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Careful heating unlocks unprecedented sensitivity to pressure in semiconductor materials

A simple and scalable annealing method boosts the quality of materials used in cell phones, sensors and energy harvesting devices.

Jesse Codling receives ACM BuildSys 2024 paper award for work on heart rate monitoring

Codling’s project, aptly named “FloHR,” uses geophones to measure human heart rate through floor vibrations in home environments.

Developing StiMote, a wireless neural stimulator for restoring vision

The highly collaborative project will leverage many tiny sensing computers, called “motes,” to communicate with the visual cortex of the brain.

ECE faculty design chips for efficient and accessible AI

Faculty specializing in architecture, hardware, and software innovation accelerate machine learning across a range of applications.

In vivo wireless readings from a bile duct stent sensor in a pig

New magnetoelastic sensor within a stent transmits information about potential blockages, demonstrating potential use for a wide range of body sizes.

Zetian Mi awarded $3M DARPA grant to scale next generation semiconductor materials on silicon

Mi's team will partner with industry to integrate defect-free III-V materials with silicon.

ECE startup MemryX releases MX3 Edge AI Accelerator

MemryX has announced production availability of a new AI chip, enabled by U-M ECE research.

Zetian Mi awarded $7.5M MURI for research on ferroelectric nitrides

Prof. Mi is the lead PI on a collaborative project that aims to advance ferroelectric nitrides for applications in next-generation microelectronics and quantum-photonic devices.

Hun-Seok Kim appointed as inaugural Samuel H. Fuller Early Career Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Prof. Kim is a world leader in efficient algorithm and VLSI design for wireless communication, signal processing, computer vision, and machine learning.

Kamal Sarabandi honored as inaugural IEEE AP-S Legend of Electromagnetics

The newly established “Legends of Electromagnetics” program recognizes outstanding members of the IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society for their impact on the field.

Updating the textbook on polarization in gallium nitride to optimize wide bandgap semiconductors

Understanding the phenomenon underpinning the material’s electronic performance will inform the design of smaller, faster and more efficient electronic and quantum devices.

Olivia Lee awarded NSF Graduate Research Fellowship for brain-machine interfaces that could improve control of robotic prostheses

Lee designs implantable and wearable electronics to help restore movement to those who have lost limbs or have been paralyzed.

Best paper for a low-power ADC circuit for brain-machine interface applications

Euisik Yoon’s team, led by Sungjin Oh, developed a low-power neural recording front-end circuit to interface with state-of-the-art neural probes.

Next generation neural probe leads to expanded understanding of the brain

The hectoSTAR probe, with 128 stimulating micro-LEDs and 256 recording electrodes integrated in the same neural probe, was designed for some stellar brain mapping projects

Ester Bentley receives Impact award for her research with the goal of GPS-free navigation

Bentley presented her research as an NDSEG Fellow. She is working to make smaller, more affordable high accuracy navigation-grade gyroscopes.

New understanding of neurons in the hippocampus: they’re all the same

A longstanding collaboration between engineers and neuroscientists leads to new insights into how neurons work in the hippocampus.

Tracking Monarch Butterfly Migration with the World’s Smallest Computer

In a project funded by National Geographic, ECE researchers are teaming up with the department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology to advance our understanding of monarch butterfly migration with the most ambitious iteration of the Michigan Micro Mote yet.

Detecting environmental pollutants with a smaller, portable, fully electric gas chromatograph

Prof. Yogesh Gianchandani and Dr. Yutao Qin received an “Outstanding Paper Award” for their fully electronic micro gas chromatography system.

Research on neural probe that sheds multicolor light on the complexities of the brain recognized for its impact

Prof. Euisik Yoon and his team are recognized for their work designing low-noise, multisite/multicolor optoelectrodes that will help neurologists learn more about neural connectivity in the brain.

Autonomous well monitoring solution recognized with a Best Innovators award

The WAND wireless sensor developed in a collaboration between Total, an oil & gas company, and the University of Michigan is revolutionizing well monitoring

Ester Bentley receives NDSEG Fellowship to help the world navigate without GPS

PhD student Ester Bentley designs smaller, better 3D mechanical resonators for use in high-performance gyroscopes to help unmanned systems navigate when GPS signal is jammed or lost.

New machine learning method improves testing of stem-like tumor cells for breast cancer research

To improve the prediction and identification of stem-like cancer cells, Prof. Euisik Yoon’s group developed a method that is 3.5 times faster than the standard approach.

