William Chueh is a Professor in the Departments of Materials Science and Engineering and Energy Science & Engineering at Stanford University. He serves as Director of the Precourt Institute for Energy and Faculty Director of the Energy Innovation and Emerging Technologies Program. His research focuses on redox-active materials for energy storage, conversion, and carbon-neutral energy cycles. Education: PhD, Materials Science, Caltech (2010) BS, Applied Physics, Caltech (2005) Research Interests: Energy storage and conversion systems (batteries, fuel cells, electrolyzers) Multi-scale electrochemical and chemical reaction dynamics Materials design rules for redox-active solids Thermodynamic frameworks for sustainable energy Publication Trends: His work spans fundamental materials synthesis, electrochemical characterization, and modeling of redox reactions. Key themes include solar thermochemical cycles, ceria-based systems for CO2/H2O conversion, and advanced battery technologies. Scientific Honors: Outstanding Young Investigator Award (MRS, 2018) Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award (2016) Sloan Research Fellowship (2016) CAREER Award (NSF, 2015) Advising: He advises students in energy technologies, materials science, and electrochemistry, including doctoral and master’s candidates. Contact: wchueh@stanford.edu
Scott Barnett is a Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Northwestern University , specializing in ceramic thin films and electrochemical systems for energy applications. His research spans over 25 years in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) and lithium-ion battery electrodes, with a focus on 3D printing, thin electrolyte deposition, and microstructural evolution under operational stress. Education: Ph.D. and B.S. in Metallurgy and Physics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Research Interests center on: Reversible solid oxide cells for energy storage 3D tomographic imaging of electrode microstructures Novel processing methods for ceramic materials Electrochemical stability and degradation mechanisms Recent Publications highlight advancements in: Pressurization effects on oxygen electrodes 3D printed SOFCs with enhanced performance Nanoparticle infiltration for fuel electrode stability Impedance modeling of lithium-ion batteries Scientific Awards include: Fulbright Scholar (2015) Cheng Tsang Man Endowed Professorship (2008) Office of Naval Research Young Investigator (1986) AVS Fellow (1998) Advising Legacy encompasses over 30 graduate students and postdocs, including Nicholas Geisendorfer (NASA Space Technology Fellow) and Matthew Lu (now at Tesla), with notable alumni placements at institutions like Bloom Energy and Microsoft . His lab employs advanced characterization techniques to predict long-term durability of electrochemical devices.
Michel M. Maharbiz is a Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of California, Berkeley. He leads research on miniaturized bioelectronic interfaces, including neural dust implants and cyborg insects. He holds affiliations with the Berkeley Sensor & Actuator Center (BSAC), Center for Neural Engineering & Prostheses (CNEP), and SWARM Lab. His education includes a Ph.D. in EECS from UC Berkeley (2003) and a B.S. in EE from Cornell University (1997). Maharbiz's research integrates MEMS, ultrasonic systems, and synthetic biology to develop wireless neural interfaces, implantable sensors, and biohybrid devices. Key focus areas are neural dust technology for peripheral nerve recording, magnetoelastic strain sensors for medical applications, and electrochemical biosensing using bacterial flagellar motors. His publications emphasize neural interfaces, ultrasonic implants, and biomedical monitoring. Recent articles explore ultrasonic power delivery (2025), radiation detectors for oncology (2025), and fracture-healing smart plates (2019). Trends include miniaturization of wireless implants, closed-loop therapeutic systems, and novel biomaterials. Scientific Awards: McKnight Technological Innovations in Neuroscience Award (2017) Chan-Zuckerberg Biohub Investigator (2017) NSF CAREER Award (2009) MIT TR10 Top Emerging Technology (2009) Bakar Fellows Spark Award (2012) He directs the Maharbiz Lab, advancing neural dust and bioelectronic interfaces. Projects include impedance-based fracture monitoring, carbon fiber neural arrays, and hernia repair sensors. Funding includes NSF and industry partnerships for implantable device development.
