Individual Research Groups

The Cyber-Physical Emulation Range (CyPhER) Lab focuses on cybersecurity research for government agencies.

Faculty Contact: Dr. Aidan Browne

Location: 321 Smith

The FUSE Lab integrates fluid mechanics, microfluidics, magnetics, and electromechanics to make complex three-dimensional flows measurable and controllable. The lab develops high-fidelity volumetric diagnostics (e.g., tomographic and light-field PIV, optical-flow methods), engineers broadband soft-matter transducers (e.g., PVDF-TrFE, IPMCs, dielectric elastomers) with physics-based calibration, and designs magnetic fields, coils, and power electronics for actuation, alignment, and sensing. Research includes hybrid magnetic–acoustic additive manufacturing, magneto-active materials, and sensorized biomedical microfluidic platforms for biofluids, acoustofluidic and magnetofluidic transport, and flow–structure interaction. A systems-level perspective spans embedded control, GPU computing, and validated models. Deliverables include open datasets, reproducible algorithms, and reference hardware to enable AI-assisted modeling, cyber-manufacturing, and resilient low size–weight–and–power (SWaP) sensing and actuation across aerospace, biomedical systems, and advanced manufacturing. The lab trains graduate researchers through hands-on, open workflows and collaborations with industry and government partners.

FUSE (Fluids, Ultrasonics, Sensors & Electromechanics) Lab

Faculty Contact: Dr. Rodward L. Hewlin, Jr.

Location: 105 Smith

The Laboratory for Instrumentation, Sensors, and Power Electronics (LISPEL) supports a broad range of capabilities for the design, fabrication, and testing of electronic circuits, with emphasis on sensors and power electronics. The lab also supports the development of high-voltage applications and is currently used for studies of the electrical properties of dielectric materials under controlled environmental conditions, analysis of acoustic and electromagnetic signal fusion, and development of energy-harvesting circuit topologies.

Laboratory for Instrumentation, Sensors and Power Electronics (LISPEL)

Faculty Contact: Dr. Maciej Noras

Location: 353 Smith

The Mechatronic and Robotic Systems (MARS) Lab focuses on research with a variety of electromechanical systems. The lab is the home to numerous industrial robots, ground vehicles, aerial vehicles, and associated support equipment.

Faculty Contact: Dr. Aidan Browne

Location: 302 Smith

The Modeling, Instrumentation, Dynamic Systems, and Controls (MIDAS) Lab focuses on research in: (a) monitoring, instrumentation,= and sensors (e.g., development of advanced sensors and process monitoring); (b) process modeling and data analytics (e.g., physics-based and data-driven methods, including machine learning–based models); and (c) control systems (e.g., nonlinear and adaptive controls) and device development (e.g., components and mechanisms). Key application areas include energy systems, electromechanical systems, manufacturing processes, and devices. Senior personnel include Dr. Michael Smith and Dr. Rodward Hewlin, Jr.

Modeling, Instrumentation, Dynamic systems, and controlS (MIDAS) Lab

Faculty Contact: Dr. Michael Smith

Location: 105 Smith

The Renewable Energy Mechanisms Lab focuses on the design, simulation, prototyping, and testing of mechanisms that support renewable energy systems. Research activities have addressed wind, wave, and tidal energy systems, as well as solar thermal concepts and human-powered generators.

REM Renewable Energy Mechanisms Lab

Faculty Contact: Dr. Wesley Williams

Location: 304B Smith

The Robotic Accelerated Catalysis & Entropy Research (RACER) Lab is an interdisciplinary research group operating at the intersection of artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, and robotics. The lab applies machine learning to accelerate materials discovery, leverages ultrafast laser and flash Joule heating techniques for scalable fabrication, and develops autonomous platforms that transform traditional trial-and-error workflows into self-driving laboratories. The lab’s mission is to bridge fundamental research with real-world applications in energy, electronics, and sustainable technologies.

Robotic Accelerated Catalysis & Entropy Research (RACER Lab)

Faculty Contact: Dr. Sheldon Xie

Location: 104 Smith

In the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN), buildings account for approximately 25% of the region’s total final energy consumption and energy-related CO₂ emissions, which are projected to grow significantly with continued economic development, urbanization and population growth. It is important to rethink and improve the conventional methods cities and buildings are designed, built, retrofitted, and maintained. The overall goal of the program is to help train a new generation of ASEAN urban planners, architects, and engineers in the latest methodologies, techniques, materials, and architectural designs to improve the air quality inside and outside of buildings, reduce the full lifecycle carbon footprint of the building and construction sector, and improve building siting and resilience to better adapt to climate impacts.

Faculty Contact: Weimin Wang, Ph.D.