Prof. Hedan Bai is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Materials, ETH Zürich, specializing in robotics materials, bio-inspired systems, and soft robotics. Their research focuses on developing advanced materials for sensing, energy-efficient systems, and biomedical applications. Notable projects include the SmartSuit architecture for space exploration and self-healing optical sensors for soft robots. Research interests span bioelectronics, stretchable sensors, haptic interfaces, and biomimetic materials. Bai's work integrates material science with robotics to create adaptive, sustainable, and intelligent systems. Key areas include wireless implants for neuromodulation, environmental-responsive textiles, and energy-harvesting devices. Publications highlight innovations in optical waveguides, self-healing materials, and wearable technologies. Their interdisciplinary approach bridges robotics, biomedical engineering, and aerospace applications. No formal awards are listed, but contributions to next-gen materials for robotics are prominent. Advising and grants are not detailed in the text, but Bai's lab focuses on projects like SmartSuit for extravehicular activities and synthetic afferent neural networks. Collaborations likely involve aerospace and biomedical sectors.
Gary Fedder is the Howard M. Wilkoff Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), with courtesy appointments in Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Robotics. He serves as Faculty Director of the Manufacturing Futures Institute (MFI) and previously held roles such as Vice Provost for Research and Interim CEO of the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute. Fedder’s research focuses on MEMS, advanced manufacturing, and implantable microsystems. He earned his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in EECS from MIT and UC Berkeley, respectively. Education: Ph.D., Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, UC Berkeley (1994) M.S., Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, MIT (1984) B.S., Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, MIT (1982) Research Interests: Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), digital twins, aerosol jet printing, stretchable electronics, and manufacturing innovation. His work integrates MEMS with CMOS processes, emphasizing low-cost, high-performance systems. Key Contributions: Co-founded the ARM Institute; developed MEMS-based sensors and actuators; pioneered methods for manufacturing innovation through projects like America Makes. His research spans over 300 publications and 21 patents. Awards: IEEE Fellow (2007), Ross Tucker Award (1993), NSF CAREER Award (1996), and leadership roles in Manufacturing USA initiatives. Leadership & Outreach: Directed the Institute for Complex Engineered Systems and led national initiatives to advance U.S. manufacturing competitiveness. Active in editorial roles for journals like IoP Journal of Micromechanics .
Sandro Carrara is a Full Professor at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), where he leads the Bio/CMOS Interfaces (BCI) laboratory. He is affiliated with the School of Engineering (STI), the Institute of Electrical Engineering (SCI-STI-SC), and the Integrated Systems Laboratory (LSI). His academic leadership spans teaching, doctoral supervision, and editorial roles in major journals including IEEE Sensors Journal and BioNanoScience. Education: Diploma in Electronics, National Technical Institute of Albenga, Italy Master in Physics, University of Genoa, Italy PhD in Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Padua, Italy His research focuses on the integration of biological systems with CMOS technology, particularly in the development of nanoscale biosensors for health monitoring. Key areas include memristive biosensors, wearable and implantable sensors, electrochemical detection, and therapeutic drug monitoring. His work bridges electronics, nanotechnology, and biomedicine to enable point-of-care diagnostics and personalized medicine. His recent publications (2023–2025) show a strong trend toward sustainable printed electronics, machine learning for biosensing, in-memory computing for cancer diagnostics, and remote health monitoring. These works appear in high-impact journals such as IEEE Sensors Journal , Nanoscale , and Biosensors and Bioelectronics: X . Scientific Awards: IEEE Fellow (2015) IEEE Sensors Council Technical Achievement Award (2016) Distinguished Lecturer, IEEE Sensors Council (2017) Best Paper Award, IEEE MeMeA Symposium (2020) Multiple Gold and Bronze Leaf Prizes at PRIME and IEEE conferences Best Poster Awards at EMBEC and Nano-Tera meetings He actively advises PhD students and leads research projects involving CMOS-based biosensors, wireless implants, and smart sensor systems. His lab collaborates widely across disciplines and institutions, focusing on real-world applications in oncology, neurology, and environmental health. He has also contributed to the development of battery-free wearable devices, optical power transfer systems, and IoT-enabled telemedicine platforms. Laboratories and Teams: Bio/CMOS Interfaces (BCI) Laboratory, EPFL Integrated Systems Laboratory (LSI), EPFL Collaborations with IEEE Sensors Council and Circuits and Systems Society Editorial leadership in IEEE Sensors Journal and BioNanoScience
