University of California, Berkeley Mechanical Engineering

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Research Interest

Bone Biomechanics Lab

The Bone Biomechanics Lab — originally called the Berkeley Orthopedic Biomechanics Laboratory — was established by Professor Tony Keaveny in 1993. Together with Professor Grace O’Connell, Professor Keaveny now co-directs the Berkeley BioMechanics Lab in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. The Bone Lab, Professor Keaveny’s group within the Berkeley …

Sohn Research Laboratory

Our lab broadly focuses on two major themes: cancer and stem-cell biology. For cancer, we are developing and employing quantitative, label-free techniques to isolate, screen, and identify cells for biomedical-research and for clinical diagnostic and monitoring applications. For stem-cell biology, we are developing lab-on-a-chip systems that would enable us to study stem cells in their specialized …

Shadden Lab

Our research focuses on the advancement of theoretical and computational methods to quantify complex fluid flow. Much of our research is geared towards modeling and analyzing hemodynamic conditions in the cardiovascular system. This multidisciplinary research combines advances in medical imaging, mathematical modeling, and computational mechanics. Our motivations for this research are 3-fold: (1) to uncover …

Medical Polymer Group

The MPG represents an interdisciplinary team of graduate and undergraduate students who work closely with faculty, surgeons, and industry scientists in order to develop biomaterials for structural function in orthopedic applications. We bring together academic, industrial and clinical perspectives to improve designs and materials used in total joint reconstruction and related devices. Our research broadly …

Berkeley Robotics & Human Engineering Laboratory

Our research activities are focused on the design and control of a class of robotic systems worn or operated by humans to augment human mechanical strength, while the wearer’s intellect remains the central control system for manipulating the robot. Human power extenders can be used to maneuver heavy loads with great dexterity, speed, and precision, …

Molecular Cell Biomechanics Laboratory

Mofrad Lab combines the state-of-the-art molecular and multiscale biomechanics, computational biology and bioinformatics, and statistical machine learning approaches toward understanding and diagnosis of human diseases.

Berkeley Biomechanics Laboratory

Our lab is focused on soft tissue biomechanics and tissue regeneration. Specifically, our goal is to understand the mechanical function of the healthy, degenerated and injured soft tissues, including the intervertebral disc and articular cartilage, in order to develop more physiologically relevant repair strategies. Injury, through herniation, or degeneration may lead to debilitating lower back …

Tarek I. Zohdi

Will C. Hall Family Chair in Engineering

Will C. Hall Endowed Chair
Chair of the UCB Computational & Data Science & Engineering Program
Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Associate Dean for Research, College of Engineering

6117 Etcheverry Hall
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720-1740
zohdi@berkeley.edu
(510) 642-9172

For more information see:

Click here for Professor Zohdi’s CV

Tarek I. Zohdi http://www.me.berkeley.edu/people/faculty/tarek-i-zohdi/ received his Ph.D. in 1997 in Computational and Applied Mathematics from the University of Texas at Austin. He was a post-doctoral fellow at the Technical University of Darmstadt in Germany from 1997 to 1998 and then a lecturer (C2-Oberingenieur) at the Gottfried Leibniz University of Hannover in Germany from 1998 to 2001, where he received his Habilitation in General Mechanics (Allgemeine Mechanik). Approximately one out of every twenty doctoral degree  holders in Germany is allowed to proceed with a Habilitation. It is the highest academic degree in Germany and is usually required to obtain the rank of full Professor there and in other parts of Europe. In July 2001, he became an Assistant Professor at the University of California, Berkeley, in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. He was promoted to Associate Professor in July 2004 and to Full Professor in July 2009. He has held a number of administrative posts at UC Berkeley, including: 

 

  • 7/2020-present Associate Dean for Post Baccalaureate Programs, College of Eng., UC Berkeley.

 https://engineering.berkeley.edu/about/leadership-team/,

https://funginstitute.berkeley.edu/about-us/our-people/staff/,

  • 7/2018-6/2020: Elected Chair of the Faculty, College of Engineering, UC Berkeley,
  • 7/2012-present: Chair, Computational and Data Science and Eng. Program, UC Berkeley,
  • 7/2009-6/2012: Vice-Chair for Instruction, Dept. of Mech. Eng., UC Berkeley,
  • 7/2008-6/2012: Chair, Engineering Science Program, UC Berkeley,
  • 7/2008-11/2008: Acting Assoc. Dean, Interim Eng. Sci. Prog. Exec. Comm., UC Berkeley.

