personnel

Personnel

PI/Lab Director

Ghodssi, Reza
ghodssi@umd.edu | 301-405-8158

Reza Ghodssi is the Herbert Rabin Distinguished Chair in Engineering and the Director of the MEMS Sensors and Actuators Lab (MSAL) in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) and the Institute for Systems Research (ISR) at the University of Maryland (UMD). Dr. Ghodssi is the Inaugural Executive Director of Research and Innovation for the A. James Clark School of Engineering at the University System of Maryland at Southern Maryland (USMSM). Dr. Ghodssi's research interests are in the design and development of micro/nano/bio devices and systems for chemical and biological sensing as well as small-scale energy conversion and harvesting with a strong emphasis toward healthcare applications. Dr. Ghodssi also served as the director of the Institute for Systems Research (ISR) for eight years (2009-2017). During this time, he launched a number of interdisciplinary initiatives such as the Maryland Robotics Center (MRC) and the Brain and Behavior Initiative (BBI), where he served as the founding co-director for six years (2015-2021), aimed at enhancing the impact of ISR research efforts on society while building a more interactive faculty, staff, and student community across different disciplines in the institute. Dr. Ghodssi served as the President-elect of the Transducer Research Foundation (TRF) from 2020 until 2022. Since June 2022, he has been serving as the new President of TRF. Dr. Ghodssi is a University of Maryland Distinguished Scholar-Teacher, a Fellow of IEEE, AVS, and ASME, has 170 journal publications and 361 refereed conference papers, and is the co-editor of the MEMS Materials and Processes Handbook published in 2011. He served as an associate editor for Biomedical Microdevices (BMMD) for thirteen years (2008-2021) and also served as editor of the Journal of Microelectromechanical Systems (JMEMS) for twelve years (2008-2020). Also, Dr. Ghodssi is the guest associate editor of the IEEE Journal of Microelectromechanical Systems "Special Proceeding" of the Hilton Head 2020 Workshop (October 2020). He has nine U.S. patents issued, nine U.S. patents published, with another seven pending.

Graduate Students

Holt, Brian M.
brian830@umd.edu | 301-405-1897
Brian Holt received his Bachelor of Science degree from University of Maryland in Electrical and Computer Engineering in 2022. He continued his study to pursue a PhD degree in University of Maryland and joined MSAL in Fall 2022. His current research interest is the design of an intestinal tissue impedance sensor for the integrated capsule.
Levy, Joshua A.
jlevy1@umd.edu | 301-405-1897
Joshua Levy received his Bachelor of Science degrees from Binghamton University in Engineering Physics and Chemistry in May 2020. His previous research at Binghamton University focused on additive manufacturing of electrical interconnects and additively fabricated microscale devices. He joined the University of Maryland Materials Science & Engineering Department and MSAL in Fall 2020 to pursue his PhD. His current research interest is in the development of actuation devices and associated microsystems for direct intervention of gastrointestinal disorders.
Overton, Sydney N.
sydneyov@umd.edu | 301-405-1897
Sydney Overton received her Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and Bachelor of Arts degree in physics from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in May 2019. Her previous research experience involves using microfluidics to characterize the impedance of endothelial cells. She joined MSAL in Fall 2022. Her current research interests are the development of micro devices for studying the gut-microbiome-brain axis.
Straker, Michael A.
mstraker@umd.edu | 301-405-1897
Michael Straker received his Bachelor of Science degree from Temple University in Bioengineering in 2016 and his Master of Science degree from Morgan State University in Science – Physics in 2020. His previous research experience involved evaluating the mechanical integrity of nano- diamond infused ACL grafts and the growth and characterization of boron carbide single crystals. He joined the University of Maryland Fischell Department of Bioengineering in Fall of 2020 to pursue his PhD in Bioengineering and joined MSAL in Spring of 2021. His current research interests are the development of MEMS based drug delivery systems and sensor integrated in vitro platforms.

Graduate Coordinator

Jia, Peiyao
pyjia@umd.edu | 301-405-2168
Peiyao is the current graduate coordinator for MSAL assisting with the lab's administrative and bookkeeping duties. She supports various communication tasks including grant applications, maintaining MSAL websites, as well as organizing meetings and events for different occasions. Peiyao is a Ph.D. candidate from the School of Public Policy with a focus on health and education policy in international development. She received her master's in Economics from New York University and her bachelor's in Economics from Fordham University.
 
 

Undergraduate Students

Ben Glaros
bglaros1@terpmail.umd.edu | (301) 405-1897

Ben Glaros joined the University of Maryland Electrical and Computer Engineering Department in Fall 2023 pursuing a degree in Electrical Engineering. Benjamin is currently working on developing technologies to sample remote regions of the GI tract.