Michel M. Maharbiz is a Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of California, Berkeley. He leads research on miniaturized bioelectronic interfaces, including neural dust implants and cyborg insects. He holds affiliations with the Berkeley Sensor & Actuator Center (BSAC), Center for Neural Engineering & Prostheses (CNEP), and SWARM Lab. His education includes a Ph.D. in EECS from UC Berkeley (2003) and a B.S. in EE from Cornell University (1997). Maharbiz's research integrates MEMS, ultrasonic systems, and synthetic biology to develop wireless neural interfaces, implantable sensors, and biohybrid devices. Key focus areas are neural dust technology for peripheral nerve recording, magnetoelastic strain sensors for medical applications, and electrochemical biosensing using bacterial flagellar motors. His publications emphasize neural interfaces, ultrasonic implants, and biomedical monitoring. Recent articles explore ultrasonic power delivery (2025), radiation detectors for oncology (2025), and fracture-healing smart plates (2019). Trends include miniaturization of wireless implants, closed-loop therapeutic systems, and novel biomaterials. Scientific Awards: McKnight Technological Innovations in Neuroscience Award (2017) Chan-Zuckerberg Biohub Investigator (2017) NSF CAREER Award (2009) MIT TR10 Top Emerging Technology (2009) Bakar Fellows Spark Award (2012) He directs the Maharbiz Lab, advancing neural dust and bioelectronic interfaces. Projects include impedance-based fracture monitoring, carbon fiber neural arrays, and hernia repair sensors. Funding includes NSF and industry partnerships for implantable device development.
Hamed Rahmani is an Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at New York University (NYU Tandon School of Engineering). He is affiliated with NYU WIRELESS and the Center for Advanced Technology in Telecommunications (CATT), leading the Research in Advanced Integrated Systems and Electronics (RAISE) Lab. His research focuses on integrated circuits and systems for biomedical applications, IoT, and 5G/6G communication. Education: Ph.D., Electrical and Computer Engineering, UCLA (2020) M.Sc., Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rice University (2017) B.Sc., Electrical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology (2014) Research Interests: RF/mm-Wave circuits, low-power biomedical sensors, energy-efficient IoT systems, and wireless power transfer. His work emphasizes miniaturized implants, smart healthcare, and sustainable electronics. Awards: Recipient of the NSF CAREER Award (2025), IEEE MTT-S Graduate Fellowship (2019), and the 2023 Best Paper Award in the Journal of Microwave. He serves on technical committees for major conferences like CICC and IMS. Labs & Groups: Directs the RAISE Lab, collaborating with NYU WIRELESS on 6G research and CATT for technology transfer.
Irene Taurino is an Assistant Professor (tenure track) in the Faculty of Engineering Science at KU Leuven, affiliated with the Department of Physics and Astronomy and the Department of Electrical Engineering (ESAT). She leads the Laboratory of Electrochemical Materials and Bio Interfaces (eMATI), focusing on nano- and microtechnologies for biomedical applications. Her work emphasizes developing advanced electrochemical systems for therapeutic and sensing purposes, including biodegradable platforms and stretchable substrates. Research Interests: Electrochemistry, Nanotechnology, (Bio)sensing, Drug delivery, Bimetals/Metal Oxides, and Smart materials. Projects include HumiPlast (plant transpiration sensors), QuantPAH (firefighter health monitoring), and TALENT (thin-film deposition technologies). She holds leadership roles in Leuven One Health, LIMNI, and the Plant Institute. Advising & Grants: Promotes/Co-promotes 10+ projects on biosensors, CO2 electroreduction, and smart farming. Key roles in funding initiatives like EU Horizon and industry partnerships. Labs/Teams: Heads eMATI, fostering interdisciplinary research in bioelectronics and soft materials. Emphasizes creativity and translational research from fundamental science to practical applications.
