Alireza Ramezani

Alireza Ramezani is an Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Northeastern University, leading the SiliconSynapse Lab. He focuses on bio-inspired robotics, nonlinear systems, and robot locomotion, with a particular emphasis on morphological design and control inspired by biological systems. His work integrates control theory and experimental robotics to develop robots capable of navigating confined spaces, such as caves and ducts, using mechanisms derived from bat movements.

Education:

• PhD, Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan (2014)
• MS, Mechanical Engineering, ETH Zurich (2010)
• BSc, Mechanical Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology (2007)

Research Interests:

• Design of robots with non-traditional morphologies
• Nonlinear feedback control systems
• Legged and fluidic-based locomotion
• Bio-inspired robotics and biology-driven engineering

Awards:

• 2024 ASME Rising Star Award
• 2024 NSF CAREER Award
• 2022 NASA Game Changing Program Award
• Science Magazine Top 5% Research Output (2020)

Advising & Labs:

Ramezani mentors students in projects like the NASA-funded “Crater Observing Bio-inspired Rolling Articulator” and oversees the SiliconSynapse Lab, which develops robots for space exploration and confined environments. Notable advisees include Henry Noyes, a NASA Space Technology Fellow.

Labs/Teams:

His lab collaborates with institutions like NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) on projects such as the Mars Multi-modal Morphing (M4) Rover and bio-inspired snake robots for lunar crater exploration.