The objective of the DARPA Young Faculty Award (YFA) program is to identify and engage researchers in junior faculty positions at U.S. academic and non-profit research institutions and expose them to national security needs and DARPA’s program development process.

The YFA program provides funding, mentoring and industry and national security contacts to awardees early in their careers so they may develop their research ideas in the context of national security needs. The long-term goal of the YFA program is to develop the next generation of academic scientists, engineers, and mathematicians who will focus a significant portion of their career on national security issues.

The annual research announcement seeking YFA applications is typically posted to the grants.gov and sam.gov websites between September and October.

 

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YFA Awardees (2006 - 2026)
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Since the program’s inception in 2006, DARPA YFA has nurtured the careers of more than 500 researchers from universities and nonprofit institutions across the nation. 

2026

Principal InvestigatorInstitutionPM MentorTitle
James CrawfordMontana State UniversityWilliam MounfieldRapid discovery of biomimetic metal-organic framework membranes 
Jordan BudhuVirginia TechJeff ZaleskiBioprinted Living Metamaterials: Engineered Organics and Light Matter Interactions
Keren LaskerScripps Research InstituteJeff ZaleskiProgrammable Condensate Reactors for Rapid Toxin Neutralization
Mehdi Saligane Brown UniversityCatherine CampbellCMOS-Addressable DNA Random Access Memory
Or KatzCornell UniversityRoozbeh JafariDUO-MAG: Dual-Species Optical Magnetometer for Unshielded Physiological Sensing
Dayne SwearerNorthwestern UniversityMike McDonald SPARK: Scattering, Plasma Absorption, and Radiation KnowledgeBase
Hichem GuerboukhaUniversity of Missouri, Kansas CityCarlo ScaloClassical and Quantum Optical Beams for Underwater Propagation 
Shafayat HossainUniversity Of California, Los AngelesThomas SchenkelRelativistic Quantum Fields on a Chip: Finite- Time Detection and Vacuum Entanglement Harvesting in Topological Devices
Yasser KhanUniversity of Southern California Robin Bonomi ISF-Integrated Multimodal Patch for Stress Burden Estimation and Neural Damage Prediction
Yilun DuHarvard UniversityYannis KevrekidisAn Information Theory Framework for Designing Agentic Systems
Bhuwan DhingraDuke UniversityMatthew MargeToward a Science of Verification for Measuring Human Effort in AI Systems
Joseph CampbellPurdue UniversityHoward ShrobeTUTOR: Textbook-to-Task Ontological
Mahyar FazlyabJohns Hopkins UniversityXenofon KoutsoukosControl-Theoretic Foundations for Safe and Controllable LLM Generation
Malte SchwarzkopfBrown University Howie Shrobe Catalyzing Innovation in Code Analysis by Rethinking Compilers
Rohan PalejaPurdue UniversitySusmit JhaFormal Methods for Preventing Emergent Failure in AI Team
Amir AsadiTexas A&M Engineering Experiment StationJulian McMorrowD3 Micropixel Metasurfaces for Lunar Charge Harvesting and Dust Neutralization 
Anish ThukralSRI InternationalThomas SchratwieserDynamically Interfaced, High Loading Nanoplatelets in Multiphase Polymer Nanocomposite for Pliable Environmental Barrier Packaging (Dyna-EBP)
Bin LiuUniversity of California, MercedHuanan ZhangEmergent microfluidic architectures from symmetry-modulated vortices
Joshua TroppTexas Tech University SystemJohn M. HoffmanNanoconfined Polycondensation of Sequence-Defined Conjugated Materials within Responsive Reticular Frameworks 
Matthew CraneColorado School of Mines Jason ChouVapor-deposited ferroelectric halide perovskites for efficient optical memory
Shubhra PasayatUniversity of Wisconsin-MadisonDavid MeyerHigh power III-Nitride Ultra-Violet-C Laser diodes