Michael McAlpine is a Professor in the Mechanical Engineering department at the University of Minnesota . He also holds affiliations with the Biomedical Engineering and Electrical and Computer Engineering departments. His research focuses on 3D printing functional materials & devices , Nanoscale inks , Biomedical devices , Bioelectronics , and Flexible Microsystems . Research Interests : 3D Printing, Biomedical Engineering, Nanotechnology, Flexible Electronics, Microfluidics Labs : ME 361/363 Contact : mcalpine@umn.edu , (612) 626-3303, ME 117 Recent Research Trends include 3D Printed Biomedical Devices , Flexible Electronics , and Bioprinting Applications . His work spans from Spinal Organoid Formation to Programmable Drug Release Capsules . Scientific Award : Circulation Research 2020 Best Manuscript Award
Alanson Sample is an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Michigan (since 2018), leading the Interactive Sensing and Computing Lab. His research focuses on Human-Computer Interaction, Cyber-Physical Systems, and wireless technology innovations. He holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Washington (2011), with prior postdoctoral work there developing implantable medical devices. Before academia, Sample held senior roles at Disney Research (2013-2018) as Executive Lab Director and Principal Research Scientist, leading teams in Robotics, AI, Computer Vision, and HCI. Earlier, he worked at Intel Labs (2008-2013) on energy harvesting for wearables and IoT. Key research themes include wireless power systems, embedded sensing, and privacy-aware technologies. Over 150+ publications span topics like magnetic sensing (MagDesk), acoustic gesture recognition (HandSAW), and privacy-preserving activity tracking (PrivacyMic). His work bridges academic and industry innovation, particularly in scalable interactive systems and medical technology. Notable projects include the Quasistatic Cavity Resonance wireless charging system, RFID-based sensing platforms (WISP), and wearable health monitoring devices. His lab develops hardware-software co-design frameworks for energy-efficient embedded systems. Current research emphasizes medical applications, smart infrastructure, and ubiquitous computing interfaces.
Josiah Hester is Associate Professor of Interactive Computing and Computer Science at Georgia Tech's College of Computing, where he also directs the Center for Advancing Responsible Computing and the Ka Moamoa – Ubiquitous and Mobile Computing Lab . His research focuses on sustainable, battery-free computing systems for health, conservation, and education, informed by his Native Hawaiian heritage. Education: Ph.D. in Computer Science, Clemson University, 2017 B.S. in Computer Science, Clemson University Honors College, 2011 Research Interests: Hester’s group pioneers intermittent computing —devices that harvest ambient energy (solar, radio, thermal, microbial) and operate reliably despite frequent power loss. Applications span: Large-scale conservation sensing with Indigenous communities Battery-free health wearables (smart masks, implantables) Educational tools for sustainable design Carbon-aware IoT and recyclable robotics Recent Work & Trends: His 2024–2025 publications unveil soil-powered sensors, recyclable electronics, and culturally-grounded CS education tools. A consistent theme is co-design with underserved communities and embedding sustainability metrics at every layer—from hardware to curriculum. Scientific Awards: Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) – 2025 Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship – 2022 NSF CAREER Award – 2022 Popular Science “Brilliant 10” – 2021 3M Non-Tenured Faculty Award – 2021 Multiple best-paper & best-presentation awards Grants & Teams: Hester’s lab is supported by >$50 million in active funding from NSF, NIH (ARPA-H), DARPA, DoD, Sloan, VMware, and 3M. He leads interdisciplinary teams on projects such as: $35 million ARPA-H bioelectronics initiative for diabetes and cancer $5 million NSF “Coastlines and People” Hub for Manoomin conservation $2 million NSF-DELPHI sustainable edge device design Laboratory & Mentorship: The Ka Moamoa Lab (named with Hawaiian meaning “lamp of the moamoa fish”) hosts graduate, undergraduate, and post-doctoral researchers. Hester actively recruits Native and Indigenous students and has mentored award-winning advisees such as Nivedita Arora (ACM Doctoral Dissertation Award 2024).
Noorbakhsh Amiri Golilarz is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at The University of Alabama, College of Engineering. He has established himself as a prominent researcher in artificial intelligence, particularly in computer vision, deep learning, and image processing. His educational background includes: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Computer Science, Boston College (2023) Ph.D., Electrical and Computer Engineering, Southern Illinois University Carbondale (2023) D. Eng., Computer Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (2021) M.S., Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Eastern Mediterranean University (2017) B.S., Electrical Engineering, University of Guilan (2012) Dr. Golilarz's research spans multiple domains of artificial intelligence with a particular focus on computer vision, deep learning, and image processing applications. His work addresses challenges in medical imaging, satellite imagery, and cognitive neuroscience. He has made significant contributions to image denoising techniques, control chart pattern recognition, and AI applications in healthcare. His recent work has expanded into generative AI, large language models, and secure machine learning operations. His publication portfolio demonstrates consistent productivity with over 2500 citations and an h-index of 25. His most impactful work includes applications of blockchain and federated learning for COVID-19 detection, optimized support vector machines for medical diagnosis, and innovative image denoising techniques using metaheuristic optimization algorithms. Among his professional achievements: Co-founded AI Letters journal in 2024, serving as Associate Editor-in-Chief Served as Lead Guest Editor and Topic Editor for several SCI-indexed journals Held the role of Conference Program Chair Dr. Golilarz has supervised numerous graduate students and research projects, with his work spanning theoretical advancements in AI algorithms to practical applications in healthcare, energy systems, and cybersecurity. His research group has established collaborations with institutions including Boston College and Mississippi State University.
