live biological specimens. This work, published in 2019 and garnering 143 citations, enables reconfigurable, gentle manipulation of delicate nanoscale objects, opening new avenues in biophysics and lab-on-a-chip technologies. Additionally, his 2015 study on fabricating microscopic tools via direct laser writing, while less cited, lays the foundational framework for optically actuated micro-robotics, demonstrating how 3D-printed structures can be dynamically controlled in three dimensions. Phillips’s impact is evident in the growing adoption of his methods for non-contact biological studies, and his achievements include pioneering the integration of advanced fabrication with optical trapping, positioning him as a key innovator in the next generation of precision micro-manipulation tools.