and recently (2021) he has started serving as Academic Director of the  Sutardja Center for Entrepreneurship & Technology (SCET), at UC Berkeley ( https://scet.berkeley.edu/scet-names-tarek-zohdi-as-new-academic-director/).  From 2014-2020, he was a  Chancellor’s Professor of Mechanical Engineering. Since 2016, he is the holder of the W. C. Hall Family Endowed Chair in Engineering. He also holds a Staff Scientist position at Lawrence Berkeley National Labs and an Adjunct Scientist position at the Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute. His main research interests are in modeling, simulation and optimization of  nonconvex multiscale-multiphysics  problems for  industrial applications. He has published over 180 archival refereed journal papers and eight books: (1) Introduction to computational micromechanics (T. Zohdi and P. Wriggers, Springer-Verlag), (2) An introduction to modeling and simulation of particulate flows (T. Zohdi, SIAM), (3) Electromagnetic properties of multiphase dielectrics: a primer on modeling, theory and computation (T. Zohdi, Springer- Verlag), (4) Dynamics of charged particulate systems: modeling, theory and computation (T. Zohdi, Springer-Verlag) (5 and 6) A finite element primer for beginners-the basics (T. Zohdi, Springer- Verlag, 2 distinct editions), (7) Modeling and simulation of functionalized materials for additive manufacturing and 3D printing: continuous and discrete media (T. Zohdi, Springer-Verlag) and (8) Modeling and simulation of infectious diseases: microscale transmission, decontamination and macroscale propagation (T. Zohdi, Springer-Verlag), as well as eight handbook/book chapters and five encyclopedia chapters. In 2000, he received the Zienkiewicz Prize and Medal, which are awarded once every two years, to one post-graduate researcher under the age of 35, by The Royal Institution of Civil Engineers in London, to commemorate the work of Professor O. C. Zienkiewicz, for research which contributes most to the field of numerical methods in engineering. In 2002, he received the Best Paper of the Year 2001 Award in London, at the Lord’s Cricket Grounds, for a paper published in Engineering Computations, pertaining to modeling and simulation of the propagation of failure in particulate aggregates of material. In 2003, he received the Junior Achievement Award of the American Academy of Mechanics. The award is given once a year, to one post-graduate researcher, to recognize outstanding research during the first decade of a professional career. In 2008, he was elected Fellow of the International Association for Computational Mechanics (IACM) and in 2009 he was elected Fellow of the United Stated Association for Computational Mechanics (USACM). The USACM is the primary computational mechanics organization in the United States and the International Association for Computational Mechanics is the primary international organization in this field. In 2011, he was selected as “Alumnus of the Year” by the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Louisiana State University (LSU), where he did his undergraduate studies. In 2017, he was awarded the University of California, Berkeley Distinguished Teaching Award. The Distinguished Teaching Award is a campus-wide recognition for faculty that have established a sustained and varied record of teaching excellence. This is the highest award for  teaching in the University: http://teaching.berkeley.edu/node/240     and   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntzkn71r2Sg. In 2019, he was selected to give a  Lindbergh Lecture, by the University of Wisconsin in honor aviation pioneer (and engineer)  Charles Lindbergh (a 1924 graduate of UW). In 2019 he was elected  as Fellow of the American Academy of Mechanics (AAM)-only one new Fellow is inducted in the nation and the Americas into the AAM each year: https://medium.com/the-coleman-fung-institute/tarek-zohdi-named-2019-aam-fellow-d4df374246e1. In 2020, he  received the prestigious Humboldt-Forschungspreis (Humboldt Research Prize). The prize, given by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation of the  German Government, recognizes renowned researchers outside of Germany whose “fundamental discoveries, new theories or insights have had a significant impact on their own discipline and who are expected to continue producing cutting-edge achievements in the future.” He received it in the area of Mechanics in recognition of  lifetime achievements https://www.humboldt-foundation.de/web/humboldt-award.html,  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humboldt_Prize and https://www.uni-due.de/2020-07-21-humboldt-forschungspreistraeger-tarek-i-zohdi-kommt). He is  an editor of  two leading  journals in his  field, namely an editor  of Computational Mechanics and managing editor of Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and  serves on 11 editorial boards of international journals. He is  also the  co-founder and co-editor-in-chief of the relatively new  journal, Computational Particle Mechanics (CPM),  as well as an editor of the Computational Mechanics book series (Wiley). He has organized or co-organized over 30 international conferences and workshops and been appointed/invited  to the Scientific Advisory Boards of  over 40 international conferences. He was elected President of the USACM in 2012, and served from 2012 to 2014. Since  2009, he has served as a  representative of the USACM on the General Council of the IACM, which is the governing committee of the primary international organization in his field of research and was elected to the Executive Council of IACM in 2020  (seven were  elected worldwide in 2020).  In 2014, he was appointed by the United States National Academy of Science (NAS) and the National Research Council (NRC) as a member of the US National Committee for Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (USNC/TAM) representing the USACM (4/15/2014-10/31/2018): https://www.nationalacademies.org/our-work/us-national-committee-for-theoretical-and-applied-mechanics-usnc-iutam. USNC/TAM is the primary national governing body for Mechanics in the United States. This committee operates under the auspices of the US Board on International Scientific Organizations (BISO) and the Policy and Global Affairs Division of the NRC. Furthermore, he is the national coordinator for the NAS and USNC/TAM for  AmeriMech Symposia, which  are intended to promote interactions among researchers in an area of contemporary interest in the mechanics of fluids and solids http://sites.nationalacademies.org/pga/biso/iutam/pga_086043. These symposia are  designed to encourage participation of young researchers, and to promote interdisciplinary ideas and discussions. This format allows for in-depth discussions and close interactions between participants. Such symposia are renown to help assess the state-of-the-art and chart new directions for the future. In 2018, he was elected to Member-at-Large status of the USNC/TAM  by the National Academy of Sciences: http://www.me.berkeley.edu/about/news/me-professor-tarek-zohdi-appointed-member-large-us-national-academy-sciences-and-national. Overall, he has been a plenary speaker at each of the three major conferences in his field:  (a) The World Congress for Computational Mechanics (Sao Paulo , 2012), (b) The United States National Congress for Computational Mechanics (Montreal, 2017) and (c) The International Conference on Particle-based Methods (Stuttgart 2013, Hannover, 2017, Hamburg 2021) and given more than 200 other plenary, keynote and contributed lectures at conferences, universities and other research institutions worldwide. In addition to his academic credentials, he  has been active in five main industrial areas:

 

