About Reza

Background

Reza Ghodssi is a Distinguished University Professor, the Herbert Rabin Distinguished Chair in Engineering, and a Distinguished Scholar-Teacher at the University of Maryland (UMD). Dr. Ghodssi is the Director of the MEMS Sensors and Actuators Lab (MSAL) in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) and the Institute for Systems Research (ISR) at the UMD. He is the Inaugural Executive Director of Research and Innovation for the Clark School of Engineering at the University System of Maryland at Southern Maryland (USMSM), MATRIX Lab (MATRIX). He is also affiliated with the Fischell Department of Bioengineering (BIOE), the Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices (Fischell Institute), the Maryland NanoCenter, the Maryland Energy Innovation Institute (MEII), and the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) at UMD. Dr. Ghodssi's research interests are in the design and development of micro/nano/bio devices and systems for chemical and biological sensing, small-scale energy conversion, and harvesting for healthcare applications.

Dr. Ghodssi was the Director of the Institute for Systems Research (ISR) for eight years (2009-2017). During this time, he launched several interdisciplinary initiatives aimed at enhancing the impact of ISR research efforts on society while building a more interactive faculty, staff and student community across different disciplines in the institute. These efforts include the launch of the Maryland Robotics Center (MRC) targeted at advancing robotic systems, underlying component technologies, and applications of robotics through research and educational programs that are interdisciplinary in nature and based on a systems approach. Dr. Ghodssi served as the founding co-director of the Brain and Behavior Initiative (BBI) for six years (2015-2021) -- now an institute at UMD. BBI is aimed at revolutionizing the interface between engineers and neuroscientists by generating novel tools and approaches to understand complex behaviors produced by the human brain. Dr. Ghodssi’s continuous efforts in reaching out to alumni and industry colleagues resulted in a large number of industry-sponsored monthly seminar series as well as annual fellowships for graduate students and post-doctoral associates to attend conferences and an active industry-oriented mentoring ecosystem in the Systems Engineering Education program in the Institute. Dr. Ghodssi served as the President-elect of the Transducer Research Foundation (TRF) from 2020 until 2022. Since June 2022, he has been serving as the new President of TRF. The TRF is a nonprofit organization in the United States whose mission is to stimulate research in science and engineering, with emphasis on technologies related to transducers, microsystems, and nanosystems, and to foster the exchange of ideas and information between academic, industrial, and government researchers.

Dr. Ghodssi's research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Army Research Office (ARO), National Science Foundation (NSF), and R.W. Deutsch Foundation. He served as a chairman of the MEMS and NEMS Technical Group at the American Vacuum Society (AVS) from 2002 to 2004. Dr. Ghodssi also served as the Technical Program Committee Chair for the 2020 Solid-State Sensors, Actuators, and Microsystems Workshop (Hilton Head 2020) and the General Chair for the Hilton Head Workshop in 2022 (Hilton Head 2022). He was chair of the 9th International Workshop on Micro and Nanotechnology for Power Generation and Energy Conversion Applications (PowerMEMS 2009) and the 2012 NSF Workshop on Micro, Nano, Bio Systems. He also served as the Americas Technical Program Committee chair of IEEE SENSORS 2010, 2011 and 2012. He chaired the committee for the Denice Denton Emerging Leader ABIE Award sponsored by the Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology (ABI) and Microsoft from 2007 until 2016. Dr. Ghodssi was also the lead organizer and chair of the inaugural Denice Denton Emerging Leaders Workshop 2016 held in Madison, Wisconsin, focused on helping mid-career faculty (women and men) develop knowledge, skills, strategies, and critical networks.

Dr. Ghodssi is a University of Maryland Distinguished Scholar-Teacher, a Fellow of IEEE, AVS, and ASME, has 178 journal publications and 379 refereed conference papers, and is the co-editor of the MEMS Materials and Processes Handbook published in 2011. He served as an associate editor for the Biomedical Microdevices (BMMD) for 13 years (2008-2021) and served as an associate editor for the Journal of Microelectromechanical Systems (JMEMS) for twelve years (2008-2020). Also, Dr. Ghodssi is the guest associate editor of the IEEE Journal of Microelectromechanical Systems "Special Proceeding" of the Hilton Head 2020 Workshop (October 2020). He has ten U.S. patents issued, nine U.S. patents published, and another seven pending. Dr. Ghodssi received the 2001 UMD George Corcoran Award, the 2002 National Science Foundation CAREER Award, the 2003 UMD Outstanding Systems Engineering Faculty Award, and the 2024 American Vacuum Society (AVS) Gaede-Langmuir Award. He was among 100 of the nation's outstanding engineers invited to attend the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) U.S. Frontiers of Engineering Symposium in 2007 and the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) EU-U.S. Frontiers of Engineering Symposium in 2010. Dr. Ghodssi was the co-founder of the MEMS Alliance in the greater Washington area and is a member of the MRS, ASEE, and AAAS societies.

