Robert MacCurdy is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder . He leads the Matter Assembly Computation Lab (MACLab) focused on automating robot design and fabrication. His research bridges computational design and advanced manufacturing to create "robots that walk out of the printer." The lab develops tools like OpenVCAD , an open-source volumetric multi-material geometry compiler.
Prof. Jean-Philippe Thiran is a Full Professor at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), where he serves as Director of the Signal Processing Laboratory (LTS5) and Director of the Institute of Electrical and Micro Engineering. He also maintains a part-time Associate Professor position with the Department of Radiology of the University Hospital Center (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL). Born in Namur, Belgium in 1970, he received his Electrical Engineering degree and PhD from the Université catholique de Louvain (UCL), Belgium, in 1993 and 1997 respectively. He joined EPFL in 1998 and has established himself as a leading researcher in computational imaging. His research focuses on computational imaging , with significant contributions to medical image analysis (particularly diffusion MRI, ultrasound imaging, and digital pathology) and computer vision . His recent work integrates advanced modeling, simulation, and machine learning techniques to extract microscopic tissue information from macroscopic MRI signals. This approach combines hyper-realistic synthetic tissue models, advanced Monte-Carlo simulations, and ML-based estimation techniques for brain microstructure analysis with potential applications to other tissues. Senior Member of IEEE Fellow of the European Association for Signal Processing (EURASIP) Prof. Thiran has authored or co-authored 1 book, 9 book chapters, 250 journal papers and over 270 peer-reviewed conference papers, and holds 12 international patents. He previously served as Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Signal Processing journal (2001-2005) and associate editor of IEEE Transactions on Image Processing. He has chaired major conferences including EUSIPCO 2008 and IEEE ICIP 2015. His laboratory at EPFL brings together interdisciplinary researchers to develop innovative imaging techniques that bridge macroscopic measurements and microscopic tissue properties, with significant potential for medical diagnostics and treatment planning applications.
Bradley D. Olsen is a full professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he leads research at the intersection of polymer science, soft matter physics, and bioengineering. His work focuses on designing materials for critical applications in biotechnology, hemostasis, and sustainable polymer development while advancing fundamental understanding of polymer network mechanics and self-assembly. Education: Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, University of California Berkeley (2007) S.B. in Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2003) Olsen's research spans protein-based materials, block copolymer phase behavior, and mechanochemical hydrogels. He has pioneered methods for quantifying polymer network topology, developing hemostatic nanoparticles, and creating bio-inspired materials for selective biomolecular transport and medical applications. His recent publications emphasize data-driven approaches to polymer characterization and educational outreach in materials science. Scientific Awards: American Physical Society (APS) Fellow (2023) Fulbright Amazonia Scholar (2023) Alexander and I. Michael Kasser Chair in Chemical Engineering (2021) ACS Macro Letters Young Investigator Award (2021) MIT Committed to Caring Honor (2019) AIChE Owens Corning Early Career Award (2019) APS Dillon Medal (2018) Kavli Emerging Leader in Chemistry (2017) ACS Polymer Division Fellow (2016) Camille Dreyfus-Teacher Scholar (2015) Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow (2014) NSF Career Grant (2013) NIH Postdoctoral Fellowship (2008-2009) Hertz Fellow (2003-2007) Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship (2002) Olsen has received significant grant support including NSF Career (2013) and AFOSR (2012) awards. His teaching activities include innovative international outreach like the 2025 soccer-themed science camp in Brazil. The Olsen Group at MIT explores advanced materials with applications ranging from trauma care to sustainable polymers.
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.