  • Modeling and simulation of high-strength fabric: He has  worked extensively in  the computational analysis of high-strength ballistic fabric shielding. Initially, this work was funded by the FAA and Boeing as part of a 10 year (2001-2011) multi-million dollar laboratory and simulation effort to develop ballistic fabric shields for the Boeing 787. He was heavily involved in the  development of 787 Boeing designs. The work was then applied to the development of new ballistic fabric shielding armor (from 2007-present) with the Army Research Labs (ARL) and the Army High Performance Computing Research Center (AHPCRC). In summary, the combined laboratory, modeling and simulation efforts have been instrumental for the development of new types of ballistic fabric shields for the safety and betterment of society.
  • Modeling and simulation of highly heterogeneous materials: He worked extensively in the computational analysis of particulate functionalized materials in multiphysical regimes. This work has been continuously funded by a number of industries, most notably for power-generation materials in harsh environments such as thermal barrier turbine blade coating materials (CMCs: Ceramic Matrix Composites) and high-voltage electromagnetic generator (dielectric) materials, such as End Corona Protection systems. This work has been a direct industrial outgrowth of the  unique book: Introduction to computational micromechanics (T. Zohdi and P. Wriggers, Springer-Verlag: https://cmmrl.berkeley.edu/zohdi-publications/).
  • Modeling and simulation of fire-technologies: In 2018,  he founded the UC Berkeley Fire Research Group(FRG):  https://frg.berkeley.edu/,  whose mission is to serve the best interests of the State of California and society at large, by working toward the development and implementation of more effective solutions for uncontrolled wildfires. The FRG’s mission is to  develop, harness and integrate the state-of-the-art technologies across many fields in order to produce robust and affordable firefighting systems that are easy to maintain, upgrade and deploy for early detection and control of fires. The FRG has brought together engineers, scientists, technologists, first responders and firefighters to bolster research in fire science, management and emergency control.
  • Modeling and simulation of food systems: In 2019,  he  founded the UC Berkeley Center for Next Generation Food Systems: https://food-manufacturing.berkeley.edu/. The overall mission of the center is to optimize societal food production, quality, and food safety/security in the era of pandemics and beyond. These themes are central to California since its economy is the 5th largest economy in the world. The center encourages cross-collaboration and sharing of information, where possible, and through various forums to further enhance expanding opportunities. Furthermore, the center supports the research, education, extension, and economics endeavors designed to advance public knowledge and commercial interests. The center explores themes associated with (a)  pandemic driven food system security and safety, (b) improving food yield, quality, and nutrition, (c) decreasing energy and water resource consumption, (d) increasing production yield and eliminating food waste, (e) large surface-area agriculture, using energy-efficient technologies such as solar and wind and the (f)  use of autonomous systems, drones, sensors and machine-learning for detection of inefficiencies and hazards. The center is part of  a 20,000,000 dollar multi-campus NSF-USDA-NIFA funded network. Zohdi is the PI of the UC Berkeley hub/node. 
  • Modeling and simulation of advanced manufacturing processes: He has  been heavily involved in the National Network of Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI) system that has been developed over the last decade by the US Government. The goal is to add capacity to the National Network of Manufacturing Innovation, a 2014 initiative to increase the competitiveness of U.S. manufacturing by streamlining research and development and increasing collaboration among industry, academia, national labs and federal partners.  Form   2016-2021, he   was the Northern California PI for the Northern California Clean Energy Smart Manufacturing Innovation Institute (CESMII); see Whitehouse announcement: http://engineering.berkeley.edu/2016/06/california-new-headquarters-smart-manufacturing-institute  and http://www.me.berkeley.edu/about/news/president-obama-announces-winner-new-smart-manufacturing-innovation-institute-competition which is part of a 140,000,000 dollar consortium of universities, national labs  and companies geared towards smart clean manufacturing (headquartered at UCLA). The mission of the consortium, consisting of 200 partners from 30 states representing a wide spectrum of interests across industry and academia, is to help hone advanced manufacturing’s competitive edge in the United States by increasing efficiency and accelerating the adoption of technologies such as advanced sensors, data analytics and digital controls in manufacturing. Also, from  2016-2021, he was the California Principal Investigator for another successful consortium NNMI grant (the Advanced Robotics Manufacturing (ARM), headquartered at Carnegie Mellon) in which he  was appointed the coordinator of the Northern California  Branch; see announcement http://www.me.berkeley.edu/about/news/dod-announces-award-new-advanced-robotics-manufacturing-arm-innovation-hub and http://engineering.berkeley.edu/2017/01/berkeley-regional-center-new-robotics-manufacturing-consortium which is part of a 253,000,000 dollar consortium of universities, national labs and companies focused on  advanced robotic manufacturing.  

Remark: For overall record,  see the CV provided for lists of papers and similar data.

 

Public Service:

Pro bono as an engineering consultant for the ABC news on spontaneously shattering car sunroofs. Located here:
http://abc7.com/archive/8026317/

 

Pro bono as an engineering consultant for the ABC news on exploding shower doors made of tempered safety glass. Located here: 
http://abc30.com/archive/9313662/

 

Pro bono as an engineering consultant for the ABC news on a faulty baby zipper device from a sleeping bag. Located here:   
http://abc7news.com/archive/8433331/

 


Research Description:

Research themes:

(1)  Modeling and simulation of advanced manufacturing and 3D printing systems

(2)  Modeling and simulation of multiphase/composite material behavior

(3)  Modeling and simulation of fire propagation and control with the Fire Research Group

(4)  Modeling and simulation of UAVs and swarms

(5)  Modeling and simulation of biological systems

(6)  Modeling and simulation of ballistic fabric shielding

 

Methods of analysis:

(1)  Discrete Element Methods

(2)  Finite Element Methods

(3)  Finite Difference Methods

(4)  Computational Optics

(5)  Machine-Learning Algorithms

(6)  Agent-Based Methods

 

A set of “summary” slides on the above topics can be found here https://cmmrl.berkeley.edu/

 

Related papers and books on the above topics can be found here: https://cmmrl.berkeley.edu/zohdi-publications/

 

Related Links:

Fire Research Group: https://frg.berkeley.edu/ and  http://www.dailycal.org/tag/fire-research-group/

Editor, Computational Mechanics: http://www.springer.com/materials/mechanics/journal/466

Editor-in-Chief, Comp. Particle Mechanics: http://www.springer.com/engineering/mechanics/journal/40571

NAS-USNC/TAM AmeriMech Coordinator: http://sites.nationalacademies.org/pga/biso/iutam/pga_086043

Chief Technology Officer, Fung Institute: https://funginstitute.berkeley.edu/about-us/our-people/staff/

Chair, UC Berkeley Computational Data Science and Eng. Prog: http://citris-uc.org/decse-organization/

Faculty Scientist, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab: http://www.lbl.gov/

Key Publications:

To view a list of Professor Zohdi’s publications, please visit the Computational Manufacturing and Materials Research Lab website.