2025

Principal InvestigatorInstitutionPM MentorTitle
Sebastian KubeUniversity of WisconsinAndrew DetorOxyBot: Autonomous Platform to Develop Oxidation-Resistant Alloys for Defense Applications 100x Faster
Matthew Powell PalmTexas A&M Engineering Experiment StationKeith WhitenerHigh entropy aqueous solutions for cryopreservation and beyond
William PutnamUniversity of California, DavisTabitha DodsonPolaritoncatalyzed nuclear processes
Renee ZhaoStanford University Yannis KevrekidisSMART Spatiotemporal Metamaterials for AI guided wave Regulation via Thermal programming
Sho TakatoriStanford University Yannis KevrekidisOptogenetic control of programmable selfpropelled agents
Tuba YavuzUniversity of FloridaSteve Kuhn / Daniel WallachConstraint-Guided Local Fuzzing of Binaries
Bramwell BrizendineThe University of Alabama in HuntsvilleDerek BernsenBEAST Binary Emulation and Analysis Simulation Technology for Advanced Malware Analysis and Anti-Forensic Countermeasures
Gioele ZardiniMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyYannis Kevrekidis  / Erica BriscoeCHORDATE Categorical Hierarchical Optimization for Robust Design of Adaptive Technologies
Yuxiong WangUniversity of Illinois at Urbana ChampaignHoward ShrobeAgentic Multimodal Video Understanding
 with Unified Reasoning, Perception, and
 Generation
Andrea BajcsyCarnegie Mellon UniversityMatthew MargeUnifying Uncertainty and Safety for Embodied AI Agents
Nicola BezzoThe Rector and Visitors of the University of VirginiaMatthew MargeLLM Embodiment for Collaborative Autonomy
Alexander MarderJohns Hopkins UniversityMichael LackASSURE Avoiding Sophisticated Surveillance on User equipment through Real-time Evaluation
Francesco RestucciaNortheastern UniversityNathaniel BastianRADAR Resource Aware Dynamic Adaptation for Resilient DNNs in Low SWaP Tactical Systems
Ryan ShandlerGeorgia Institute of TechnologyVictoria RomeroCombating Downstream Information Confidence Effects (CoDICE)
Arun Mannodi KanakkithodiPurdue University Anna Tauke-PedrettiAccelerated Atomistic-Level Prediction of Material Synthesizability and Defect Behavior
David BurghoffUniversity of Texas at AustinJustin Cohen  FLASHES Frequency Locked Arrays for Scalable High Energy Sources
Robert JacobbergerThe Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin SystemTodd BauerEpitaxy of Wafer-Scale, Single-Crystal Diamond on Non-Lattice-Matched Substrates
Biswajit RayColorado State UniversityTodd BauerPassive Radiation Detector Utilizing 3D NAND Memory
Gang QiuUniversity of Minnesota, Twin CitiesJeffrey Daulton / Yogendra JoshiCooling-on-demand Using an Electron
 Hydrodynamic Refrigerator
Christopher AndersonUniversity of Illinois Urbana ChampaignJeffrey Daulton / Yogendra JoshiEfficient cryogenic optical interconnects with STO photonics
Bruno AzeredoArizona State University Christine SandersSelf-Disintegrating, Passive, Structural Elements with Biodegradability
Jaime CardenasUniversity of RochesterClark McGeheeWeak Value Accelerometry for Next Generation PNT
Tam NguyenUniversity of MarylandJames ShoemakerRapid Discovery of Very Faint Space Objects
Nils NappCornell UniversityKevin SloanFast Multi Objective Optimization for Agile Systems Design
Dazhong WuUniversity of Central FloridaMichael MulqueenArtificial Intelligence Enabled Affordable and Scalable Additive Manufacturing Part Qualification
Aline EidUniversity of MichiganMichael McDonald / Paul JaffeFully Scalable mmWave Retrodirective Power Beaming Architecture

