Darren Branch

Distinguished Member of the Technical Staff

Author profile picture

Distinguished Member of the Technical Staff

dwbranc@sandia.gov

(505) 284-5843

Sandia National Laboratories, New Mexico
 P.O. Box 5800
 Albuquerque, NM 87185-1425

Biography

Darren W. Branch is a distinguished researcher and technical leader at Sandia National Laboratories, where he has made significant contributions to the fields of biological and chemical sensors, nano and micro sensors, and microsensor science and technology. With over two decades of experience at Sandia, he has held various positions, including Distinguished Member of Technical Staff and Manager of the Biological and Chemical Sensors Department. His research has resulted in the development of groundbreaking technologies, including several acoustic wave biosensing platforms. Notably, he served as Principal Investigator on a Collaborative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with Qorvo Biotechnologies, which successfully commercialized the Omnia™ Platform for rapid COVID-19 antigen testing, as well as for the detection of various viral and bacterial pathogens. He served on the Honeywell Healthcare Advisory Board under “SARS-COV-2 Sensor Evaluation CRADA” with Honeywell International Inc. This innovative platform exemplifies his commitment to translating scientific advancements into practical solutions that address critical public health challenges. He has served as Principal Investigator on 12 CRADAs. Darren has also been instrumental in securing funding and leading projects, serving as Principal Investigator on multiple Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs) and contributing to high-impact initiatives such as the DTRA project on plasmonic heterostructures.

Throughout his career, Darren has demonstrated a commitment to advancing sensor technology, evidenced by his 21 issued patents, of which 27 are licensed, and numerous contributions to DARPA projects focused on acoustic filter elements and dispersion engineering. His work has not only enhanced the capabilities of acoustic wave devices but has also addressed critical challenges in drug resistance detection for tuberculosis and the specificity of sensor binding through chemical conjugation methods. As a recognized expert in his field, Darren has played a pivotal role in shaping the future of sensor technology, making him a valuable asset to both Sandia National Laboratories and the broader scientific community.

Education

Bachelor’s Degree: Physics (cum laude), University of California at San Diego, CA (1994)

Doctoral Degree: Biophysics and Computational Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign, IL (2000)

Research Interests

Micro and nanosystems for chemical and biological analysis and sensing; impedance sensors; neurological interfaces; surface chemistry; DNA transport; adaptive biological and nanopore interfaces; acoustic wave biosensors and actuators; fast simulation methods for acoustics and micromagnetics; resonator modeling; piezoelectric and ferroelectric materials; tunable and agile materials and characterization; sensor arrays; and RF sensor systems.

Professional Organizations and Leadership

  • IEEE

Patents and Trademarks

• Patent #11,171,604, Active shunt capacitance cancelling oscillator for resonators.
• Multifunctional RF limiting amplifier, 16/952,745, 2021
• Active shunt capacitance cancelling oscillator for resonators, 17/088,228, 2021
• Acoustic wave resonator with active shunt capacitance cancellation and systems thereof (11/07/2019) 62/932,297, 2021
• Solid-state tuning behavior in acoustic resonators, 16/912,916
• Solid-state tuning behavior in lithium niobate (6/27/2019) 62/867,706
• Shear horizontal surface acoustic wave (SH-SAW) resonators and arrays thereof (4/16/2019) 10,261,078
• Microfluidic package and method of making the same, 10,717,079 B2
• Mitigation of spurious flexural modes in aluminum nitride microresonators, 13/649,025
• Methods for suppressing spurious modes in microresonators (2018), #10,009,002 B1
• Miniature acoustic wave lysis system and uses thereof, (2016), #9,512,421 B1
• Microresonator electrode design, (2016), #9,337,800 B1
• Programmable electroacoustic filter apparatus and method for its manufacture, (2016), #9,276,557
• Microfluidic device for acoustic cell lysis, (2015), 9,096,823 B1
• High-frequency shear horizontal surface acoustic wave sensor, (2014), 8,669,688 B1
• Detection of bioagents using a shear horizontal surface acoustic wave biosensor, (2014), 8,709,791 B2
• Eleven copyrighted computational codes acoustic wave and micromagnetics simulation.