View short version of bio here

Education

University of Wisconsin-Madison

    Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, August 1990

Honors and Awards

• Distinguished University Professor, 2025
• American Vacuum Society (AVS) Gaede-Langmuir Award, 2024
• Invention of the Year Finalist, Life Sciences, University of Maryland, 2024
• A. J. Clark School of Engineering Senior Faculty Outstanding Research Award, University of Maryland, 2019 
• Jimmy H. C. Lin Award for Invention, University of Maryland, 2018
• Invention of the Year Award, Life Sciences, University of Maryland, 2017
• Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, “125 People of Impact,” in recognition of significant contributions to the department, university and industry, University of Wisconsin, 2016
• American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Fellow, 2015
• American Vacuum Society (AVS) Fellow, 2015
• Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Fellow, 2015
• Distinguished Scholar-Teacher, University of Maryland, 2014
• Herbert Rabin Distinguished Chair in Engineering, University of Maryland, 2012
• Best Paper Award, INCOSE Conference, 2012
• National Academy of Engineering (NAE) EU-U.S. Frontiers of Engineering Symposium, 2010
• Herbert Rabin Distinguished Professor, University of Maryland, 2008
• National Academy of Engineering (NAE) U.S. Frontiers of Engineering Symposium, 2007
• Best Paper Award, IPRM Conference, 2005
• Outstanding Systems Engineering Faculty Award, University of Maryland, 2003
• CAREER Award, National Science Foundation, 2002
• George Corcoran Award, University of Maryland, 2001
• Vilas Graduate Fellowship, University of Wisconsin, 1995-96
• Graduate Research Award, American Vacuum Society (AVS), 1995

Patents Issued and Published:

• “Redox Probing for Chemical Information,” Eunkyoung Kim, Gregory F. Payne, Mijeong Kang, Reza Ghodssi, Thomas E. Winkler, George Banis, Christopher Kitchen, Deanna L. Kelly, William E. Bentley, Pub. No. US 2019/0,346,400, to be issued June 2025.
• “Analytical Micro-Devices for Mental Health Treatment Monitoring,” Hadar Ben-Yoav, Reza Ghodssi, Gregory F. Payne, Deanna L. Kelly, Eunkyoung Kim, and Thomas E. Winkler, U.S. Patent No. 9,581,536, issued Feb. 28, 2017.
• “Atomic Layer Deposition Inverted Passivated Surface Acoustic Wave Sensor for Early Detection of Biofilm Growth,” Young W. Kim, Reza Ghodssi, and Agisilaos A. Iliadis, U.S. Patent No. 9,417,216, issued Aug. 16, 2016.
• “Ball Bearing Supported Electromagnetic Microgenerator,” Mustafa I. Beyaz, Reza Ghodssi, and Christopher M. Waits, U.S. Patent No. 9,083,208, issued Jul. 14, 2015.
• “Superhydrophobic Surfaces,” Evelyn N. Wang, Matthew McCarthy, Ryan Enright, James N. Culver, Konstantinos Gerasopoulos, and Reza Ghodssi, U.S. Patent No. 8,986,814, issued Mar. 24, 2015.
• “Phosphorylated and Branched Dihydroxy-Pentane-Dione (DPD) Analogs as Quorum Sensing Inhibitors in Bacteria," Herman O. Sintim, William E. Bentley, Varnika Roy, Jacqueline Smith, Reza Ghodssi, and Mariana T. Meyer, U.S. Patent No. 8,952,192, issued Feb. 10, 2015.
• "Controlled Electrochemical Deposition of Polysaccharide Films and Hydrogel and Materials Formed Therefrom," Gregory F. Payne, Li-Qun Wu, Reza Ghodssi, William E. Bentley, Gary W. Rubloff, Hyunmin Yi, Rohan Fernandes, Tianhong Chen, and David A. Small, U.S. Patent No. 7,883,615, issued Feb. 8, 2011.
• "Biolithographical Deposition and Materials and Devices Formed Therefrom," Gregory F. Payne, Gary W. Rubloff, Hyunmin Yi, Rohan Fernandes, Li-Qun Wu, Reza Ghodssi, and William E. Bentley, U.S. Patent No. 7,820,227, issued Oct. 26, 2010.
• "Spatially Selective Deposition of Polysaccharide Layer onto Patterned Template," William E. Bentley, Reza Ghodssi, Gregory F. Payne, Gary W. Rubloff, Li-Qun Wu, Hyunmin Yi, Wolfgang Losert, and Douglas S. English, U.S. Patent No. 7,790,010, issued Sep. 7, 2010.
• "Fabrication and Integration of Polymeric BioMEMS," Jung J. Park, Reza Ghodssi, Gary W. Rubloff, Mark J. Kastantin, Sheng Li, Li-Qun Wu, Hyunmin Yi, and Theresa M. Valentine, U.S. Patent No. 7,375,404, issued May 20, 2008.

