Adam Khalifa is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering at the University of Florida. His research focuses on low-power analog/RF/Mixed-mode ASIC design, miniaturization of biomedical devices, wireless powering solutions, and neural stimulation/recording techniques in animal models. He holds a PhD from Johns Hopkins University and degrees from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. His work emphasizes implant packaging, electrode microfabrication, and coil design for medical applications. Key research areas include developing energy-efficient wireless systems for implanted devices, such as magnetoelectric antennas and galvanic body-coupled powering. He has pioneered advancements in miniaturized implantable devices, including the 'Microbead' stimulator. His NIH T32 Fellowship (2019) and Ferdinand H. Fellowship (2018) reflect his impactful contributions. Publications highlight innovations in wireless power transfer, metamaterials for biomedical implants, and injectable microdevice fabrication. His work spans from circuit-level modeling to in vivo validation, emphasizing both technical and biological integration challenges. Collaborative efforts address challenges like implant migration tracking via MRI and energy harvesting for battery-free systems.
Sean Lubner is Core Faculty at the Boston University Institute for Global Sustainability (IGS) and Assistant Professor in Mechanical Engineering within the College of Engineering. He holds a PhD from UC Berkeley and BS degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Applied Physics from Carnegie Mellon University. His research focuses on energy transport and storage systems, including thermal energy storage, battery diagnostics, and CO₂ capture technologies. Education: PhD in Mechanical Engineering, UC Berkeley (NSF Fellow) BS in Mechanical Engineering & Applied Physics, Carnegie Mellon University Research Interests: Lubner specializes in grid-scale thermal energy storage, non-invasive sensors for harsh environments, and decarbonization strategies. His work integrates machine learning with materials science to develop advanced energy systems. He collaborates with industry on patents involving battery safety, photonic surfaces, and phase change materials. Article Trends: Recent publications emphasize high-temperature materials, battery failure prediction via thermal signatures, and femtosecond laser processing for photonic surfaces. His work bridges nanoscale phenomena with macro-scale energy systems, leveraging interdisciplinary methods. Awards: Lubner was an NSF Graduate Research Fellow during his PhD. Advising & Grants: While no advisees are listed, his research is supported by industry partnerships and grants focusing on energy storage innovation. He leads the Lubner Group, which develops novel sensing and storage technologies. Labs/Teams: The Lubner Group at BU focuses on sustainable energy solutions, combining experimental and computational approaches to address climate challenges.
Debbie Senesky is an Associate Professor at Stanford University in both the Aeronautics and Astronautics Department and the Electrical Engineering Department, as well as a Senior Fellow at the Precourt Institute for Energy. She serves as the Principal Investigator of the EXtreme Environment Microsystems Laboratory (XLab) and Site Director of nano@stanford. Dr. Senesky received her B.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of Southern California (2001), followed by M.S. (2004) and Ph.D. (2007) degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. Prior to joining Stanford, she held positions at GE Sensing (formerly NovaSensor), GE Global Research Center, and Hewlett Packard. Her research focuses on developing nanomaterials and electronic systems capable of operating in extreme environments, including high-temperature conditions for Venus exploration, microgravity synthesis of nanomaterials, and harsh environment electronics. Dr. Senesky's work bridges multiple disciplines, connecting aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, materials science, and space technology to solve challenges in extreme environment applications. Dr. Senesky has made significant contributions to the field of high-temperature electronics, GaN-based sensors, graphene aerogel synthesis in microgravity, and materials for space applications. Her recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on practical applications of these technologies, particularly for space exploration and extreme environment sensing. Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), NASA (2025) Emerging Leader Abie Award from AnitaB.org (2018) Early Faculty Career Award from NASA (2012) Gabilan Faculty Fellowship Award (2012) Sloan Ph.D. Fellowship (2004-2006) Dr. Senesky actively advises students at all levels, from undergraduate to postdoctoral researchers, and has established herself as a leader in promoting diversity in STEM through her role as Faculty Advisor for the Stanford Chapter of the National Society of Women Engineers. Her collaborative approach is evident in her numerous interdisciplinary projects and partnerships with NASA, industry, and other research institutions. She directs the EXtreme Environment Microsystems Laboratory (XLab), which focuses on developing technologies for operation in extreme environments including high temperature, radiation, and microgravity conditions. The lab's work has applications for space exploration, particularly for Venus missions, as well as terrestrial applications requiring robust electronics.