Improved neural probe can pose precise questions without losing parts of the answers

It will now be possible to study brain activity when timing is important, such as the consolidation of memory.

Small, precise and affordable gyroscope for navigating without GPS

Accurate gyroscopes are a bottleneck for backup navigation systems in autonomous vehicles.

David Blaauw named Kensall D. Wise Collegiate Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Blaauw’s innovations in low-power computing led to development of the Michigan Micro Mote, the world’s smallest computer.

Enabling large-scale testing of cancer drugs with machine learning

Prof. Euisik Yoon and his team developed a new machine learning tool that enables large-scale testing of cancer drug effectiveness with microfluidics.

Two ‘U’ researchers receive Distinguished University Innovator Award

The Michigan Daily profiles Professors David Blaauw and Dennis Sylvester, who are this year’s recipients of the 2019 Distinguished University Innovator Award.

Blaauw, Sylvester are 2019 Distinguished University Innovators

Pioneering computer technology that is spurring innovation and disruption across industries has earned David Blaauw and Dennis Sylvester, professors of electrical engineering and computer science, this year’s Distinguished University Innovator Award.

By Cannibalizing Nearby Stromal Stem Cells, Some Breast Cancer Cells Gain Invasion Advantage

Cancer biologists and engineers collaborated on a device that could help predict the likelihood of breast cancer metastasis.

Blood biopsy: New technique enables detailed genetic analysis of cancer cells

Capturing cancer cells from blood samples offers a non-invasive way to observe whether the cancer is disappearing or whether it is becoming resistant to the treatment.

Biopsy alternative: “Wearable” device captures cancer cells from blood

New device caught more than three times as many cancer cells as conventional blood draw samples.

A new company, Omniscent, is sniffing out dangerous levels of toxic chemicals in the air

Subscription service offers real-time monitoring

Conducting an orchestra of sensor nodes

Keeping time in the Internet of Things with frequency scaling

An even smaller world’s smallest ‘computer’

The latest from IBM and now the University of Michigan is redefining what counts as a computer at the microscale.

Solar cells enable self-powered camera

A solar cell combined with a camera sensor collects photons to provide electricity.

Anonymous alumnus endows award in recognition of EECS professors

The Wise-Najafi Prize for Engineering Excellence in the Miniature World will recognize and incentivize outstanding research and scholarship related to engineering at the meso-scale, micron-scale, nano-scale and beyond.

$7.75M for mapping circuits in the brain

A new NSF Tech Hub will put tools to rapidly advance our understanding of the brain into the hands of neuroscientists.

ECE alum Kukjin Chun earns South Korea’s highest scientific honor

Alumnus Kukjin Chun receives the highest national honor for a Korean scientist and engineer.

‘Sister cell’ profiling aims to shut down cancer metastasis

Michigan engineers release individual cells from a specially-designed chip using laser pulses.

The Michigan Probe: Changing the Course of Brain Research

Some believed early Michigan brain researchers were engaging in “science fiction” – until development of an advanced tool for forging breakthroughs proved them wrong.

Cancer stem cells: new method analyzes 10,000 cells at once

A new tool for making sense of the cells believed to cause cancer relapses and metastases.

Students seek the secrets of the brain in study abroad program

IPAN sent eight undergraduates to Germany for a month of lab work, learning about the intricacies of the brain.

Leaders in neuroscience look to the future

ICAN bring engineers and neuroscientists together to review the recent advancement in neurotechnology and neuroscience, define the need for next-generation tools, and enhance the translation of technology to the scientific community.

Novel collaboration to probe brain activity in unprecedented detail

A pilot program will bring together researchers from different universities to collaborate on advancing research that may lead to a better understanding of the human brain.

Cutting the cost of hearing

MEMStim’s technology is already two phases into pre-clinical testing in preparation for FDA examination. Very few MEMS devices have made it this far.

Muzhi Wang earns a Best Paper Award for a new tunable filter for wireless communication devices

The paper describes a tunable filter for wireless communication modules in the x-band frequency range that uses germanium-telluride phase change switches.

Nader Najafi: A dream that saves lives

Dr. Nader Najafi is now leading the development of some of the most advanced micro-scale medical technology in the world.

What makes cancer cells spread? New device offers clues

Why do some cancer cells break away from a tumor and travel to distant parts of the body? A team of oncologists and engineers from the University of Michigan teamed up to help understand this crucial question.

Student team reaches Qualcomm finals with their proposal for a wearable haptic device

The goal of the project is to augment the transmission of audio and video with the sense of touch.

