Dr. Swaminathan Rajaraman
Associate Professor & Principal Investigator
Primary Affiliations
NSTC, Department of Materials Science & Engineering
Secondary Affiliations
Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences
Principal Investigator
Swaminathan Rajaraman received his B.S. degree in Electronics Engineering from Bharathidasan University (Trichy, India), his M.S. degree in Electrical Engineering (specialization: Semiconductors and Micro/NanoEngineering) from the University of Cincinnati (Cincinnati, OH) and his Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering (specialization: Neuroscience and Micro/NanoEngineering) from the Georgia Institute of Technology (Atlanta, GA) respectively.
Prof. Rajaraman is an academic and a successful entrepreneur. He is currently Associate Professor in the NanoScience Technology Center and the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Central Florida (Orlando, FL). He has secondary joint appointments in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Central Florida (Orlando, FL). He runs a very interdisciplinary group composed on Electrical Engineers, Biomedical Scientists, Material Scientists, Mechanical Engineers, and Chemists. His current research interests include in vitro and in vivo Microelectrode Arrays (MEAs), micro/nanofabrication, micro/nanofabrication on novel, biological substrates, hybrid biosystems, microneedles, agricultural microsystems, microfluidic devices, multimodal cell-based nanosensors, 3D printing and implantable MEMS devices. He also serves as the Deputy Director of the NSF I/UCRC, MIST Center (https://mistcenter.org) at UCF.
Prior to his academic appointment, he has worked in the Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) industry with Analog Devices Inc., (Cambridge, MA), a world-leader in MEMS manufacturing and CardioMEMS (now Abbott Labs, Atlanta, GA) which developed the world’s first FDA approved implantable MEMS pressure sensor. Dr. Rajaraman worked on developing MEMS micromirrors and implantable MEMS pressure sensors respectively at Analog and CardioMEMS. He further co-founded Axion BioSystems Inc. (https://www.axionbiosystems.com Atlanta, GA), a world-leader in high-throughput Microelectrode Arrays and MEA systems. Axion raised more than $30 Million in non-dilutive and venture funding and employs more than 100 people worldwide with revenues of several million every year. All the five (5) products he has developed to date at Axion are in volume production. These high-throughput Microelectrode Arrays products have been used more than 6.25 million experiments worldwide in over 250 sites as of 2021. In July 2021, Axion was successfully acquired by the Swedish Private Equity Firm, Summa Equity (https://www.axionbiosystems.com/resources/product-brochure/summa-equity-acquires-axion-biosystems) for in excess of $100 Million. Axion spin out, BioCircuit Technologies was recently awarded an FDA 510K approval for selling one of their implantable products (https://www.biocircuit.com) and raised close to $9 Million recently in seed funding. In December 2020, he co-founded his second company, Primordia BioSystems Inc. (https://primordia-biosystems.com) to commercialize concepts from his UCF research group.
He has published more than 80 articles in peer-reviewed journals and conferences and holds in excess of 30 patents and applications. So far, he has raised more than to $12 Million in funding for his research and product development activities at Axion, Primordia and at UCF. He has additionally mentored close to 50 graduate students, undergraduate students, engineers and post-doctoral fellows.