Lingxi Li is a Professor at the Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Purdue University's Indianapolis campus. His research focuses on modeling complex systems, connected and automated vehicles, intelligent transportation systems, and parallel intelligence. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2008), and master's and bachelor's degrees from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (2003) and Tsinghua University (2000). Research Interests: Dr. Li's work bridges control systems, transportation engineering, and AI, with emphasis on human-machine interaction, autonomous vehicle systems, and scenario-based traffic modeling. His projects include developing frameworks for Industry 5.0 collaboration, enhancing traffic flow prediction through parallel learning, and advancing safety in micro-mobility systems like e-scooters. Recent Publications: Over 15+ articles (2023-2025) explore topics such as game-theoretic vehicle interaction modeling, vision-language systems for autonomous driving, and acoustic SLAM technologies. These studies reflect a focus on real-world validation and system integration in smart transportation. Labs & Initiatives: Leads research in autonomous mining systems and scenario engineering for intelligent vehicles, leveraging parallel intelligence concepts. Collaborates on projects like ParallelWorkforce (Industry 5.0 frameworks) and SceNDD++ (naturalistic driving datasets).
Summary Luis A. Duffaut Espinosa is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Vermont (UVM), affiliated with the College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences. His research focuses on control theory, estimation, robotics, and nonlinear systems with applications in autonomy, quantum control, and environmental monitoring. He holds a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Old Dominion University (2009) and has held academic positions at George Mason University and postdoctoral roles at Johns Hopkins University and the University of New South Wales. Education: Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering (2009), Old Dominion University M.S. in Mathematics (2005), Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú B.S. in Physics (2003), Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería, Peru Research Interests: His work emphasizes data-driven control and estimation methodologies, including model-free approaches for power systems, environmental monitoring, and quantum control. Current projects include real-time data assimilation in harsh environments, resilient robotics in GPS-denied conditions, and SAR with small satellites. He co-directs the Autonomous and Intelligent Systems Research Laboratory (AIRLab) and is part of the CREATE center. Recognition: 2024 NSF CAREER Award for work on safety-aware data-driven control frameworks Teaching & Advising: He teaches courses in estimation theory, control systems, and signal processing. Advises a team of graduate and undergraduate students focusing on autonomy, robotics, and control systems. Notable students include Danial Waleed (Ph.D. 2024), Jacob Friz-Trillo (M.S. 2025), and Farnaz Boudaghi (Ph.D. candidate). Labs & Collaborations: AIRLab: Focuses on data-driven control for autonomy in robotics and engineered systems CREATE: Research on resilient energy and autonomous technologies
Pradeep Lall is the MacFarlane Endowed Distinguished Professor and Alumni Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Auburn University’s Samuel Ginn College of Engineering. He serves as Director of the Auburn University Electronics Packaging Research Institute (EPRI) and holds a joint courtesy appointment in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. A leader in flexible hybrid electronics and harsh environment systems, Dr. Lall has built a world-renowned research program focused on additive manufacturing, electronics reliability, and sustainable materials. Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland M.B.A. in Finance and Strategy, Northwestern University M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland B.E. in Mechanical Engineering, Delhi College of Engineering Dr. Lall’s research centers on Flexible Hybrid Electronics (FHE) , Harsh Environment Electronics , Semiconductor Packaging , and Prognostics Health Management . His work leverages additive manufacturing techniques such as Aerosol-Jet, InkJet, and screen printing to develop conformal, robust, and sustainable electronic systems. His innovations include the Flexible Biometric Band for monitoring workers in hazardous environments and additively printed antennas for aerospace applications. His recent focus includes eliminating PFAS from electronics and developing water-based inks for eco-friendly manufacturing. The 15 most recent publications reflect a strong trend toward sustainability , additive manufacturing , and real-world applications in defense, aerospace, automotive, and healthcare. His work bridges fundamental research with industrial realization, particularly through partnerships with NextFlex and federal agencies. Themes include reliability under shock and vibration, sensor development for extreme environments, and workforce training in advanced manufacturing. Dr. Lall has received numerous scientific honors, including: SMTA Founder’s Award (2024) SEMI FlexTech R&D Achievements Award (2023) ASME Avram Bar-Cohen Memorial Medal (2022) IEEE Biedenbach Outstanding Engineering Educator Award (2020) IEEE Sustained Technical Contributions Award (2018) NSF Alex Schwarzkopf Prize (2016) Fellow of ASME, IEEE, NextFlex, and Alabama Academy of Science Dr. Lall has secured over $2 million in annual research funding from SRC, NSF, and NextFlex, leading large-scale projects on sustainable electronics and workforce development. He mentors numerous graduate and undergraduate students and leads the NSF-CAVE3 Center. As founding faculty advisor of the SMTA student chapter, he promotes student engagement in electronics manufacturing. His lab, EPRI, features a full prototyping line for additive electronics and collaborates with industry and government to advance domestic manufacturing capabilities. EPRI, under Dr. Lall’s leadership, partners with the Auburn University Research and Technology Park, the Office of Economic Development, and multiple colleges to drive technology commercialization and workforce education in electronic packaging. The institute is at the forefront of the national effort to reestablish U.S. leadership in semiconductor packaging and advanced electronics manufacturing.