2024

Principal InvestigatorInstitutionPM MentorTitle
Yang LinUniversity of Rhode Island Jeffrey Zaleski / Adam Willis Precision in Miniature: Revolutionizing MPS with Digital Acoustofluidics and Nanoscale 3D Printing 
Jinghua LiThe Ohio State UniversityPedro Irazoqui / Adam Willis / Joeanna ArthurSpatially resolved, non-genetic optoelectronic modulation of neuronal activities with a monolithic photoelectrode 
Samuel OliveiraNorth Carolina A&T State UniversityTiffany Prest / Christopher BettingerSpatial-temporal Dynamics for Predictive Multiscale Models of Multi-cellular Circuit
Aashish ManglikUniversity of California San FranciscoAbhishek Singharoy / Michael FeaselTargeting allosteric sites for seek and destroy countermeasures for opioid poisoning 
Craig WilenYale UniversityTiffany PrestRapid Identification of Viruses and Ligands (RIVAL) 
Laura KimUniversity of FloridaMukund VengalattoreRoom-Temperature Strong Coupling in Intercalated 2D Plasmonic Systems
Maria Sakovsky Stanford UniversityAndrew Detor Embodied Structural Computing for Real-Time Stiffness Adaptation 
Yiyang LiUniversity of MichiganKeith WhitenerEMI-resilient nonvolatile memory using oxygen ion devices
Jairo Alberto Diaz AmayaRochester Institute of TechnologyKeith WhitenerOsmotic Signalers for Functional Materials
Alexandra PatersonUniversity of KentuckyKeith Whitener / Susan Swithenbank Converting underwater noise pollution into electricity: Acoustic sensors to make informed decisions for unmanned underwater vehicles
Saad BhamlaGeorgia Tech Research CorporationKevin Sloan / Susan Swithenbank Squid-Inspired Nozzles for Enhanced Efficiency and Thrust in Rotary Propulsors
Stephanie Gil Harvard UniversityNathaniel BastianCharacterizing and Mitigating Adversarial Impacts on Multiagent Reinforcement Learning
Mahdi HosseiniNorthwestern UniversitySunil BhaveCoherent Levitation of Macroscopic Sensors 
Patricia Alves-OliveiraRegents of the University of MichiganThomas SchenkelAuthenticity Markers in Artist-Robot Interaction
Haizhao YangUniversity of Maryland College ParkYannis KevrekidisTheoretical and Algorithmic Foundation of Interpretable Reinforcement Learning for Intelligent Computation and Modeling
Peng BaiUniversity of Massachusetts AmherstYannis KevrekidisDeep Learning for Discovering Optimal, Synthesizable Inorganic Porous Materials
Shaofeng ZouArizona State UniversityNathaniel Bastian/ Alvaro VelasquezContinual Reinforcement Learning: Forgetting, Generalization and Robustness
Jia (Kevin) LiuOhio State UniversityNathaniel Bastian/ Alvaro VelasquezDecentralized Sequential Decision Making in the Data-Limited Regime: A Self-Supervised Pretrained Foundation Model Approach
Christopher De SaCornell UniversityNathaniel Bastian/ Alvaro VelasquezDecentralized Online Parameter-Efficient Fine-Tuning of Compressed Models     
Frederic SalaUniversity of WisconsinNathaniel Bastian/ Alvaro VelasquezActive Adaptation for Decentralized Foundation Models 
Rose Yu University of California San DiegoErica BriscoeGrounding LLMs with Physical Laws
Thirimadura Charith Mendis University of Illinois at Urbana ChampaignHoward ShrobeLanguage and Hardware Adaptive Representations and Techniques for Compiling Heterogeneous Workloads 
Priyanka RainaStanford UniversityHoward ShrobeA Fast Design Space Exploration Framework and Compiler for Heterogeneous Systems with Neural Network Accelerators
Ellie Pavlick Brown UniversityMatthew MargeDiscovering and Controlling Emergent Symbolic Mechanisms in Neural Networks
Mushuang LiuUniversity of MissouriVictoria RomeroTowards Adaptable and Socially Intelligent Reinforcement Learning
Amir ArbabiUniversity of Massachusetts, AmherstAnna Tauke-PedrettiMetalens-Imaged Optical Coupler Arrays
Scott Cushing California Institute of TechnologyJustin CohenCascaded Thin-Film Lithium Niobate Photonic Circuits Create Entangled Photon Triplets 
Carter Yagemann Ohio State UniversityShauna Sweet /  Lok YanEnd-to-End Modeling and Mitigation of Fault Injection Attacks 
Ognjen IlicUniversity of Minnesota, Twin CitiesJustin Cohen / Yogendra JoshiUniversity of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Ultralightweight Nanophotonic Radiators for Adaptive and High-Power Heat Rejection 
Jonathan SingerRutgers UniversityHunter MartinFormable Ordered Microcomposite Energetics
Christopher LimbachUniversity of MichiganSteven Chambers/ Michael NayakView-Obstructed Delivery of Lunar Power by Optomechanically Guided Beams
Savio PoovathingalUniversity of KentuckyMartiqua Post / Sarah PopkinGas-surface scattering dynamics in very low Earth orbit 
Steven BergRutgers UniversityMartiqua Post / Sarah PopkinData Driven Engineering for VLEO Spacecraft Aerodynamic Performance Enhancement

