Jarkko Rantataro is a Visiting Professor at Aalto University's Department of Electrical Engineering and Automation, with additional affiliation to Microsystems Technology. His research bridges material science, electrochemistry, and nanotechnology, focusing on advanced sensor development for biomedical applications. Education: He holds the following degrees from Aalto University: Doctor of Science (Technology) in Electrical Engineering (2024) Master's degree in Engineering and Technology (2019) Bachelor's degree in Chemical Technology (2018) Research Focus: His work centers on: Electrochemical biosensors for neurotransmitter detection (e.g., dopamine, serotonin) Carbon nanotube/nanofiber applications in neuroscience Surface science phenomena, including superhydrophobic materials Biocompatibility of nanoscale materials for medical devices Publication Trends: Recent articles demonstrate a consistent focus on improving accuracy of neurotransmitter detection in biological environments. Key themes include minimizing interference from compounds like ascorbic acid, adapting sensor functionality across buffer solutions/in vivo systems, and leveraging nanomaterial properties for real-time monitoring in brain-on-a-chip applications. Team Affiliations: He collaborates with the Microsystems Technology research group at Aalto University, specializing in nanomaterial-based sensor development and surface engineering.
Angelo Accardo is an Associate Professor at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) within the Department of Precision and Microsystems Engineering (PME). He leads the Accardo Lab focused on light-assisted manufacturing of multi-scale 3D cellular microenvironments for biomedical applications. Pioneering 3D/4D printing for neuronal and glioblastoma models Interdisciplinary collaborations with biomedical centers (HollandPTC, ErasmusMC, Amsterdam UMC) Recipient of prestigious NWO grants and TU Delft Health Initiative funding International speaker at TERMIS, SPIE and MNE conferences His research spans mechanobiology, radiobiology, and nanotechnology with emphasis on creating physiologically relevant models for neurodegenerative diseases and cancer research. The lab's publications and patents demonstrate technical innovation in two-photon polymerization, stereolithography, and hybrid manufacturing approaches. Notable achievements include: Developing 3D onco-scaffolds for proton radiobiology Creating auxetic meta-biomaterials for bone regeneration Advancing microglia-on-chip systems for neuroinflammation studies Designing 4D printing protocols for dynamic tissue modeling Key collaborations include international partnerships with Vilnius University, McMaster University, and LAAS-CNRS. His team has consistently received recognition at conferences including multiple best poster/oral awards. The lab's infrastructure now includes an Andor 200 Spinning disk confocal microscope and MicroSLA Micro 2 setup for advanced imaging and fabrication capabilities.
Lei Wang is an Assistant Professor of Bioengineering (College of Engineering) and Biology (College of Science) at Northeastern University since January 2024. Her research focuses on mammalian synthetic biology, microfluidics, and organ-on-a-chip technology for biomedical applications. Ph.D. in microfluidics and biosensors Postdoctoral training in genetically programming hiPSCs at MIT Biological Engineering Department Her research interests include: Designing genetically encoded microRNA sensors for live cell-state monitoring Bioengineering cell fate transitions for regenerative medicine and cancer therapy Developing organ-on-a-chip models with patient-specific hiPSCs Creating ultra-sensitive biosensors for pathogen detection Integrating synthetic biology with microfluidics Advancing automated, logic-driven cellular differentiation Her recent publications show a strong trend in synthetic biology tools for cell fate engineering, with applications in cancer therapy, infectious disease diagnostics, and tissue modeling. Notable work includes programmable microRNA sensors for cell state transitions and microfluidic systems for dynamic hypoxia studies. Scientific Awards: NIH Trailblazer Award (2024): $673,600 for programmable RNA sensors in targeted therapies Additional Contributions: Co-inventor on patents for multi-input miRNA sensing and capacitive pathogen detection Developed tumor-on-chip models and ultra-sensitive biosensors Research supported by collaborations with MIT and Northeastern labs Lei Wang Lab focuses on humanized disease models and cell fate engineering
Toshikazu Nishida is a Professor and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the University of Florida's Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. He holds a PhD (1988) and MS (1985) in Electrical & Computer Engineering, and a BS in Engineering Physics (1983), all from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His research focuses on multi-functional semiconductor devices, sensors, actuators, and MEMS, with emphasis on materials like strained Si, SiGe, GaN, ferroelectrics, and polymers. He has pioneered innovations in ferroelectric thin films, nanoelectromechanical systems, and flexible hybrid electronics, with applications in wearable sensors, energy harvesting, and microfluidic devices. Dr. Nishida has authored over 150 peer-reviewed publications and holds 11 U.S. patents. His awards include the NASA Invention Award (2008), IEEE Electron Device Society Distinguished Lecturer (2006-2011), and multiple teaching accolades such as the 2003 College of Engineering Teacher of the Year. His work bridges fundamental materials science with applied engineering systems. Lab/Team Affiliation : Interdisciplinary Microsystems Group (IMG) Grants : Not explicitly listed but implied through patent and publication activity. Future Work : Continued exploration of ferroelectric materials for ultra-low-power electronics and advanced MEMS integration.
