Joerg Werner is an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Boston University's College of Engineering and Core Faculty at the Institute for Global Sustainability (IGS). He holds a PhD in Materials Chemistry from Cornell University and an MS in Chemistry from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. His research focuses on mesostructured materials, functional nanomaterials, and energy storage systems, leveraging block copolymer self-assembly and microfluidics to design advanced materials. He leads the Mesostructured Materials and Devices Lab, exploring hierarchical structures, electrochemical polymers, and sustainable manufacturing. Research Interests: Werner’s work spans 3D nano-interdigitated batteries , mesostructured architectures , and dynamic microcapsules . Key areas include energy storage applications, phase separation of complex fluids, and nanoconfined synthesis. His group develops sustainable templates for nanomaterials and electrochemically active polymers for thin films on 3D substrates. Publications Trends: Recent work emphasizes electrode architectures (e.g., low-tortuosity electrodes), responsive microcapsules , and self-assembly-driven superconductors . Collaborations with labs like Harvard and industry partners highlight applied energy solutions. Funding & Labs: Current grants support projects on mesohybrids and architected electrodes. The MeMaD Lab collaborates on projects like PANDA (self-driving lab for polymer films) and advanced battery designs. Patents include solid-state battery assemblies and mesoporous carbon materials.
Mustafa Yavuz is a Professor and Director of the Nano and Micro Systems Lab (NMSL) at the University of Waterloo, Canada, affiliated with Mechanical & Mechatronics Engineering, System Design Engineering, and Electrical & Computer Engineering. He holds cross-appointments in multiple departments and has been a faculty member since 2009. His research focuses on Opto-Nano/MEMS devices, quantum electronic solids, graphene, and superconductors. Yavuz has supervised over 28 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, leading to impactful contributions in sensors, nanomaterials, and energy harvesting. He has authored/co-authored numerous articles and holds patents in MEMS and nanotechnology. His awards include the University of Waterloo Research Excellence Award (2018) and international fellowships from MINATEC and JSPS. Education: Ph.D. Materials Engineering (University of Wollongong, 1996) Ph.D. Applied Physics (University of Wollongong, 1995) M.Sc. Materials Engineering (Middle East Technical University, 1991) B.Sc. Materials Engineering (Middle East Technical University, 1989) Research Interests: Yavuz specializes in advanced materials and MEMS/NEMS technologies, including opto-nano-MEMS devices, quantum electronic solids (superconductors, graphene), and functional nanomaterials for sensors and energy systems. His work integrates fabrication, packaging, and reliability testing of nanoscale devices for applications in photonics, biomedical sensing, and environmental monitoring. Recent trends in his articles highlight innovations in resonant MEMS mirrors, graphene-based biosensors, and laser-functionalized 2D materials. Scientific Awards: MINATEC Fellowship (2019) Waterloo Engineering Research Excellence Award (2018) International Nanoarchitectonics Fellowship (2017) JSPS Fellowship (2007) Advising & Grants: Yavuz has supervised 26 doctoral students and 28 postdoctoral researchers. His labs, including the NMSL and BioGraph Sense Inc., focus on MEMS packaging, nanojoining, and plasmonic biosensors. He has led projects funded by NSERC, CFI, and industry collaborations with companies like Apple, Samsung, and Smarter Alloys. Labs/Teams: Director of the Nano and Micro Systems Lab (NMSL), co-founder of BioGraph Sense Inc., and collaborator in the Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology (WIN). His research group develops cutting-edge nanoscale devices with applications in healthcare, energy, and environmental sensing.
