Gil Blankenship

Dr. Gil Blankenship is a Professor and Associate Chair for External Affairs in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Maryland, College Park. He is affiliated with the Maryland Robotics Center and the Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices. His academic career spans over four decades, including visiting roles at institutions such as New York University and Erasmus University in Rotterdam. He joined the University of Maryland in 1978.

Research & Entrepreneurship: His research focuses on signal processing, nonlinear and adaptive control, networked control systems, and medical applications of robotics and wearable sensors. He founded the Maryland Development Center (MDC), a MedTech startup studio that has launched ventures like Next Step Robotics (robotic devices for stroke rehabilitation) and Sonosa Medical (non-invasive sleep apnea treatment). He has also contributed to satellite ground stations and emergency response systems through companies like TRX Systems.

Awards & Recognition: Dr. Blankenship is an IEEE Life Fellow and recipient of the Tibbets Award for Excellence in Government R&D. His students are globally distributed across academia, research, and tech industries.

Additional Roles: He oversees external affairs for his department, collaborates with medical professionals on biomedical device commercialization, and advises on robotics and embedded systems innovation.