David Horsley

David Horsley is a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Northeastern University, based at the Oakland, CA campus. He serves as Deputy Director of the Institute for NanoSystems Innovation, a bicoastal research institute focused on semiconductor and nanotechnology advancements. Horsley earned his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley in 1998. His research focuses on Micro-Electromechanical Systems (MEMS), including the design and manufacturing of microfabricated sensors/actuators, mechatronics, and control systems. Notable projects include DARPA-funded work on gyroscopes and ultrasonic transducers, as well as NSF and industry collaborations in deep tech innovation. He has received prestigious awards such as the IEEE Fellowship and NSF CAREER Award. His work spans academic-industry partnerships, with contributions to ultrasonic imaging, MEMS-based sensors, and inertial systems.

• Education: PhD, Mechanical Engineering (UC Berkeley, 1998)

Research interests emphasize MEMS applications in biomedical imaging, navigation systems, and consumer electronics. Recent publications highlight advancements in piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducers (PMUTs), including designs for long-range detection, fingerprint sensing, and array-based imaging systems. Horsley leads interdisciplinary teams in developing miniaturized sensors and resonators with enhanced performance metrics. His lab actively explores synchronization phenomena in micromechanical oscillators to improve stability in gyroscopes and other precision instruments.

• Key Awards: Global Network Accelerator Award (2024), NSF CAREER Award (2009)
• Grants: $2M DARPA FLASH project, NSF EAGER grant for international tech partnerships

As Deputy Director, Horsley oversees the Institute for NanoSystems Innovation’s initiatives in nanoscale semiconductor design, fostering collaboration between Northeastern’s Boston and Oakland campuses. His lab develops MEMS technologies with applications in healthcare, robotics, and smart devices, emphasizing scalable manufacturing processes and cross-disciplinary innovation.