Asiye Dogan is a Doctoral Researcher at the University of Freiburg, affiliated with the Faculty of Engineering and the Department of Microsystems Engineering. She holds the Agnes Pockels Fellow Recipient 2023 award. Her research focuses on biomimetic materials systems inspired by natural surface restoration mechanisms, such as the shedding of damaged layers in organisms like snakes and lizards. Her current project involves developing a parquet-like material system with superhydrophobic layers and sacrificial components to enable localized, controlled surface renewal. This work integrates principles from materials science, microsystems engineering, and biomimicry to create adaptive, self-restoring materials. Key Research Themes: Self-healing materials, adaptive surface engineering, superhydrophobicity, sacrificial layer design Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Jürgen Rühe Her research bridges fundamental material science with applied engineering, aiming to create durable and repairable synthetic systems modeled after biological strategies.
Indre Jödicke serves as an Associated Doctoral Researcher in the Department of Microsystems Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering, University of Freiburg. Her work focuses on topology optimization of nonlinear mechanical metamaterials using Fast-Fourier-Transformation-based solvers to engineer materials with tailored nonlinear responses for long-lived, trainable systems. Her research spans Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, and Computational Mechanics, with specific expertise in topology optimization, metamaterials, and nonlinear mechanical behavior. She investigates how material anisotropy and computational homogenization techniques can overcome manufacturing defects and numerical instabilities in architected materials. Analysis of her publications reveals a strong emphasis on computational material science. Her 2024 work addresses defect mitigation in architected materials through anisotropy, while her 2022 contribution solves ringing artifacts in FFT-based homogenization via finite-element projection. These studies advance structural optimization and computational homogenization methodologies. No scientific awards or fellowships are documented. She is supervised by Prof. Dr. Lars Pastewka within the livMatS cluster of excellence and has no listed advisees or additional grant information beyond her doctoral project.
Angelika Gedsun is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Freiburg, affiliated with the Faculty of Engineering and the Department of Microsystems Engineering. Her research focuses on advanced interfaces for modular programmable materials, leveraging AI and biomimetic approaches to design adaptive metamaterials. She collaborates on the AI²nterface project, aiming to develop shape-changing materials with reversible adhesion mechanisms, and contributes to the NDFI-MatWerk consortium for research data infrastructure in material science. Her work integrates interdisciplinary methods, including biology-inspired AI models for optimizing unit cell geometries and interlocking mechanisms. Key technical areas include capillarity forces, photo/thermally induced polymerization, and ontology development for data exchange standards. Supervised by Prof. Dr. Chris Eberl, her research addresses challenges in structural properties, information transfer, and modular material systems.
Dr. Max Mylo is a Postdoctoral Researcher and Associate Research Associate at the University of Freiburg, affiliated with the Cluster of Excellence livMatS @ FIT and the Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK). His primary role involves advancing biomimetic research focused on biological damage control mechanisms. He holds a PhD in Plant Biomechanics from the Plant Biomechanics Group Freiburg, supervised by Dr. Olga Speck and Prof. Chris Eberl. Affiliations: Cluster of Excellence livMatS @ FIT Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK) Plant Biomechanics Group Freiburg Botanical Garden of the University of Freiburg Research Interests: Dr. Mylo's work bridges plant biology and engineering, focusing on: Damage prevention and repair in biological systems (e.g., mistletoe, cacti) Biomimetic design of self-repairing materials Biomechanical analyses using advanced imaging (e.g., microtomography, digital correlation) Longevity of multi-material systems inspired by nature Publications & Grants: His research has been funded by the DFG under Germany's Excellence Strategy. Recent work includes modeling cactus abscission, developing silicone hoppers inspired by plant tissues, and studying tree inosculation for urban architecture. Labs & Collaborations: Collaborates extensively with IMTEK and the Botanical Garden, leveraging interdisciplinary teams to translate biological insights into technical applications.
