Canan Dagdeviren

Dr. Canan Dagdeviren is an Associate Professor and LG Career Development Professor of Media Arts and Sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she directs the Conformable Decoders research group at the MIT Media Lab. She joined the MIT faculty in January 2017 and has established herself as a leading innovator in conformable biomedical devices.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• M.Sc. in Materials Science and Engineering, Sabanci University, Istanbul, Turkey
• B.Sc. in Physics Engineering, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey

Dr. Dagdeviren's research focuses on creating mechanically adaptive electromechanical systems that can intimately integrate with biological surfaces for sensing, actuation, and energy harvesting. She believes vital information from nature and the human body is 'coded' in various physical patterns, and her work develops 'conformable decoders' to translate these patterns into beneficial signals and energy. Her research spans wearable and implantable medical devices, with particular emphasis on piezoelectric systems that can be twisted, folded, stretched, wrapped, and implanted onto curvilinear surfaces of the human body without damage or significant alteration in performance.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on medical applications of conformable electronics, particularly in ultrasound technology for breast cancer detection, deep brain stimulation, and bladder monitoring. Her work consistently bridges materials science, electrical engineering, and medical applications, with increasing emphasis on practical healthcare solutions that can be deployed outside clinical settings.

Major Scientific Awards:

• NSF CAREER Award (2021)
• 3M Non-Tenured Faculty Award (2021)
• MIT Technology Review's Top 35 Innovators Under 35 (2015)
• Forbes' Top 30 Under 30 in Science (2015)
• National Academy of Engineering US Frontiers of Engineering Symposium participant (2019)
• Frank E. Perkins Award for Excellence in Graduate Advising
• Aziz Sancar Science Award

Dr. Dagdeviren actively mentors graduate students and has received recognition for her advising excellence. Her research is supported by significant grants including the NSF CAREER award and has resulted in numerous patents and commercialization opportunities. She has developed innovative cleanroom-based courses at MIT that train students in microfabrication techniques for biomedical devices.

The Conformable Decoders research group operates a specialized cleanroom facility at the MIT Media Lab, enabling the development and fabrication of novel conformable electronic systems. The group's work has attracted attention from major media outlets including BBC, CNN, and Nature, and has potential applications across multiple medical specialties including neurology, oncology, and urology.