Khalil Najafi receives 2015 IEEE Daniel E. Noble Award for emerging technologies

The IEEE Daniel E. Noble award is a Technical Field Award, which is among the highest awards given.

Student Spotlight: Tal Nagourney – Exploring navigation

Tal is researching fabrication techniques for a micro rate-integrating gyroscope, using a vacuum mold and blowtorch.

MEMS research by Muzhi Wang recognized at IMS 2014

The paper reports on the design, fabrication, and results of a directly heated phase change RF switch using germanium telluride.

Mina Rais-Zadeh receives 2014 ONR Young Investigator Program (YIP) Award

Rais-Zadeh’s devices are expected to enable sensors for use in harsh environment, high-speed wireless communications, and more.

Student Spotlight: Christopher Boyd – From robotics to MEMS inertial sensors

Chris develops and tests control systems for MEMS inertial sensors, which are used to detect acceleration, tilt, and other attributes related to motion sensing.

Biochips for better cancer therapy

One promising area of cancer treatment is photodynamic therapy, which combines the agents of a photosensitive drug, light, and oxygen.

Babak Parviz: The visionary behind the glass

The inventor of Google Glass is now developing glucose monitoring contact lenses.

Khalil Najafi receives 2013 IEEE Sensors Technical Field Award

Prof. Najafi is a world-recognized leader in the field of integrated sensors, MEMS, and microsystems.

Research Spotlight: Better miniaturized vacuum pumps for electronics and sensors

The three microdevices created at Michigan are each particularly suited to specific applications.

When GPS fails, this speck of an electronic device could step in

The research group developed special fabrication processes that allows them to stack and bond seven different devices in layers.

Neural Probe Research recognized with Best Paper Award at 2013 Transducers Conference

“We present a novel strategy to scale up the number of electrodes with minimized risk.”

MEMS research recognized with Best Poster Award at 2013 Transducers Conference

This research is targeted at developing a precision master clock for a chip-scale Timing and Inertial Measurement Unit.

Workshop to chart the future of nano and micro manufacturing

“This workshop is a first step toward developing a roadmap for practical innovations in nano/micro-manufacturing.”

James McCullagh receives Best Student Paper Award for research to keep bridges safe

McCullagh is working to develop energy harvesting devices and circuits to power wireless sensor nodes which can monitor bridge health.

Kensall D. Wise: Michigan, MEMS and Microsystems

This retrospective of Kensall D. Wise, William G. Dow Distinguished University Professor Emeritus, provides a view of how he built a world-class program in MicroElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS).

Research Spotlight: Sensors and actuators for portable microsystems

Though a number of research challenges remain to realize the potential of microdischarge-based devices, the authors’ work demonstrates their promise.

Wireless Integrated MicroSensing and Systems (WIMS2) in California

The technical topics ranged from wireless and low power circuits, to MEMS, to microfabricated gas chromatographs.

David Blaauw Elected Fellow of the IEEE

Prof. Blaauw was a core member of the Michigan team that developed the award-winning circuit known as Razor in 2003.

A minimally-invasive brain implant to translate thoughts into movement

The implant is called the BioBolt, and unlike other neural interface technologies that establish a connection from the brain to an external device such as a computer, it’s minimally invasive and low power.

Most powerful millimeter-scale energy harvester generates electricity from vibrations

The researchers have built a complete system that integrates a high-quality energy-harvesting piezoelectric material with the circuitry that makes the power accessible.

MEMStim takes first prize in the Michigan Business Challenge

MEMStim is committed to improving the standard of patient care in neurostimulation. Congratulations, Angelique!

Ken Wise – Leading a Revolution in MEMS

Wise is recognized as one of the world’s foremost experts in sensor technology as well as a MEMS pioneer and entrepreneur.

WIMS and CUOS among 60 Years of Sensational Research by NSF

The WIMS has impacted health care, environmental monitoring, the national infrastructure while CUOS specializes in ultrafast lasers.

Mini generators make energy from random ambient vibrations

The energy-harvesting devices are highly efficient at providing renewable electrical power from arbitrary, non-periodic vibrations.

Enertia and ABC take 1st and 2nd prizes in the clean energy prize business plan competition

The competition was established by DTE Energy and the University of Michigan to encourage entrepreneurship and the development of clean-energy technologies.

Microsystems research for energy scavenging and power generation

The research has applications in health care, environmental monitoring, security, energy conservation and exploration, and more.