2023

Principal InvestigatorInstitutionPM MentorTitle
Weinan XuUniversity of AkronCatherine CampbellHierarchical Biocomposites with Exceptional Thermal Conductivity from Synergistic Microbial Biosynthesis 
Ryan Truby Northwestern UniversityCatherine CampbellBiocompatible Soft Batteries via Bundles of Axon-Inspired, Ionogel Composite Fibers 
Aaron Morris University of MichiganChristopher BettingerImplantable Tissues with Engineered Cells to Detect and Fight Sepsis 
Joerg WernerBoston UniversityWilliam Mounfield / Leonard TenderUltrathin Sorbent Coatings with Bio-inspired Multi-ligand Binding Sites for Energy-efficient Capture and Release of Carbon Dioxide 
Timothy BalmerArizona State UniversityRoozbeh JafariThe Role of Descending Auditory Signals in Neuronal Hyperactivity and Tinnitus 
Hongyu ZhouUniversity of Tennessee, KnoxvilleTiffany PrestMoss-Embedded Living Building Materials for Acre-scale Landscape Cooling 
Andrew GrossUniversity of South CarolinaAndrew Detor Extraction of many Material Properties from Analysis of a few data rich experiments 
Ian McCueNorthwestern UniversityAndrew Detor Learning Material Properties Through High-Speed Image Acquisition During Subtractive Machining 
Justin LittleUniversity of WashingtonTiffany Prest / Michael NayakPower Extraction from Mini-Magnetosphere Polarization Fields
Mattias FitzpatrickDartmouthMukund VengalattoreNon-Reciprocal Lattices of High-Q Microwave cavities for Enhanced Magnetometry 
Rahim Esfandyarpour University of California, IrvineSunil BhaveWireless, self-powered, triboelectric-nanogenerator-resonance force sensing array 
Talia RingerUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignNathaniel Bastian / Alvaro VelasquezRelation Learning for Proof Automation - PRICELESS 
Priyadarshini PandaYale UniversityHoward ShrobeμMAS: Micro-Macro Hardware-Algorithm Architecture Search for Edge Efficiency
Aatmesh ShrivastavaNortheastern UniversityHoward ShrobeNano-Watt Power Machine-Learning Hardware using Precision Analog Computing
Elias BareinboimColumbia UniversityHoward ShrobeCausal Reinforcement Learning (CRL): Decisions, Explanations, and Generalizations 
Shon CookSRI InternationalNathaniel Bastian / John-Francis MergenVehicular Reconfiguration and Rapid Repairs for Remote, Outlying Operations using ML (VRRRROOM) 
Maria GorlatovaDuke UniversityMatthew WildingRuntime Identification of Detrimental Augmented Reality (AR) Experiences through AR-specific Quality of Experience (QoE) Modeling and Monitoring 
Ethan SecorIowa State UniversityJulian McMorrowAerosol Jet Printing of Bespoke Low-Loss Electronics with Nanocomposite Dielectrics 
Alireza MarandiCalifornia Institute of TechnologyJustin CohenFew-optical-cycle nonlinear nanophotonic circuits
Kiyoul YangHarvard UniversityJustin CohenIntegrated femtosecond pulse synthesizer 
Matt EichenfieldUniversity of ArizonaJustin CohenReconfigurable Single Chip Radio Frequency Signal Processor Architecture Search for Edge Efficiency
Siddhartha GhoshNortheastern UniversityJustin CohenCompound Semiconductor on Piezoelectric
 Strongly Confined Microacoustic Integrated
 Circuits (COSMIC) for RF Signal Processing
Mengjie YuUniversity of Southern CaliforniaJustin Cohen On-chip electrical synthesis of few-cycle light via optical frequency comb 
William RenningerUniversity of RochesterJustin Cohen Contact-free travelling-wave Optomechanics for Acoustic Material Spectroscopy
Zhiting Tian Cornell UniversityJeffrey Daulton / Yogendra Joshi / Thomas KaziorTransient Nanoscale Temperature Mapping of 
 Active RF Devices 
Yuzhe XiaoUniversity of North TexasThomas KaziorExploring thermal properties of nanoscale wide bandgap semiconductors via ultrafast thermal-emission spectroscopy 
Mohsen ImaniUniversity of California, IrvineTodd BauerHyperdimensional Computing for Robust and Efficient Cognitive Learning 
Xianming DaiUniversity of Texas at DallasJeffrey Daulton / Yogendra JoshiDesigning Flow-Separation Evaporative Cooling for 3D Heterogeneous Microsystems 
Patrick McCormick University of Kansas/ Frank RobeyEnabling Spectrally Aware Cognitive RF Sensing 
Adam Webb Michigan Technological UniversityNathaniel Bastian / Frank RobeyShared Spectrum Target Detection and Track Estimation (STARDATE)

