Duke MEMS

It's reunion time at Duke University! Look who we found roaming the halls of Hudson: Members of the Class of 2000, who returned for their 25th reunion. Though they be rivals still -- Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, and Biomedical -- they remain quite cordial. ?? Reminiscing about favorite professors, they gave a shout out to Connie Simmons, a former associate dean of undergraduate education at Duke University Pratt School of Engineering, who helped them reach the finish line. It's a great time to be at Duke -- the cherry trees are in bloom, it's reunion season, and we're headed to the Elite Eight! Go, Duke! #ForeverDuke #DukeMEMS #DukeEngineering #DukeReunions #MechanicalEngineeringIsTheBest

???Congratulations to Dr. Jacob Peloquin!??? We are delighted to celebrate?Jacob Peloquin's successful defense of his PhD dissertation,?"Accelerating Mechanical Characterization of Hierarchical Materials via Machine Learning," under the guidance of?Professor Ken Gall?in the?Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science at Duke University Pratt School of Engineering. Peloquin’s research tackles one of the biggest challenges in advanced materials science—how to predict the mechanical performance of?hierarchical materials?(like architected lattices and porous structures) despite their complex, multiscale nature. His work integrates?machine learning (ML) and mathematical modeling?to improve accuracy in predicting material properties, accounting for?manufacturing variability and structural intricacies. ???Why is this important? Hierarchical materials are revolutionizing industries from?biomedical implants to aerospace engineering—offering lightweight strength, tunability, and energy absorption capabilities. However, their widespread use has been hindered by unpredictable performance variations. Jacob's work provides a powerful?ML-driven framework?to bridge this gap, making these materials more reliable and ready for real-world applications, paving the way for?faster, more precise material characterization, ultimately accelerating innovation across multiple fields. ?? We wish Dr. Peloquin all the best as he embarks on the next chapter of his career! #DukeEngineering #DukeMEMS #MechanicalEngineering #MaterialsScience #MachineLearning #DukeUniversity

Innovating Health Monitoring: Duke MEMS Faculty Xiaoyue Ni In honor of Women’s History Month, Duke celebrates Xiaoyue Ni, an assistant professor in the Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science. Ni is pioneering flexible electronics for real-time health monitoring, from heart rate to brain function. Since joining Duke University in 2020, Professor Ni has developed wireless wearable devices for noninvasive monitoring. Her cross-disciplinary work includes projects supporting ALS patients and improving communication for dementia patients. The Ni Lab is developing “skin-like” wearable devices with applications in soft robotics, augmented reality, biomimetic materials, and customizable medical devices. Explore more about Xiaoyue Ni’s groundbreaking research and the opportunities at Duke MEMS: https://lnkd.in/e2DtXKu8 #WomenInScience #WearableTechnology #HealthMonitoring #DukeMEMS #Innovation #Research #STEM #MedicalDevices #DukeEngineering To apply: https://lnkd.in/esDBcWPj

Pi Tau Sigma - Duke Pi Iota Chapter, the mechanical engineering honor society, hosted a wonderful dinner for Duke's MechE sophomores. It was an inspiring evening filled with engaging conversations, networking opportunities, and a shared passion for engineering excellence. A heartfelt thank you to the faculty, staff, and students who attended and supported this event. Special thanks to our host, Professor Linda Franzoni, Ms. Glenda Hester for coordinating the dinner, and current Pi Tau Sigma chapter president, Tanner Zachem. Pi Tau Sigma's mission is to create better engineers through a commitment to academic excellence and dedication to service, guided by core values of?integrity, service, and leadership. Undergraduate members are selected based on their sound engineering ability, scholarship, service, leadership, and integrity, focusing on students in the last two years of their mechanical engineering program who meet specific GPA and scholastic ranking requirements. We are proud of our MechE sophomores and look forward to seeing their continued growth and success in the field. #DukeUniversity #MechanicalEngineering #PiTauSigma #AcademicExcellence #Leadership #Service #DukeEngineering

