Lauren Briens, Ph.D, P.Eng
Associate Professor
Chemical and Biochemical Engineering

Research Interests

My research interests focus on downstream pharmaceutical particulate manufacturing operations.  The research emphasis is on sensor development for improved monitoring and investigation of operation parameters on particulate characteristics including flowability.

Granulation is the process in which particles are adhered together to form multiparticle units called granules. Granulation is important for preventing segregation, for stabilizing a mixture, for improving flowability and for improving compaction characteristics. My research investigates measurements to further understand granulation and to develop monitoring methods.

Wet granules are usually dried in a fluidized bed. My research also investigates monitoring of fluidized bed drying to ensure optimum operation of the bed and to identify the optimum end-point.

Whenever a powder product contains more than one component, a mixing stage is required in the manufacturing process. The goal of the mixing stage is to obtain an even distribution of the components within the powder. My research investigates methods to measure the uniformity of the powder mixture non-intrusively and on-line.

The US Food and Drug Administration's Process Analytical Technologies initiative encourages pharmaceutical companies to change their manufacturing processes to include more measurements and also monitoring and control.