2022

Principal InvestigatorInstitutionPM MentorTitle
Jerzy SzablowskiRice University Linda ChriseyTherapeutics for Rapid Cold Adaptation - Beyond the Natural Human Capability 
Congrui Grace JinUniversity Nebraska-LincolnMatthew PavaCreating a Synthetic Lichen 
Yun ChenJohns Hopkins UniversityMatthew Pava Fibrosis, Inflammation, Revascularization, and Migration (FIRM) Modulation for Muscle Regeneration 
Shelly ZhangUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignRoozbeh JafariWireless Magnetic Robot for Precise Hierarchical Control of Next-Generation Mechanotherapy for Tissue Regeneration and Injury Repair 
Hang YuVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityAndrew DetorAutonomous Solid-State Additive Repair of Aerospace Grade Aluminum Through In Situ Laser Acoustic Resonance Spectroscopic Measurement of Interface Strength 
Owen MillerYale UniversityJinendra RankaFundamental limits to electromagnetic nonreciprocity via generalized conservation laws 
Farnaz Niroui Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyKeith WhitenerMechanical Neuromorhpic Metamaterials for Multifunctional Nanosystems
Maxim ShcherbakovUniversity of California, IrvineMukund VengalattoreStrongly Correlated Material Systems and
 Sensors
Yan ShoshitaishviliArizona State UniversityDerek BernsenShining Light on Occluded Vulnerabilities  
Yinzhi CaoJohns Hopkins UniversityDerek BernsenAbstract Modeling of Control- and Data-flow Guards of Inactive Vulnerabilities via Symbolic Object Graph 
Ankur Mehta University of California, Los AngelesHoward ShrobePrintable Mechanical Autonomy 
Dorsa Sadigh Stanford UniversityMatthew MargeLearning and Influencing Conventions in Human-Machine Collaboration 
Mohsen Lesani University of California, Riverside Matthew WildingInformation and Vulnerability Flow Type Systems 
Amir HoumansadrUniversity of Massachusetts AmherstMike Lack Towards Theoretical Foundations for Information Controls
Syed Rafiul Hussain Pennsylvania State University Tejas PatelAutomated Reasoning and Repairing Framework for Systematic Assurance of 5G RAN Systems 
Ying Wang Stevens Institute of TechnologyTejas Patel5G Causality, Formal Reasoning and Resilience 
Cody BuntainUniversity of Maryland College ParkVictoria RomeroM3I – Maps, Models, and Metrics for Influence Efforts by State/Non-State Actors 
Tim HornNorth Carolina State UniversityAndrew DetorElectron Interactions with Microstructures 
 and Defects During Additive Manufacturing 
Yanghyo KimStevens Institute of Technology Jason WooEnergy-Efficient and MIMO Approaches on Millimeter-Wave Dielectric Fibers and Wireless Interconnects for Space Missions 
Timothy KoethUniversity of Maryland, College ParkMichael SangilloA Project to Catechize Dielectric Charging (ACDC)
Gregory FalcoCornell UniversityGreg KupermanOrbital Resilient Blockchain Interagent Transaction Service (ORBITS) Architecture: a Resilient, Zero-Trust Architecture for Hosted Payloads and Space Infrastructure as a Service 
John Lipor Portland StateKatherine WoolfeInformation-Driven Sensor Management via Nonparametric Divergence Estimation 
Florian MeyerUniversity of California, San DiegoKatherine WoolfeActive Planning for Geoacoustic Inversion 
Christopher BrintonPurdue UniversityTamer Rafaei  / Nicholas Chang FL-NTN: Fog Learning Orchestration of Heterogeneous Model Training across Hybrid Terrestrial and Non-Terrestrial Network Systems 
John HwangUniversity of California, San DiegoPaul Jaffe / John "Venkman" CaseyLarge-scale multidisciplinary design optimization of power-beaming-enabled air platforms 
Amrita BasakPennsylvania State UniversitySalvatore BuccellatoEnabling Fabrication of Large-Scale IN625 Parts Using Multi-Laser Powder Bed Fusion
Byron BootsUniversity of WashingtonStuart YoungEfficient, Agile, Decentralized Autonomy via Composable Policies 
Giuseppe LoiannoNew York UniversityStuart YoungIntegrated Visual Perception, Learning, and Control for Super Autonomous Robots 

