Bioelectrical Communication Systems Professors and Supervisors

Marc A. SommerView profile

Professor

Duke UniversityUnited States

Marc A. Sommer is a Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at Duke University's Pratt School of Engineering. He serves as Director of the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences and is also an Associate Professor in Neurobiology. Additionally, he is an Associate of the Duke Initiative for Science & Society, a Member of the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, and an Investigator in the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences. Dr. Sommer earned his Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1995. His academic journey has established him as a leading figure in the integration of neuroscience and engineering disciplines at Duke University. Dr. Sommer's research program focuses on circuits for cognition, employing a combination of neurophysiology and biomedical engineering to investigate the interaction between brain areas during visual perception, decision-making, and motor planning. His laboratory conducts pioneering work on the role of frontal cortex in metacognition, cerebellar-frontal circuits in action timing, the neural basis of "good enough" decision-making (satisficing), and the neural mechanisms of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). His approach bridges fundamental neuroscience with practical applications in neural engineering and brain stimulation technologies. Analysis of Dr. Sommer's recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on understanding visual stability across saccadic eye movements, neural mechanisms of decision-making, and the application of advanced techniques like optogenetics and transcranial magnetic stimulation in nonhuman primates. His work spans multiple levels of analysis from single neuron recordings to computational modeling, with increasing focus on translational applications for understanding and treating neurological conditions. Dr. Sommer has received numerous prestigious awards for his contributions to neuroscience and teaching: Capers and Marion McDonald Award for Excellence in Teaching and Research from Pratt School of Engineering (2021) Capers and Marion McDonald Award for Excellence in Mentoring and Advising from Pratt School of Engineering (2017) Bass Fellow at Duke University (2017) Research Fellowship in Neuroscience from Alfred P. Sloan Foundation (2005) Dr. Sommer maintains an extensive research program with multiple active grants spanning from 2014 to 2029. His work includes projects on visual signaling, transcranial magnetic stimulation mechanisms, neural circuits for eye movements, and cognitive neuroscience. He teaches courses including Neuronal Control of Movement, Bioelectricity, and Introduction to Neural Engineering, and mentors students through independent study courses and research rotations. His laboratory serves as a hub for interdisciplinary research, bringing together students and researchers from biomedical engineering, neuroscience, and psychology. Dr. Sommer leads a dynamic research laboratory that employs sophisticated techniques including neurophysiology in nonhuman primates, optogenetics, computational modeling, and brain stimulation approaches. The lab collaborates extensively across Duke University and with other institutions, contributing significantly to the neuroscience community through both fundamental discoveries and translational applications.

Official University Profile

Dekel RosenfeldView profile

Senior Lecturer

Leipzig UniversityGermany

Dr. Dekel Rosenfeld is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Tel Aviv University, affiliated with The Iby and Aladar Fleischman Faculty of Engineering. He holds a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from the Technion (2015) and conducted postdoctoral research at MIT's Bioelectronics group (2016-2022), focusing on magnetothermal approaches for peripheral nerve/organ interfaces and gut-brain axis studies. Education: B.Sc. in Biomedical Engineering (Cum Laude, 2007), Technion M.Sc. in Biomedical Engineering (Direct Track, 2010), Technion Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering (2015), Technion His research develops magnetic functional materials for remote neuromodulation and calcium-dependent processes in peripheral organs. Key applications include treating hormonal imbalances in mental health disorders like PTSD through adrenal stress hormone control , and advancing organ-brain communication understanding using minimally invasive techniques validated in vitro and in vivo . Recent publications (2020-2025) demonstrate expertise in magnetothermal stimulation , bioelectronic interfaces , and neuro-endocrine interactions , with notable work in Science Advances and Neuron . Current projects explore in silico thermal transducer optimization and 3D magnetic collagen gels for cellular control.

Official University Profile

Huu Hao NgoView profile

Professor

University of Technology SydneyAustralia

Distinguished Professor Huu Hao Ngo is a world-leading environmental engineering researcher at the University of Technology Sydney , serving as Deputy Director of the Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater and co-director of the Joint Research Centre for Protective Infrastructure Technology and Environmental Green Bioprocess with Tianjin Chengjian University. His work focuses on sustainable water treatment technologies, bioprocessing innovations, and zero-emission systems. Key research themes: Wastewater treatment, environmental biotechnology, membrane processes, resource recovery As a prolific scholar with over 750 publications and 62,000 citations, Ngo leads in membrane bioreactor development (notably the patented GemFloc bioflocculant) and sustainable bioprocessing. His recent work explores biochar-assisted systems, advanced oxidation processes, and microbial community engineering for wastewater treatment. 2025 article highlights: Enhanced membrane fouling mitigation, novel biochar catalysts for antibiotic removal, sulfate reduction optimization, and hydrogen production analysis Scientific recognition includes: Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher (Environment/Ecology, Biology/Biochemistry) SciVal World #1 ranking in Waste Management Scholar GPS™ Top 2 Environmental Scientist Research Magazine Field Leader awards He supervises PhD students globally, delivers keynote lectures worldwide, and serves as Editor-in-Chief of Chemical Engineering Journal and several other top-tier publications.