Sandip Tiwari is the Charles N. Mellowes Professor in Engineering at Cornell University, leading the School of Applied and Engineering Physics. He holds a B.Tech in Electrical Engineering from IIT Kanpur (1976), M.Eng from Rochester Institute of Technology (1977), and a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Cornell (1980). His research bridges semiconductor electronics/optics and nanotechnology, emphasizing cross-scale integration of devices and systems. He directs the U.S. National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network (NNIN) and has held visiting roles at Stanford, Harvard, Columbia, and the University of Paris-Sud. Notable honors include the IEEE Cledo Brunetti Award, APS Fellowship, and IIT Kanpur's Distinguished Alumnus Award. Education: IIT Kanpur (B.Tech), Rochester Polytechnic Institute (M.Eng), Cornell (Ph.D.) Affiliations: NNIN Director, IEEE Transactions on Nanotechnology (founding editor), multiple visiting professorships Research focuses on nanoscale device physics, quantum phenomena in electronics, and societal applications of nanotechnology. His work integrates engineering principles with physical sciences to address challenges in scalable electronic systems and MEMs. Awards highlight his contributions to semiconductor physics and nanotechnology, including recognition from IEEE, APS, and IIT Kanpur. He also promotes global scientific collaboration through education initiatives and NNIN.
Cagri A. Savran is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Purdue University, with courtesy appointments in Biomedical Engineering and Electrical and Computer Engineering. He holds a B.S. from Purdue University (1998), an M.S. and Ph.D. from MIT (2000 and 2004, respectively). His research focuses on MEMS, nanotechnology, and biosensors, particularly in protein detection, aptamers, and biomedical applications. His work spans fluid mechanics, systems control, and micro/nano fabrication. Education: B.S., Purdue University, 1998 M.S., MIT, 2000 Ph.D., MIT, 2004 Research Interests: Dr. Savran pioneers innovations in bioMEMS and nanoscale biosensing technologies. His lab develops platforms like immunomagnetic diffractometry and microfluidic systems for real-time pathogen detection and clinical diagnostics. Key areas include aptamer-based assays, magnetic nanoparticle integration, and single-molecule studies of DNA packaging motors. Awards: Motorola PhD Fellowship (2001-2004) NSF U.S.-Japan Young Researchers Exchange (2007) #1 News in Analytical Chemistry (2007) #1 News in JACS Weekly (2007) Labs & Teams: The Savran Lab (savranlab.org) integrates engineering and biology to create next-generation biomedical devices. Research emphasizes translating nanotechnology into practical diagnostic tools for healthcare and environmental monitoring.
Dr. Longji Cui is an Assistant Professor in the Thermo Fluid Sciences, Materials, and Micro/Nanoscale disciplines at the University of Colorado Boulder, affiliated with the Department of Mechanical Engineering within the College of Engineering and Applied Science. His laboratory focuses on high-precision instrumentation and computational techniques to explore energy transport, conversion, and dissipation at extreme scales, including scanning thermal microscopy, picowatt-resolution sensors, and nanophotonics. Lab Location: ECME 1B66F / ECME 108 Office Location: ECME 267B Research Interests: Dr. Cui's work spans thermal energy sciences, ultrahigh-resolution sensing, scanning probe microscopy, nano-optics, and quantum engineering. His interdisciplinary projects address critical challenges in sustainable energy systems, next-generation microelectronics, and advanced sensor technologies for high-performance applications. Notable contributions include innovations in thermophotovoltaic systems, molecular-scale thermal transport, and plasmonic light emission mechanisms. Recent publications emphasize near-field thermal radiation, quantized thermal transport in single-atom junctions, and enhanced energy conversion through nanoscale engineering. These studies bridge fundamental physics with practical applications in renewable energy and nanotechnology. Awards: 2025 CEAS Innovation & Entrepreneurship Fellow 2024 ASME Rising Star Award 2023 NSF CAREER Award 2023 CU Boulder Lab Venture Challenge Award His research group collaborates across disciplines to advance instrumentation for atomic-scale thermal measurements and develop novel materials for energy applications. Ongoing efforts include optimizing thermophotovoltaic devices and exploring hot-carrier dynamics in plasmonic systems.