Gert Cauwenberghs is a Professor of Bioengineering at the University of California San Diego (UCSD), affiliated with the Jacobs School of Engineering. He co-directs the Institute for Neural Computation and holds a visiting professorship at MIT. His research focuses on neuromorphic engineering, energy-efficient neural interfaces, and wearable biosensors. Key contributions include silicon-based adaptive neural circuits, implantable neural recording systems, and in-ear biosensing devices. Education: M.Eng. in Applied Physics (University of Brussels, 1988), M.S. and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering (Caltech, 1989–1994). Prior roles include Professorships at Johns Hopkins University and Visiting Professor at MIT. Research Interests: Biomedical integrated circuits, neuromorphic computing, brain-machine interfaces, and energy-efficient neural systems. His work bridges neuroengineering and clinical applications, emphasizing adaptive intelligence and low-power designs. Recent Work: Development of femtojoule-efficient neural chips, high-density neural interfaces, and closed-loop wearable systems. Projects include neurobench benchmarking frameworks and RRAM-based neuromorphic hardware. Awards: NSF Career Award (1997), ONR Young Investigator (1999), PECASE (2000), IEEE Distinguished Lecturer (2003–2004). Grants & Labs: Active in NIH and DoD-funded projects, co-directs the UCSD Institute for Neural Computation. Collaborates with industry on neural interface technologies. Labs/Teams: Cauwenberghs Lab at UCSD focuses on integrated neuroengineering systems, including neural recording systems and neuromorphic computing architectures.
Michael J. Aziz is the Gene and Tracy Sykes Professor of Materials and Energy Technologies at Harvard University's John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS). He serves as Area Chair for Materials Science and Mechanical Engineering and is a Faculty Associate at the Harvard University Center for the Environment. His research focuses on electrochemical engineering for energy and environmental applications, including redox flow batteries, carbon capture, and sustainable energy technologies. Aziz leads the Aziz Group, which develops grid-scale energy storage solutions and innovative methods for CO₂ removal. He holds equity in Quino Energy, a startup commercializing his battery research, and serves as Chief Scientist and Board Member. His work bridges fundamental materials science with practical engineering, emphasizing ClimateTech solutions. Key contributions include aqueous organic redox flow batteries, quinone-based carbon capture systems, and wearable energy storage devices. Education & Affiliations: Affiliated with SEAS since joining Harvard, his academic roles include coordinating the Graduate Consortium for Energy and Environment (2009–2018). His lab (Materials Science Group) is located at McKay 504, with administrative support from Sabrina Azinheira. Research Interests: Aziz's group investigates electrochemical energy storage, CO₂ capture via electrochemical systems, and novel materials for sustainable technologies. They employ advanced techniques like operando electrochemical fluorescence microscopy to study porous electrode dynamics and battery degradation mechanisms. Their work emphasizes scalability and real-world applicability, such as grid-scale battery infrastructure and decarbonization strategies. Recent Trends in Publications: Aziz's recent work emphasizes carbon capture innovations (e.g., acid-base concentration swing methods), hydrogen storage under ambient conditions, and electrochemical synthesis of industrial chemicals like hydrogen peroxide. His group also develops open-source tools like RFBzero for battery modeling and explores bioinspired materials (e.g., self-gelling hydrogel batteries). Awards & Recognition: While no personal awards are explicitly listed in the text, his team members (e.g., Dawei Xi) have received accolades such as the 2025 Carbon Future Young Investigator Award. Aziz's contributions have been recognized through industry partnerships and startup ventures. Advising & Industry Impact: Aziz advises PhD students focusing on electrochemical systems (e.g., Jordan Sosa, Tommy George). His industry engagement includes licensing intellectual property to Quino Energy, which achieved a manufacturing milestone in 2024 for grid-scale battery systems. His research bridges academia and industry, addressing climate challenges through technological innovation. Labs & Teams: The Aziz Group includes interdisciplinary researchers from electrochemistry, chemical engineering, and materials science. Collaborators include institutions like MIT and industry partners. Current projects target next-gen batteries, CO₂ removal systems, and scalable energy storage solutions.
