by Ian Khan | Oct 10, 2023 | Futurist Blog
Dr. Katherine Kuchenbecker – Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems: An expert in haptic interfaces, Kuchenbecker’s work revolves around enhancing the human sense of touch in robotic and virtual systems. She’s led several research projects exploring tactile feedback and its integration into modern interfaces.
Dr. Vincent Hayward – University of London: A trailblazer in haptic technology, Hayward has pioneered numerous concepts in touch perception and mechanotransduction mechanisms. His studies underpin many applications, from assistive devices to VR.
Dr. Ken Salisbury – Stanford University: Salisbury is recognized for his work on the development of the Stanford/JPL Robot Hand, the Salisbury Finger, and other robotic systems. His research primarily focuses on haptic rendering and robotic manipulation.
Dr. Massimiliano Di Luca – University of Birmingham: Di Luca’s expertise lies in perceptual engineering, particularly exploring how humans perceive and interact with the external environment. His research dives deep into the temporal aspects of touch perception.
Dr. Hiroshi Ishii – MIT Media Lab: An advocate of “Tangible Bits,” Ishii focuses on turning digital information into tangible experiences, emphasizing the importance of haptic feedback in human-computer interactions.
Dr. Cagatay Basdogan – Koç University: A leading name in haptic rendering techniques, Basdogan’s studies encompass haptic interfaces, virtual environments, and robotics. His groundbreaking work on the haptic realism of soft-tissue cutting in virtual environments has been pivotal in medical training simulations.
Dr. Heather Culbertson – University of Southern California: With an emphasis on creating realistic haptic interactions in virtual environments, Culbertson’s research bridges engineering and perceptual studies. She’s worked extensively on techniques like fabric-based tactile displays.
Dr. Eve Hoggan – University of Helsinki: Hoggan’s work revolves around developing novel interaction techniques, especially tactile and haptic feedback, for mobile and wearable devices. Her innovations are making strides in making technology more accessible and intuitive.
Dr. Domenico Prattichizzo – University of Siena & IIT: Renowned for his work on wearable haptics, Prattichizzo has been instrumental in pushing the boundaries of how wearables can convey touch sensations, paving the way for immersive haptic experiences.
Dr. Marcia O’Malley – Rice University: Specializing in haptic feedback and robotic training, O’Malley’s research has applications in fields ranging from rehabilitation after stroke to skill acquisition in surgery.
by Ian Khan | Oct 10, 2023 | Futurist Blog
Dr. John B. Goodenough – University of Texas at Austin: Credited as a co-inventor of the lithium-ion battery, Goodenough’s recent endeavors have been focused on the development of solid-state battery technologies. His contributions have paved the way for safer and more energy-dense battery solutions.
Dr. Ann Marie Sastry – Founder of Sakti3: Sastry’s work with Sakti3, a solid-state battery technology startup later acquired by Dyson, has been groundbreaking. She’s known for her deep commitment to producing scalable and efficient solid-state batteries.
Dr. Donald R. Sadoway – MIT: A professor of materials chemistry, Sadoway’s research revolves around extreme electrochemical processes, with a focus on solid-state battery technologies and innovations to foster cleaner energy storage solutions.
Dr. Peter Bruce – University of Oxford: A frontrunner in energy storage research, Bruce has made significant strides in elucidating the conductive properties of solid-state electrolytes, fostering advancements in battery safety and efficiency.
Dr. Jeff Sakamoto – University of Michigan: Sakamoto’s work emphasizes both the design and manufacturing of solid-state batteries. He’s made considerable progress in producing scalable solutions for solid-state battery technology.
Dr. Venkat Viswanathan – Carnegie Mellon University: With research centered on the intersection of energy storage and computational modeling, Viswanathan’s insights have been instrumental in predicting the performance of solid electrolytes in batteries.
Dr. Shirley Meng – University of California, San Diego: Meng’s lab delves deep into the design principles of new materials for energy storage with a significant emphasis on solid-state electrolytes. Her contributions are paving the way for the next generation of energy storage devices.
Dr. Yang Shao-Horn – MIT: With a strong focus on the surface and interfacial chemistry of materials in energy storage, Shao-Horn has been digging deep into solid-state electrolytes, ensuring that batteries are not only efficient but also stable.
Dr. Gerbrand Ceder – University of California, Berkeley: Ceder’s work revolves around the computational design of new materials. His extensive research on solid-state batteries has been instrumental in decoding the dynamics of solid electrolytes.
Dr. Yifei Mo – University of Maryland: A leading researcher in computational materials design, Mo’s exploration into the atomic and electronic nature of solid-state battery materials is pushing the boundaries of the technology.
by Ian Khan | Oct 10, 2023 | Futurist Blog
Dr. John Dudley – University of Franche-Comté: A recognized figure in the photonics world, Dudley’s research spans nonlinear and ultrafast optics. He was instrumental in establishing the International Day of Light, celebrated by UNESCO, to highlight the importance of photonic technologies.
Dr. Ursula Keller – ETH Zurich: Keller is known for her groundbreaking work in ultrafast laser technology and the development of semiconductor saturable absorber mirrors (SESAMs), widely used in mode-locking lasers.
Dr. Michal Lipson – Columbia University: A prominent figure in the silicon photonics realm, Lipson has pioneered several of the critical building blocks essential for silicon photonics technology, which promises to revolutionize computing, communication systems, and more.
Dr. Eli Yablonovitch – UC Berkeley: Often referred to as the father of photonic crystals, Yablonovitch’s work has dramatically impacted the field, guiding waves of light using structures that he designed.
Dr. Susumu Noda – Kyoto University: A prominent name in the photonic crystal domain, Noda has made pioneering contributions to the design and realization of three-dimensional photonic crystals.