Dr. Dorothea Helmer is a Researcher and Group Leader at the Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK) at the University of Freiburg. She leads the MatrixPrint project, focusing on high-resolution 3D printing of metals, polymers, and glass. Her affiliations include the NeptunLab and the Freiburg Materials Research Center (FMF). She completed her PhD in organic chemistry and biochemistry at TU Darmstadt (2014) and holds a chemistry degree from Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (2009). Her research expertise spans 3D printing technologies, surface engineering, and novel materials development. Key areas include additive manufacturing of microfluidic devices, superhydrophobic coatings, and transparent glass fabrication. Notable achievements include pioneering work on fused silica glass printing and developing photonic-based manufacturing techniques. Her publications (15+ recent papers) focus on advanced materials for 3D printing, surface functionalization, and microfluidic applications. Awards include the Lothar Späth Award (2021) and multiple startup accolades for Glassomer GmbH. She advises PhD students in topics like lignin-based composites and volumetric printing. Grants include BMBF funding for MatrixPrint and DFG support. Her lab, HelmerLab, innovates in embedded printing, volumetric additive manufacturing, and material synthesis for sustainable applications.
Ravi Kumar Divakar is affiliated with the Department of Microsystems Engineering at the University of Freiburg's Faculty of Engineering. His research focuses on Triboelectric Nanogenerators (TENG) for energy harvesting from high-frequency vibrations, exploring the physics of triboelectricity and its applications in sensors and energy systems. He is involved in projects such as the 'frequency-tunable tribogenerator' and collaborates on initiatives like the IDEASfactory@FIT. His work contributes to understanding charge-transfer processes and non-adiabatic dynamics in energy-harvesting systems. While no specific academic rank is explicitly stated, his active role in research projects suggests a position in applied research or early-career academic engagement. He is supervised by Prof. Dr. Peter Woias in his current research endeavors. Ravi participates in interdisciplinary events such as the livMatS Colloquium series, reflecting his engagement with broader scientific communities. Despite no listed awards or publications here, his contributions align with cutting-edge materials and energy research within the university's framework.
Anna Hoppe is an Agnes Pockels Research Fellow in the Department of Microsystems Engineering at the University of Freiburg. Her project investigates abscission and self-repair mechanisms in biological and artificial materials, focusing on mechanical modeling of branch junctions in Opuntia ficus-indica cacti. Collaborating with botanical gardens, she conducts simulations to identify key parameters influencing plant abscission. Her research aims to inform bio-inspired material design through fracture property analysis of plant geometries.
Dr. John Seymour is an Associate Professor of Neurosurgery at the McGovern School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center (UTHealth), and an Adjunct Associate Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering at Rice University. His research focuses on developing novel bioelectronic devices for neurological disease treatment, including neural interface systems, stretchable bioelectronics, and optogenetic tools. He holds a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Michigan and a B.S. in Engineering Physics from The Ohio State University. Education: 2009: Ph.D., Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan 2004: M.S.E., Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan 1996: B.S., Engineering Physics, The Ohio State University Research Interests: Neuroengineering, micro-device fabrication, signal processing, and translational neurotechnology. His lab, the Translational Biomimetic Bioelectronics Lab, develops materials and methods to improve neural interfaces for conditions like epilepsy and ALS. Projects include electrode optimization, compliant neural device modeling, and seizure localization. Labs/Teams: Leads the Translational Biomimetic Bioelectronics Lab, collaborating with the Texas Institute for Restorative Neurotechnologies (TIRN) and Rice University’s nanofabrication facilities. The lab integrates engineering, neuroscience, and clinical research for translational outcomes.