2021

Principal InvestigatorInstitutionPM MentorTitle
Scott MedinaThe Pennsylvania State UniversityChristopher BettingerEnhancing the Ambient Stability of Biologics through Fluorous Dispersion
Johnatan AljadeffUniversity of California San DiegoGopal SarmaElectrical coupling between sensory receptor neurons: a shortcut mechanism for swift execution of a motor program
Achuta KadambiThe Regents of the University of California, Los AngelesJP ChretienMMHEALTH: Multimodal Health Sensing to Identify COVID-19 Signatures
Todd GainesColorado State UniversityKristen Jordan RNA-targeting to control invasive plant species
Deva ChanPurdue UniversityLenny TenderMicrobiome Regulation of Glycosaminoglycan in the Synovial Joint
Jie FuUniversity of FloridaJinendra RankaGame-Theoretic Reasoning and Synthesis of Defense with Strategic Deception and Counter-Deception
Katerina FragkiadakiCarnegie Mellon UniversityLael RuddFrom 3D Perception to Spatial Intelligence: Self-supervising Hierarchical Neural 3D Perceptual Simulators for Transfering Learned Physics and Policies across Views, Objects, Scenes and Tasks
 Jason Lo The University Corporation at CSUNLael RuddA homological approach to machine reasoning
Ayaskanta SahuNew York UniversityMukund VengalattoreExploiting strong coupling between colloidal quantum dots and avalanche amorphous-selenium for high performance hybrid mid-wave infrared sensors and detectors
Jie GaoMissouri University of Science and TechnologyRohith ChandrasekarUpconversion photoluminescence from 2D materials with strain-enabled broadband operation
Thomas J. KempaJohns Hopkins UniversityWilliam CarterMultifunctional Exoskeletons from Robust and Responsive 2D Molecular Frameworks
Rachel CummingsColumbia University Daniel WallachGuarding Against User Misperceptions of Differential Privacy
Hao ZhangColorado School of MinesJohn-Francis MergenAutonomous Group Introspective Learning and coopEitition (AGILE) for Cross-Capability Multi-Robot Adaptation
Paul GazzilloUniversity of Central FloridaMark FloodTracking Corporate Relationships at Scale
Georgios PortokalidisStevens Institute of TechnologySergey BratusEffective Software Monitoring Leveraging Hardware Debugging Extensions
Mark FinlaysonFlorida International UniversityVictoria RomeroComputational Narrative Representations for Information Operations
Tingyi GuUniversity of DelawareAnna Tauke-Pedretti  Chiral exceptional point manifested active tuning in intergrated photonics
Kai NiRochester Institute of TechnologyJason WooA Material-Device-Circuit Co-Design of Reliable and Logic-Compatible Hfo2 based Ferroelectric FET
Asif Islam KhanGeorgia Institute of TechnologyJason WooEngineering the gate-dielectric stack in ferroelectric field-effect transistors
Elaheh AhmadiUniversity of MichiganThomas KaziorGaN/ Ga2O3 wafer-Bonded Aperture VErtical Transistor (BAVET) for RF applications
Najme EbrahimiUniversity of FloridaThomas KaziorMiniaturized and Power-Efficient MMW Arrays with Precise Electrical and Thermal Optimization for Future Low Cost Standardization
Aaswath Pattabhi RamanUniversity of California, Los AngelesYogi Joshi Compact Efficient Cryogenic Electroluminescent Coolers
Michael HabermanThe Univ. of Texas at Austin, DBA Applied Res. LabHunter MartinAcoustic and vibration sensing metamaterials enabled by electro momentum coupling
Grace X. GuThe Regents of the University of California, BerkeleyHunter MartinPiezoelectric metamaterials with engineered electro momentum coupling
Arka MajumdarUniversity of WashingtonJustin Cohen / Robert SapersteinOptically rewritable photonic integrated circuits based on phase change materials
Liang FengUniversity of PennsylvaniaJustin Cohen / Robert SapersteinProgrammable lithography-free integrated photonics for signal control and networking
Sashank NarainUniversity of Massachusetts LowellNicholas ChangSecure privacy preserving access to networks with ML (SpanML)
Caterina LamutaUniversity of IowaCDR Kyle WoernerCephalopods-inspired Self-morphing Stretchable Soft Skin from Twisted and Coiled Artificial Muscles
Stuart LaurenceUniversity of MarylandLt. Col. Josh StultsFree-flight force and moment measurement in hypersonic impulse facilities using multi camera telecentric visualization and massively parallel scene reconstruction
Ifana MahbubUniversity of North TexasPaul Jaffe Next generation of wireless power transfer network of Unmanned Aircraft System using electromechanical beamforming
Suo YangUniversity of MinnesotaRichard WlezienHypersonic Sonic Boom Theory based on Line-Distributed Energy Impulse Source: Lift, Shape, and Thermochemistry
Steven A. E. MillerUniversity of Florida Board of TrusteesRichard WlezienAnalytical Prediction of Near-Field Hypersonic Aerodynamics