Andrea Pickel is an Assistant Professor at the University of Rochester, holding joint appointments in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, and the Institute of Optics, while also serving as a Scientist at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE). She received her PhD in Mechanical Engineering from UC Berkeley (2019) and a BS from Carnegie Mellon University (2014). Her research focuses on nanoscale heat transfer, leveraging luminescent materials and super-resolution imaging to address challenges in thermal management, catalysis, and energy systems. Education: PhD, Mechanical Engineering, UC Berkeley, 2019 BS, Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, 2014 Research interests include luminescence nanothermometry, single-nanoparticle imaging, and high-temperature thermal metrology. Her work integrates experimental methods like stimulated emission depletion (STED) imaging and operando spectroscopy to advance understanding of energy transport at the nanoscale. Notable awards include the NSF CAREER Award (2022), ACS PRF Doctoral New Investigator Award (2020), and Furth Fund Award (2021). She was also named a Scialog Fellow in 2024. Advancing thermal measurement techniques, her group collaborates across disciplines to tackle applications in carbon capture, battery technology, and plasmonic photocatalysis. Current projects emphasize developing dual-mode sensing tools for real-time thermal and chemical monitoring. Labs/Teams: Active at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE) and leads the Pickel Research Group in the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
Luca Corradini is an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder. Previously, he held positions as an Assistant Professor (2011–2017) and Associate Professor (2017–2024) at the University of Padova, Italy. His research focuses on power electronics, including digital control of switched-mode converters, bidirectional converter modulation, and energy harvesting systems. Education: Laurea (Electronic Engineering), University of Padova, 2004 PhD (Industrial Electronics), University of Padova, 2008 Research Interests: Digital control strategies for power converters, modeling of switched-mode systems, efficient energy management solutions, and applications in automotive and renewable energy. Publications: Recent work emphasizes advancements in DC fast charging systems, flying-capacitor balancing techniques, and GaN-based resonant converters. His research trends reflect a focus on high-frequency, high-efficiency power conversion and adaptive control methodologies. Awards: Second 2008 Prize Paper Award from IEEE Industry Applications Society Professional Activities: Associate Editor of IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics and Chair of IEEE PELS Technical Committee 1. Previously served as General Chair of IEEE COMPEL 2018. Labs & Teams: Affiliated with the Colorado Power Electronics Center (CoPEC) and collaborates on automotive and renewable energy projects.
Yong-Bin Kim is a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Northeastern University, part of the College of Engineering. He has held prior positions at Intel Corp., Hewlett Packard Co., Sun Microsystems, and the University of Utah. His research focuses on integrated circuit design, nanoelectronics, bio-chip interfaces, and low-power VLSI systems. He has contributed to initiatives like the HPVLSI Lab and Microsystems and Electron Devices Lab. Education includes a B.S. in Electronic Engineering from Sogang University (Seoul, South Korea), an M.S. from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, and a Ph.D. in Computer Engineering from Colorado State University (1996). Research interests encompass high-speed low-power VLSI design, system-on-chip (SoC), physical VLSI CAD, and nanoelectronics. Specific areas include bio-sensor interface circuits, electronic neuron design, and adaptive robot controllers. Key projects involve compact power-efficient integrated circuits and high-speed transceiver design. Outstanding Paper Award, 2020 IEEE ISOCC South Korean Patent for Autonomous Impedance Calibration (2021) Best Paper Award, 2016 International SoC Design Conference Patent for Improved Receiver Circuit (2020) Patent for Method to Detect Trojan Circuits (2018) Advisees include graduate student Yixuan He. He has led research projects funded by Winchester Technology and Hynix Semiconductor, focusing on semi-self-calibration transceivers and tunable RF inductors. Labs include the HPVLSI Lab and Microsystems and Electron Devices Lab at Northeastern University, which focus on high-speed/low-power IC design and microfabrication technologies.
