UTARI Seminar is held last Friday of each month at 12:00PM (noon). November’s seminar will be delayed from the 30th to 12/7/19. Each seminar highlights a different speaker who will discuss their latest research projects, cutting-edge technology or what is happening within certain technological industries. These industries include biomedical technologies or microsystems, assistive technologies, automation and intelligent systems, unmanned systems, advanced manufacturing and composite materials.
Speaker
Dr. Wendy Shen
Topic
Engineering microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) to satisfy the biological requirements of nature
Abstract
Micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) have demonstrated significant strides in implantable medical devices and biosensors by enabling local, miniaturized diagnostics and therapies with superior functionality. However, a key challenge in the application of traditional MEMS devices for clinical diagnostics and therapeutics lies at the interface between the device and the complex biological and physiological environment. In this presentation, I will introduce a paradigm shift with the development of biological materials and smart materials–based MEMS devices for physiological and biological interfacing technology. First, implantable and wearable devices must be both biologically and mechanically compatible with the host environment to overcome the foreign body response. To address these challenges, I will introduce natural materials based devices for neural interfacing and transcutaneous sensing. These devices are not only able to provide rich physiological information, but also provide a more biomimetic approach to seamlessly interface with the local host environment. Second, wireless interrogation is desired to minimize implant footprint for many healthcare and environmental applications. Towards this goal, I will introduce biosensors featuring magnetoelastic sensing modality, in which mechanical energy is converted to magnetic energy, to support wireless detection.
Bio
Wen Shen is an Assistant Professor in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA). She is also a faculty member at the Institute for Predictive Performance Methodologies at the University of Texas at Arlington Research Institute. She attended Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China, where she received her B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering and minored in Biological Engineering in 2005. Dr. Shen then pursued her M.S. (2010) and Ph.D. (2011) degrees in Probability & Statistics and Materials Engineering, respectively, from Auburn University, working with Professor Bryan Chin. She then moved to Georgia Institute of Technology (2011) and University of Pennsylvania (2014) as a postdoctoral fellow, working with Professor Mark Allen. Before joining UTA, she was a Senior Research Engineer in the Singh Center of Nanotechnology at the University of Pennsylvania. Her research interests are in the development of MEMS based sensors and actuators, such as bio-mimetic devices for physiological-interfacing technology, and those harnessing magnetic sensing methodologies to wirelessly interrogate biological systems.
Date
12/7/18
Time
12pm (noon)-1pm
Location
7300 Jack Newell Boulevard South
Fort Worth, TX 76118-7115
817-272-5900
utari.uta.edu