Prof. Dr. Melanie Zeilinger is an Associate Professor at the Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering at ETH Zurich, leading the Intelligent Control Systems group at the Institute for Dynamic Systems and Control. She holds a diploma in Engineering Cybernetics from the University of Stuttgart (2006) and a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from ETH Zurich (2011). Her postdoctoral research included stints at EPFL (2011–2012), a Marie Curie fellowship at UC Berkeley and the Max Planck Institute (2012–2015), and a professorship at the University of Freiburg (2018–2019). Her research focuses on learning-based control, distributed control systems, and robotics , with applications to medical devices (e.g., hydrocephalus shunts) and human-in-the-loop systems. She organizes the Conference on Learning for Dynamics and Control (L4DC) and contributes to initiatives like the "Algorithm on My Team" project. Her awards include the ETH Medal for her PhD thesis, a Marie-Curie IO Fellowship , and an SNF Assistant Professorship grant . She serves as an Associate Editor for IEEE Control Systems Letters and actively reviews for top journals/conferences like IEEE TAC, Automatica, and NeurIPS. Key projects include: VIEshunt: A smart ventricular shunt for hydrocephalus treatment, combining control systems and medical engineering. Autonomous Racing: Contextual tuning and safety-certified learning-based MPC for real-time obstacle avoidance. Data-Driven Control: Integrating Gaussian processes and state-space models into MPC frameworks for uncertain systems. Her work bridges control theory, machine learning, and robotics, addressing societal challenges such as healthcare and energy efficiency.
Dr. Canan Dagdeviren is an Associate Professor and LG Career Development Professor of Media Arts and Sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she directs the Conformable Decoders research group at the MIT Media Lab. She joined the MIT faculty in January 2017 and has established herself as a leading innovator in conformable biomedical devices. Education: Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign M.Sc. in Materials Science and Engineering, Sabanci University, Istanbul, Turkey B.Sc. in Physics Engineering, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey Dr. Dagdeviren's research focuses on creating mechanically adaptive electromechanical systems that can intimately integrate with biological surfaces for sensing, actuation, and energy harvesting. She believes vital information from nature and the human body is 'coded' in various physical patterns, and her work develops 'conformable decoders' to translate these patterns into beneficial signals and energy. Her research spans wearable and implantable medical devices, with particular emphasis on piezoelectric systems that can be twisted, folded, stretched, wrapped, and implanted onto curvilinear surfaces of the human body without damage or significant alteration in performance. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on medical applications of conformable electronics, particularly in ultrasound technology for breast cancer detection, deep brain stimulation, and bladder monitoring. Her work consistently bridges materials science, electrical engineering, and medical applications, with increasing emphasis on practical healthcare solutions that can be deployed outside clinical settings. Major Scientific Awards: NSF CAREER Award (2021) 3M Non-Tenured Faculty Award (2021) MIT Technology Review's Top 35 Innovators Under 35 (2015) Forbes' Top 30 Under 30 in Science (2015) National Academy of Engineering US Frontiers of Engineering Symposium participant (2019) Frank E. Perkins Award for Excellence in Graduate Advising Aziz Sancar Science Award Dr. Dagdeviren actively mentors graduate students and has received recognition for her advising excellence. Her research is supported by significant grants including the NSF CAREER award and has resulted in numerous patents and commercialization opportunities. She has developed innovative cleanroom-based courses at MIT that train students in microfabrication techniques for biomedical devices. The Conformable Decoders research group operates a specialized cleanroom facility at the MIT Media Lab, enabling the development and fabrication of novel conformable electronic systems. The group's work has attracted attention from major media outlets including BBC, CNN, and Nature, and has potential applications across multiple medical specialties including neurology, oncology, and urology.