University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignUnited States
Xin Ning is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), where he also holds appointments in the Materials Research Laboratory. Previously, he served as an Assistant Professor at Pennsylvania State University from 2018 to 2023. His academic journey includes postdoctoral research at UIUC and California Institute of Technology (Caltech). Educated at Caltech, he earned a Ph.D. in Aeronautics in 2015 and an M.S. in Aeronautics in 2010. His research focuses on soft electronics for aerospace engineering , bio-inspired aerospace structures , in-space manufacturing and assembly , and multifunctional space structures . These interests drive innovations in lightweight, adaptive, and multifunctional materials and systems for aerospace applications. For instance, his work explores bio-inspired cellular materials for aircraft wings and bistable composite booms for deployable structures. He has been recognized with several honors, including the 2022 Young Investigator Award from the Office of Naval Research, 2019 Haythornthwaite Foundation Research Initiation Award, 2015 William F. Ballhaus Prize from Caltech, and the 2012 Dow-Resnick Fellowship. In addition to research, Professor Ning teaches courses such as AE 323: Applied Aerospace Structures and AE 498: Space Structures . While specific grants are not detailed here, his work has been supported through awards like the ONR Young Investigator grant. He collaborates with the Materials Research Laboratory at UIUC and engages in interdisciplinary projects involving soft electronics and bio-inspired engineering.
Brendan Englot is the Anson Wood Burchard Endowed Professor and Director of the Stevens Institute for Artificial Intelligence (SIAI) at Stevens Institute of Technology. He holds a Ph.D., S.M., and S.B. in Mechanical Engineering from MIT. His research focuses on perception, navigation, and decision-making algorithms for mobile robots in complex environments, particularly underwater and autonomous systems. He has held roles such as Professor (2024–present), Associate Professor (2020–2024), and Assistant Professor (2014–2020) at Stevens, and previously worked at the United Technologies Research Center and Yale University. Education: Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, MIT, 2012 S.M., Mechanical Engineering, MIT, 2009 S.B., Mechanical Engineering, MIT, 2007 Research Interests: Englot’s work emphasizes robust autonomy for unmanned vehicles in degraded conditions, leveraging AI to enhance situational awareness and decision-making under uncertainty. Key areas include navigation algorithms for underwater, aerial, and ground vehicles, sensor fusion, and multi-agent systems. Awards: AMiner’s Top 100 Robotics Scholars (2023, 2024) Provost’s Award for Research Excellence (2021) NSF CAREER Award (2017) ONR Young Investigator Award (2020) Grants & Advising: Englot has secured over $5M in grants as PI, including projects on underwater exploration, reinforcement learning for navigation, and robotic inspection systems. He mentors students in robotics, autonomy, and AI applications. Labs & Teams: Leads the SIAI and collaborates on projects involving autonomous vehicles, SLAM systems, and marine robotics through Stevens’ interdisciplinary initiatives.
Pierre-Emmanuel Gaillardon is a Professor in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering and Adjunct Professor in the School of Computing at the University of Utah. He holds a joint appointment since July 2024, having previously served as Assistant Professor (2016–2019) and Adjunct Assistant Professor in Computing (2016–2019). His research focuses on FPGA design, VLSI systems, nanoelectronics, and hardware security. He leads projects in emerging devices like TIGFETs, compute-in-memory architectures, and radiation-hardened FPGA fabrics. Teaching includes courses on Digital VLSI Design, Embedded Systems Design, and thesis supervision. He has secured grants from NSF, DARPA, and industry partners totaling over $10M, addressing topics like FPGA redaction, neuromorphic systems, and environmental sensors. Notable awards include the NSF CAREER Award (2018) and IEEE Senior Member elevation (2016). He actively serves on IEEE committees for nanoelectronics and EDA tools, contributing to standards like OpenFPGA.