Matthew L Becker is the Hugo L Blomquist Distinguished Professor of Chemistry at Duke University, with additional appointments in Mechanical Engineering and Material Science, and Biomedical Engineering. His research focuses on polymer chemistry, bioconjugate chemistry, molecular imaging, additive manufacturing, and degradable materials for bone, soft tissue, neural, and vascular tissue engineering. Education: B.S. from Northwest Missouri State University (1998), M.A. (2000) and Ph.D. (2003) from Washington University in St. Louis Research interests include developing tunable degradable polymers for flexible electronics, tissue engineering (bone, neural, vascular), and additive manufacturing. His group is pioneering 3D printing of bioresorbable medical devices and custom inks for biomaterials. Recent work explores stereochemistry-dependent polymer properties, mechanochromism, and machine learning-driven biomaterials design. Key applications: Drug delivery systems Biodegradable adhesives Tissue regeneration scaffolds Scientific honors include: Fellow, National Academy of Inventors (2022) Fellow, American Chemical Society (2020) Carl S. Marvel Award in Creative Polymer Chemistry (2019) Fellow, American Institute for Medical and Biomedical Engineering (2018) Fellow, Royal Society of Chemistry (2017) Biomacromolecules/Macromolecules Young Investigator Award (2015) He teaches advanced courses in mechanical engineering and polymer chemistry, with a focus on 3D printing and biomaterials. His group has developed novel medical devices including resorbable suture anchors, hernia mesh coatings, and neuroprosthetic scaffolds.
Joseph Bentsman is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's Grainger College of Engineering. He also holds affiliate appointments in the Department of Aerospace Engineering (since 2015) and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (since 2018). His academic journey began with an M.S. from Byelorussian Polytechnic Institute in Minsk, USSR (1979), followed by a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Illinois Institute of Technology (1984). Professor Bentsman's research focuses on control of nonlinear and distributed parameter systems, nonlinear oscillations, network control, stability theory, and stochastic multiscale methods. He pioneered a new class of dynamical systems with active singularities that admit control actions during singular phases of motion, which represent a novel category of hybrid systems characterized by impulsively controlled discrete transitions. His recent work has expanded into biomedical applications, particularly thermophysical modeling of tissue during electrosurgery and control of phase change processes. His recent publications (2021-2024) reveal a strong trend toward biomedical applications of control theory, particularly in modeling heat conduction in biological tissues, electrosurgical processes, and phase change phenomena. Approximately 60% of his recent work focuses on biomedical applications, while the remainder continues his foundational work on nonlinear control systems, distributed parameter systems, and systems with active singularities. Key subfields include Stefan problems, enthalpy-based control, telegraph equation modeling, and PDE-based control of complex physical processes. NSF Presidential Young Investigator Award (1989) Life Fellow of American Society of Mechanical Engineers Life Senior Member of IEEE IEEE Control Systems Society Technical Committee Chair on Power Generation (2015-2019) International Society of Automation POWID Achievement Award (2014) 2018 AIST Computer Applications Best Paper Award Featured in 'People in Control', IEEE Control Systems Magazine (2018) Professor Bentsman has been instrumental in developing educational approaches that integrate signal processing, instrumentation, control, and machine learning, as evidenced by his two textbooks. His work on the steel continuous casting process, particularly the mold oscillation system, has led to practical industrial applications. He has also made significant contributions to power plant control systems and boiler/turbine control. His research group appears to focus on both theoretical control systems development and practical implementation in industrial and biomedical settings, with strong connections to steel manufacturing, power generation, and medical device industries.
Christophe Meunier is a researcher specializing in hybrid materials, particularly focusing on biohybrid systems that integrate biological components with inorganic matrices. His work emphasizes environmental applications and biomedical innovations through advanced material design. Key Collaborations: Su, B. L., Michiels, C., Wang, L. Research Themes: Photosynthesis mimicry, cell therapy microcapsules, hybrid alginate-TiO₂ systems Research Focus: Meunier has pioneered the biomimicry of photosynthesis via biosystem immobilization in silica matrices, aiming to create 'living materials' with functional biological-inorganic interfaces. His recent projects explore alginate@TiO₂ hybrid microcapsules for controlled insulin delivery and cell therapy applications, demonstrating high biocompatibility and stability. Academic Contributions: With 34 research outputs spanning material science, biomedical engineering, and environmental applications, Meunier's work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals through innovative hybrid material design. His collaboration network includes experts in chemistry, physics, and medical fields.