Pedro Fardim is a Professor at the KU Leuven , affiliated with the Faculty of Engineering Sciences, Department of Chemical Engineering , and leads the Chemical and Biochemical Reactor Technology and Safety (CREaS) division. He also serves as President of EPNOE (European Polysaccharide Network of Excellence) and is a member of multiple institutes including KU Leuven Brain Institute (LBI) , Institute for Single Cell Omics (LISCO) , and Institute for Micro- and Nano-scale Integration (LIMNI) . PhD in Chemistry, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Brazil Habilitation in Chemical Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Finland Pedro’s research focuses on topochemical engineering —mimicking natural bioassembly processes in trees and microorganisms to create sustainable materials and biofabrication technologies . His work spans drug delivery , regenerative medicine , biopolymer engineering , and green chemistry , with applications in pharmaceuticals , cosmetics , and energy . Recent projects include hydrogels for wearable sensors , biohybrid materials for bone tissue engineering , and lignin valorization using hydrotropic solvents. His scientific awards include Fellowships from the Royal Society of Chemistry and the International Academy of Wood Science , along with membership in the American Chemical Society . He teaches Chemical Engineering for Human Health , Biochemical Process Engineering , and Biopolymer-based Sustainable Technologies .
Steven A. Soper is a Foundation Distinguished Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Kansas. He serves as Director of the NIH-funded Center for BioModular Multi-Scale Systems for Precision Medicine and leads international collaborations with institutions like UNIST in South Korea. His career spans faculty roles at LSU, UNC, and KU, with interdisciplinary research bridging chemistry, biomedical engineering, and materials science. Ph.D. in Bioanalytical Chemistry, University of Kansas (1989) Postdoctoral Fellow, Los Alamos National Laboratory (1991) B.S. in Chemistry and Psychology, University of Nebraska (1980-1982) Research Interests focus on micro-/nanofabricated biochemical analysis systems for clinical diagnostics, particularly circulating tumor cell analysis , cell-free DNA detection , and single-molecule fluorescence applications. His work integrates polymer microfabrication, FRET-based assays, and thermoplastic nanofluidics for cancer, stroke, and infectious disease diagnostics. Scientific Awards include: R&D 100 Award (2010) Shannon Award (NIH) (1994) Distinguished Research Master, LSU (2002) Fellow, AAAS/RSC/SAS (2010) Sutton Family Research Impact Award (2021) Teaching & Collaboration involves mentoring 39 professional-degree recipients, organizing multidisciplinary research teams, and co-teaching courses in Biofluid Mechanics and Nanotechnology . His lab partners with institutions in South Korea and UNC/NCSU, while hosting international students and professionals. Labs & Centers : Leads the Soper Research Group and the Center for BioModular Multi-Scale Systems , which provides access to state-of-the-art nanofabrication tools and collaborative expertise across 12 institutions.