Muhannad S. Bakir is the Dan Fielder Professor in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology and serves as the Director of the 3D Systems Packaging Research Center. His research focuses on heterogeneous integration of microsystems, including 2.5D and 3D ICs and packaging technologies, with significant contributions to advanced cooling systems, electrical and photonic interconnects, and biosensor integration with CMOS. Dr. Bakir's research interests span heterogeneous microsystem design and integration, advanced cooling and power delivery for emerging architectures, electrical and photonic interconnect technologies, biosensor technologies, and nanofabrication. His work addresses critical challenges in next-generation electronics, enabling polylithic integration that concatenates heterogeneous ICs of various functionalities while mimicking monolithic-like densities. His research particularly focuses on co-design of thermal technologies, power delivery networks, and signaling networks for silicon nanoelectronic systems. His recent publications demonstrate strong trends in fused-silica stitch-chip technology for heterogeneous integration, with particular emphasis on RF and mm-wave applications, power delivery for AI accelerators, and thermal management solutions. His work bridges electrical engineering, materials science, and thermal management to solve critical bottlenecks in computing performance and efficiency. 2013 Intel Early Career Faculty Honor Award 2012 DARPA Young Faculty Award 2011 IEEE CPMT Society Outstanding Young Engineer Award 2012 National Academy of Engineering Frontiers of Engineering Symposium Invited Participant 2015 IEEE CPMT Society Distinguished Lecturer 2014 Best Paper of the IEEE Transactions on Components Packaging and Manufacturing Technology More than 25 conference and student paper awards Twelve issued US Patents Dr. Bakir leads the Integrated 3D Systems Lab (I3DS) at Georgia Tech, which is actively researching advanced packaging, interconnects, electrical and thermal design, and system integration. His team has received significant recognition for their work, including multiple best paper awards from major conferences like ECTC, IITC, and CICC. The lab is currently seeking postdoctoral researchers and research faculty to advance next-generation electronics through collaborative research. His lab focuses on enabling the next phase of Moore's Law through polylithic integration, which concatenates heterogeneous ICs of various functionalities (digital, analog, photonic, and mm-wave) using advanced off-chip '2.5D' and '3D' heterogeneous interconnects and packaging. This work impacts applications in high-performance computing, machine learning, edge intelligence, autonomous vehicles, augmented/virtual reality, and healthcare.
Sumeet Kumar Gupta is an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Purdue University. His academic career spans from his current role to a prior Assistant Professorship at Pennsylvania State University (2014-2017) and an engineering position at Qualcomm Inc. (2012-2014). He holds a PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Purdue University (2012), an M.S. from the same institution (2008), and a B.Tech in Electrical Engineering from IIT Delhi (2006). B.Tech, Electrical Engineering, IIT Delhi (2006) M.S., Electrical and Computer Engineering, Purdue University (2008) PhD, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Purdue University (2012) Dr. Gupta's research focuses on neuromorphic computing, low power variation-aware VLSI design in emerging nanotechnologies, device-circuit co-design, and nano-scale device modeling/simulations. His work addresses challenges in ferroelectric materials, crossbar arrays for deep neural networks, and energy-efficient AI hardware. Recent publications (2025-2024) highlight trends in: Ferroelectric HfO2/HZO thin films Compute-in-memory architectures Variability/stochasticity analysis Machine learning for device optimization Interconnect resistance/temperature effects AI hardware fault tolerance Scientific Awards & Recognitions: DARPA Young Faculty Award (2016) Early Career Professorship, Penn State (2014) 6th TSMC Outstanding Student Research Bronze Award (2012) Magoon Award (Purdue) Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award (Purdue, 2007) Intel PhD Fellowship (2009) His professional journey includes academic appointments at Purdue University (2020-present, Associate Professor) and Pennsylvania State University (2014-2017, Assistant Professor) after industry experience at Qualcomm Inc. (2012-2014). He maintains IEEE and EDS membership while publishing over 100 refereed works.
Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyUnited States
Martin Z. Bazant is the E. G. Roos (1944) Professor of Chemical Engineering and Professor of Mathematics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), holding the Digital Learning Officer role in the Department of Chemical Engineering. His research focuses on mathematical modeling of electrochemical systems, transport phenomena, and applied mathematics, with significant contributions to battery technology and electrochemical energy storage. He is affiliated with MIT’s Department of Mathematics and the MIT Energy Initiative (MITEI), leading initiatives like the Center for Battery Sustainability and D3BATT. Education: Ph.D. from Harvard University (1997), M.S. and B.S. from the University of Arizona (1993, 1992). His work bridges theory and application, addressing challenges in lithium-ion batteries, solid-state systems, and electrolyte dynamics. Notable achievements include pioneering studies on coupled ion-electron transfer mechanisms and phase separation in battery materials. He is an elected member of the National Academy of Engineering (2025) and a Fellow of the Electrochemical Society (2023). As an educator, he develops MOOCs on transport phenomena and contributes to digital learning initiatives. His research group explores advanced battery diagnostics, machine learning for materials science, and environmental applications of electrochemical processes. Key collaborations include startups like Lithios, Inc., and leadership roles in professional societies such as the International Electrokinetics Society.