Dr. Rajaraman was the Track Chair for a Bioelectric Sensors session in IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Conference (EMBC) 2010, a Session Co-Chair at NanoFlorida 2018 & 2019, a Session Co-Chair for IEEE MEMS Conference 2020, and a Session Chair at IEEE MEMS Conference 2021. He has served/serves on the Technical Program Committee (TPC) of the Solid State Sensors, Actuators and Microsystems Workshop (Hilton Head 2014, 2016 and 2022) and will be the Technical Program Chair for the Hilton Head meeting in 2024, IEEE Transducers 2021, 2023, IEEE MEMS 2022 and served as the Vice Chair for Commercial Development at the Hilton Head 2020 meeting and Chair of Commercial Development for the Hilton Head 2022 meeting (his committee has raised close to $160,000 for this meeting). Further, he has served on the TPC of IEEE Sensors Conference in 2016 and 2017. He was also one of the five organizers of the North American Materials Colloquium Series (namcs.org), a novel virtual seminar series on new materials research across 36 universities to promote post-docs and senior Ph.D. students attracting 500+ attendees weekly. He further co-organized an International Virtual Symposium on Bioelectronics for Pain and Addiction (https://mistcenter.org/meeting/ultimate/bioelectronics/) in 2021. He was also elected to the Transducers Research Foundation (https://www.transducer-research-foundation.org) Board of Directors in 2021. He also chairs the hiring of multiple faculty lines currently at UCF focused on infectious diseases, materials, sensors, and health technologies. He has reviewed papers for numerous journals in MEMS, Microfluidics, Neuroscience, Biomedical Engineering, Materials Science, Optics, and other disciplines. He regularly reviews proposals for the NSF, NIH POCTRN, internal UCF proposals, ZonMW Netherlands healthcare funding agency and Oak Ridge Affiliated Universities Powe Award funding opportunities. Since 2019, he serves on the Editorial Board of Nature Scientific Reports and since 2022, on the Editorial Board of IEEE JMEMS. Additionally, Dr. Rajaraman recently joined the Scientific Advisory Board of World Precision Instruments (https://www.wpiinc.com)
Current Team Members
Charles Didier Ph.D.
Visiting Researcher
Affiliations
NSTC, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences
charlesmdidier@knights.ucf.edu
Education:
B.S. Biomedical Sciences, UCF, 2015
B.S. Biotechnology, UCF, 2015
M.S. Nanotechnology, UCF, 2019
Ph.D. Biomedical Sciences, 2022
Background & Interests: Chuck is looking to research how variants in 3D MEA technology can be applied to implants for Prosthetic signaling applications. Always a student of the sciences, he has been guided towards Prosthetics from an early age where he learned of his cousins need for a lower limb prosthetic (provided by Ottobock). His interest in Biology and Medicine throughout his Undergraduate career led him to the Nanoscience Technology Center at UCF where he hopes to begin research and development on neural Implant devices to bridge the gap between traditional and advanced prosthetic devices, and the human body. He hopes to pursue his PhD in the future within the field of Biomedical Engineering, with an emphasis on Nanotechnology and its applications in the industry.
Jorge Manrique Castro, Ph.D.
Post Doctoral Scholar
Jorge.Manrique.Castro@ucf.edu
Education:
B.S. Electronics Engineering, National University of Colombia, 2007.
M.S. Business Administration, University of Valle, 2018.
Ph.D. Electrical Engineering, University of Central Florida, 2023.
Background & Interests: Jorge worked in the industrial instrumentation field over more than 10 years in Colombia. He focused his professional job in process control and measurement of variables like level, pressure, flow, temperature, weight, humidity, proximity, analytical and electrical using industrial sensors and data acquisition systems from different manufacturers. Jorge’s experience ranges from Oil & Gas to Environmental and applications in Paper, Sugar Cane Mills, Food, Beverages and Cement industries mainly. He served as trainer of technicians and engineers in and out-house and worked for the last 3 years in Colombia as instrumentation consultant. Passionate about new learnings about measuring and monitoring, current Jorge’s interests are related to designing, testing and optimizing nano technologies involving Microelectrode Arrays (MEA’s) and Micro/Nano Electromechanical Systems (M/NEMS) for real-life applications in biosystems. Nano sensors development, microfabrication techniques and correlating electronics and materials science to human activities monitoring are his incoming challenges.
Monisha Elumalai, Ph.D.