Dr. Yogambha Ramaswamy is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Biomedical Engineering at The University of Sydney and a member of the Sydney Nano Institute. She holds a Master’s in Biotechnology from the University of Queensland and a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Sydney (2009). Her postdoctoral career began as a Vice-Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of New South Wales, followed by a Peter Doherty Early Career Fellowship in 2013 before joining the University of Sydney in 2015. Dr. Ramaswamy’s research focuses on biomaterials, tissue engineering, and mechanobiology, with a particular emphasis on developing calcium silicate-based ceramics and biopolymers for orthopedic and regenerative applications. Her recent work explores the role of physical cues in modulating stem and cancer cell behavior. She teaches courses such as AMME1961 (Introduction to Biomedical Engineering B) and AMME5962 (Introduction to Mechanobiology). Her research has been supported by grants including the NHMRC Early Career Fellowship and collaborations with institutions like the CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology and the University of Otago. Her publications span biomaterials, nanotechnology, and mechanobiology, with recent work addressing atherosclerosis, hydrogel design, and nanomedicine. She currently supervises PhD students Frank (biomaterials) and Alexander (atherosclerosis research).
Tanja Narancic is an Assistant Professor at the School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science at University College Dublin (UCD). She is also an academic collaborator at the Bioeconomy Research Centre BiOrbic, where she coordinates multiple research projects among PIs, PostDocs, PhD students, and designs projects proposed by industrial partners. Dr. Narancic earned her PhD in Applied Microbiology from the University of Belgrade, Serbia in 2012, followed by postdoctoral research at the Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering in Belgrade. In 2013, she joined University College Dublin as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow under Prof. Kevin O'Connor, where she investigated microbial metabolic pathways using proteomics, metabolomics, and synthetic biology tools as part of FP7 and H2020 projects. She became a Research Fellow at BiOrbic in 2019 before advancing to her current position as Assistant Professor. Her research focuses on elucidating bacterial metabolism and leveraging synthetic biology tools to exploit bacteria for producing high-value products. Key research areas include: Proteomics, Metabolomics, and Transcriptomics for microbial pathway analysis Metabolic engineering for bioproduction Biocatalysis and enzyme optimization Protein engineering and purification Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) production from waste streams Plastic upcycling and biodegradation technologies Dr. Narancic's publication record demonstrates a strong focus on converting plastic waste into valuable biodegradable materials through innovative biotechnological approaches. Her recent work has centered on developing microbial systems for upcycling polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyolefins, and other recalcitrant plastics into polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) and other high-value products. She has made significant contributions to understanding the metabolic pathways involved in plastic monomer conversion and has developed engineered strains with enhanced capabilities for plastic upcycling. As a principal investigator, Dr. Narancic leads multiple significant research projects including the Ad Astra Studentship (2023-2028), the UPLIFT project on sustainable plastics for food packaging (2021-2025), and the PROMOFER project (2024-2028) on optimizing PHB production. She also serves as a reviewer for numerous prestigious journals including Enzyme and Microbial Technology, Journal of Applied Microbiology, and Microbial Biotechnology. Her teaching portfolio includes coordination of multiple modules such as Bioprocessing, Metabolism and Disease, and SynBio for Bioeconomy, demonstrating her commitment to educating the next generation of scientists in both fundamental and applied aspects of biomolecular science.
Dr. Ling Yin is an Associate Professor in the School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Adelaide, Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology. She joined the University of Adelaide in 2018 as an Associate Professor in manufacturing and served as Faculty Research Theme Leader in Advanced Manufacturing from 2019 to 2022. Dr. Yin leads multi-institutional projects on advanced manufacturing funded by Defence SA (2024-2025) and the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) (2025-2028). Dr. Yin's educational background includes B.Sc., M.Sc., and Ph.D. degrees in mechanical engineering from Huazhong University of Science & Technology in Wuhan, China. Her academic career spans five countries across three continents, including positions at Tianjin University in China, Kumamoto University in Japan, Kansas State University in the USA, the Australian National University and James Cook University in Australia, the National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) in the USA, and A*STAR Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech) in Singapore. Dr. Yin's research focuses on manufacturing and mechanical characterization of advanced materials with applications in optics, semiconductors, mechanical structures, dental restorations, osteoporosis/osteoarthritis studies, and marine/animal sciences. Her work involves extensive collaborations across multiple disciplines. Her recent publications demonstrate expertise in ultrasonic vibration-assisted machining of dental ceramics, particularly zirconia and lithium silicate glass-ceramics, as well as advanced characterization techniques like micro-CT and in-situ SEM testing for understanding material behavior at micro and nano scales. JSPS Invitation Fellowship from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Japanese Government Scholarship from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan Supervisor for a PhD Thesis cum laude with a Medal of Excellence awarded by James Cook University in 2017 Supervisor for a Best Honours Project in Mechanical Engineering at Ingenuity awarded by the University of Adelaide in 2023 Dr. Yin is actively involved in supervising higher degree research students and has available PhD projects in 2025 focused on ultrasonic-vibration assisted manufacturing techniques for dental applications. She has successfully led international academic delegations through the New Colombo Plan to manufacturing facilities in Singapore and Japan. Dr. Yin is a senior member of the North American Manufacturing Research Institution (NAMRI) and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME), and also a member of several professional organizations including ASME, OSA, American Ceramic Society, ASM International, and SPIE.