Kristofer Pister is a Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences at the University of California, Berkeley. He co-directs the Berkeley Sensor and Actuator Center (BSAC) and the Ubiquitous Swarm Lab. His career spans groundbreaking innovations in Micro/Nano Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS), Control Systems, and Low-Power Circuits, with a focus on Smart Dust and synthetic insects. Education: Ph.D. and M.S. in EECS from UC Berkeley (1992, 1989); B.A. in Applied Physics from UC San Diego (1986). His research areas include MEMS , Control Systems , Robotics , and Integrated Circuits , with recent work on self-powered micro-sensors, crystal-free radios, and interplanetary swarm networks. Key awards include the ISA Albert F. Sperry Founder Award (2009) , Alexander Schwarzkopf Prize (2006) , and the NSF CAREER Award (1996) . He has authored numerous influential publications in wireless sensor networks and microrobotics. His lab, Ubiquitous Swarm Lab , explores distributed robotics and swarm intelligence. Pister emphasizes open collaboration in research, ethical conduct in academia, and efficient resource utilization for graduate students.
Houman Savoji is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Physiology at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal. He is also a full-time researcher at the CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center and principal investigator in regenerative medicine, organs-on-chip, and bioprinting at TransMedTech Institute. Dr. Savoji received his PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the Institute of Biomedical Engineering at Polytechnique Montréal in 2016. He then completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto. His research expertise combines advanced manufacturing technologies (micro- and nano-fabrication, 3D bioprinting, microfluidics, cell electrospinning) with functional and composite materials for applications in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and organs-on-chip. His work focuses on the design, development, optimization, implementation, and characterization of innovative functional biomaterials using emerging engineering technologies, with particular emphasis on cardiac tissue engineering and biomimetic pulmonary heart valves for pediatric patients. Dr. Savoji has published extensively on biomaterials, tissue engineering, 3D bioprinting, and organ-on-chip technologies. His recent publications demonstrate expertise in viscoelastic characterization of soft tissues, engineering immune responses to biomaterials, ceramic engineering for biomedical applications, and advanced 3D bioprinting techniques for cardiac and vascular tissue engineering. 2017-2020, Postdoctoral Research Grant, CIHR 2017-2019, Postdoctoral Research Grant, FRQNT 2017-2018, Human Society of International Grant, Human Toxicity Assessment Project 2016, CR-CHUM Research Center Award 2015, Star Student-Researcher Award, FRQNT 2014-2015, Jane and Frank Warchol Fellowship, Society of Vacuum Coaters Foundation 2013, Institute of Textile Science Award 2012-2015, Excellence Doctoral Scholarship for Foreign Students, FRQNT Dr. Savoji has supervised Master's students including Ines Barrakad (2024) working on 'Advanced manufacturing technologies versus molding of corneal implants: 3D printing vs molding of a Keratoprosthesis' and Zineb Ajji (2023) researching 'Development of perfusable patches by 3D bioprinting for potential application in cardiac tissue regeneration.' He has secured numerous research grants from organizations including CIHR, NSERC, FRQNT, FRQS, MITACS, and others for projects related to 3D bioprinting of cardiac tissues, biomimetic heart valves, and other tissue engineering applications. The Savoji Laboratory, located within the Department of Pharmacology and Physiology and Institute of Biomedical Engineering of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Montreal, the Research Center of the CHU Sainte-Justine (CHUSJ), and the TransMedTech Institute, focuses on multidisciplinary research involving 3D bioprinting using stem-cell derived human cardiac cells to fabricate functional cardiac tissues for transplantation and drug discovery applications.
Dr. Nhiem Tran is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Applied Chemistry and Environmental Science at RMIT University's School of Science, part of the STEM College. He joined RMIT in 2015 as a Vice Chancellor's Research Fellow after completing his PhD in Physics at Brown University (USA, 2012) and postdoctoral research at Rhode Island Hospital (USA), CSIRO, and the Australian Synchrotron. His research focuses on developing biomaterials for drug delivery, gene therapy, and medical implants, particularly lipid nanoparticles and 3D-printed metallic implants. He leads the Biomaterial Interfaces group, investigating self-assembled lipid nanoparticles for cancer and autoimmune disease treatments. His work has resulted in over 65 high-impact publications and numerous awards, including the RMIT Vice Chancellor's Research Fellowship and the Stein/Bellet Foundation Fellowship. Tran's funding comes from grants such as the ARC Discovery Project, mRNA Victoria, and the CASS Foundation. His research interests span nanomedicine, biomedical engineering, and materials science, with a focus on applications in drug delivery, bacterial infection control, and orthopaedic implants. Education: PhD in Physics (Brown University, 2012) Key Projects: 3D-printed diamond-titanium implants, lipid nanoparticle drug carriers, and antimicrobial coatings. He actively supervises postgraduate research in areas like nanomaterials for drug delivery and biomedical applications.
