An assembly is provided for interfacing with a microfluidic chip having at least one microscopic channel configured to receive a liquid sample for analysis. The assembly includes a chip carrier, an electronics module, an optical module, and a mechanical module. The chip carrier includes a base and a cover defining a cavity to receive the microfluidic chip. The electronics module includes a signal generator which applies at least one electrokinetic signal electrode(s) of the chip. The optical module includes an excitation radiation source which causes excitation radiation to impinge on the sample, and an emission radiation detector which detects radiation emitted from the sample. The mechanical module includes a chip-carrier receiving structure, relatable with respect to the optical module for focus and at least one degree of translational freedom.

Embodiments are generally directed to cooling of electronics using folded foil microchannels. An embodiment of an apparatus includes a semiconductor die; a substrate, the semiconductor die being coupled with the substrate; and a cooling apparatus for the semiconductor die, wherein the cooling apparatus includes a folded foil preform, the folded foil forming a plurality of microchannels, and a fluid coolant system to direct a fluid coolant through the microchannels of the folded foil.