David Steigmann

Professor of Mechanical Engineering

6133 Etcheverry Hall
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720-1740
dsteigmann@berkeley.edu
(510) 643-3165

For more information see: Current Classes Taught

To view Professor Steigmann’s CV, please click here.


Research Description:

Continuum, mechanics, shell theory, finite elasticity, variational methods, stability, surface stress, capillary phenomena, mechanics of thin films.

 

Key Publications:

To view a list of Professor Steigmann’s publications, please click here.

Lydia Sohn

Almy C. Maynard and Agnes Offield Maynard Chair in Mechanical Engineering

Chancellor's Professor
Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Almy C. Maynard and Agnes Offield Maynard Chair in Mechanical Engineering

5118 Etcheverry Hall
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720-1740
sohn@berkeley.edu
(510) 642-5434

For more information see: Sohn Research Lab
Current Classes Taught

To view Professor Sohn’s CV, please click here.


Research Description:

Micro-nano engineering, bioengineering

 

Key Publications:

To view a list of Professor Sohn’s publications, please visit the Sohn Research Lab website.

Shawn Shadden

Vice Chair of Graduate Studies
Professor of Mechanical Engineering

6149 Etcheverry Hall
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720-1740
shadden@berkeley.edu
(510) 664-9800

For more information see: Shadden Lab
Current Classes Taught

Research Description:

Cardiovascular Biomechanics, Computational Mechanics, Computational Fluid Dynamics, Dynamical Systems, Fluid Dynamics, Lagrangian Coherent Structures, Mathematical Modeling, Thrombosis

 

Key Publications:

To view a list of Professor Shadden’s publications, please visit the Shadden Lab website.

Ömer Savaş

Professor of Mechanical Engineering

6113 Etcheverry Hall
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720-1740
savas@berkeley.edu
(510) 642-5705

For more information see: Current Classes Taught

To view Professor Savaş’ CV, please click here.


Research Description:

Fluid mechanics: aircraft wake vortices; biofluid mechanics; boundary layers; instrumentation; rotating flows; transient aerodynamics; turbulent flows; vortex dynamics

 

To learn more about Professor Savaş’ research, please click here.

 

Key Publications:

To view a list of Professor Savaş’ publications, please click here.

Lisa Pruitt

Lawrence Talbot Chair in Engineering

Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Lawrence Talbot Chair in Engineering

5134 Etcheverry Hall
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720-1740
lpruitt@berkeley.edu

For more information see: Medical Polymer Group
Current Classes Taught

To view Professor Pruitt’s CV, please click here.


Research Description:

Research is focused on structure-property relationships in orthopedic tissues, biomaterials and medical polymers. Current projects include the assessment of fatigue fracture mechanisms and tribological performance of orthopedic biomaterials, as well as characterization of orthopedic tissues and associated devices. Surface modifications using plasma chemistry are used to optimize polymers for medical applications. Attention is focused on wear, fatigue and multiaxial loading. Retrievals of orthopedic implants are characterized to model in vivo degradation and physiological loading. Biomechanical characterization of structural tissues is performed to assess clinical treatments and to develop constitutive relationships. Laboratory techniques for structural characterization include SEM, TEM, FEM, SAXS, USAXS, XPS, DSC, GPC, FTIR, AFM, confocal microscopy, wear testing, fatigue testing, fracture mechanics analysis, and nanoindentation. Research has been supported by NIH, NSF, ONR, DARPA, OREF and industry. Pedagogical experience includes curriculum development in mechanical engineering and bioengineering. Teaching includes freshman seminars; undergraduate courses on Mechanical Behavior and Processing of Materials, Structural Aspects of Biomaterials, and Principles of Bioengineering; graduate courses on Fracture Mechanics, Mechanical Behavior of Materials, and Polymer Engineering.

 

Key Publications:

2014

F. Ansari, C. Major, T. R. Norris, S. B. Gunther, M. Ries, and L. Pruitt. “Unscrewing instability of modular reverse shoulder prosthesis increases propensity for in vivo fracture: a report of two cases.” Journal of shoulder and elbow surgery/American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons…[et al.] 23, no. 2 (2014): e40-5.

 

E.W. Patten, D. Van Citters, M. D. Ries, and L. Pruitt. “Quantifying cross-shear under translation, rolling, and rotation, and its effect on UHMWPE wear.” Wear 313, no. 1 (2014): 125-134.

 

To view a complete list of Professor Pruitt’s publications from previous years, please click here.

Panayiotis Papadopoulos

Byron and Elvira Nishkian Chair in Structural Engineering

Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Byron and Elvira Nishkian Chair in Structural Engineering

6131 Etcheverry Hall
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720-1740
panos@berkeley.edu
(510) 642-3358

For more information see: Computational Solid Mechanics Lab
Current Classes Taught

RELATED EXPERIENCE

7/1/04 – present : Professor, University of California, Berkeley
7/1/98 – 6/30/04 : Associate Professor, University of California, Berkeley
7/1/92 – 6/30/98 : Assistant Professor, University of California, Berkeley
1/1/92 – 6/30/92 : Post-Doctoral Researcher, University of California, Berkeley
8/1/91 – 12/31/91 : University Lecturer, University of California, Berkeley
1/1/88 – 8/31/91 : Graduate Research Assistant, University of California, Berkeley
8/1/87 – 5/31/90 : Graduate Student Instructor, University of California, Berkeley

 

UNIVERSITY DEGREES

Ph.D. Civil Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, December 1991
M.S. Civil Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, May 1987
Dipl. Civil Engineering, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece, July 1986


Research Description:

Computational mechanics, solid mechanics, biomechanics, applied mathematics

 

Key Publications:

To view a list of Professor Professor Papadopoulos’ publications, please visit the Computational Solid Mechanics Lab website.