Awards

• Mission Innovator Award (2015) for Technical Impact and Innovation
• R&D 100 Award (2011): Microresonator Filters and Frequency References
• R&D 100 Award (2010): Acoustic Wave Biosensors for Rapid Point-of-Care Medical Diagnostics
• Sandia National Laboratories Employee Recognition Award, for Excellence in Commercial Partnerships, 2002

Publications

  • Tiwari, S., Jarzembski, A., Siddiqui, A.M., Reyna, R., Paldi, R.L., Branch, D.W., & Branch, D.W. (2023). Demonstration of Acoustically Driven Ferromagnetic Resonance Using Leaky Surface Acoustic Waves in Lithium Tantalate [Conference Presenation]. IEEE International Symposium on Applications of Ferroelectrics, ISAF 2023, International Symposium on Integrated Functionalities, ISIF 2023 and Piezoresponse Force Microscopy Workshop, PFM 2023, Proceedings. https://doi.org/10.2172/2430789 Publication ID: 126692
  • Siddiqui, A.M., Jarzembski, A., Schmucker, S.W., Paldi, R.L., Tiwari, S., Bachman, W.B., Katzenmeyer, A.M., Finnegan, P.S., Reyna, R., Wood, M.G., Klesko, J.P., Beechem, T.E., Branch, D.W., & Branch, D.W. (2022). Reconfigurable Unpatterned Metasurfaces via Acoustoelectric Gating of Graphene [Conference Presenation]. https://doi.org/10.2172/2006197 Publication ID: 121500
  • Branch, D.W. (2022). Finite Element Simulation of the Acoustic Pressure Inside a Beverage Container for Non-Thermal, Ultrasound-based Pasteurization. https://doi.org/10.2172/1887000 Publication ID: 80179
  • Mahyera, T., Harmon, B.N., Branch, D.W., Moorman, M.W., & Moorman, M.W. (2021). BARDA Presentation [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1886525 Publication ID: 75560
  • Paldi, R.L., Aryal, A., Qia, Z., Behzadirad, M., Wood, M.G., Barnard, J., Branch, D.W., Busani, T., Siddiqui, A.M., Wanga, H., & Wanga, H. (2021). Nanocomposite-seeded epitaxial growth of single-domain lithium niobate thin films as a new potential material forX-Band RF applications [Conference Presenation]. https://doi.org/10.2172/1871150 Publication ID: 78698
  • Paldi, R.L., Qi, Z., Misra, S., Lu, J., Sun, X., Phuah, X.L., Branch, D.W., Siddiqui, A.M., Wang, H., & Wang, H. (2021). Nanocomposite-Seeded Epitaxial Growth of Single-Domain Lithium Niobate Thin Films for Surface Acoustic Wave Devices. Advanced Photonics Research, 2(6). https://doi.org/10.1002/adpr.202000149 Publication ID: 75165
  • Siddiqui, A.M., Hummel, G., Young, A.I., Yen, S., Branch, D.W., Nordquist, C., & Nordquist, C. (2021). GAUSSIAN FOCUSED CAVITY FILTER DESIGN [Conference Poster]. https://doi.org/10.2172/1888990 Publication ID: 75164
  • Branch, D.W., Hayes, D.C., & Hayes, D.C. (2020). Handheld Biosensor for COVID-19 Screening. https://doi.org/10.2172/1671376 Publication ID: 100160
  • Branch, D.W., Wessendorf, K.O., & Wessendorf, K.O. (2020). True Series Resonance Oscillator using Active Shunt Capacitance Cancellation [Conference Poster]. IFCS-ISAF 2020 – Joint Conference of the IEEE International Frequency Control Symposium and IEEE International Symposium on Applications of Ferroelectrics, Proceedings. https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=85096952564&origin=inward Publication ID: 73761
  • Treece, A., Corbin, W.C., Caskey, S.A., Krishnakumar, R., Williams, K.P., Branch, D.W., Harmon, B.N., Polsky, R., Bauer, T.L., Finley, P.D., Jeffers, R., Safta, C., Makvandi, M., Laird, C., Domino, S.P., Ho, C.K., Grillet, A.M., Pacheco, J.L., Nemer, M., … Thelen, P.M. (2020). COVID-19 LDRD Project Summaries. https://doi.org/10.2172/1617440 Publication ID: 105920
  • Branch, D.W., Wessendorf, K.O., & Wessendorf, K.O. (2020). True Series Resonance Oscillator using Active Shunt Capacitance Cancellation [Conference Poster]. https://doi.org/10.1109/IFCS-ISAF41089.2020.9234823 Publication ID: 72727