Dr. Hakki Erhan Sevil is an Associate Professor in the Department of Intelligent Systems and Robotics at the University of West Florida, within the Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering. He holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington and has extensive research experience in robotics, intelligent systems, and autonomous control. His work spans theoretical and applied domains, focusing on resilient and intelligent robotic systems. Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas at Arlington M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Izmir Institute of Technology B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Izmir Institute of Technology Dr. Sevil's research interests lie at the intersection of robotics, artificial intelligence, and control systems. He specializes in autonomous navigation, fault detection and isolation (FDI), multi-agent coordination, computer vision, and bio-inspired computational methods. His work emphasizes real-world implementation in unmanned and self-sustained systems, particularly in challenging environments. His recent publications and projects highlight a strong trend toward intelligent, resilient, and distributed robotic systems. Themes include entropy-based behavior modeling for UAV swarms, assistive robotics for household tasks, post-disaster damage assessment using aerial vision, and advanced guidance for GPS-denied navigation. These reflect a multidisciplinary approach combining machine learning, control theory, and robotics engineering. 2024 Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award, UWF 2024 Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Research Mentoring Award, UWF DURIP Grant ($478,000) from ONR (with IHMC) USDA Grant ($728,000) with New Mexico State University US Air Force SBIR/STTR Grant ($110,000) with Catalano Aerospace AFWERX Funding for Distributed Behavior Research Dr. Sevil actively mentors Ph.D. and M.S. students and leads the Sevil Research Group, which has secured multiple internal and external grants from NSF, NASA, ARL, ONR, and USDA. He has served as PI and Co-PI on funded projects and advises student teams that have won national awards. His lab, the Intelligent Systems and Robotics Lab, is highlighted in university communications and national challenges. The group collaborates with IHMC, NMSU, and industry partners, fostering innovation in autonomous systems. The Sevil Research Group operates within the Intelligent Systems and Robotics Lab at UWF, conducting cutting-edge research in autonomous navigation, swarm intelligence, and resilient robotics. The lab collaborates with the Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC), New Mexico State University, and private aerospace firms. It supports student-led projects, participates in national robotics challenges, and maintains active GitHub repositories for open research dissemination.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityUnited States
Dong S. Ha is a Professor in the Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Virginia Tech. As Founding Director of the Multifunctional Integrated Circuits & Systems (MICS) Lab, he focuses on advanced circuit design for energy harvesting, RF systems, and high-temperature electronics. His work spans analog/RF ICs, power management circuits, and wireless IoT solutions with machine learning integration. Education: PhD (1986) and MS (1984) in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Iowa; B.S. (1974) in Electrical Engineering from Seoul National University. Research interests include energy harvesting (piezoelectric, thermal, RF), high-temperature RF circuits for oil/gas/spacecraft applications, and smart IoT systems. He actively seeks students for projects in RF design, energy harvesting, and embedded systems. His lab develops cutting-edge solutions for harsh environment communication, sustainable energy systems, and smart agriculture monitoring. Awarded IEEE Fellow (2008) for contributions to VLSI design/test. Key publications span energy harvesting circuits, GaN-based high-temperature systems, and low-power IoT architectures. Current projects include self-sustaining smart farm networks using federated learning and attack-resistant sensor systems. Labs/Teams: Leads MICS Lab focusing on integrated circuits and systems. Collaborates on cross-disciplinary projects involving machine learning, embedded systems, and sustainable energy. Active in industry partnerships for aerospace and automotive applications.
Brandon A. Jones is an Associate Professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics at the University of Texas at Austin. He holds the Charles Elmer Rowe Fellowship in Engineering and leads the Texas Spacecraft Laboratory (TSL) and the Controls, Autonomy, Estimation, and Learning for Uncertain Systems (CAELUS) Laboratory. His research focuses on space situational awareness, spacecraft navigation, and uncertainty quantification, with applications to orbital mechanics, multi-target tracking, and autonomous systems. Dr. Jones received his Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder and has held roles at NASA Johnson Space Center and as a Research Assistant Professor. He is an Associate Fellow of the AIAA and former chair of the American Astronautical Society's Space Surveillance Technical Committee. His work includes NASA-funded projects like the SCOPE-1 CubeSat mission for terrain-relative navigation and the Crater-based Navigation and Timing (CNT) system for lunar missions. Key research areas include: Multi-source information fusion for space object tracking Machine learning for crater detection and autonomous navigation Uncertainty propagation in cislunar and highly perturbed orbits Event-based sensor systems for harsh-lighting environments Recent achievements include the 2023 W. A. 'Tex' Moncrief Grand Challenge Award and leadership in collaborative projects with NASA, JPL, and academia. His labs emphasize student-driven CubeSat missions and cutting-edge algorithms for space domain awareness.