Oliver M. O’Reilly

Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education

5131 Etcheverry Hall/227 California Hall
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720-1740
oreilly@berkeley.edu
(510) 642-0877

For more information see: Dynamics Lab
Current Classes Taught

Oliver M. O’Reilly is a professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Interim Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education at the University of California at Berkeley. 

 

He received his B.E. in Mechanical Engineering from the National University of Ireland, Galway (NUIG). Subsequently, he received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics from Cornell University. At Cornell, he studied under Phil Holmes and Frank Moon. After spending two years as a postdoc at the Institut für Mechanik at ETH-Zürich under Jürg Dual, he joined the faculty in Mechanical Engineering at Cal in 1992. He has previously served as the Chair and Vice Chair of the Berkeley Division of the Academic Senate and as an Associate Dean for Graduate Education in the Division of Computing, Data Science, and Society.

 

His interests span the fields of continuum mechanics and nonlinear dynamics. He has a broad range of specializations including directed (or Cosserat) theories of deformable bodies, constrained rigid body dynamics, contact mechanics, linear and nonlinear vibrations and linear and nonlinear dynamics of deformable bodies. He has applied these interests to a range of applications including soft robots, MEMS resonators, brake squeal, the dynamics of toys, motorcycle navigation, axially moving media, artificial and natural satellites, spinal kinematics and vehicle collision dynamics. 

 

O’Reilly has coauthored over 100 archival journal articles, written three textbooks, coauthored a monograph, and is a co-inventor on two patents. He has also received multiple teaching awards including U.C. Berkeley’s Distinguished Teaching Award in 1999, the Pi-Tau-Sigma Professor of the Year Award in 2003 and the Tau-Beta-Pi Outstanding Faculty of the Year Award in 2013. He is also a recent recipient of the Berkeley Faculty Service Award. 

 

To view Professor O’Reilly’s CV, please click here.


Research Description:

Dynamics, Vibrations, Continuum Mechanics

 

Key Publications:

To view a list of Professor O’Reilly’s publications, please visit the Dynamics Lab website.

Grace O’Connell

Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Associate Dean for Inclusive Excellence, College of Engineering

5122 Etcheverry Hall
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720-1740
g.oconnell@berkeley.edu
(510) 642-3739

For more information see: O'Connell Lab
Current Classes Taught

Education
2001 – 2004 B.S. Aerospace Engineering, University of Maryland
2004 – 2009 Ph.D. Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania
2009 – 2013 Postdoctoral Research Scientist, Columbia University


Research Description:

Biomechanics of cartilage and intervertebral disc; tissue engineering; continuum modeling of soft tissues; intervertebral disc function, degeneration, and regeneration

 

Key Publications:

2015

Tan AR, Alegre-Aguaron E, O’Connell GD, VandenBerg CD, Aaron RK, Vunjak-Novakovic G, Bulinski JC, Ateshian GA, Hung CT. Passage-Dependent Relationship between Mesenchymal Stem Cell Mobilization and Chondrogenic Potential. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, In Press

 

2014

O’Connell GD, Newman IB, Carapezza MA. Effect of long-term osmotic loading culture on matrix synthesis from intervertebral disc cells. BioResearch, Oct 1;3(5):242-9, 2014.

 

Ponnurangam S, O’Connell GD, Chernyshova I, Woods K, Somasundaran P, Hung CT. Ceria nanoparticles modulate development and interleukin response of chondrocyte-seeded hydrogel constructs. Tissue Engineering, Part A, Nov; 20(21-22):2908-19, 2014.

 

O’Connell GD, Nims R, Green J, Cigan A, Ateshian GA, Hung CT. Time and dose-dependent effects of chondroitinase ABC on growth of engineered cartilage. eCells and Materials Journal, Vol. 27: 312-320, 2014.

 

To view a complete list of Professor O’Connell’s publications from previous years, please visit the Berkeley Biomechanics Laboratory website.

Mohammad R. K. Mofrad

Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Bioengineering

208A Stanley Hall #1762
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720-1762
mofrad@berkeley.edu
(510) 643-8165

For more information see: Molecular Cell Biomechanics Laboratory
Current Classes Taught

Education

1991  B.A.Sc., Sharif University of Technology

1994  M.A.Sc., University of Waterloo

1999  Ph.D., University of Toronto

 

Professional Experience

1999 – 2000  Post-Doc, Computer Science Department, University of Toronto

2000 – 2002  Post-Doc, MIT and Harvard Medical School/Mass. General Hospital

2002 – 2004  Principal Research Scientist, Biological and Mechanical Engineering, MIT

2005 – 2010  Assistant Professor, Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley

2010 – 2013  Associate Professor, Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley

2011               Visiting Professor, Department of Bioengineering, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland

2012 – 2013  Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley

2012 – Present  Faculty Scientist, Molecular Biophysics, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab

2012 – 2014  Faculty Director, UC Berkeley Master of Bioengineering (M.Eng) Program

2013 – Present  Professor, Departments of Bioengineering and Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley

2014 – 2015  Faculty Co-Director, Berkeley-UCSF Master of Translational Medicine (MTM) Program


Research Description:

Multiscale Biomechanics of Cardiovascular Disease and Brain Injury; Molecular and Cellular Mechanobiology; Mechanics of Integrin-Mediated Focal Adhesions; Mechanics of the Nuclear Pore and Nucleocytoplasmic Transport

 

Key Publications:

To view a list of Professor Mofrad’s publications, please visit the Molecular Cell Biomechanics Laboratory website and PubMed.