Selman Sakar is an Associate Professor at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), affiliated with the School of Engineering and the MicroBioRobotics Laboratory (MICROBS). He also holds teaching roles in the School of Management (SGM-ENS), School of Management and Technology (SMT-ENS), and the Institute of Bioengineering (IBI-STI-GE). Teaches courses in Topics in Autonomous Robotics , Dynamical Systems , Micro/Nano Robotics , and Robotics Practicals . Supervises PhD students including Gadiri Mehdi Ali, Hwang Junsun, Inan Elif Ezgi, and Javaheri Houman. Active in doctoral program commissions for Biotechnology & Biological Engineering (EDBB-GE) and Robotics, Control & Intelligent Systems (EDRS-GE). His research focuses on robotics, bioengineering, and micro/nano-scale systems, with applications in autonomous systems and mechanical design. He is based at the MED Building (Room 2916), Station 9, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Professor Bing-Jie (Bruce) Ni is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) within the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering and a full Professor at UNSW Sydney. He is an internationally recognised leader in environmental engineering, wastewater treatment, greenhouse-gas mitigation, microplastics fate, electrocatalysis and sustainable energy systems. Education PhD in Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei (2005–2009) Research Interests Professor Ni’s research integrates process engineering, microbial biotechnology, materials science and mathematical modelling to develop sustainable technologies for high-efficiency pollutant removal, minimal carbon footprint and maximal energy recovery from wastewater. He is a global pioneer in: Modelling and control of nitrous oxide (N₂O) and methane (CH₄) emissions from wastewater systems, Micro- and nano-plastics ecotoxicity and mitigation in anaerobic digestion, Transforming sewage sludge into high-value liquid bio-energy (medium-chain fatty acids and long-chain alcohols), Designing cost-effective electrocatalysts from natural minerals for green hydrogen production and wastewater electrolysis. Research Output & Impact Over the last decade he has published 2 research books, 30 book chapters and >400 refereed journal papers , including 35 in Environmental Science & Technology and 85 in Water Research . His work has influenced global policy: the IPCC adopted his nitrous-oxide-emission model in 2019 to revise national greenhouse-gas inventories for the first time in 13 years. Awards & Recognition ARC Future Fellowship & ARC DECRA Fellowship Clarivate Analytics Highly Cited Researcher (Web of Science) Royal Society of Chemistry Highly Cited Researcher (2020–present) Mendeley Data Top 2 % Cited Researchers worldwide Listed among “Australia’s Most Innovative Engineers” (Engineers Australia, 2018) 50+ additional awards including Scopus Young Researcher Award, South Australian Water Awards, UQ Research Excellence Awards, and Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Awards. Research Funding & Leadership He has secured ≈ AUD $10 million in competitive funding (six major ARC grants plus >20 government, university and industry projects). He serves as: Lead Guest Editor, Water Research Editorial Advisory Board, Environmental Science & Technology Associate Editor for Journal of Cleaner Production , Environmental Chemistry Letters , Environmental Research , Journal of Environmental Management Editorial Board member for five additional high-impact journals. Teaching & Supervision At UTS he teaches Renewable Energy Technologies , Environmental and Sanitation Engineering , Process Dynamics and Control , and Water and Wastewater Treatment . He is available to supervise Masters and PhD students in environmental biotechnology, process modelling and sustainable energy systems. Laboratory & Commercial Translation He heads active research teams at both UNSW and UTS and is the inventor of >10 granted patents , some of which are currently being commercialised to deliver real-world impacts in greenhouse-gas-neutral wastewater treatment and renewable energy production.
Ming C. Wu is the Nortel Distinguished Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences at the University of California, Berkeley. He co-directs the Berkeley Sensor and Actuator Center (BSAC) and the Berkeley Emerging Technologies Research Center (BETR), and is affiliated with the NSF Challenge Institute for Quantum Computation. He earned his B.S. from National Taiwan University in 1983 and Ph.D. from UC Berkeley in 1988, following a postdoctoral stint at AT&T Bell Laboratories (1988–1992) and faculty role at UCLA (1992–2004). Research Areas: Silicon Photonics Optoelectronics Nanophotonics Optical MEMS Optofluidics Prof. Wu's recent publications focus on scalable photonic systems, including wafer-scale silicon photonic switches, MEMS-based LiDAR, and quantum technologies. His work bridges fundamental research and commercialization, exemplified by co-founding OMM, Inc. (MEMS optical switches) and Berkeley Lights, Inc. (optoelectronic tweezers). Scientific Awards: Paul F. Forman Engineering Excellence Award (OSA 2007) William Streifer Scientific Achievement Award (IEEE Photonics Society 2016) C.E.K. Mees Medal (OSA 2017) Robert Bosch MEMS Award (IEEE EDS 2020) Bakar Prize (UC Berkeley 2021) IEEE Fellow (2002) Packard Fellow (1992) He leads the Integrated Photonics Laboratory , which develops technologies for optical communication, sensing, and biomedical applications.