  • Branch, D.W. (2019). Biological and Chemical Sensors for Human Health Monitoring and Point-of-Care Diagnostics [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1646451 Publication ID: 66454
  • Branch, D.W. (2019). Biological and Chemical Sensors and Modeling Methods for Acoustic Devices [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1643343 Publication ID: 66412
  • Branch, D.W., Nordquist, C., Jensen, D.S., Eichenfield, M., Douglas, J.K., Siddiqui, A.M., Friedmann, T.A., & Friedmann, T.A. (2018). Investigation of a Solid-State Tuning Behavior in Lithium Niobate. 2018 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Workshop Series on Advanced Materials and Processes for RF and THz Applications, IMWS-AMP 2018. https://doi.org/10.1109/IMWS-AMP.2018.8457130 Publication ID: 98640
  • Branch, D.W., Christopher, D.N., Eichenfield, M., Douglas, J.K., Siddiqui, A., Friedmann, T.A., & Friedmann, T.A. (2018). Investigation of a Solid-State Tuning Behavior in Lithium Niobate [Conference Poster]. https://doi.org/10.1109/IMWS-AMP.2018.8457130 Publication ID: 63914
  • Branch, D.W., Nordquist, C., Eichenfield, M., Douglas, J.K., Siddiqui, A.M., Friedmann, T.A., & Friedmann, T.A. (2018). Investigation of a Solid-State Tuning Behavior in Lithium Niobate [Conference Poster]. https://doi.org/10.1109/IMWS-AMP.2018.8457130 Publication ID: 61531
  • Branch, D.W., McClain, J., Murton, J.K., James, C.D., Achyuthan, K., Vreeland, E.C., & Vreeland, E.C. (2017). Rapid nucleic acid extraction and purification using a miniature ultrasonic technique. Micromachines, 8(7). https://doi.org/10.3390/mi8070228 Publication ID: 55823
  • Ruffing, A.M., McEwen, J.T., Strickland, L.M., Murton, J.K., Branch, D.W., Carnes, E.C., & Carnes, E.C. (2017). Genetic Tool Development for Nannochloropsis species [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1648666 Publication ID: 56694
  • Nordquist, C., Pluym, T., Schiess, A., Koch, L., Branch, D.W., Bauer, T.M., Grine, A.J., Ballance, M., Dyck, C., Olsson, R.H., Nguyen, J.H., Yarberry, V., Stevens, J.E., Scott, S.M., Choi, S., Sing, M.N., & Sing, M.N. (2016). Programmable Piezoelectric Filters [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1342351 Publication ID: 46870
  • Patel, N., Branch, D.W., Schamiloglu, E., & Schamiloglu, E. (2015). Comparative study of 0° X-cut and y + 36°-cut lithium niobate high-voltage sensing. Review of Scientific Instruments, 86(8). https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4927713 Publication ID: 97884
  • Branch, D.W., Olsson, R.H., & Olsson, R.H. (2014). Suppressing Fine-frequency modes in Aluminum Nitride microresonators [Presentation]. IEEE International Ultrasonics Symposium, IUS. https://doi.org/10.1109/ULTSYM.2014.0141 Publication ID: 38273
  • Branch, D.W., Smith, G.T., Vreeland, E.C., Blakemore, R., Alland, D., & Alland, D. (2014). Nucleic acid extraction using a rapid, chemical free, ultrasonic technique for point-of-care diagnostics [Presentation]. IEEE International Ultrasonics Symposium, IUS. https://doi.org/10.1109/ULTSYM.2014.0124 Publication ID: 38254
  • Nordquist, C., Olsson, R.H., Branch, D.W., Pluym, T., Choi, S., Grine, A.J., & Grine, A.J. (2014). RF FPGA: Programmable Acoustic Filter Elements [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1503131 Publication ID: 39039
  • Patel, N., Cular, S., Schamiloglu, E., Branch, D.W., & Branch, D.W. (2014). Comparative Study of Lithium Niobate Crystal Cuts for use Use as High- Voltage Acoustic Wave Sensors [Conference Poster]. https://doi.org/10.1109/ULTSYM.2014.0493 Publication ID: 38236