Jude Stephen
jstephn6@terpmail.umd.edu | (301) 405-1897

Jude Stephen joined the University of Maryland Electrical and Computer Engineering Department in Fall 2023 pursuing a degree in Electrical Engineering. Jude is currently interested in developing actuation and fluidic technologies to control localized drug release in the GI tract using ingestible devices.

Mateo Lim
mateolim@terpmail.umd.edu | (301) 405-1897

Mateo Lim joined the University of Maryland Electrical and Computer Engineering Department in Fall 2020 pursuing a degree in Electrical Engineering. Mateo is currently designing an ingestible device prototype for feedback-driven control of ingestible devices.

Ravidu Hevaganinge
rhevagan@terpmail.umd.edu | 301-405-1897

Ravidu Hevaganinge joined the University of Maryland Fischell Department of Bioengineering in Fall 2020 pursuing a degree in bioengineering. Ravidu is currently working on developing technologies to sense serotonin in the GI tract.

Faculty Collaborators

Professor
Electrical and Computer Engineering, Institute for Systems Research
2211 A V Williams
pabshire@umd.edu | 301-405-6629
Robert E. Fischell Distinguished Chair of Engineering
Fischell Dept of Bioengineering, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
3122 Jeong H. Kim Engineering Building
bentley@umd.edu | 301-405-4321
Professor
Department of Plant Sciences and Landscape Architecture, Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research
5115 Plant Science Bldg
jculver@umd.edu | 301-405-2912
Assistant Professor
Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins University
615 N Wolfe Street, Room E2628, Baltimore, MD 21205
kdavi140@jhu.edu | 443-287-7589
Associate Professor, Co-Director, Brain and Behavior Initiative (BBI), Director, Neuroscience and Cognitive Science Program (NACS)
Department of Psychology / BSOS
2123H Biology-Psychology Building
jherberh@umd.edu | 301-405-5902
Associate Professor
UMB Microbiology and Immunology, UMCP Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research
9600 Gudelsky Drive, Rockville, MD 20850
yuxingli@umd.edu | 240-314-6332
Professor & Assoc. Dean
Department of Physics
1147 Physical Sciences Complex
wlosert@umd.edu | 301.405.0629
Assistant Professor
Fischell Department of Bioengineering
3120 A. James Clark Hall
maiselka@umd.edu | (301) 405-9805
Assistant Professor, Director of Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery
University of Maryland School of Medicine
419 West Redwood Street Suite 330. Baltimore, MD 21201
RMalik@som.umaryland.edu | 667-214-1411
Chair, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic Arizona
Department of Internal Medicine
13400 E. Shea Blvd. Scottsdale, AZ 85259
|
Professor
Fischell Department of Bioengineering, Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research
5115 Plant Sciences Building
gpayne@umd.edu | 301-405-8389
Professor
University of Maryland School of Medicine
670 West Baltimore St, Baltimore 21201
drasko@som.umaryland.edu | 410-706-6774
Professor, Director of Maryland NanoCenter
ISR, ECE, NanoCenter
1128 Jeong H. Kim Engineering Bldg
rubloff@isr.umd.edu | 301-405-3011
Professor, Vice Chair Department of Neural and Pain Sciences
Department of Neural and Pain Sciences, University of Maryland School of Dentistry
650 W Baltimore St, Room 8204, Baltimore, MD 21201
rtraub@umaryland.edu | 410-706-5117
Herbert Rabin Distinguished Chair in Engineering
Director of the MEMS Sensors and Actuators Lab (MSAL)
2232 Jeong H. Kim Engineering Building
ghodssi@umd.edu | 301-405-8158
Former Graduate Students

2023

Han, Jinjing

Jinjing Han joined MSAL in August, 2017 and graduated in August 2023 with his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering. He is currently working as a Research & Development Engineer in the Meta Reality Lab in Seattle, Washington.

Stine, Justin M.

Justin Stine joined MSAL in Spring, 2017 and graduated in June 2023 with his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering. He is currently working as an Assistant Research Scientist in the MATRIX Lab, SMART Building at the University System of Maryland at Southern Maryland (USMSM) in California, Maryland.

2022

Chapin, Ashley
Ashley graduated with her Ph.D. in February, 2022.

2020

Huiszoon, Ryan
Ryan graduated with his Ph.D. in August, 2020 and is working as a Senior Systems Engineer at Abbott Laboratories in Irving, TX.

2019

Banis, George
George graduated with his Ph.D. in August, 2019 and is a Patent Agent at the Greenberg Traurig LLP specializing in patent prosecution of medical device and biotechnology patent applications.. He is also currently attending law school.