Post Doctoral Scholar
Monisha.Elumalai@ucf.edu
Education:
B.E. Electronics and Communication Engineering, Ganadipathy Tulsi’s Engineering College
(Anna University affiliated), India, 2012
M.Tech. Sensor System Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) University, India, 2016
Ph.D. Science and Technology in colloids and interfaces, University of Vigo (Uvigo), Spain and International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL), Portugal, 2021
Postdoctoral research scholar, Purdue University, USA, 2023
Background & Interests: Monisha has gained hands-on experience in various aspects of nanotechnology, including nanoparticle synthesis and characterization studies using techniques like UV-vis spectroscopy, Dynamic Light Scattering measurements (DLS), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). She has also demonstrated expertise in functionalizing DNA or antibodies onto gold nanoparticles. Her diverse skill set extends to the development of lateral flow devices, optical DNA biosensors integrated into automated microfluidic systems, implementation of DNA amplification techniques, exploration of protein-antibody interaction studies, antibody screening using biolayerinterferometry (BLI), and a comprehensive understanding of gas sensors.
Currently at University of Central Florida (UCF), Monisha’s work will be focusing on 3D microelectrode arrays (MEA) and will be involving in integration and testing of piezoresistive sensors on a shoe insole for diabetic neuropathy applications.
Andre Childs
Ph.D. Candidate
Research Assistant
Affiliations
Department of Materials Science & Engineering, NSTC
Education:
A.S. Nanotechnology, Northwest Vista Community College, 2012
B.S. Physics w/ Minor in Chemistry, University of Texas at San Antonio, 2016
M.S. Physics, University of Central Florida, 2018
Ph.D. Material Science and Engineering, 2023
Background & Interests: In the past Andre has worked on the synthesis of biocompatible noble nanoparticles and their affect in Surface Enhance Raman Scattering and the fabrication of hydrogel synthesis, Anticorrosive Materials, Density Functional theory and Atomic Layer Deposition. I am interested in the applications and using my previous knowledge to combine new discoveries with polymers for medical devices and implantable electronics.
Interests include SEM characterization, nanolithography, STEM characterization. Atomic Layer Deposition, Microfluidic devices Body on a chip and improving labs using Blockchain and Machine Learning. He hopes that his contributions will help advance personalized healthcare
Surbhi Tidke
B.E., M. Tech
Ph.D. student
Education:
B.E. Biomedical Engineering, Mumbai University, India 2014
M.Tech Electrical Engineering, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) Vellore, India 2016
Ph.D. Electrical Engineering, University of Central Florida (UCF)
Background & Interests:
Surbhi has more than 3 years of research experience. Her expertise is in the realm of optoelectronic nanophotonic plasmonic devices extending to both modulation and biosensing applications, complemented by crafting nanostructures using nanofabrication techniques and simulation tools like COMSOL, TCAD, Lumerical, and Matlab. Notably, she recently contributed her skills at Temasek Laboratories (TL) at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Singapore. Her work at NTU encompassed the intricate fabrication and measurements of DC/Pulse I-V, C-V, and S-parameter using an on-chip vector network analyzer (VNA) of 40GHz for mmWave devices like HEMT, CMOS, and TFET.
Currently, Surbhi is diligently bringing her diverse electrical and biomedical engineering expertise to develop an optimized product for the healthcare industry.
Omar S. Cepeda Torres
Graduate Research Assistant
Affiliations
NSTC
Education:
B.S. Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico, 2022.
M.S. Nanotechnology, University of Central Florida.
Background & Interests: Omar started to evolve as a researcher in 2019 at the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico’s Plasma Laboratory in where the focus of the research was to develop a sterilization method using air as ionized gas (air in plasma state) by the Glow Discharge method. During the summer of 2021, Omar had the opportunity to be part of the University of Central Florida’s National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) on Engineering and Nanoscience of Materials and Device Applications in Biotechnology and Medicine. At Dr. Rajaraman’s NanoBiosensors & Systems Group, Omar research objective was to create a Penta-Modal biosensor platform, which incorporates a transparent polymer substrate (for cellular image analysis), stainless steel (SS) 3D microelectrode array (3D MEA) structures, with an included 3D microfluidic adaptation, and both temperature and analyte sensing capabilities all on a single chip. Omar discovered through presenting his work that he can continue to incorporate engineering into devices to improve medical treatments, which has always been a passion of him. He desires to further his academic development in order to seek a career in science with medicine
Pablo Morales-Cruz
Graduate Research Assistant
Affiliations
NSTC
Education:
B.S. Biomedical Sciences, UCF, 2022
M.S. Nanotechnology, University of Central Florida.