  • Branch, D.W., Olsson, R.H., & Olsson, R.H. (2014). Suppressing Fine-Frequency Modes in Aluminum Nitride Microresonators [Conference Poster]. https://doi.org/10.1109/ULTSYM.2014.0141 Publication ID: 38305
  • Branch, D.W., Smith, G.T., Vreeland, E.C., Blakemore, R., Alland, D., & Alland, D. (2014). Nucleic Acid Extraction using a Rapid Chemical Free Ultrasonic Technique for Point-of-Care Diagnostics [Conference Poster]. https://doi.org/10.1109/ULTSYM.2014.0124 Publication ID: 38302
  • Patel, N., Branch, D.W., Cular, S., Schamiloglu, E., & Schamiloglu, E. (2014). Comparative Study of LiNbO3 Crystal Cuts for use as High-Voltage Acoustic Wave Sensors [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1502313 Publication ID: 38261
  • Patel, N., Cular, S., Branch, D.W., Schamiloglu, E., & Schamiloglu, E. (2014). Measuring DC Voltage using Acoustic Wave Propagation in LiNbO3 [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1496546 Publication ID: 37659
  • Branch, D.W. (2013). CleanBurst Flyer for Colorado Bioscience Association Newsletter [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1673529 Publication ID: 36202
  • Brozik, S.M., Polsky, R., de Campbell, A., Manginell, R., Moorman, M.W., Edwards, T.L., Anderson, J.M., Pfeifer, K.B., Branch, D.W., Wheeler, D.R., & Wheeler, D.R. (2013). Genomics-enabled sensor platform for rapid detection of viruses related to disease outbreak. https://doi.org/10.2172/1096502 Publication ID: 35904
  • Cular, S., Patel, N., Branch, D.W., & Branch, D.W. (2013). Experimental validation of a high voltage pulse measurement method. https://doi.org/10.2172/1096484 Publication ID: 35801
  • Nordquist, C., Olsson, R.H., Branch, D.W., Dyck, C., Pluym, T., & Pluym, T. (2013). RF FPGA Annual Review: Programmable RF Acoustic Filter Elements [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1664664 Publication ID: 35046
  • Branch, D.W., Burton, R., Cular, S., & Cular, S. (2013). Piezoelectric High Voltage Sensing [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1666209 Publication ID: 34726
  • Branch, D.W., Clews, P.J., Olsson, R.H., & Olsson, R.H. (2013). Dispersion Engineering in Aluminum Nitride Phononic Crystal Plates [Conference]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1115337 Publication ID: 34635
  • Nordquist, C., Olsson, R.H., Branch, D.W., Pluym, T., Yarberry, V., Dyck, C., & Dyck, C. (2013). On/off Micro-electromechanical Switching of AlN Piezoelectric Resonators [Conference]. https://doi.org/10.1109/MWSYM.2013.6697719 Publication ID: 33782
  • Nordquist, C., Olsson, R.H., Branch, D.W., Pluym, T., Yarberry, V., & Yarberry, V. (2013). On/off Micro-electromechanical Switching of AlN Piezoelectric Resonators [Conference]. https://doi.org/10.1109/MWSYM.2013.6697719 Publication ID: 32291
  • Crespin, E.R., Olsson, R.H., Wojciechowski, K.E., Branch, D.W., Clews, P.J., Hurley, R.B., Gutierrez, J.M., & Gutierrez, J.M. (2012). Fully Integrated Switchable Filter Banks [Conference]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1117136 Publication ID: 28618
  • Branch, D.W. (2011). Love Wave Acoustic Array Biosensor Platform [Conference]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1121062 Publication ID: 21284
  • Ziaei-Moayyed, M., Olsson, R.H., Branch, D.W., Habermehl, S.D., Clews, P.J., & Clews, P.J. (2011). Silicon Carbide Lateral Overtone Bulk Acoustic Resonator with Ultrahigh Quality Factor [Conference]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1110354 Publication ID: 21397