Yao Yang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Cornell University's College of Arts and Sciences. His research focuses on developing multimodal operando electron microscopy and synchrotron X-ray methods to probe electrochemical dynamics at solid-liquid interfaces for energy materials. PhD, Cornell University (2021) Miller Postdoctoral Fellow, UC Berkeley (2021-2024) Research interests span fundamental electrochemistry and energy material interfaces, particularly CO2 reduction, clean H2 production, and rechargeable batteries. The Yang group specializes in operando electrochemical liquid-cell scanning transmission electron microscopy (EC-STEM) and correlative synchrotron X-ray methods at Cornell Center for Materials Research (CCMR) and Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source (CHESS). Recent publications highlight atomic-scale imaging of catalyst dynamics, Tafel slope analysis, and epitaxial growth techniques for enhanced electrocatalysts. Articles demonstrate interdisciplinary approaches combining electrochemistry, nanoscience, and advanced characterization. Scientific Awards: 2025 ACS Materials and Interfaces Outstanding Presentations by Young Investigators Award 2024 Journal of Materials Research Distinguished Invited Speaker Miller Postdoctoral Fellowship (2021-2024) 2023 Best Early Career Presentation at MRS Spring 2022 ACS AC/DC Rising Stars in Analytical Chemistry Contact: yaoyang@cornell.edu
California Institute of Technology (Caltech)United States
WooChul Jung is an Associate Professor at the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Seoul National University (SNU), previously holding the same role at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) from 2018 to 2024. His research focuses on energy conversion and storage materials, particularly solid oxide fuel cells, electrolyzers, and catalytic systems involving ionic solids and gas interfaces. Ph.D. in Materials Science & Engineering from MIT (2010) B.S. in Materials Science & Engineering from SNU (2004) Research Interests: Investigating reactions at ionic solid-gas interfaces to enhance catalytic kinetics for fuel cells, electrolyzers, and sensors. Key areas include surface science, electrochemistry, and nano-fabrication. Scientific Contributions: His recent work emphasizes fluorine doping for stable bismuth oxide electrolytes, Ca substitution in LaCoO3 for oxygen evolution, and exsolution strategies for durable nanocatalysts. Publications highlight multidisciplinary approaches combining experimental and computational methods.
Dr. Birgit Frauscher is the Lincoln Financial Group Distinguished Professor in Neurobiology at Duke University School of Medicine, where she serves as Professor of Neurology and holds a secondary appointment in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the Duke Pratt School of Engineering. She is currently the Director of the Duke Comprehensive Epilepsy Center and leads the Analytical Neurophysiology (ANPHY) Lab. Her clinical and research work focuses on epilepsy and sleep medicine, utilizing both invasive and non-invasive electrical recordings to study brain activity in humans. Dr. Frauscher completed her medical training, neurology residency, and subspecialty training in electroencephalography, epilepsy, and sleep medicine at the Medical University of Innsbruck in Austria. After completing her clinical training in 2008, she earned her habilitation degree in 2011. She further specialized in intracranial EEG and signal analysis during a visiting professorship at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill University (2013-2015), where she later served as an Attending Epileptologist and Group Leader of Epilepsy. Her research interests focus on developing novel seizure-independent EEG markers for the epileptogenic zone, investigating sleep-epilepsy interactions, and using intracranial EEG to study brain physiology during wakefulness and sleep. Her work aims to improve epilepsy diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment outcomes by better localizing the epileptic focus. Dr. Frauscher's recent publications demonstrate her continued leadership in epilepsy research, with over 170 peer-reviewed papers and an H-index of 62. Dr. Frauscher has received several prestigious awards including the Clinician-Scientist awards of the FRSQ (2018-2023), the Michael Prize of the International League against Epilepsy (2019), and the Ernst Niedermeyer Prize from the Austrian Epilepsy Society (2015). Her scholarly work has significantly advanced clinical knowledge in epilepsy and sleep medicine, establishing her as a leading figure in the field. As Director of the Duke Comprehensive Epilepsy Center and head of the ANPHY lab, Dr. Frauscher oversees a research program dedicated to advancing neuroscience through innovative approaches to studying brain activity. Her lab employs quantifiable tools to investigate neurophysiological and pathological processes related to epilepsy and sleep, with the ultimate goal of improving patient outcomes through better understanding of brain function.
Kristofer Pister is a Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences at the University of California, Berkeley. He co-directs the Berkeley Sensor and Actuator Center (BSAC) and the Ubiquitous Swarm Lab. His career spans groundbreaking innovations in Micro/Nano Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS), Control Systems, and Low-Power Circuits, with a focus on Smart Dust and synthetic insects. Education: Ph.D. and M.S. in EECS from UC Berkeley (1992, 1989); B.A. in Applied Physics from UC San Diego (1986). His research areas include MEMS , Control Systems , Robotics , and Integrated Circuits , with recent work on self-powered micro-sensors, crystal-free radios, and interplanetary swarm networks. Key awards include the ISA Albert F. Sperry Founder Award (2009) , Alexander Schwarzkopf Prize (2006) , and the NSF CAREER Award (1996) . He has authored numerous influential publications in wireless sensor networks and microrobotics. His lab, Ubiquitous Swarm Lab , explores distributed robotics and swarm intelligence. Pister emphasizes open collaboration in research, ethical conduct in academia, and efficient resource utilization for graduate students.
