A.Education
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
C. elegans genetics course
August 13-29, 2009
Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering, Aug 2002
Thesis: Piezoresistive Cantilevers For Characterizing Thin-Film Gold Electrical Contacts
Advisor: Professor Thomas Kenny
Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA
Nuclear Reactor System Design (MS equiv), Feb 1993 - Aug 1993
Westinghouse Bettis Reactor Engineering School, Pittsburgh, PA
MS, Manufacturing Systems Engineering, 1992
Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA
BS, Mechanical Engineering, 1991
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Thesis: Design of an Automated Powder Deposition System for a Three Dimensional Printing Machine
B.Professional Experience
B.1.Positions Held
Professor, Apr 2017 –
Present
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University
By Courtesy, Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, December 2013 – Present
By Courtesy, Department of Bioengineering, February 2016 – Present
Associate Professor, Sept 2010 – Present
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University
By Courtesy, Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, December 2013 – Present
By Courtesy, Department of Bioengineering, February 2016 – Present
Assistant Professor, Sept 2003 – August 2010
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University
Director, Microsystems Laboratory.
http://microsystems.stanford.edu
Stanford University, Sept 2003-Present
We seek to understand the role of mechanics in biology and force sensitive pathways in cell-cell adhesion and subcellular organization, the role of mechanical environment on the structure and function of stem cell derived cardiomyocytes as biophysical models of health and disease, and to develop models of mechanical signaling underlying the sense of touch and hearing. Our research in cell biomechanics and mechanobiology includes development and application of custom microfabricated sensors and systems, new diagnostic tools and analysis systems, and robust manufacture and application of force sensors in harsh environments.
Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH, Zurich
Visiting Professor, January 2012 – December 2012
Guest professor and visiting researcher in the Laboratory of Applied Mechanobiology headed by Prof. Viola Vogel. Collaborated on merging microtechnology with biological assays.
Postdoctoral Researcher, Dec 2002-Jul 2003
EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
Laboratory of Microsystems – Nanoengineering Group of Professor Juergen Brugger. Investigating new techniques for fabrication of 3-dimensional microelectrodes integrated with microfluidic networks. Design, fabrication, testing of devices in conjunction with Ph.D. and diploma student projects.
Graduate Researcher, Sept 1997-Aug 2002
Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA
Doctoral research characterizing low force electrical contacts using piezoresistive MEMS cantilevers. Designed the sensors, masks, and fabrication process as a qualified user of the Stanford Nanofabrication Facility. Contact force and resistance characterization included studies by nanoindentation, FIB, AFM, optical microscopy, and SEM imaging. Coursework in manufacturing methods, semiconductor fabrication, MEMS, sensors and actuators. Additional studies in manufacturing organizations, processes, and strategy through the “Future Professors of Manufacturing” Program sponsored by the Stanford Alliance for Innovative Manufacturing.
Development Engineer, Jun 1999 – Aug 2002
FormFactor, Inc., Livermore, CA
Development engineer for wafer level burn-in projects June 1999-October 1999. Responsibilities included definition of parameters and tolerances for wafer level burn-in system using MicroSpring interconnect technology, and design review and testing of fixtures, hardware and procedures. Continued work part time from October 1999 as an internal consultant on technology, manufacturing, processes, and quality.
Instructor and Naval Officer, Nov 1994 – Aug 1997
U.S. Naval Academy, Systems Engineering Department, Annapolis, MD
Instructed senior and junior level undergraduate engineering courses. Taught the senior controls course three times and was course coordinator for preparing lectures and materials and advising colleagues on course material. Advised students on senior research and design projects. Research advisor to an honors research student for two years and several independent study single semester projects.
Researcher, May 1995 – Jun 1997
Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, Annapolis, MD
Investigator for sensor based machining project to refit a 4-axis computer numerical control (CNC) milling center with PC based controller. Research included investigation of acoustic emission sensors for use in precision machining and automated machine monitoring. This work was conducted jointly with the Lab for Manufacturing Automation at U.C. Berkeley.
Engineer and Naval Officer, Jun 1992 - Oct 1994
Naval Reactors, N
EA 08, Nuclear Refueling Division, Arlington, VA
Project manager at engineering headquarters for U.S. Navy nuclear program. Supervised submarine reactor fuel removal and refueling projects at four U.S. Navy shipyards and two Department of Energy prototype reactor sites. Responsibilities included resolution of emergent problems, oversight of project schedules, manpower, training, and budgets, review of equipment mechanical designs, and engineering evaluation of technical procedures. Review and simplification efforts accomplished reduction in hundreds of man-hours per project. DOD Secret and DOE Q clearances.
Undergraduate Researcher, summer 1990
Laboratory for Manufacturing and Productivity, M.I.T., Cambridge, MA
Undergraduate researcher for a rapid prototyping project using a 3-D printing process to deposit and bind ceramic and metal powders into 3-D objects. Designed a powder deposition system to automate the powder spreading process.
Safety and Reliability Intern, summer 1989
Douglas Aircraft Company, Long Beach, CA
Reviewed risk assessments, fault tree analysis, failure mode and effects analysis, and safety studies for aircraft systems.