Dr. Canan Dagdeviren is an Associate Professor and LG Career Development Professor of Media Arts and Sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she directs the Conformable Decoders research group at the MIT Media Lab. She joined the MIT faculty in January 2017 and has established herself as a leading innovator in conformable biomedical devices. Education: Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign M.Sc. in Materials Science and Engineering, Sabanci University, Istanbul, Turkey B.Sc. in Physics Engineering, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey Dr. Dagdeviren's research focuses on creating mechanically adaptive electromechanical systems that can intimately integrate with biological surfaces for sensing, actuation, and energy harvesting. She believes vital information from nature and the human body is 'coded' in various physical patterns, and her work develops 'conformable decoders' to translate these patterns into beneficial signals and energy. Her research spans wearable and implantable medical devices, with particular emphasis on piezoelectric systems that can be twisted, folded, stretched, wrapped, and implanted onto curvilinear surfaces of the human body without damage or significant alteration in performance. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on medical applications of conformable electronics, particularly in ultrasound technology for breast cancer detection, deep brain stimulation, and bladder monitoring. Her work consistently bridges materials science, electrical engineering, and medical applications, with increasing emphasis on practical healthcare solutions that can be deployed outside clinical settings. Major Scientific Awards: NSF CAREER Award (2021) 3M Non-Tenured Faculty Award (2021) MIT Technology Review's Top 35 Innovators Under 35 (2015) Forbes' Top 30 Under 30 in Science (2015) National Academy of Engineering US Frontiers of Engineering Symposium participant (2019) Frank E. Perkins Award for Excellence in Graduate Advising Aziz Sancar Science Award Dr. Dagdeviren actively mentors graduate students and has received recognition for her advising excellence. Her research is supported by significant grants including the NSF CAREER award and has resulted in numerous patents and commercialization opportunities. She has developed innovative cleanroom-based courses at MIT that train students in microfabrication techniques for biomedical devices. The Conformable Decoders research group operates a specialized cleanroom facility at the MIT Media Lab, enabling the development and fabrication of novel conformable electronic systems. The group's work has attracted attention from major media outlets including BBC, CNN, and Nature, and has potential applications across multiple medical specialties including neurology, oncology, and urology.
Jeremy Dahl is a Professor of Radiology (Pediatric Radiology) at Stanford University School of Medicine. He directs the Ultrasound Imaging & Instrumentation Lab and serves as Director of Research Academic Affairs in the Department of Radiology since 2020. He holds multiple affiliations across Stanford including Bio-X, the Cardiovascular Institute, Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance, Maternal & Child Health Research Institute, Stanford Cancer Institute, and Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute. Dr. Dahl received his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Cincinnati (1999) and Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from Duke University (2004). His research focuses on developing ultrasonic beamforming and image reconstruction methods for diagnostic imaging applications, particularly techniques that generate high-quality images in difficult-to-image patients. His laboratory specializes in B-mode and Doppler imaging techniques that utilize additional information from ultrasonic wavefields to improve image quality and develop real-time imaging systems for clinical applications including cardiac, liver, and fetal imaging. Dr. Dahl's research has led to significant advancements in ultrasound molecular imaging platforms, sound speed estimation, aberration correction, and reverberation noise suppression. His work often bridges engineering innovation with clinical applications for cancer detection and other diseases. His recent publications demonstrate strong focus on machine learning applications in ultrasound, distributed aberration correction, and molecular imaging techniques. Fellow, American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (2021) Senior Member, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (2020) Distinguished Investigator Award, The Academy for Radiology & Biomedical Imaging Research (2018) Outstanding Paper Award, IEEE Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics, and Frequency Control Society (2011) Dr. Dahl serves in editorial roles for major journals including IEEE Transactions on Medical Imaging (2017-2024) and IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics, and Frequency Control (2013-Present). His laboratory has successfully translated numerous innovations into clinical applications, with multiple patents including recent developments in pulsed focused ultrasound therapy and speed of sound quantification.