Liwei Lin

James Marshall Wells Academic Chair in Mechanical Engineering

Professor of Mechanical Engineering
James Marshall Wells Academic Chair
Co-Director, Berkeley Sensor & Actuator Center

5135 Etcheverry Hall
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720-1740
lwlin@berkeley.edu
(510) 643-5495

For more information see: Lin Lab
Lin Home Page
Current Classes Taught

2006 – 2009  Vice Chair – Graduate Study, Mechanical Engineering Department, University of California at Berkeley

2004  Professor, Mechanical Engineering Department, University of California at Berkeley

2001  Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering Department, University of California at Berkeley

1999  Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering Department, University of California at Berkeley

1996  Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Michigan

1994  Associate Professor, Institute of Applied Mechanics, National Taiwan University

1993  Senior Research Scientist, BEI Electronics Inc.

1993  PhD, Mechanical Engineering, University of California at Berkeley

1991  MS, Mechanical Engineering, University of California at Berkeley

1986  BS, Power Mechanical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University


Research Description:

MEMS (Microelectromechanical Systems); NEMS (Nanoelectromechanical Systems); Nanotechnology; design and manufacturing of microsensors and microactuators; development of micromachining processes by silicon surface/bulk micromachining; micromolding process; mechanical issues in MEMS including heat transfer, solid/fluid mechanics, and dynamics.

 

Key Publications:

For a list of Professor Lin’s publications, please click here.

Dorian Liepmann

Professor of Mechanical Engineering and BioEngineering

280 Hearst Memorial Mining Building
University of California at Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720-1762
liepmann@berkeley.edu
(510) 355-8353

For more information see: Liepmann Lab
Current Classes Taught

Research Description:

BioMEMS, microfluid dynamics, experimental biofluid dynamics, hemodynamics associated with valvular heart disease and other cardiac and arterial flows.

 

Key Publications:

2015

 

2014

  • Aran, K., Paredes, J., Yau, J., Srinivasan, S., Murthy, N. and Liepmann, D.  (2014) “An Enzyme-Free Digital Biosensor for Detection of Reactive Oxygen Species.” The 18th International Conference on Miniaturized Systems for Chemistry and Life Sciences (MicroTAS), San Antonio, TX. October 26-30, 2014
  • Paredes, J., Chooljian, M., Fink, K.D., and Liepmann, D. “Rapid fabrication method for plastic microfluidic devices with embedded 2D and 3D microelectrodes and its application to electroporation and cell lysis on chip.” The 18th International Conference on Miniaturized Systems for Chemistry and Life Sciences (MicroTAS), San Antonio, TX. October 26-30, 2014
  • Aran, K., Paredes, J., Acharya, A., Yau, J., Liepmann, D. and N. Murthy. “A Novel ROS Responsive Polymer Based Lab-on-a-Chip Sensor for Detection of Circulating Lipid Hydroperoxides” BMES, San Antonio, TX, October 22-25, 2014.
  • Paredes, J., Fink, K.D., Chooljian, M., and D. Liepmann. “Integrating 2D and 3D Microelectrodes in Plastic Microfluidic Devices Allowing Spatial and Temporal  Control of Electric Fields for Detection or Stimulation.” BMES, San Antonio, TX, October 22-25, 2014.
  • Aran, K., Paredes, J., Lee, K., Acharya, A., Liepmann, D. and N. Murthy. “A Battery-less Pressure Driven Smart Pill for Oral to Systemic Protein Delivery.” BMES, San Antonio, TX, October 22-25, 2014.
  • Fink, K., Paredes, J. and Liepmann, D. (2013) The Role of Erythrocyte Size and Shape in Microchannel Fluid Dynamics. American Physical Society Division of Fluid Dynamics Annual Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA.
  • Kim, T. N., Goodwill, P. W., Chen, Y., Conolly, S. M., Schaffer, C. B., Liepmann, D., & Wang, R. A. (2012). Line-scanning particle image velocimetry: an optical approach for quantifying a wide range of blood flow speeds in live animals. PloS one, 7(6), e38590.
  • Gharib, M., Azizgolshani, H., Gharib, M., & Liepmann, D. (2011). Combined Electro-chemical Stimulation to Reduce the Required Current for Muscle Contraction. FASEB Journal, 25, 1051-39.
  • Gulati, S., Dutcher, C. S., Liepmann, D., & Muller, S. J. (2010). Elastic secondary flows in sharp 90 degree micro-bends: A comparison of PEO and DNA solutions. Journal of Rheology (1978-present), 54(2), 375-392.
  • Thakar, R.G., Cheng, Q., Patel, S., Chu, J., Nasir, M., Liepmann, D., Komvopoulos, K. and Li, S. (2009) Cell-Shape Regulation of Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation. Biophysical Journal 96(8):3423-3432.
  • Häfeli, U. O., Mokhtari, A., Liepmann, D., & Stoeber, B. (2009). In vivo evaluation of a microneedle-based miniature syringe for intradermal drug delivery. Biomedical microdevices, 11(5), 943-950.
  • Gulati, S., Muller, S. J., & Liepmann, D. (2008). Direct measurements of viscoelastic flows of DNA in a 2: 1 abrupt planar micro-contraction. Journal of Non-Newtonian Fluid Mechanics, 155(1), 51-66.
  • Liepmann, D., Pisano, A., Stoeber, B., & Zimmermann, S. (2008). U.S. Patent No. 7,415,299. Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
  • Gulati, S., Liepmann, D., & Muller, S. J. (2008). Elastic secondary flows of semidilute DNA solutions in abrupt 90° microbends. Physical Review E, 78(3), 036314.

 

To view a list of Professor Liepmann’s publications from previous years, please visit the Liepmann Lab website.

Kyriakos Komvopoulos

Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering

5143 Etcheverry Hall
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720-1740
kyriakos@me.berkeley.edu
(510) 642-2563

For more information see: Current Classes Taught

Professor Komvopoulos has been in the faculty of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley (UCB) since 1989. Before joining UCB, he was in the faculty of the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (1986-1989). Professor Komvopoulos is internationally known for pioneering research in surface nanosciences and nanoengineering, with important implications in several emerging technologies including communications, microelectronics, information storage, and biotechnology. He is the founder and director of the Surface Sciences and Engineering Laboratory (SSEL) and the Computational Surface Mechanics Laboratory (CSML) and holds the positions of Professor of Mechanical Engineering at UCB, Faculty Scientist, Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Principal Investigator, The Berkeley Stem Cell Center, and Principal Investigator, Center for Information Technology in the Interest of Society (CITRIS).