???Congratulations to Dr. Prajakta Prabhune! We are happy to announce that Prajakta Prabhune has successfully defended her Ph.D dissertation! Her thesis, titled?"Data Centric Modeling and Design of Polymer Nanocomposites for Mechanical and Dielectric Properties,"?explores the innovative field of polymer nanocomposites. These materials, which consist of a polymer matrix embedded with nanoparticles, offer enhanced mechanical strength, thermal stability, and electrical conductivity. Prajakta's research focuses on using advanced computational techniques to optimize these materials for various applications, including electronics, automotive, and aerospace. A special thank you to her Ph.D. committee members: Drs. Cate Brinson, Haozhe “Harry” Wang, Linda Schadler, and?Gaurav Arya,?for their guidance and support throughout her journey. Join us in celebrating Dr. Prajakta Prabhune's achievement! ???? #DukeEngineering #MaterialsScience #ResearchExcellence #STEM Prajakta P. https://lnkd.in/dpb5r8QF

Last week, we were thrilled to welcome to campus Professor Yonggang Huang from Northwestern University as he presented the 12th annual George W. Pearsall Distinguished Lecture at Duke University! His lecture explored innovative electromechanical structures that interact with human skin to create programmable, adaptive haptic feedback systems. These advancements hold significant potential for improving patient care and enhancing the quality of life for individuals with sensory impairments. The lecture series honors beloved Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science George W. Pearsall, who served twice as dean of the Duke University Pratt School of Engineering, and aims to bring distinguished scholars and researchers to campus to share their groundbreaking work and inspire the academic community. https://lnkd.in/ewgQpwEd

Student Spotlight: Isabel Dudlyke "What excites me most about mechanical engineering is its ability to solve real-world problems through innovative and practical solutions," says Izzy Dudlyke. From her secondary school studies in Great Britain to her double major at Duke, Izzy has seamlessly combined her love for mechanical engineering and filmmaking. While at Duke, Izzy has worked with Pitch Story Lab, Duke University Union's Freewater Productions, and the Aaron Franklin Lab, as well as interning at DI BONAVENTURA PICTURES INC. Izzy's short film "Inner Demons" was featured in the 2023 Duke Cinematic Arts Student Film Festival. #StudentSpotlight #IsabelDudlyke #DukeMEMS #MechanicalEngineering #PrattSchoolofEngineering #CinematicArts #DukeUniversity #STEM #STEAM #Innovation

???Celebrating Excellence in Engineering! We are proud to introduce Dr. Junqin Chen, who has successfully defended her PhD dissertation. While a student in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science at Duke University Pratt School of Engineering, Dr. Chen has shown exceptional dedication and expertise. Her dissertation, "Redefining the Role of Vapor Bubble Dynamics in Laser Lithotripsy," highlights innovative research and her commitment to advancing scientific knowledge. Laser lithotripsy is?a minimally invasive medical procedure that involves using lasers to break up kidney stones into small fragments that can be passed through the urinary tract. Pictured from left to right: Drs. Chuan-Hua Chen, John Dolbow, Junqin Chen, Junjie Yao, Michael Lipkin, and Pei Zhong (advisor). #PhD #Engineering #DukeUniversity #MechanicalEngineering #DukeEngineering #MaterialsScience #LaserLithotripsy #AcademicExcellence #WomenInSTEM #Congratulations #PeiZhongLab #PrattSchoolofEngineering #DukeMEMS #DukeU #MakingHistory https://lnkd.in/dpb5r8QF

Congrats to Uzoma Ayogu, a Duke MEMS alum, on being recognized in Forbes 30 under 30 for co-founding Releaf Earth (YC W19).

What if robots could paint with light? Robotics students Richard Kim, Harrison York, and Aritra Acharjee answered this question with their Robot Arm Light Art project for ME 442. In ME 442: Introduction to Robotics and Automation, taught by Dr. Siobhan Oca, students learn the principles of design and are challenged to manipulate these principles in innovative ways. Rising to the challenge, the team transformed user drawings, SVG files, and DXF files into dynamic robotic movements using a UR5e arm fitted with a custom end-effector—capturing stunning long-exposure light art merging precision engineering with art. The team designed a custom end-effector with finger-like joints controlled by servos and fishing wire, enabling precise manipulation of RGBW LEDs for lighting effects. Leveraging SolidWorks for design and 3D printing for fabrication, they ensured the device was lightweight yet durable. The UR5e robot executed smooth trajectories in both simulation and real-world applications, with RViz providing real-time visualization. To simplify complex SVG and DXF file processing, they developed algorithms to normalize and resample paths while maintaining an artwork’s fidelity and leveraged a custom Python script to render even hand-drawn images. Take a look at the stunning artwork created by the robot and Go Duke! Interested in a Masters of Engineering in Robotics? Visit https://lnkd.in/eHTG322h