Official University Profile

Iman RusmanaView profile

Professor

University of GöttingenGermany

Professor Iman Rusmana is a distinguished faculty member in the Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at IPB University (Bogor Agricultural University), Indonesia. His research spans environmental microbiology with strong expertise in microbial community ecology and ecophysiology. His primary research focuses include: Nitrogen cycling metabolisms in tropical estuaries and agricultural systems Methanotrophic and methanogenic bacteria in rice fields and aquatic ecosystems Bacterial probiotics for aquaculture Molecular studies of bacterial anti-quorum sensing mechanisms Professor Rusmana's publication record demonstrates consistent contributions to microbial ecology, particularly in tropical environments. His recent work (2023-2024) shows strong emphasis on bioelectrochemical systems, microbial fuel cells, nitrogen cycle dynamics in estuaries, and mangrove ecosystem biogeochemistry. His research integrates metagenomics, microbial metabolism analysis, and molecular techniques to address environmental challenges. His work has been supported by major Indonesian funding agencies including Kemenristek DIKTI through various projects such as CRC Start Up and other research grants focused on sustainable agriculture and aquaculture. Professor Rusmana actively collaborates with researchers across Indonesia and has contributed to significant projects including the CRC project group B02 on rainforest transformation impacts on soil prokaryotic communities in Sumatra.

Official University Profile

Jia LiuView profile

Associate Professor

Indiana UniversityUnited States

Jia Liu is an Associate Professor of Environmental Engineering in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where she leads an active research program focused on nanomaterials for water treatment, PFAS remediation, and sustainable energy systems. Education: Ph.D. Environmental Engineering, University of Houston, 2014 M.S. Environmental Engineering, University of Houston, 2010 M.S. Environmental Engineering, Donghua University, 2006 B.S. Environmental Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, 2003 Research Interests: Dr. Liu’s work sits at the intersection of nanotechnology and environmental sustainability. She engineers multifunctional nanomaterials—magnetic iron oxides, TiO₂ composites, and bioelectrochemical catalysts—to remove emerging contaminants such as PFAS, 1,4-dioxane, and toxic algal metabolites from water and soil. A second pillar of her research couples these nanomaterials with bioelectrochemical systems (microbial fuel cells) to harvest renewable energy while simultaneously treating hazardous waste streams. Her group also investigates the ecological impacts of aged nanomaterials and develops phytoremediation strategies using sunflowers and other plants to detoxify heavy-metal-laden soils. Funding & Awards: NSF ERASE-PFAS Award (2023) EPA P3 Phase II – Harmful Algal Bloom Mitigation (2023) EPA P3 Phase II – PFAS Photocatalysis for Water Reuse (2020) Illinois Water Resources Center Research Grant Illinois Groundwater Association Research Grant OSMRE Award – Rare Earth Elements Recovery from Mining Waste (2022) Student Mentorship & Team: Dr. Liu’s P3 (Pollution Prevention & Process) research group currently includes multiple PhD and Master’s students, several of whom have garnered university and national awards. Recent graduates include Dr. Chunjie Xia (now a postdoc at Indiana University) and award-winning MS student Sudip Baral. She is currently recruiting two additional PhD students with experience in nanomaterial synthesis, PFAS analysis, and LC/MS/MS. Labs & Facilities: Research is conducted in Engineering Building B, Room 116, equipped with wet-chemical nanomaterial synthesis hoods, photocatalytic reactors, potentiostats for microbial fuel cell testing, and LC/MS/MS instrumentation for trace organic analysis.

Official University Profile

Dominik Karl LinzView profile

Professor

University of CopenhagenDenmark

Dominik Karl Linz is a Professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Copenhagen, specializing in the Physiology of circulation, kidney and lung. His work bridges cardiology, electrophysiology, and innovative treatment approaches for complex cardiac rhythm disorders, with significant contributions to the understanding and management of atrial fibrillation and related conditions. Dr. Linz's research interests focus on cardiac electrophysiology with particular emphasis on: Atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter treatment Pulsed field ablation techniques Cardiac arrhythmia monitoring and detection Postoperative cardiac rhythm management Digital health applications for cardiac care Physiological interactions between circulation, kidney function, and pulmonary systems His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on advancing ablation technologies, particularly pulsed field ablation for atrial fibrillation and flutter. Dr. Linz has made significant contributions to clinical trials assessing novel catheter technologies and has published extensively on long-term outcomes of ablation procedures. His work in Nature Medicine on AI for electrocardiography reporting represents a major advancement in integrating artificial intelligence with clinical cardiac care, receiving widespread attention from both academic and clinical communities. Dr. Linz's research has garnered substantial recognition, with multiple publications picked up by numerous news outlets and shared widely across social media platforms including X (with over 200 mentions for his Nature Medicine paper) and Bluesky. His work on digital health applications has particular relevance in the current landscape of remote patient monitoring and telemedicine. He maintains extensive international collaborations, working with researchers across Europe and North America as evidenced by the multinational author lists on his publications. His research group appears to be associated with the Jespersen Group at the University of Copenhagen, focusing on circulation, kidney, and lung physiology within the broader biomedical sciences framework.

Official University Profile