Cullen Buie is an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with tenure, working within the School of Engineering. He directs the Laboratory for Energy and Microsystems Innovation (LEMI), which focuses on microscale electric field driven transport phenomena for applications in biotechnology, fluid mechanics, and energy systems. His research bridges mechanical engineering, chemistry, and biology to address challenges ranging from healthcare to biofuels and energy storage. Dr. Buie earned his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from The Ohio State University (2003), followed by an M.S. (2005) and Ph.D. (2009) from Stanford University. Prior to joining MIT, he was a University of California President's Postdoctoral Fellow at UC Berkeley working with Professor Liwei Lin at the Berkeley Sensors and Actuators Center. His research interests center on exploiting microscale electric field phenomena, particularly in three interconnected areas: electrochemistry, electrokinetics, and microfluidics. His work has significant applications in microbial biotechnology, where electric fields are used to manipulate and assess cell phenotypes, and in energy storage systems, including the development of a membrane-less hydrogen bromine flow battery (HBLFB) that rivals membrane-based systems in performance while potentially reducing costs. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a consistent focus on microfluidic systems for biological applications, particularly bacterial manipulation and transformation. His work spans fundamental fluid dynamics, electrokinetic phenomena, and practical applications in energy storage and microbial engineering, with numerous publications in high-impact journals including Nature Communications, Lab on a Chip, and Physical Review E. NSF CAREER Award (2012) DuPont Young Professor Award (2013) DARPA Young Faculty Award (2013) Stanford Distinguished Alumni Scholar (2013) Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (2016) NIH Director's Transformative Research Award (2017) Dr. Buie has successfully mentored several graduate students to completion of their degrees, including Ph.D. graduates Qianru Wang and Andrew Jones, and M.S. graduate Rameech McCormack. His research has received substantial funding, including an NIH Director's Transformative Research Award. He has also co-founded Kytopen Corp., a company commercializing technology from LEMI, which received startup funding from The Engine. His teaching portfolio includes core mechanical engineering courses such as Thermodynamics, Advanced Fluid Mechanics, and Thermal-Fluids Engineering. At LEMI, Dr. Buie leads a research group investigating the intersections of electrochemistry, electrokinetics, and microfluidics engineering for 21st Century energy systems. The lab has developed innovative technologies including microfluidic devices for bacterial transformation, membraneless flow batteries, and methods for aerosol generation and analysis. The lab's work has led to both academic publications and commercial applications through the spinout company Kytopen.
Nate Cira is an Assistant Professor at the Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering within the College of Engineering at Cornell University. His research focuses on developing microfluidic technologies to study complex biological systems, including microbial communities, genetic interactions, and cellular processes. He leads the Cira Lab, which emphasizes high-throughput experimentation to address emergent properties in biological systems. Education B.S. in Biomedical Engineering, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Biology, and Molecular Biology from the University of Wisconsin - Madison (2011) M.S. and Ph.D. in Bioengineering from Stanford University (2013 and 2017) Research Interests His work spans Microfluidics and Microsystems , Systems and Synthetic Biology , and Biomedical Imaging . He designs tools to study microbial interactions, drug resistance, and cellular behavior at unprecedented scales. Recent projects include engineering droplet-based systems for studying bacterial evolution and developing automated platforms for high-throughput screening. Awards and Honors Rowland Fellow (2017-2022) Siebel Scholar (2015-2016) NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (2011-2014) APS DFD Gallery of Fluid Motion Winner (2013) Advising and Grants Dr. Cira advises students in Biomedical Engineering and Microbiology graduate programs. His lab has secured funding from sources like the NSF and private foundations to advance microfluidic technologies for biomedical applications. Labs and Teams The Cira Lab collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to bridge engineering and biology, with a focus on translational research for healthcare and environmental challenges.
Professor Yuze Alice Sun serves in the Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of Texas at Arlington's College of Engineering since September 2024, having progressed from Assistant Professor (2013-2019) to Associate Professor (2019-2024). She concurrently holds the position of Associate Chair since July 2024. Her educational background includes a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Michigan (2011), MS in Electrical Engineering from Nanjing University (2007), and dual BS degrees in Electrical Engineering (Huazhong University) and Biological Sciences (Wuhan University) (2004). Dr. Sun's research centers on optofluidic biosensing platforms , with primary interests spanning optofluidics, nanophotonics, and soft matter photonics. Her work develops Micro-gas chromatography systems with integrated photonic sensors Optofluidic droplet lasers for single-cell analysis Chemical vapor sensors using photonic crystal slabs Non-invasive lung cancer screening via breath analysis Her publication trend shows increasing focus on portable, integrated sensing platforms since 2020. Scientific honors include: NSF CAREER Award (2016) CPRIT High-Impact Research Award (2017) UTA Outstanding Research Achievement Award (2024) Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award (2015) She directs multiple federally funded projects including an NSF CAREER grant ($500,000) developing optofluidic lasers for biosensing, and leads a $1.8M Department of Energy consortium. Her laboratory develops integrated photonic micro-gas chromatography systems and optofluidic biolasers for medical diagnostics, with recent work focusing on wearable health monitoring devices.