California Institute of Technology (Caltech)United States
Julia R. Greer serves as the Ruben F. and Donna Mettler Professor of Materials Science, Mechanics and Medical Engineering at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), where she also holds the position of Executive Officer for Applied Physics and Materials Science since 2025. She earned her B.S. from MIT (1997) and M.S./Ph.D. from Stanford University (2000/2005), joining Caltech as Assistant Professor in 2007, promoted to Professor in 2013, and appointed to her current named professorship in 2019. Her research spans mechanics of hierarchical architectures , nanomaterials , and additive manufacturing , with significant contributions to energy storage systems and biomedical materials . Key focus areas include nano-scale mechanical properties, in-situ deformation analysis, and development of novel fabrication techniques for micro-architected materials. Her group pioneered hydrogel infusion additive manufacturing for metals and multiphoton 3D lithography standards. Analysis of recent publications reveals strong emphasis on solid-state battery interfaces (2025), bioresorbable microrobots (2024), and AI-enabled material design (2024), demonstrating cross-disciplinary impact across energy, healthcare, and quantum technologies. Her work consistently bridges fundamental nanomechanics with practical applications in energy storage and medical devices. 2024 ASME Nadai Medal 2024 SES A.C. Eringen Medal Elected to National Academy of Sciences (2025) Fletcher Jones Foundation Director (2019-2025) Professor Greer has advised over 40 PhD students including Seola Lee (2025) and Wenxin Zhang (2025), with research funded by collaborations spanning MIT, UCSF, Purdue, and ETH Zurich. Her group maintains active projects in lightweight nanoarchitected materials for impact absorption, electroactive polymers for braille devices, and 3D interdigitated solid-state batteries. Current leadership includes Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Applied Physics (2024-) and direction of Caltech's Materials Science department.
Jaehong Kim is the Henry P. Becton Sr. Professor of Engineering at Yale University, where he serves as Professor and Chair of Chemical and Environmental Engineering in the School of Engineering and Applied Science. Prior to joining Yale in 2013, he held the Georgia Power Distinguished Professor position at the Georgia Institute of Technology. His research bridges environmental science, chemical engineering, and nanotechnology, focusing on photocatalytic materials, water quality engineering, and sustainable solutions for global health contexts. Ph.D., Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2002) M.S., Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University (1997) B.S., Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University (1995) Kim’s work addresses water treatment through advanced oxidation processes , electrochemical systems , and single-atom catalysts , with applications in nitrate removal, fluoride transport, and solar disinfection. His research emphasizes nanotechnology for environmental remediation and public health engineering in developing regions. Recent publications highlight electrified membranes for nitrate conversion, photothermal water disinfection , and single-atom catalysts for pollutant degradation. His team explores atomic-scale engineering and green chemistry approaches to enhance reaction efficiency and material durability. Georgia Power Distinguished Professor Yale Superfund Research Center investigator Kim leads interdisciplinary efforts in environmental health through collaborations with Yale School of Public Health and the School of the Environment. His lab develops monolithic catalytic membranes and nanobiochars for sustainable water treatment, balancing technical innovation with global accessibility.
Qian Yang is an Assistant Professor in Information Science at Cornell University, with a faculty appointment in Computer Science. Her research focuses on human-AI interaction, designing AI applications for healthcare, autonomous systems, and UX design. She holds a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction from Carnegie Mellon University and has industry experience in design consultancy (2007–2014). Yang co-directs the Cornell Digital and AI Literacy Initiative and is a Senior Fellow at the Cornell Brooks Tech Policy Institute. Her work emphasizes bridging AI technologies with societal needs, supported by awards like the Schmidt Futures AI2050 Fellowship. She leads the DesignAI research group, focusing on AI-driven design methods and tools for practitioners. Education: PhD in HCI (Carnegie Mellon), M.S. in HCI (CMU), M.Des in Design, B.Eng in Industrial Design (Shanghai Jiao Tong University). Research interests include AI ethics, healthcare decision support systems, and context-aware mobile services. Notable contributions include: Developing AI systems for life-critical healthcare decisions (e.g., artificial heart implants) Innovating UX design methods for integrating AI into practice Advancing human-centered AI evaluation frameworks Awards include the SIGCHI Outstanding Dissertation Award and AI2050 Fellowship. She actively collaborates across disciplines, with work published in top HCI venues like CHI and ACM Transactions.