2018

Chu, Sangwook
Sangwook graduated with his Ph.D. in August, 2018. He continued to work with the lab as a postdoctoral researcher until March, 2020 and is a Process Engineer at Applied Materials in Santa Clara, California.

2017

Winkler, Thomas
Thomas graduated with his Ph.D. in February, 2017 and is an Assistant Professor at the Technical University of Braunschweig.

2016

Jung, Hyun
Hyun graduated with his Ph.D. in July, 2016 and is now a Bioinformatics Manager at the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research in Frederick, Maryland.
Subramanian, Sowmya
Sowmya graduated with her Ph.D. in June, 2016 and is a Patent Agent at Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP in Boston, Massachusetts.
Zang, Faheng
Faheng graduated with his Ph.D. in May, 2016 and is an Associate Professor in the Department of Micro-Nano Electronics at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. 

2014

Chocron, Sheryl
Sheryl graduated with her MS in December, 2014 and is an AD at Patient Specialty and Services Launch Center of Excellence at Novartis. 
Kim, Young Wook
Young graduated with his Ph.D. in April, 2014 and is a founder and CEO of ProxiHealthcare in South Korea.
Meyer, Mariana
Mariana graduated with her Ph.D. in January, 2014 and is a Manager of Systems Engineering at Northrop Grumman in Linthicum, Maryland.

2013

Fan, Xiao Zhu (Mike)
Mike graduated with his Ph.D. in December, 2013 and is a MEMS Scientist in MEMS Sensor Design and Development at Honeywell in Plymouth, Minnesota.
Hanrahan, Brendan
Brendan graduated with his Ph.D. in Feburary, 2013 and is a Materials Engineer in the Sensors and Electron Devices Division at the US Army Research Laboratory in Adelphi, Maryland.
Siwak, Nathan
Nathan graduated with his Ph.D. in July, 2013 and is a Semiconductor Engineer (ZH) in the Electronic System sector at Northrop Grumman in Linthicum, Maryland.

2012

Baron, Sergio
Sergio graduated with his MS in August, 2012 and is a CEO at Dynami - Engineering Solutions in Ultra-Thin Lithium Batteries in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Gerasopoulos, Konstantinos
Konstantinos graduated with his Ph.D. in February, 2012 and is a Senior Research Scientist at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland.
 
Mosteller, Matthew
Matthew graduated with his MS in October, 2012 and is an Associate at Fish & Richardson in Washington, DC.

2011

Beyaz, Mustafa
Mustafa graduated with his Ph.D. in October, 2011 and is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Antalya International University in Antalya, Turkey.
Dykstra, Peter
Peter graduated with his Ph.D. in July, 2011 and is a Registered Patent Agent at Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox in Washington, DC.
 

2010

Khbeis, Michael
Michael graduated with his Ph.D. in May, 2010 and is the Director of Lab Operations at the Meta Reality Labs in Redmond, Washington. 

2009

Koev, Stefan
Stefan graduated with his Ph.D. in June, 2009 and is a Software Engineer at LAB49 in Herndon, Virginia.

2008

McGee, Jonathan
Jonathan graduated with his MS in February, 2008 and is a founder of Ethereal Systems LLC in Mountain View, California.
Mosher, Lance
Lance graduated with his MS in July, 2008 and is an Electronics Engineer at the Lockheed Martin Company in Newtown, Pennsylvania.
 
 
Waits, Christopher Michael
Mike graduated with his Ph.D. in May, 2008 and is a Team Leader of the Compact Power Team at the US Army Research Laboratory in Adelphi, Maryland.

2007

Ghalichechian, Nima
Nima graduated with his Ph.D. in July, 2007 and is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Georgia Tech University in Atlanta, GA.
Modafe, Alireza
Alireza graduated with his Ph.D. in September, 2007 and is working as a Sr. Principal Systems Design Engineer at Exo in Redwood City, California.
 

2006

Li, Sheng
Sheng graduated with his Ph.D. in February, 2006 and is a Technology Development Engineering Manager and Technologist at Intel Corporation in Chandler, Arizona.
Morgan, Brian
Brian graduated with his Ph.D. in September, 2006 and is a Director for the Sensors and Electron Devices Division at the US Army Research Laboratory in Adelphi, Maryland.
Powers, Michael
Michael graduated with his MS in June, 2006 and is the VP/ Chief Innovation and Strategy Officer at the First Financial Federal Credit Union of Maryland in Baltimore, Maryland.
 

2005

Chuang, Wen-hsien
Wen-hsien graduated with his Ph.D. in May, 2005 and is working in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSMC) as the director in charge of More-Than-Moore Technology Quality and Reliability Division.
Kelly, Daniel
Daniel graduated with his MS in June, 2005 and is an Engineer at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.
Pruessner, Marcel Werner
Marcel graduated with his Ph.D. in August, 2005 and is a Research Engineer in the Optical Sciences Division at the Naval Research Lab in Washington, DC.