Özüm Asirim is a Researcher at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) under the Associate Professorship of Computational Photonics led by Prof. Christian Jirauschek. Her work focuses on computational photonics , quantum optics , and nonlinear optical phenomena , particularly in micro-resonators and semiconductor devices. Education: Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Middle East Technical University (Ankara, Turkey). Research spans optical parametric amplification , Fourier domain mode-locked lasers , self-phase modulation , and machine learning applications in photonics . Her studies include optimizing gain factors, enhancing harmonic generation, and modeling supercontinuum sources via carrier injection. Recent publications (2019–2023) highlight interdisciplinary approaches, merging photonics with computational finance and nonlinear dynamics . She contributes to EU Project QOMBS and teaches courses like Python for Engineering Data Analysis and Quantum Engineering and Machine Learning seminars. Collaborations include Prof. Christian Jirauschek (TUM), Prof. Mustafa Kuzuoğlu (Middle East Technical University), and teams in computational photonics and quantum optics. Her work impacts semiconductor physics , laser technology , and adaptive optical systems .
F. Levent Degertekin is a Regents' Entrepreneur and the George W. Woodruff Chair in Mechanical Systems and Professor at the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology. His office is located in Love Building, room 311B, and his contact email is levent.degertekin@me.gatech.edu. Dr. Degertekin's academic journey includes a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University (1997), an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Bilkent University, Turkey (1991), and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Middle East Technical University, Turkey (1989). Dr. Degertekin's research focuses on micromachined ultrasonic devices and systems for medical applications, particularly in intravascular ultrasound imaging, therapeutic ultrasound, and acousto-optical sensors for MRI. His work spans from fundamental research on novel transduction methods to complete catheter-based imaging systems close to commercialization. He has made significant contributions to capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers (CMUTs), developing diffraction grating based optomechanical sensing methods now commercialized by Silicon Audio, novel atomic force microscopy imaging probes, and micromachined ultrasonic ejector structures for cell transfection commercialized by OpenCell Technologies. His research integrates acoustics, optics, and their combinations for various medical applications, utilizing conventional microfabrication (MEMS) and integrated circuit technologies. The Degertekin lab exposes students to applied physics, electrical, mechanical and biomedical engineering, biology, and biomimetic systems, providing them with thorough theoretical and experimental education in acoustics and optics while learning interdisciplinary research. Dr. Degertekin's work has received significant media attention, including coverage in IEEE Spectrum, Wired Magazine, The New York Times, and Fox Business News, highlighting innovations such as handheld ultrasound probes, MRI safety sensors, and minimally invasive cardiac imaging technologies. IEEE Fellow for 'Contributions to micromachined ultrasonic and optomechanical transducers and systems,' 2022 IEEE UFFC Society Inaugural Carl Hellmuth Hertz Ultrasonic Achievement Award, 2014 George W. Woodruff School Outstanding Achievement in Commercialization and Entrepreneurship Award, 2024 National Science Foundation CAREER Award, 2004-2009 Whitaker Foundation Biomedical Engineering Research Grant Award, 2001 66 US and 6 International Patents Dr. Degertekin has mentored numerous students who have gone on to make significant contributions in the field. Several of his students have received IEEE Ultrasonics Symposium Best Student Paper Awards, including Jeff McLean (2003), Sheng-Yu Peng (2006), Rasim O. Guldiken (2005 and 2007), and Toby Xu (2014). His research has been supported by various grants including the NSF CAREER Award and Whitaker Foundation grant. His work has led to multiple commercial ventures including Silicon Audio and OpenCell Technologies. The Degertekin Group at Georgia Tech focuses on transducers and systems for medical imaging and sensing, with current projects including capacitive parametric transducers, acousto-optic sensors for MRI, novel transducer methods for focused ultrasound in the brain, microsystems for intravascular and intracardiac ultrasound imaging, and CMUT-on-CMOS systems for IVUS imaging.