Background & Interests: Pablo worked in the past at Dr. Leon’s Biomolecular Engineering lab in Lake Nona focusing on the properties and interactions of polyelectrolyte complex micelles for their use in targeted drug delivery. Now that he is within the NanoBiosensors and systems group, he is going to further investigate the novel Rolosense assay as a method for low-cost detection of a variety of viral-associated diseases, such as COVID-19, with the hope of bringing about a device that can be used for at home diagnostics. He is interested in developing the field of molecular manufacturing due to its broad societal and industrial implications. Additional interests include whole genome sequencing as a potential method of creating personalized treatment options for an individual and organ-on-a-chip platforms.
Randall James
M.S. Thesis Student in Biotechnology
Affiliations
NSTC
Education:
B.S., University of Central Florida, Biomedical Sciences
Background & Interests: Randall’s previous research experience was obtained at the Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, in the field of neuroscience. His primary interest is in developing Micro-electrode Arrays and Cellular Biosensors to improve models of diseases of the central nervous system. Randall is interested in investigating the bioenergetics of aging and characterizing metabolism throughout disease progression. After completion of the M.S. in Biotechnology, Randall intends to pursue an M.D./M.S. in Biomedical Engineering.
Diana Rodriguez de Francisco
Graduate Student
Affiliations
BME, NSTC
diana.rodriguezdefrancisco@ucf.edu
Education:
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Metropolitan University, Caracas, Venezuela, 2023
M.S. Biomedical Engineering, University of Central Florida.
Background & Interests: Diana started involved in research in 2021 when she decided to focus her undergraduate thesis on the hemodynamic validation of a flow diverter for intracranial aneurysms. Afterward, she worked designing an external late cranioplasty prototype for LMIC that won the Best in Business Award at the Bench to Bedside competition in 2023. Currently serving as a Computer-Aided Design professor at Metropolitan University. Previously, worked as a teaching assistant in the Fluid Mechanics Laboratory and the Programming course. Possesses expertise in various software tools including AutoCAD, CFD, and Inventor. She is also involved in research projects at Metropolitan University, including designing an aortic stent and serving as a thesis advisor for mechanical engineering students. At Dr. Rajaraman’s NanoBiosensors & Systems group, her objective is to develop a microneedle patch for drug delivery.
Ji Chang
Graduate Student
Affiliations
NSTC (Co-Advised with Prof. Laurene Tetard)
Education:
B.S. Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida 2021
M.S. Nanotechnology, University of Central Florida
Connor Edmonds
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Affiliations
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, NSTC
Maria Tregansin
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Affiliations
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, NSTC
Isaac Johnson
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Affiliations
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, NSTC
David Chand
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Affiliations
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, NSTC
Nadav Shanun
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Affiliations
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, NSTC
Tatiana Hostios
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Affiliations
Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, NSTC
Blake Walker
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Affiliations
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, NSTC
UCF Alumni of NBSS Group
Ph.D. Graduates
- Dr. Jorge Manrique Castro (2020 – 2023): Jorge is continuing in the lab as a post doctoral scholar.
- Dr. Charles Didier (2019 – 2022): Chuck is currently a Sensor Development Manager at Orthomerica in Orlando, FL
- Dr. Nilab Azim (2016 – 2021): Nilab is currently a Research Engineer at NASA in Cape Canaveral, FL
- Dr. Cacie Hart (2017 – 2020): Cacie is currently an Engineering Manager at Alleima in Palm Coast, FL.