2020

Principal InvestigatorInstitutionPM MentorTitle
Warda AshrafThe University of Texas at ArlingtonCatherine CampbellRecreated Roman concrete (RRC) using alkali-activated Calcined Clay
Daniel KulpThe Wistar InstituteKristen JordanA machine learning algorithm to accelerate development of in vivo DNA-vectored antibody countermeasures for the warfighter
Mehdi JavanmardRutgers UniversityLeonard TenderLab-on-a-Microparticle: Injectable Wirelessly Powered Label-free Nanowell Sensors for In Vivo Quantification of Protein and Small Molecules
Mark BlennerClemson UniversityLinda ChriseyEmbedding bio-sentinels in the indoor microbiome to remediate airborne threats
Ishan ChattopadhyayThe University of ChicagoBartlett RussellQuantification of Cognitive Dissonance via Recursive Decision Forests
Andrew SchwartzStony Brook UniversityBartlett RussellDiReCCT Dissonance: Quantifying Relations in Human Beliefs using Deep Learning and Computational Linguistics.
Pierluigi NuzzoUniversity of Southern CaliforniaJinendra RankaScalable Exploration of AI-Enabled, Reliable, and Cost- Effective Architectures (SEARCH)
Edmon PerkinsNorth Carolina State University Vishnu SundaresanFlexible Reservoir Computing Tensegrity Robots
Jordan RaneyUniversity of PennsylvaniaVishnu SundaresanDistributed intelligence in kirigami-inspired flexible architectures
Meredith SilbersteinCornell UniversityVishnu SundaresanTheory and Realization of Bioinspired Polyelectrolyte-Based Soft Matter Circuits
Hang RenMiami UniversityWilliam CarterNanoscale revelation of the nucleation of corrosion
Florian SchaubRegents of the University of MichiganJoshua BaronEnabling Comparative Analysis of Privacy Expectation-Risk Misalignments in Exposure-sensitive Populations
Michelle MazurekUniversity of MarylandJoshua BaronGeneralizing to Understudied Populations Through the Lens of Key Privacy Challenges
James FairbanksGeorgia Tech Research Institute Joshua ElliottModel Aware Computing with Scientific Categories
Benjamin GyoriPresident and Fellows of Harvard CollegeJoshua ElliottCollaborative scientific discovery with semantically linked machine-built models
Julian Rrushi Oakland UniversityTejas PatelA Quest for the Physics of Cyberspace
Wenjuan ZhuUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignBenjamin GriffinAdvanced Tandem Gate Dielectrics for High-Temperature Electronics
Jon IhlefeldUniversity of VirginiaBenjamin GriffinResilient epitaxial gate oxides for high performing
Yahya TousiRegents of the University of MinnesotaJames WilsonWideband and interference-resilient mixed mode time transfer for distributed radios
Quntao ZhuangArizona Board of Regents, University of ArizonaJoe AltepeterDistributed quantum sensor networks enhanced by quantum error correction
Justin MetcalfThe University of OklahomaThomas RondeauDefining the Utility of the Electromagnetic Spectrum
David HillSRI InternationalJeffrey Maas2D Electron Gas Geometric Diode Rectenna
Saeed ZeinolabedinzadehArizona State UniversityJeffrey MaasNovel Analog Wireless Synchronizing Scheme for Extremely Low Latency Time Transfer
Phili MuscarellaSRI InternationalJohn WaterstonFloating Integrated Through-the-Sensor Simulation (FITS)
Kaixuan Ni University of California, San DiegoMark WrobelSingle-electron Sensitive Liquid Xenon Detector for Reactor Antineutrino Monitoring
Prasanna Balachandran University of VirginiaWilliam Carter Accelerated Design of Ultra Low Density High Entropy Alloys for Extreme Environments using Artificial Intelligence and Density Functional Theory
Jay McMahonThe Regents of the University of ColoradoAna Saplan Soft-robotic, Propellant-Free Servicers for LEO Spacecraft
Richard LinaresMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyAna Saplan A Paradigm Shift in the Space Enterprise via Servicing for LEO Mega Constellations
Chloe DedicThe Rector and Visitors of the University of VirginiaSarah PopkinSpatially-Resolved Measurement of Temperature and Species to Investigate Fuel/Air Mixing and Flame Stability in a Partially-Premixed Scramjet Combustor

