Distinguished Professor Alexander Balandin Appointed to Fang Lu Endowed Chair in Engineering The materials science and engineering professor is known for discovering graphene’s unique thermal properties. Established in 2018 by a gift of $500,000 from triple Bruin engineer Fang Lu M.S. ’88, Engr. ’89, Ph.D. ’92, the endowed chair was matched with another $500,000 from the Samueli Foundation.
UCLA Study Reveals Complex Muscle Control Behind Blinking and Eyelid Function Research led by Tyler Clites, an assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering and bioengineering, along with ophthalmologists at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine resulted in findings that could guide prosthesis designs to restore eyelid function after facial paralysis.
UCLA Engineers Design Alternating-Pressure Mattress for Bedsore Prevention Jonathan Hopkins, a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, led the development of a mattress prototype that aims to improve airflow and reduce fluid buildup, addressing challenges in current bedsore prevention methods that require frequent and labor-intensive repositioning.
Semiconductors Get Magnetic Boost With New Method From UCLA Researchers A research team at the California NanoSystems Institute at UCLA, including materials science and engineering professor Yu Huang, created more than 20 new materials that can be used for computers and other electronic devices.
The Power of Touch in Human-Robot Systems for a Connected World In a live-recorded Digital Talk episode from the AI for Good Global Summit, Veronica Santos, a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering and bioengineering, highlighted advances in tactile sensing and AI designed to make technology more human and inclusive.
UCLA SAMUELI IN THE NEWS
‘A Continual Assault.’ How UCLA’s Research Faculty Is Grappling With Trump Funding Freeze Dino Di Carlo, a professor and chair of the Bioengineering Department, discusses the impact of recent federal funding freezes on scientific and medical research, including the suspension of grants in his lab supporting work on faster detection of tick-borne diseases.
AI Pen Analyzes Handwriting to Spot Parkinson’s With 96% Accuracy Jun Chen, an associate professor of bioengineering who leads research on a low-cost, self-powered diagnostic pen for detecting Parkinson’s disease, comments on the importance of monitoring subtle motor symptoms unnoticeable to the naked eye for early intervention.
The Power and Potential of Zero-Knowledge Proofs Computer science professor Amit Sahai reflects on the evolution of zero-knowledge proofs from theoretical concepts to practical tools, and on his work designing software that runs as required without revealing how it achieves its functionality.
