Michael J. Rust

Michael J. Rust serves as Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Director of Experiential and Entrepreneurial Learning in the College of Engineering at Western New England University, focusing on developing accessible medical technologies for resource-limited settings globally.

Education:

• BS in Electrical Engineering, University of Cincinnati
• PhD in Electrical Engineering, University of Cincinnati

Research Interests: Dr. Rust pioneers innovations in Point-of-Care diagnostics, biosensors, and lab-on-a-chip systems with emphasis on global health applications. His work bridges engineering and clinical needs through projects like non-invasive diabetes breathalyzers and portable anemia diagnostics, targeting affordability and usability in low-resource environments. Key methodologies include microfluidics, bioinstrumentation, and BioMEMS integration.

Scientific Awards:

• NSF GK-12 Graduate Fellowship

Advising and Grants: Mentoring 65+ students since 2010 across capstone projects and research, Dr. Rust secures major funding from NSF, NIH, ASQ, KEEN, Jenzabar Foundation, and Kern Family Foundation. His lab translates research into real-world solutions through partnerships with industry and international fieldwork.

Laboratory: The POC Medical Devices Lab develops deployable healthcare tools including ultrasound nerve block training phantoms, pharmaceutical quality testers, and centrifuge-free anemia diagnostics, with active student involvement in design and prototyping.