Michael Murrell is an Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Yale University, with additional appointments in the Physics Department and the Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Track. He holds a B.S. from Johns Hopkins University and a Ph.D. from MIT. His research focuses on understanding cellular mechanics through biomimetic systems and soft matter physics, aiming to bridge biological principles with technological innovation. Key interests include the mechanical basis of cell division, migration, and energy dynamics in cytoskeletal networks. Selected honors include the Postdoctoral Fellowship from the Institute for Complex Adaptive Matter (2010–2012), an NIH Biotechnology Training Grant (2005–2008), and the MIT Presidential Fellowship (2004). His lab, the Laboratory of Living Matter, investigates how physical properties of cells drive life processes, using tools from synthetic biology and computational modeling. Recent work explores energy localization in cytoskeletal networks and mechanical memory in actin systems. Publications highlight advancements in actomyosin contractility, cortical flows, and biophysical energy conversion. The lab actively seeks PhD students and postdocs to join interdisciplinary projects at the Yale Systems Biology Institute and the Physical Engineering and Biology Program.
Alejandro Rodriguez is a Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Princeton University, serving as Director of Education Program MIRTHE+. He leads the Nanophotonics Design and Computation Group , focusing on theoretical and computational exploration of nanostructured materials for novel optical phenomena. His research bridges classical and quantum optics, emphasizing nonlinear optics, fluctuation-induced forces, and topological photonics. Education: Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2010) B.S., Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2006) Research interests include: Low-power nonlinear optics and frequency conversion Casimir forces and thermal radiation in structured media Optimization of photonic devices via inverse design Quantum and thermal fluctuation effects in nanostructures Awards: Presidential Early Career Award (2019) National Science Foundation CAREER Award (2015) Multiple international recognitions for contributions to nanophotonics Advising and Grants: Supervises graduate students in photonics and materials science Recipient of innovation grants for AI, robotics, and wireless communications advancements Labs/Teams: Active in Princeton's Materials Institute (PMI) and collaborates with global research networks in quantum science and nanophotonics.
Wai Cheng is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), School of Engineering, and serves as Director of the Sloan Automotive Laboratory since 2009. His educational background includes: B.Sc. from California Institute of Technology (1974) M.Sc. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1975) Ph.D. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1979) Professor Cheng's research centers on internal combustion engines , with expertise in engine performance, emissions, and combustion science. His work investigates cold-start phenomena in gasoline direct injection (GDI) engines, soot formation mechanisms, knock dynamics, and the impact of alternative fuels like ethanol. He integrates experimental diagnostics with computational modeling to develop energy-efficient transportation solutions while addressing societal environmental challenges. Recent projects focus on particulate emissions reduction and novel valve timing strategies for cleaner engine operation. His publication trends (2016-2019) reveal concentrated research on GDI engine cold-start emissions, with 70% of articles analyzing particulate matter formation and mitigation during engine start-up phases under varying fuel and operational conditions. Notable honors include: Fellow of the Society of Automotive Engineers (2003) SAE Oral Presentation Awards (2004, 2002) SAE Teetor Award (1984) Carl Richard Soderberg Professorship (1982) Professor Cheng has mentored numerous graduate students through MIT's mechanical engineering programs and secured research funding from automotive industry partners. His institutional service spans the Graduate Admission Committee (1980-2010, 2011-present) and editorial roles for the International Journal of Engine Research (2002-2019). He leads the Sloan Automotive Laboratory's multidisciplinary team in advancing sustainable propulsion technologies through engine optimization and alternative fuel research.
Qing Li is an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), part of the College of Engineering. He holds a B.E. in Electronics Engineering from Tsinghua University (2006) and a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology (2013). Prior to CMU, he worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), where he developed quantum frequency conversion and microresonator-based optical systems. His research focuses on light-matter interactions in integrated photonics, emphasizing nonlinear optics and quantum information processing. He has pioneered silicon carbide and aluminum nitride platforms for chip-scale quantum technologies and optical metrology. Dr. Li has been recognized with prestigious awards including the Darpa Young Faculty Award (2019), OSA Paul F. Forman Team Engineering Excellence Award (2020), and Sigma Xi Best Ph.D. Thesis Award (Georgia Tech). His work bridges classical and quantum information systems, with applications in secure communication, atomic systems interrogation, and high-precision frequency synthesis. He actively contributes to the Pittsburgh Quantum Institute (PQI), advancing regional quantum engineering initiatives. His research group’s key projects include developing compact optical frequency synthesizers, soliton microcombs for communication grids, and entangled photon pair sources for quantum networks. Grants and collaborations support his exploration of novel photonic materials and devices, targeting advancements in both fundamental science and applied technologies.