Prof. Jürgen Rühe is a Full Professor of Chemistry and Physics of Interfaces at the Institute of Microsystems Technology, Albert Ludwigs University of Freiburg, within the Faculty of Engineering. He serves as Deputy Coordinator of Research Area C and Principal Investigator for Research Areas A, B, C, and D. His expertise spans polymers at interfaces, metamaterials, biomedical surfaces, and self-healing materials. He leads the Cluster of Excellence liv MatS, focusing on adaptive and energy-autonomous materials systems. Education: Not explicitly stated in text. His research emphasizes programmable materials, 4D printing, and bioinspired design, with projects funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG). Notable contributions include anti-fog coatings, magnetic microactuators for cell stimulation, and hygromorphic materials for adaptive architecture. He supervises doctoral and postdoctoral researchers, advancing fields like tribology and surface functionalization. Key scientific achievements include developing C,H-insertion cross-linking (CHic) for durable polymer networks and exploring smart materials for biomedical and environmental applications. His work bridges fundamental polymer chemistry with practical applications in energy, healthcare, and sustainable architecture. He advises over ten doctoral students and collaborates with industry partners. His lab, part of the Institute of Microsystems Technology, focuses on micro- and nanostructuring, with projects funded by the Cluster of Excellence.
Yashar Ganjali is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Toronto , leading the Systems and Networking Group . His research spans computer networks , with a focus on data center networking , software-defined networking (SDN) , and congestion control . Education : Not explicitly detailed, but inferred from academic rank as a Professor. His work on flow consolidation , load migration in SDN controllers , and machine learning for network management has been influential. Recent projects include FORESIGHT (2025) for ML-driven scheduling and Meta-Migration (2023) to reduce switch migration latency. Scientific Awards include the IFIP Networking 2025 Best Paper Award . Collaborations with institutions like Google (2024) and Facebook (2019) highlight his industry impact. Advisees include Sepehr Abbasi Zadeh (PhD, 2024). Current projects integrate optical packet switching and eBPF-based network augmentation , aiming to address scalability, micro-bursts, and resource allocation efficiency in cloud environments.
David Juncker is a Professor and Department Chair of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at McGill University. He serves as a Principal Investigator at the McGill University & Genome Quebec Innovation Centre and holds associate memberships in the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Division of Experimental Medicine, Department of Surgery, and Goodman Cancer Research Centre. His research focuses on micro- and nano-bioengineering technologies for bioanalysis, precision medicine, and organs-on-chips. Key areas include microfluidics, lab-on-a-chip devices, biomedical sensors, medical diagnostics, biomaterials, tissue engineering, and cancer biomarker discovery. His lab develops scalable antibody microarrays, self-powered diagnostic platforms, microfluidic probes for brain tissue perfusion, and nanogradients for neuronal navigation, with applications in cancer diagnostics, global health, and neuroscience. Recent publications (2023-2025) reveal strong emphasis on extracellular vesicle analysis, single-cell proteomics, 3D-printed microfluidic/organ-on-a-chip systems, and capillary-driven circuits. Key trends include low-cost point-of-care diagnostics, advanced circulating tumor cell isolation methods, and biomimetic synthetic vesicles for drug delivery, demonstrating translational potential in early disease detection. Dr. Juncker leads a highly interdisciplinary team comprising undergraduate and graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and staff from diverse scientific, engineering, and cultural backgrounds. His lab actively recruits Canadian/permanent resident graduate students for projects on single extracellular vesicle and protein detection in cancer and infectious diseases, leveraging microfluidics and wearables for biomarker discovery. The Juncker Lab operates from the McGill University & Genome Quebec Innovation Centre (740 Dr. Penfield Avenue, Room 6206). It maintains a collaborative, multicultural environment focused on developing transformative micro- and nano-bioengineering technologies with significant potential impact on human health diagnostics and treatment.