2001

Lin, Ta-Wei (David)
David graduated with his MS in December, 2001 and is a Technical Manager at OPUS Microsystems in Taipei, Taiwan.

 

 

Former Postdoctoral Research Associates

2021

Botasini, Santiago
Santiago completed his work with MSAL in 2021 and continues his research in Uruguay.
 
 
 
 

2020

Chu, Sangwook
Sangwook completed his work with MSAL in 2020 and is a Process Engineer at Applied Materials in Santa Clara, California.
Liu, Sanwei
Sanwei completed his work with MSAL in 2020 and is a Research Engineer at Boston Scientific in San Jose, California.

2019

Rajasekaran, Pradeep Ramiah
Pradeep completed his work with MSAL in 2019 and works at Dexcom in San Diego, California.

2015

Ben-Yoav, Hadar
Hadar completed his work with MSAL in 2015 and is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the Ben Gurion University of the Negev in Be'er Sheva, Israel.
Gnerlich, Markus
Markus completed his work with MSAL in 2015 and is a Research Scientist at Honeywell Aerospace in Plymouth, Minnesota.

2013

Pomerantseva, Ekaterina
Ekaterina completed her work with MSAL in 2013 and is an Associate Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Drexel University. in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

2009

McCarthy, Matt
Matt completed his work with MSAL in 2009 and is an Associate Professor and Associate Department Head for Graduate Affairs in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics at Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

2007

Badilita, Vlad
Vlad completed his work with MSAL in 2007 and is a Group Leader for the µMR (microscale magnetic resonance) group at the University of Freiburg IMTEK in Freiburg, Germany.

2006

Wu, Li-Qun (Cynthia)
Cynthia completed her work with MSAL in 2006 and is a Director/ Patent Agent at Anova Law Group in Sterling, Virginia.
Yi, Hyunmin
Hyunmin completed his work with MSAL in 2006 and is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Tufts University in Boston, Massachusetts.

 

 

2005

Datta, Madhumita
Madhumita completed her work with MSAL in 2005 and is an Associate at Lowenstein Sandler in Palo Alto, California.

2004

Tan, Xiaobo
Xiaobo completed his work with MSAL in 2004 and is a MSU Foundation Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan.

2002

Gadre, Anand
Anand completed his work with MSAL in 2002 and is the Executive Director for the Core Research Facilities at the University of California, Merced in Merced, California.

Former Undergraduate and Graduate Student Interns

Abianeh, Hossein
Arya, Sonia
Au, Yiu
Barton, Patricia
Berhane, Bruk
Borbash, Vivian
Brady, Sarah
Buzduga, Alex
Cheng, Aaron
Conley, Preston
Costa, Gillian
Dietrich, Robert
Doubleday, Kyle
Feldman, Jeremy
Ferix, Tony
Frey, Alex
Froimchuk, Eugene
Ganelin, Ilya
Ganig, Nick
Ghavam, Borna
Ghosh, Sukriti
Grable, Jaxson
Hao, George
Hergert, Robert
Hughes, Austin
Hurwitz, Benjamin
Jesner, Dylan
Jordan, Delaney
Kastantin, Mark
Kelly, Daniel
Khayat, Shireen
Kleber, Benjamin
Lee, Ashlyn
Lee, Erica
Lee, Katherine
Luger, Thomas
Maeder, Michael
McKinzie, Keith
Mendis, John Udara
Misra, Saswat
Moreyra, Jonathan
Nguetsap, Liliane
Nguyen, Thaihang
Nilacantan, Aditya
Nithianandam, Divya
Patel, Chintan
Patkin, Michelle
Peckarsky, David
Perera, Charles
Preza, Sam
Sayyaparaju, Prateek
Scarlis, Kyle
Schafer, Christian
Schleunitz, Arne
Schneider, Katherine
Semick, Stephen
Shahi, Ishita
Shamin, Imran
Shold, Andrew J.
Stevenson, Florence
Tolstaya, Ekaterina
Tsen, Chuck
Uplekar, Nikhil
Valdes, Bibiana
Valdivia, Patrick
Weisberger, Bryce
Wendland, David
Zhang, XiaoXi
Former Visiting Scholars and Graduate Exchange Students
Caruso, Massimo
Hergert, Robert
Iguchi, Tomohiro
Mitcheson, Paul D.
Pekarek, Jan
Pekarkova, Jana
Tomioka, Taizo

Past HS Students

Baheti, Aparna
Carroll, Colin
Rocca, Catherine Della
Shaqir, Ramsey
Sinozich, Sofi
Vaziri, Tina