Mehrdad Ehsani is a Robert M. Kennedy Endowed Professor of Electrical Engineering at Texas A&M University, leading the Power Electronics and Motor Drives Laboratory. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has over four decades of expertise in power electronics, electric/hybrid vehicles, and energy systems. His research focuses on sustainable energy, advanced power conversion, and vehicle electrification. Educational Background: Ph.D., Electrical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison (1981) M.S., Electrical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin (1974) B.S., Electrical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin (1973) Research Interests: Sustainable power systems, electric/hybrid vehicles, energy storage, power electronics, and aerospace power systems. His work emphasizes practical applications, such as transmotor technology for energy efficiency and grid-interactive buildings. Awards & Recognition: Life Fellow of IEEE SAE Fellow (2005) IEEE Vehicular Technology Society Avant Garde Award (2001) Recipient of multiple Prize Paper Awards (IEEE-IAS) Advising & Grants: Director of Advanced Vehicle Systems Research Program. His lab collaborates with industry on patents, including over 30 granted/pending patents, and advises on sustainable transportation technologies. He has consulted for over 60 companies and government agencies. Labs & Teams: Founder and director of the Power Electronics & Motor Drives Lab, focusing on electric vehicle propulsion, renewable energy integration, and advanced control systems.
LIN Meng is an Associate Professor at the Department of Mechanical and Energy Engineering , Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) . He holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) (2018) and has held postdoctoral positions at Caltech's Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis (2018-2019). Research Interests include solar thermal/thermochemical/(photo)electrochemical energy conversion devices , CO2 capture and utilization , and multi-scale modeling and simulation . His work focuses on optimizing energy systems through advanced computational models and cross-disciplinary integration of physics. Recent Publications highlight his contributions to solar fuel processing, CO2 conversion technologies, and hybrid electrochemical systems, with articles in Nature Communications , Joule , and Energy & Environmental Science . His research emphasizes scalable solutions for sustainable energy and carbon management. Scientific Awards ASME Graduate Student Award (2018) Outstanding Reviewer of Solar Energy (2018, 2015) Swiss National Science Foundation Postdoc Fellowship (2017) Shanghai Outstanding Master Thesis (2016) Shanghai Jiao Tong University Outstanding Graduate (2013)
Dr. Madhav Manjrekar is an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1999. His research focuses on power electronics applications in utility systems, renewable energy interfaces, and cybersecurity of electricity infrastructure. Key areas include power quality improvement in microgrids, high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission, and advanced electrical machine design for electric vehicles and wind energy systems. His work emphasizes innovative solutions for energy storage integration, grid resiliency, and fault-tolerant power systems. Recent publications highlight advancements in DSTATCOM for microgrids, solid-state circuit breakers, and doubly salient electrical machines. He has contributed to projects like the US-Caribbean Super Grid and HVDC interconnectors for offshore renewable energy. Dr. Manjrekar’s research also addresses cybersecurity vulnerabilities in power infrastructure and explores next-gen semiconductor technologies like SiC MOSFETs. His interdisciplinary approach bridges power electronics, machine design, and grid stability, with applications in both academic and industry settings.
Dr. Hongye Zhang serves as a Lecturer in Superconducting and Cryogenic Electric Machines at the School of Engineering, University of Edinburgh, while maintaining a Visiting Research Fellow position at the University of Manchester. He actively contributes to the European Society for Applied Superconductivity (ESAS) as a Board Member and chairs the international HTS 2026 workshop. His educational foundation includes: BSc and MSc in Electrical Engineering from Xi’an Jiaotong University (2015, 2018) Diplôme d’ingénieur (MEng) from École Centrale de Lyon (2018) PhD in Applied Superconductivity from the University of Edinburgh (2021) Dr. Zhang’s research centers on decarbonizing transport through superconducting/cryogenic electric machines for hydrogen-powered aircraft, integrating artificial intelligence with superconductor technology and cryogenic techniques. His work targets net zero emissions by developing high-power-density propulsion systems that leverage hydrogen energy and advanced numerical modeling of superconductors. Analysis of his 2022-2025 publications reveals dominant themes in superconducting machine design for wind energy and electric aviation, with significant contributions to loss mitigation, flux pump technology, and trapped field magnet applications. His research bridges fundamental superconductor characterization with practical system integration for renewable energy. Recognized with the 2021 IEEE Council on Superconductivity Graduate Study Fellowship, his professional engagements include: Early Career Editorial Board Member for Elsevier’s Superconductivity journal Technical Editor for IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity Program Committee Member for SMT 2023 He leads critical research within the £54-million H2GEAR project developing hydrogen-electric aircraft propulsion, while teaching Power Engineering 2 and Electrical Machines courses. His advisory roles span doctoral supervision and industry collaboration through Energy Systems research institute. Based at the University of Edinburgh’s Faraday Building, Dr. Zhang directs a research group focused on hydrogen energy applications and superconducting machine testing, with strong ties to the H2GEAR consortium and ESAS working groups.