  • Ziaei-Moayyed, M., Olsson, R.H., Habermehl, S.D., Branch, D.W., Clews, P.J., & Clews, P.J. (2011). Silicon Carbide Lateral Overtone Bulk Acoustic Resonator with Ultrahigh Quality Facotr [Conference]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1110364 Publication ID: 21400
  • Olsson, R.H., Wojciechowski, K.E., Branch, D.W., & Branch, D.W. (2010). Origins and mitigation of spurious modes in aluminum nitride microresonators [Conference]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1028435 Publication ID: 20448
  • Forsythe, J.C., Branch, D.W., McKenzie, A.T., & McKenzie, A.T. (2010). Toward exascale computing through neuromorphic approaches. https://doi.org/10.2172/1007316 Publication ID: 19861
  • Cooley, E.J., Kruizinga, P., Branch, D.W., Emelianov, S., & Emelianov, S. (2010). Evaluation of arsenazo III as a contrast agent for photoacoustic detection of micromolar calcium transients [Conference]. Progress in Biomedical Optics and Imaging – Proceedings of SPIE. https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=77951852378&origin=inward Publication ID: 17228
  • Ravula, S.K., Branch, D.W., Westlake, K., Brener, I., & Brener, I. (2008). Characterization and modeling of a bulk acoustic wave particle focusing device [Conference]. 2008 IEEE International Frequency Control Symposium, FCS. https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=55649124109&origin=inward Publication ID: 13877
  • Branch, D.W., Edwards, T.L., Huber, D.L., Brozik, S.M., & Brozik, S.M. (2008). Shear horizontal surface acoustic wave microsensor for Class A viral and bacterial detection. https://doi.org/10.2172/1028915 Publication ID: 14826
  • Branch, D.W. (2008). Hybrid method for the precise calculation of the general dyadic Greens functions for SAW and leaky wave substrates. https://doi.org/10.2172/942184 Publication ID: 13223
  • Ravula, S.K., Branch, D.W., Baker, M.S., Westlake, K., Brener, I., & Brener, I. (2008). 2-D Acoustic-Microfluidic Particle Focusing Devices for Miniaturized Flow Cytometry [Conference]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1145860 Publication ID: 13084
  • Ravula, S.K., Branch, D.W., Sigman, J., Clem, P., Kaduchak, G., Brener, I., & Brener, I. (2007). Microfluidics and microacoustics for miniature flow cytometry [Conference]. 2007 NSTI Nanotechnology Conference and Trade Show – NSTI Nanotech 2007, Technical Proceedings. https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=34547969466&origin=inward Publication ID: 9053
  • Branch, D.W., Sigman, J., Clem, P., Brener, I., & Brener, I. (2007). Microfluidics and Microacoustics for Miniature Flow Cytometry [Conference]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1147990 Publication ID: 9905
  • Branch, D.W., Sigman, J., Clem, P., James, C.D., Brener, I., & Brener, I. (2007). A Microfabricated Flow Cytometry System for Optical Detection of Cellular Parameters [Conference]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1267220 Publication ID: 9113
  • Branch, D.W., Meyer, G., Bourdon, C., & Bourdon, C. (2005). Active mixing in microchannels using surface acoustic wave streaming on 128 YX LiNbO. Proposed for publication in Journal of Microelectro Mechanical Systems.. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/890605 Publication ID: 4998
  • Branch, D.W., Brozik, S.M., & Brozik, S.M. (2004). Low-level detection of a Bacillus anthracis simulant using Love-wave biosensors on 36°YX LiTaO3. Biosensors and Bioelectronics. https://doi.org/10.2172/820881 Publication ID: 1821
  • Branch, D.W., Brozik, S.M., & Brozik, S.M. (2003). Final LDRD Report for the Project Entitled: Biosensors Based on the Electrical Impedance of Tethered Lipid Bilayers on Planar Electrodes. https://doi.org/10.2172/809611 Publication ID: 1682
Showing 10 of 53 publications.