Dr. Jelena Vuckovic – Stanford University: Vuckovic’s work focuses on designing photonic computational systems and translating quantum photonic systems into practical, manufacturable devices.
Dr. Aydogan Ozcan – UCLA: A leader in the field of biophotonics, Ozcan has been recognized for developing innovative computational microscopy, sensing, and diagnostic tools, often leveraging smartphone platforms.
Dr. Federico Capasso – Harvard University: Capasso’s extensive research in photonics includes the development of quantum cascade lasers and the investigation of new phenomena in metasurface platforms, which allow for the manipulation of light at unprecedented levels.
Dr. Andrea Alù – CUNY Advanced Science Research Center: Renowned for his work on metamaterials, Alù explores the possibilities of creating materials with properties not found in nature, with applications spanning from cloaking to novel methods of energy harvesting.
Dr. Lene Vestergaard Hau – Harvard University: Gaining worldwide attention for slowing down light to a halt in a cloud of ultra-cold atoms, Hau’s research bridges condensed matter physics, quantum electronics, and photonics.
by Ian Khan | Oct 10, 2023 | Futurist Blog
Dr. George Church – Professor, Harvard Medical School: One of the pioneers in the field, Church’s extensive work in synthetic biology includes developing methods for the first genome-scale sequencing and for synthesizing and editing DNA in cells. His research encompasses both the theoretical aspects and practical applications of synthetic biology.
Dr. Jay Keasling – Professor, UC Berkeley: Keasling’s work primarily focuses on the engineering of microorganisms to produce biofuels, medicines, and even cosmetic ingredients. He’s renowned for his work on producing anti-malarial drug precursors in yeast.
Dr. Christina Smolke – Professor, Stanford University: An expert in the synthesis of complex medicinal compounds, Smolke’s lab focuses on the reprogramming of biological systems for beneficial purposes, like manufacturing life-saving drugs.
Dr. Craig Venter – Founder, J. Craig Venter Institute: Venter is a trailblazer in genomic research. He’s best known for his role in sequencing the human genome and for creating the first synthetic bacterial cell.
Dr. Pamela Silver – Professor, Harvard Medical School: Silver’s work lies at the intersection of biology and engineering. Her research includes designing cells that can sense and respond to environmental pollutants or changes.
Dr. Reshma Shetty – Co-founder, Ginkgo Bioworks: Shetty is a leading entrepreneur in synthetic biology. Ginkgo Bioworks designs custom microbes for a range of applications, from pharmaceuticals to bio-based materials.
Dr. Drew Endy – Professor, Stanford University: A strong proponent of open-source biology, Endy’s work centers on the engineering of standardized biological components, or “BioBricks”, that can be used to build biological systems in living cells.
Dr. Karmella Haynes – Professor, Emory University: Haynes explores how chromatin, the complex of DNA and proteins in our cells, can be engineered to treat diseases like cancer. Her work stands out for its innovative approach to gene regulation.
Dr. James Collins – Professor, MIT: Recognized for his work on next-gen diagnostics and antibiotics, Collins’ research also delves into the construction of genetic circuits within microorganisms to create programmable cells.
Dr. Jennifer Lewis – Professor, Harvard University: Lewis is pioneering the field of bioprinting, developing methods to 3D print functional, vascularized human tissues for drug screening and, eventually, transplantation.
by Ian Khan | Oct 10, 2023 | Futurist Blog
Dr. Anthony Atala – Director, Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine: Dr. Atala is globally renowned for his work in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. He’s recognized for growing organs in labs, especially his groundbreaking work on lab-grown bladders and the 3D printing of functional kidneys.
Dr. Ellen Heber-Katz – Researcher, Wistar Institute: Her pivotal discoveries include the ability of certain mice to regenerate lost tissues, leading to insights into potential mechanisms for mammalian tissue regeneration.
Dr. Deepak Srivastava – President, Gladstone Institutes: Dr. Srivastava’s research revolves around understanding heart development and regeneration. He made significant strides in converting fibroblasts into functional cardiomyocytes, presenting potential therapies for heart diseases.
Dr. Juan Carlos Izpisúa Belmonte – Professor, Salk Institute for Biological Studies: Renowned for his work in cellular and developmental biology, Belmonte has made significant advancements in understanding tissue and organ regeneration, pluripotency, and cellular aging.
Dr. Robin Franklin – Professor, University of Cambridge: A leading expert in the field of neural regeneration, Franklin’s work centers on the remyelination process, a natural regenerative process in the brain and spinal cord, aiming to harness it for treating diseases like Multiple Sclerosis.
Dr. George Q. Daley – Dean, Harvard Medical School: With a focus on stem cell biology and regenerative medicine, Dr. Daley’s research has implications for treating leukemia, anemia, and other diseases. He’s been at the forefront of the ethical considerations of stem cell research.
Dr. Cato T. Laurencin – University Professor, University of Connecticut: Widely recognized for his pioneering work in musculoskeletal regeneration, he developed innovative materials and systems for tissue regeneration, notably in ligament and bone tissue engineering.
Dr. Molly Stevens – Professor, Imperial College London: A leader in the field of biomedicine, her innovative research includes designing novel bioactive materials for tissue regeneration and developing ultra-sensitive biosensors.
Dr. Masayo Takahashi – Project Leader, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research: Dr. Takahashi is renowned for her pioneering work in retinal regeneration using induced pluripotent stem cells, offering hope for conditions like age-related macular degeneration.
Dr. Michael Levin – Director, Allen Discovery Center at Tufts University: Levin’s research provides groundbreaking insights into biophysical mechanisms that underlie regenerative capabilities in organisms. He’s recognized for influencing cell behaviors using bioelectric signaling to promote regeneration.