Angela Pitenis is an Associate Professor in the Department of Materials at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), within the College of Engineering. Her research focuses on interfacial phenomena in soft materials, particularly friction, adhesion, wear, and deformation of complex surfaces ranging from living cells to polymer nanocomposites. She employs advanced experimental techniques such as microscopy, spectroscopy, and interferometry to study these interfaces under extreme conditions and within buried environments. Her work has direct applications in healthcare, energy sustainability, and engineering design. Prof. Pitenis holds a Ph.D., M.Sc., and B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Florida. Her research group investigates biomaterials, hydrogel lubrication, and bioinspired materials, with recent studies addressing implant-associated inflammation, tumor cell dynamics in 3D microgels, and pH-responsive hydrogel friction. She is affiliated with the Materials Research Lab at UCSB and contributes to interdisciplinary projects at the intersection of materials science and biology. Notable research trends in her work include the development of biocompatible lubricious surfaces, understanding friction-induced biological responses, and designing smart materials with tunable mechanical properties. Her studies on photoresponsive hydrogels and superlubricious materials highlight innovations in responsive and adaptive material systems. Pitenis emphasizes in situ experimental methods and has pioneered techniques for analyzing dynamically evolving material interfaces. Her research also extends to marine biomaterials, such as the mechanical resilience of sessile tunicates, and explores applications in medical implants, bioreactors, and energy systems. While specific awards are not listed here, her contributions reflect a commitment to advancing soft matter tribology and biomaterials science.
Professor Ruth Cameron FREng is affiliated with the University of Cambridge, serving as a Professor of Materials Science in the Department of Materials Science & Metallurgy. She co-directs the Cambridge Centre for Medical Materials alongside Professor Serena Best, focusing on therapeutic materials that interact with the body. Her research spans medical materials and biomaterials , emphasizing ice templating for creating 3D environments to control tissue growth. These environments are applied in cardiac, dental, and orthopedic repair, cancer research, and blood cell production. She also investigates biodegradable polymers , composites , and drug delivery systems , exploring relationships between material processing, morphology, and degradation. Collaborators: Cedric Ghevaert, Sanjay Sinha, Andrew McCaskie Core Research Disciplines: Materials for Tissue Repair, Composite and Nanocomposite Materials, Polymers and Macromolecular Materials
Dr. Michael J. Katz is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Memorial University in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. He leads an active research group focused on porous materials, particularly metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), with applications in gas storage, chemical separation, and catalysis. His work is well-recognized in the field of materials chemistry, with numerous publications in high-impact journals spanning from 2005 to 2025. Dr. Katz's primary research interests lie in the synthesis, properties, and applications of porous materials. His work specifically focuses on: Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) design and synthesis Gas storage technologies, particularly low-pressure methane storage Chemical separation processes including removal of harmful molecules from air Catalysis using porous materials Adsorption properties of various porous frameworks Environmental applications of porous materials Analysis of Dr. Katz's publication record from 2017-2025 reveals a strong emphasis on zirconium-based MOFs, particularly the UiO-66 family. His research spans fundamental characterization techniques like NMR spectroscopy to practical applications in carbon capture, gas separation, and environmental remediation. A notable trend is the increasing focus on real-world implementation of MOFs, including biochar-based materials for CO 2 capture and frameworks for air pollutant removal such as nitrous acid. His work demonstrates a progression from fundamental materials science toward practical environmental applications. Dr. Katz actively supervises graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in his research group. His laboratory at Memorial University is equipped for the synthesis and characterization of novel porous materials, with particular expertise in metal-organic framework development. His research is supported by various grants that enable the exploration of structure-property relationships in porous materials and their practical applications.
