M.I. Refai

Irfan Refai is an Assistant Professor at the University of Twente, leading the HARMONI Lab (Human-Actuated Robotics and Modeling for Occupational and Space Tasks) within the Chair of Neuromuscular Robotics. His research bridges biomechanics, machine learning, and wearable robotics to develop assistive technologies for occupational and space environments.

• Research Interests: Human-machine interfacing, wearable exosuits, musculoskeletal modeling, sensor fusion, and edge computing for biomechanical applications.
• Education: Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering (2021), M.Sc. with Research Honors in Electrical Engineering (2017), and B.E. in Biomedical Engineering (2012).
• Projects: Key contributions to EU-funded SOPHIA and S.W.A.G. projects focused on exoskeleton optimization, fatigue modeling, and industrial applications.
• Publications: Specializes in EMG-driven models, soft robot design, and minimal-sensor biomechanical systems, with recent work on space-ready exosuits and adaptive assistance algorithms.
• Leadership: Organizes workshops on digital twins in rehabilitation and industrial exoskeleton challenges; frequently invited to speak at international conferences.