M.S. Thesis Graduates
- Ms. Julia Orrico (2020 – 2021): Julia’s first position after graduation was as a Product Development Engineer at Orthomerica in Orlando, FL.
- Mr. Charles Didier (2017 – 2019): Chuck continued his research in the NBSS Group as a Ph.D. student in Biomedical Sciences, UCF.
M.S. Non-Thesis Graduates
- Mr. Miguel Tirado (2018 – 2020): Miguel is currently teaching Science at Orange County Public Schools, Orlando, FL.
- Ms. An Nguyen (2016 – 2017): An’s first position after graduation was as a Product Development Engineer at LifeSouth in Gainesville, FL.
Post Doc and Research Associates Graduates
- Dr. Frank Sommerhage (2018 – 2021): Frank is currently CTO of Primordia BioSystems Inc., in Costa Mesa, CA and Orlando, FL and a Biological Sciences Professor at Keiser University in Orlando, FL
- Dr. Avra Kundu (2017 – 2020): Avra is currently Microelectronics Lab Manager in ECE Department at UCF in Orlando, FL.
- Dr. Syed Pasha (2019 – 2020): Syed’s first position after the post-doc at UCF was as a Process Engineer at Intel in Hillsborough, OR.
- Mr. David DeRoo (2018 – 2019): Dave is currently the CEO of Primordia BioSystems Inc., in Costa Mesa, CA and Orlando, FL
Undergraduates and High School Students
| Year | Name | Degree | First Position After Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Mr. Michael Meyers | B.S. in Electrical Engineering | Senior in ECE at UCF |
| 2022 | Ms. Aliyah Baksh | B.S. in Biology, UCF | Medical Student at the University of Miami, FL |
| 2022 | Ms. Maria Garcia-Chalbaud | B.S. in Biomedical Engineering (REU), PUPR, San Juan, PR | Senior in Biomedical Engineering, PUPR in San Juan, PR |
| 2022 | Ms. Rishika Khanna | B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, IIT, Delhi, India | Ph.D. student in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Texas, Austin, TX |
| 2021 | Mr. Adam Rozman | B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, UCF | Ph.D. student in Mechanical Engineering at the Boston University, Boston, MA |
| 2021 | Ms. Laboni Santra | HS Diploma in Oviedo High School, Oviedo, FL | B.S. student in Biological Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA |
| 2021 | Mr. Omar Cepeda | B.S. in Biomedical Engineering (REU), PUPR, San Juan, PR | M.S. Student in Nanotechnology, UCF |
| 2021 | Mr. Parker Arnett | B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, UCF | Quality Engineer, Olympia Pharma, Orlando, FL |
| 2020 | Mr. Nicholas Alban | B.S. in Electrical Engineering, UCF | |
| 2019 | Ms. Darina Khater | B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, UCF | Systems Engineer, Boeing, Cape Canaveral, FL |
| 2019 | Ms. Paola Morales Carvajal | B.S. in Biomedical Engineering (REU), PUPR, San Juan, PR | |
| 2018 | Mr. Tariq Ausaf | B.S. in Electrical Engineering, UCF | Law Student at the University of Florida, Gainesville, FL |
| 2018 | Ms. Crystal Nattoo | B.S. in Electrical Engineering (REU), University of Miami, Miami, FL |
Ph.D. Student in Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA |
| 2018 | Ms. Sarah Springer | B.S. in Biomedical Engineering (Senior Thesis), Hochschule Kaiserslautern, Germany | M.S. Student in Biomedical Engineering, Heidelberg University, Germany |
| 2018 | Ms. Sandra Fremgen | B.S. in Biomedical Engineering (Senior Thesis), Hochschule Kaiserslautern, Germany | M.S. Student in Biomedical Engineering, Heidelberg University, Germany |
| 2018 | Ms. Valentina Parra Alvarez | B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, UCF |