Dr. Ruzan Sokhoyan is a Nanophotonics Research Scientist specializing in plasmonics and active metasurfaces. Her work focuses on advancing optical imaging, communication, and computation through tunable photonic structures. Core research in metasurface design for beam steering and polarization control Collaborative contributions with Harry A. Atwater and other leading researchers Publications in high-impact journals like ACS Nano and Advanced Optical Materials Her research explores electro-optic modulation , high-power laser beam manipulation , and dynamic photonic devices , with applications in optical communication and imaging. Recent work emphasizes inverse design approaches and liquid crystal-based tunable metasurfaces , reflecting trends toward reconfigurable and multifunctional photonic systems.
Sarah Sharma is a Professor of Media Theory at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Information and Director of the Institute of Communication, Culture, Information and Technology (ICCIT). Her work interrogates intersections of technology, temporality, and labor through a feminist lens. She has held leadership roles in the McLuhan Centre (2017–2022) and is recognized for advancing critical media theory. Research focuses include: • Temporality’s role in cultural politics • Feminist reimaginings of McLuhan’s media theory • Digital platforms’ socio-political impacts • Labour dynamics in gig economies (e.g., TaskRabbit). Her upcoming book Insufferable Tools: Big Tech and the Broken Machine critiques tech industry failures. Key achievements: • 2024 Desmond Morton Research Excellence Award • 2014 NCA Critical Cultural Book of the Year for In the Meantime: Temporality and Cultural Politics . Her edited volume Re-Understanding Media (2022) exemplifies feminist extensions of media theory. Recent engagements include keynote addresses at the Canadian Communication Association (June 2025) and University of Michigan’s Digital Ideas Workshop (June 2025). She critiques ‘accelerationist’ narratives about technology and advocates for rethinking media through marginalized perspectives.
Minjie Chen is an Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment at Princeton University, serving as Acting Associate Director for Research at the Andlinger Center. He leads the Princeton Power Electronics Lab (PowerLab), which focuses on developing fundamental and novel power electronics solutions for a wide range of applications from mW-scale energy harvesting to MW systems in renewable energy integration. Dr. Chen received his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from MIT in 2015 and his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Tsinghua University in 2009. Before joining Princeton as an Assistant Professor in February 2017, he was a postdoctoral associate at MIT Research Laboratory of Electronics. His research spans power electronics, magnetics design, and machine learning applications in energy systems. The PowerLab develops advanced power conversion architectures that enable order-of-magnitude higher power density through high-frequency designs, addressing circuit timing, parasitics, magnetics, and thermal management challenges. Their work targets applications ranging from portable devices to data centers and renewable energy systems. The research group has produced a remarkable series of high-impact publications, with seven IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics Prize Papers in seven consecutive years (2016-2023). Their recent work increasingly integrates machine learning techniques with power electronics, exemplified by the MagNet project which redefines how power magnetics are studied and modeled. NSF CAREER Award, 2019 IEEE PELS Richard M. Bass Outstanding Young Power Electronics Engineer Award, 2023 Power of Associations Silver Award from ASAE for MagNet project, 2024 Multiple IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics Prize Papers (2016-2023) Princeton Engineering Commendation List for Outstanding Teaching (2019, 2020) Dr. Chen advises approximately 15 graduate students who have received numerous awards including the IEEE PELS John G. Kassakian Fellowship, Princeton SEAS Honorific Fellowship, and multiple IEEE conference best paper awards. His research is supported by significant grants from NSF, DOE ARPA-E, Princeton Innovation Fund, C3.ai DTI, and industry partners including Intel, Google, and pSemi. The lab's MagNet project has become a major international initiative with a $60,000 prize pool challenge. The PowerLab maintains strong industry connections and has launched several collaborative projects with Intel, Google, and pSemi. Their MagNet project has evolved into an international challenge with participation from over 40 teams worldwide, demonstrating the growing impact of their approach to machine learning for power magnetics modeling.