 

The research of Professor Komvopoulos is at the interfaces of mechanical and electrical engineering, materials sciences, surface physical chemistry, bioengineering, and biology. His work is characterized by a multidisciplinary nature and the combination of analytical and experimental techniques used to analyze complex surface and interface phenomena. His research is based on the integration of fundamentals from mechanics, materials, surface chemistry, and biology, and spans a broad range of scales, from the mesoscopic to the atomic and molecular levels. 

 

Early research accomplishments of Professor Komvopoulos include contact deformation at submicron scales, new friction theories of surfaces interacting in the presence of physicochemically adsorbed monolayers, surface plasticity and fracture of contacting bodies, acoustic emission in surface sliding and machining, synthesis and characterization of ultrathin diamondlike and amorphous carbon films, adhesion forces in miniaturized electromechanical systems, and rheological behavior of boundary films. 

 

In the past two decades, Professor Komvopoulos broadened his research activities, branching into the exploration of various surface microprobe techniques for atomic and molecular level surface analysis, synthesis of self-assembled organic monolayers for reducing adhesion between silicon microdevices, invention of plasma-assisted surface treatments for biopolymers (used in total joint replacements, catheters for minimally invasive treatment of diseased arteries, and cell platforms), deposition of ultrathin (a few atomic layers) amorphous carbon films by sputtering and filtered cathodic vacuum arc for ultrahigh-density magnetic recording and heat-assisted magnetic recording, phase transformations and nanomechanical properties of shape-memory alloys (both in thin-film and bulk form) for retina disks and artery stents, a surface-specific spectroscopy technique (infrared-visible sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy) for in-situ studies of entropically driven molecular rearrangement at various biopolymer surfaces due to in-plane and out-of-plane stretching and aging effects.

 

Professor Komvopoulos’ most recent work includes plasma-assisted polymer surface functionalization for controlling adhesion and growth of cells, protein secretion due to mechanotransduction in articular cartilage, cell mechanics, patterned media for single-cell growth, and cell infiltration into fibrous scaffolds synthesized by electrospinning, new electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries, flexible and stretchable bioelectronics, skin mechanics, and transdermal drug delivery by microneedle arrays, mechanics of biological surfaces, and synthesis of scaffolds with special cues for enhanced biofunctionality.

 

Professor Komvopoulos’ research is documented in 379 publications consisting of 277 papers published in peer-reviewed archival journals, 71 papers in refereed conference proceedings, 19 papers in symposium proceedings, 2 book chapters, 65 technical reports, and 10 US patents. As of June 2021, Professor Komvopoulos’ publications and patents have been cited more than 13,750 times (h-index = 62, Google Scholar). He has also authored an undergraduate-level textbook (Mechanical Testing of Engineering Materials) and co-authored two monographs (1999 Interface Tribology Towards 100 Gbit/in2; Long Term Durability of Structural Materials: Durability 2000). He has given 225 scholarly presentations at various international conferences, academic institutions, national laboratories, industries, and various media, supervised the research and dissertations of 58 graduate students (33 PhD and 25 MS) and 17 post-doctoral students, visiting faculty, and industry fellows, and consulted with a wide range of industries and law firms on various litigation matters. 

 

Professor Komvopoulos has been elected to the grade of Fellow of STLE (2004) and ASME (2000) and has been the recipient of several awards, including NSF Presidential Young Investigator Award (1989-1996), IBM Faculty Development Award (1990-1992), Berkeley Engineering Fund Award (1989-1990), ASME B. L. Newkirk Award (1988), and NSF Engineering Initiation Award (1987).

 

At UCB, Professor Komvopoulos teaches undergraduate and graduate courses on Mechanical Behavior of Materials, Plasticity, Fracture, Fatigue, and Tribology and devotes significant time to administration duties at the Department, College, and University system-wide levels. His most recent system-wide committee service includes UC Faculty Welfare, Assembly Representative, Divisional Council, Educational Technology, Courses of Instruction, Graduate Study, and Committee on Academic Planning and Resource Allocation.


Research Description:

Theoretical and numerical studies in nano-/micro-scale contact mechanics, tribology, mechanical behavior of bulk and thin-film materials, deposition and characterization of single and multi-layer ultrathin films by sputtering and filtered cathodic vacuum arc methods, reliability of micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS), surface force microprobe techniques, surface modification of biopolymers, surface chemical functionalization for enhanced biocompatibility and cell activity, mechanotransduction effects at the single-cell and tissue levels, scaffolds for tissue engineering, and flexible/stretchable bioelectronics.

 

To learn more about Professor Komvopoulos’ research, please click here.

 

To view a list of Professor Komvopoulos’ supervised current and past graduate students and visiting scholars, please click here.

 

Key Publications:

To view a list of Professor Komvopoulos’ publications, please click here.

Tony M. Keaveny

Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Bioengineering

5124 Etcheverry Hall
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720-1740
tonykeaveny@berkeley.edu
(510) 390-1626

For more information see: Bone Biomechanics Lab
Current Classes Taught

Tony Keaveny is a Professor in the Departments of Mechanical Engineering and Bioengineering at the University of California at Berkeley, and the director of the Berkeley Orthopaedic Biomechanics Laboratory. Dr. Keaveny received his B.E. (1984) degree in Mechanical Engineering from University College Dublin, Ireland, and his M.S. (1988) and Ph.D. (1991) degrees, also in Mechanical Engineering, from Cornell University. He spent one year (1990-1991) as a Maurice Mueller Post-Doctoral Fellow in Orthopaedic Biomechanics in the Orthopaedic Biomechanics Laboratory at Beth Israel Hospital, Boston, after which he joined the permanent staff there as a Senior Research Associate (1991- 1993). At the same time, Dr. Keaveny was appointed an Instructor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Harvard Medical School and joined the faculty of the Harvard/M.I.T. Health Sciences and Technology Program. He left Boston and joined the Berkeley faculty in 1993, at which time he established the Berkeley Orthopaedic Biomechanics Laboratory.

