(6fw) Bio-Inspired Soft Electronics

Research Interests: Soft electronics enable integration with biological systems for transformative applications in wearable health, prosthetic devices, and soft robotics. The three key functionalities of soft systems are sensing, information processing, and actuation. Biological mechanoreceptor networks collect sophisticated tactile information with minimal energy consumption. Mimicking this efficiency using neuromorphic sensor networks based on oscillating systems can provide efficient feedback mechanisms for soft electronics. Information processing in biological systems is accomplished using neurons that are connected with synapses. A key aspect of biological systems is that each neuron can be connected with up to 1000 other neurons through a 3D arrangement of synapses. Using 3D printing technologies such as electrohydrodynamic printing can enable the production of active electronic devices with a large number of interconnections. Soft actuators that can mimic the capabilities of biological muscles require the ability to spatially pattern actuation directions with a large number of degrees of freedom. 3D printing enables the design of sophisticated electrostatic actuators and the integration with sensing and information processing processing capabilities in fully integrated soft systems.

Teaching Interests: My undergrad in Nanotechnology Engineering and my PhD in Materials Science has provided me with a strong background in materials properties and materials processing, including electronic properties of materials, mechanical properties of materials, polymer physics, and rheology. My research has focused on applications of such as prosthetic devices and wearable haptics, and I would be very interested in developing new course content in cutting-edge fields such as soft electronics, emerging electronic devices, and bio-integrated electronics.