Work evidence

Graduate Research Assistant

Designed and validated miniaturized implantable systems across wireless power, flexible interfaces, optical photometry, encapsulation, communication, stimulation, and preclinical workflows.

Gutruf Lab, University of Arizona · Dec 2018 – May 2022

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Role focusGraduate research role focused on wireless, battery-free implantable bioelectronics for neural recording, neuromodulation, musculoskeletal sensing, wireless power transfer, flexible implant packaging, preclinical validation, and publication-backed device translation.
Projects5 documented projects

Responsibilities

What this role covered.

  • Developed wireless battery-free photometry, neurostimulation, osseosurface sensing, and high-power FES platforms.
  • Integrated rigid electronics with flexible probes, serpentine interconnects, soft packaging, and biocompatible encapsulation.
  • Built bench-validation infrastructure for antenna/power tuning, output characterization, fixture design, accelerated aging, and packaging validation.
  • Supported preclinical validation in freely moving small-animal models where device mass, packaging, wireless reliability, and surgical handling controlled study quality.

Achievements

Evidence from the work.

  • Developed fully implantable wireless and battery-free platforms for neural recording, neurostimulation, musculoskeletal monitoring, and functional electrical stimulation.
  • Built reusable validation infrastructure across 20+ test fixtures, 6 tuned antenna designs, and 3 simulation frameworks.
  • Contributed to peer-reviewed work in PNAS, Microsystems & Nanoengineering, and Nature Communications, with 14 peer-reviewed journal articles.
  • Supported miniaturized implant platforms below 50 mg and up to 2 m wireless power range in source-review framing.
  • Mentored or managed 10+ researchers/students across multidisciplinary implantable-device development tasks.

Technical range

Tools, systems, and engineering areas.

ImplantablesWireless powerOptical sensingPhotometry13.56 MHz couplingFlexible electronicsEncapsulationNeurostimulationFunctional electrical stimulationAntenna tuningPreclinical validation

Related projects

Projects completed within this role.

Implantables

Wireless Battery-Free Bioelectronics

Shared Ph.D. implantable platform work across 14 journal articles, 20+ fixtures, 6 tuned antennas, 3 simulation frameworks, <50 mg implants, and up to 2 m wireless power.

Implantables

Subdermal Photometry Implant

PNAS wireless battery-free subdermal photometry platform for chronic neural recording; approximately 10.5 mm × 7 mm with ~27 Hz, 12-bit data streaming.

Implantables

Implantable Electrical Neurostimulation

Microsystems & Nanoengineering wireless battery-free neurostimulation platform with ~5.5 V compliance and ~18 mW wireless harvesting in relevant test conditions.

Implantables

Osseosurface Electronics

Nature Communications thin wireless battery-free osseosurface biointerface with multimodal sensing and up to ~87 Hz, 14-bit communication/readout.

Implantables

High-Power FES Implant

Nature Communications fully implanted battery-free high-power FES platform with ~20 V compliance, 10 µA–1 mA spinal output, and 1–5 mA muscle output.