 

Dr. Keaveny has served as Principal Investigator on an NIH FIRST Award and several NIH R01 and R21 grants, a Whitaker Biomedical Engineering Research Grant, an NSF CAREER Award, and numerous industrial grants. In 1996, he received the YC Fung Young Investigator Award from the Bioengineering Division of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. He was the 2010 winner of the Van C. Mow Medal. As director of the Berkeley OBL, Dr. Keaveny directs and supervises all research in the laboratory, and acts as the faculty research mentor for all students.


Research Description:

Biomechanics: mechanical behavior of bone, finite element modeling and experimentation, design of bone-implant systems, tissue engineering

 

Key Publications:

To view a list of Professor Keaveny’s publications, please click here.

Homayoon Kazerooni

Professor of Mechanical Engineering

6147 Etcheverry Hall
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720-1740
kazerooni@berkeley.edu
(510) 642-2964

For more information see: Berkeley Robotics & Human Engineering Laboratory
Current Classes Taught

Dr. Kazerooni is a professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, where he also serves as the director of the Berkeley Robotics and Human Engineering Laboratory. With more than 30 years of mechanical engineering experience and a doctorate degree from MIT, he is a leading expert in robotics, control sciences, exoskeletons, human-machine systems and augmentation, bioengineering, mechatronics design, intelligent assist devices, and power and propulsion.  Prior to his more well-known research on lower extremity exoskeletons, Dr. Kazerooni led his team at Berkeley to successfully develop robotics systems that enhanced human upper extremity strength.  The results of this work led to a new class of intelligent assist devices that are currently used by manual laborers in distribution centers and factories all over the world. These technologies are currently marketed worldwide by leading material handling corporations.

 

Dr. Kazerooni’s later work focuses on the control of human-machine systems specific to lower human extremities. After developing BLEEX, ExoHiker, and ExoClimber–three super-light, load-carrying exoskeletons–his team at Berkeley created HULC (Human Universal Load Carrier). It is the first energetically-autonomous, orthotic, lower extremity exoskeleton that allows its user to carry 200-pound weights in various terrains for an extended period, without becoming physically overwhelmed.  The technology was licensed to Lockheed Martin and now is used for a variety of military applications. Dr. Kazerooni has also developed lower-extremity technology to aid persons who have experienced a stroke, spinal cord injuries, or health conditions that obligate them to use a wheelchair.  His medical exoskeleton, Ekso, has successfully allowed those who have been paralyzed to walk, stand, and speak face to face with peers in an upright position.

 

In addition to his teaching work and research experience in a academia, Dr. Kazerooni is also an entrepreneur. In 2005, he founded Ekso Bionics (www.eksobionics.com), which went on to become a publicly-owned company in 2014 and now supplies medical exoskeleton (Ekso) to a great number of rehabilitation centers worldwide.  He is the founder and chairperson of U.S. Bionics, a VC, industry, and government funded company that provides accessible, affordable exoskeletons for the industrial, medical, and military markets (www.usbionics.com).

 

Dr. Kazerooni has won numerous awards including Discover Magazine’s Technological Innovation Award, the McKnight-Land Grant Professorship, and has been a recipient of the outstanding ASME Investigator Award. His research was recognized as the most innovative technology of the year in New York Times Magazine. He has served in a variety of leadership roles in the mechanical engineering community and is notably the editor of two journals: ASME Journal of Dynamics Systems and Control and IEEE Transaction on Mechatronics. A recognized authority on robotics, Dr. Kazerooni has published more than 200 articles to date, delivered over 130 plenary lectures internationally, and is the inventors of numerous patents.


Research Description:

Bioengineering, robotics, control systems, mechatronics, design, automated manufacturing and human-machine systems

 

Key Publications:

To view a list of Professor Kazerooni’s publications, please visit the Berkeley Robotics & Human Engineering Laboratory’s website.

Costas Grigoropoulos

A. Martin Berlin Chair in Mechanical Engineering

A. Martin Berlin Chair in Mechanical Engineering
Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering

6129 Etcheverry Hall
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720-1740
cgrigoro@berkeley.edu
(510) 642-2525

For more information see: Laser Thermal Lab
Current Classes Taught

Costas P. Grigoropoulos received his Diploma Degrees in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (1978), and in Mechanical Engineering (1980) from the National Technical University of Athens, Greece. He holds a M.Sc. degree (1983), and a Ph.D. (1986), both in Mechanical Engineering from Columbia University. He joined the faculty of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of California at Berkeley as an Assistant Professor in 1990, after serving as an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Washington from 1986-1990. He was promoted to Associate Professor in July 1993 and to Professor in Mechanical Engineering in July 1997. He has conducted research at the Xerox Mechanical Engineering Sciences Laboratory, the IBM Almaden Research Center and the Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser, FORTH, Greece. He is Faculty Staff Scientist with the Environmental Energy Technologies Division of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.


Research Description:

Laser processing of materials, ultrafast laser micro/nanomachining, nanotechnology, nanomanufacturing, fabrication of flexible electronics, laser crystal growth for thin film transistors, advanced energy applications, microscale fuel cells, hydrogen storage, heat transfer, electronics cooling, microfluidics, laser interactions with biological materials.

 

Key Publications:

Professor Grigoropoulos has published 227 research articles in archival Journals, 11 Chapters in technical review books and 9 U.S. patents. He has also published the books Transport in Laser Microfabrication, Cambridge University Press (2009) and Hierarchical Nanostructures for Energy Devices, RSC Publishing (2014).

 

To view a list of Professor Grigoropoulos’ publications, please visit the Laser Thermal Lab website.