Patent Applications (PCT or US published)

• “ReaI-Time Ingestible Sensing Capsule,” Michael A. Straker, Joshua A. Levy, Justin Stine, Reza Ghodssi, Luke A. Beardslee, and Jinjing Han, Pub. No. US 2024/0,415.429 A1, Published Dec. 19, 2024.
• “Bioimpedance Sensor-integrated Capsule for Monitoring,” Justin M. Stine, Luke A. Beardslee, Reza Ghodssi, Pankaj J. Pasricha, Joshua A. Levy, Michael A. Straker, Brian Holt, Vivian Borbash, Hossein Abianeh, Pub. No. 20230404428A1, Published on June 05, 2023.
• “Systems and Methods for Medical Device Anchoring,” Ashley A. Chapin, Luke A. Beardslee, Reza Ghodssi, Joshua A. Levy, Pub No. US 2022/0,401,024, Published Dec. 22, 2022.
• “Methods for In Situ Fabrication of Sensor Electrodes, And Medical Systems and Devices Employing Such Sensor Electrodes,” Ryan C. Huiszoon, Sangwook Chu, Reza Ghodssi, Pub No. US 2021/0,386,966, Published Dec. 16, 2021
• “Systems and Methods for Detecting and Treating Bacterial Biofilms,” Ryan Huiszoon, Pradeep Ramiah Rajasekaran, Reza Ghodssi, Pub No. US 2021/0,290,839, Published Sep. 23, 2021.
• “Microneedle System and Method of Fabrication of an Ingestible Structure,” Sanwei Liu, Sangwook Chu, Reza Ghodssi, Luke A. Beardslee, Ashley A. Chapin, Pub No. US 2021/0,213,264, Published Jul. 15, 2021.
• "Integrated and Standalone Label and Reagent-Free Microfluidic Devices and Microsystems for Differential White Blood Cell Counts", Thomas E. Winkler, Hadar Ben-Yoav, and Reza Ghodssi, Pub. No. US 2016/0274020, Published Sep. 22, 2016.
• “Viral Nanoarrys and Sensors Comprising the Same,” Hadar Ben-Yoav, Reza Ghodssi, Pub. No. US 2014/0,256,581, Published Sep. 11, 2014.
• “Assembly of Chitosan onto an Electrode Surface", Li-Qun Wu, Mark J. Kastantin, Hyunmin Yi, Gary W. Rubloff, William E. Bentley, Reza Ghodssi, and Gregory F. Payne, Pub. No. US 2007/0,172.821, Published Jul. 26, 2007.

PCT, Provisional and Non-Provisional Applications (unpublished)

• “Passively-anchored Submucosal Gastrointestinal Biomarker Sensor,” Luke A. Beardslee, Reza Ghodssi, Ashley A. Chapin, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/209,961, Filed on June 11, 2021.
• “Smart Underwear to Measure Volatile Metabolites Produced by the Human Gut Microbiota,” Brantley A. Hall, Santiago Botasini, Reza Ghodssi, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/209,959, Filed on June 11, 2021.
• “Smart Underwear Systems and Methods for Detecting and Managing Gastrointestinal Disorders,” Reza Ghodssi, Brantley A. Hall, Santiago Botasini, PCT Application No. US 2022/032,622, Filed on June 8, 2022.
• “Ingestible Devices, Systems and Methods Thereof,” Michael A. Straker, Joshua A. Levy, Reza Ghodssi, Justin M. Stine, Luke A. Beardslee, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/495,550, Filed on April 11, 2023.
• “Cantilever Actuator for Localized Drug Delivery from Ingestible Devices,” Joshua A. Levy, Michael A. Straker, Luke A. Beardslee, Reza Ghodssi, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/507,930, Filed on June 13, 2023.
• “Bobble-STAT: A Self-contained, Immersion-rated Wireless Potentiostat for Remote Cell Actuation and Measurement,” John R. Rzasa, Quinton Burke, Jason Chen, Chen-Yu Chen, Reza Ghodssi, Gregory Payne, and William E. Bentley, UMD Internal Invention Disclosure No. 2024-127-1, Filed on May 2, 2024.
• “Low-power Thermomechanical Biopsy Module for Ingestible Devices,” Michael A. Straker, Joshua A. Levy, and Reza Ghodssi, UMD Internal Invention Disclosure No. 2024-133, Filed on May 13, 2024.

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