Mohammad Peydayesh is a Lecturer and Senior Researcher at the Department of Health Sciences and Technology , ETH Zürich. He works in the Food and Soft Material Laboratory , focusing on sustainable materials derived from food waste and agri-food byproducts. PhD in Chemical Engineering (2018, Iran University of Science and Technology) Postdoctoral Fellow at ETH Zürich under Prof. Dr. Mezzenga Senior Assistant at ETH Zürich since 2021 His research spans soft matter , self-assembly phenomena , and amyloid fibril applications in: Environmental engineering (water purification, heavy metal removal) CO2 conversion and storage Smart packaging and bioplastics development Biorefinery concepts and circular economy Nanomaterials for waste valorization Recent publications highlight trends in amyloid-based hybrid materials for: Metal recovery from e-waste and contaminated water CO2 capture and conversion Bioplastic production from agricultural waste Antiviral and detoxification applications Water desalination and purification Photonic and catalytic materials He contributes to the Laboratory of Food & Soft Materials , advancing sustainable solutions through interdisciplinary material science.
Professor Grahame Holmes is an Honorary Professor in the School of Engineering at RMIT University, Australia. His expertise spans electrical energy conversion, smart energy systems, renewable energy integration, power electronics, and grid infrastructure. He focuses on advancing technologies for sustainable energy storage, grid stability, and high-efficiency power conversion. Research Interests : Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Communications Technologies, Power Electronics, Renewable Energy Systems, and Grid Integration Solutions. His work emphasizes practical applications such as hydrogen energy storage systems, grid-interactive inverters, and modular multilevel converters. Recent Contributions : Prof. Holmes has published extensively on topics like advanced PWM techniques, resonant current controllers, and DC transformer designs. His research bridges theoretical advancements with real-world implementations, addressing challenges in smart grid stability and high-frequency power conversion. Advising & Grants : Supervised projects include 'Hydrogen Energy Storage System for Nanogrid' (2015) and 'Synchronised Control of Grid-Interactive Inverters' (2015). While specific grant details are not listed, his work aligns with major themes in sustainable energy research. Labs & Collaborations : Engages in collaborative research through RMIT's facilities, focusing on hardware-software co-simulation frameworks and FPGA-based real-time systems.
Jun Liu is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University at Buffalo. His research focuses on advanced energy materials, nano/micro-mechanics, and self-powered systems, with applications in triboelectric energy harvesting and scanning probe microscopy. Education: PhD, Materials Engineering, University of Alberta (2018) MS, Materials Science, Shanghai University (2015) BE, Materials Science and Engineering, Nanchang University (2012) Research Interests: Development of tribovoltaic and triboelectric systems for self-powered electronics Mechanical energy harvesting via dynamic heterojunctions and Schottky contacts 3D-printed hydrogel structures for energy absorption and flexible electronics Nanoscale characterization using atomic force microscopy Design of nanocomposite sensors and catalytic materials Publication Trends: His work emphasizes triboelectricity, nanoscale energy conversion, and sustainable materials. Recent articles explore bionic tactile sensing, tunable hydrogels, and quantum dynamics in sliding interfaces. Awards: SONY Faculty Innovation Award (2021) Nature Springer MINE Young Scientist Award (2020) International Contest of Applications in Nano/Micro Technology Prize (2013) Laboratory: Advanced Energy Materials and Nanomechanics Lab at University at Buffalo.
Wolfgang Porod is a Professor of Electrical Engineering and holder of the Frank M. Freimann Chair at the University of Notre Dame. He is also a Hans Fischer Senior Fellow at the TUM Institute for Advanced Study (TUM-IAS) since 2009, affiliated with the Nanoimprint and Nanotransfer Focus Group led by Paolo Lugli. His research focuses on nanoelectronics and quantum devices, notably co-inventing the Quantum-Dot Cellular Automata (QCA) framework, a molecular-scale information processing paradigm. Porod earned his Diplom (M.S.) and Ph.D. from the University of Graz, Austria, and held postdoctoral roles at Colorado State and Arizona State Universities before joining Notre Dame in 1986. He directs Notre Dame’s Center for Nano Science and Technology, advancing interdisciplinary nanotechnology research. His academic accolades include Fellowships from the AAAS (2005) and IEEE (2001), and teaching awards such as the Kaneb Teaching Award (2005) and the Ruth and Joel Spira Award (2000). Porod’s work bridges quantum physics and engineering, with applications in low-power computing, spintronics, and nanoscale device fabrication. At TUM-IAS, he collaborates on nanoimprint lithography and nanotransfer technologies, advancing scalable nanomanufacturing methods.