2019

Principal InvestigatorInstitutionPM MentorTitle
Colleen DohertyNorth Carolina State UniversityBlake BextineStrategic Design and Development of a Plant Bio‐mining System to Sustainably Harvest Rare Earth Elements from Domestic U.S. Sources 
Parijat BhatnagarSRI InternationalEric Van GiesonRemote Regulation of Cellular Medicine with Extracorporeal Devices
Yu YaoArizona State UniversityLori AdornatoUnderwater Polarization Navigation Based on Chip-integrated Full-stokes Polarization Imaging System
Keriann BackusUniversity of California, Los AngelesTristan McClure-BegleyCovalent Modulators of Proteostasis
Nick VamivakasUniversity of RochesterJoseph Altepeter Quantum Concepts in Classical Optics
Denys BondarTulane UniversityJoseph AltepeterQuantum Reservoir Engineering Inspired Classical Optical Technology
Pierre-Emmanuel GaillardonUniversity of UtahMark Wrobel Smart City Threat Detection Using Integrated Chemical Sensing and Machine Learning
Corie CobbUniversity of WashingtonWilliam CarterAdditive Manufacturing for High-Energy-and-Power Multi-Functional 3D Batteries 
Tudor DumitrasUniversity of MarylandJoshua BaronTransferable Factors of Updating Behavior for Predicting Vulnerability of Patching and Exploitation
Simon GarnierNew Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT)Joshua ElliottAnt Colonies as an Animal Model to Understand the Economic, Environmental and Conflictive Drivers of Mass Migrations
Walter LaseckiUniversity of MichiganJoshua ElliottHybrid Intelligent Agents for Deploying Robust AI Systems
Matthew HicksVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityKeith Rebello / Lok YanDigital Techniques for Exposing and Eliminating Information Hidden in SRAM’s Analog Domain
Omar Haider ChowdhuryUniversity of IowaRaymond RichardsA Principled Approach to Identifying Cellular Network Attacks
Jeff HuangTexas A&M Engineering Experiment StationSergey BratusSmartScript: A Learning-based Approach to Static Type and Semantic Inconsistency Analysis of Dynamic Scripts (and Other Semi-Structured Code) 
Jeehwan KimMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyWhitney Mason/ Anna Tauke-Pedretti  Dislocation-free heteroepitaxy of IR devices by remote epitaxy
Amir Safavi-NaeiniStanford UniversityGordon KeelerA General and Ultra high-performance Platform for Nonlinear Photonics 
Qing LiCarnegie Mellon UniversityGordon KeelerVisible and mid-infrared frequency comb generation in wide-bandgap photonic materials
Chung-Tse Michael WuRutgers UniversityJames WilsonMetamaterial Integrated Ultra-Broadband Antenna Array with Embedded Reconfigurable Non-Foster Circuits
Roozbeh TabrizianUniversity of FloridaTimothy HancockFerroelectrically Transduced Ge Nano-Fin Bulk Acoustic Resonators for Chip-Scale Instinctually Adaptive RF Spectral Processing 
Loai SalemUniversity of California Santa BarbaraTimothy HancockFully-Integrated Tunable N-Path Frequency-Selective Limiters for Self-Adaptive Interference Suppression
Jason KawasakiUniversity of Wisconsin MadisonWhitney MasonMismatched epitaxy of infrared device materials using graphene-mediated lateral overgrowth
Xiaoyu (Rayne) ZhengUCLAWilliam CarterAdditive Manufacturing (AM) of Highly Responsive Piezoelectric Materials with 3D Addressable Electrode Interfaces and Strain Amplifications
Reginald F. HamiltonPennsylvania State UniversityWilliam CarterAdditive Manufacturing of Functional Hierarchical Shape Memory Alloys
Vishal SaxenaUniversity of DelawareGordon KeelerSilicon Photonics enabled Reconfigurable Optical Analog Processor
Abhijit MahalanobisUniversity Central FloridaJiangying ZhouMinimum L1 norm specialist networks for learning sparse active pathways
Luat VuongUniversity of California, RiversideJiangying Zhou Rapid and Robust Processing in Spatially-multiplexed Optical Systems: Leveraging Lattice Defects for Pyramid Learning
Takashi TanakaUniversity of Texas at AustinJiangying ZhouRationally Inattentive Predictive Vision via Directed Information Regularization
Ting-Yen ShihUniversity of IdahoRohith ChandrasekarA Machine Learning Approach to Automated Non Foster Circuit Synthesis 
Koki HoGeorgia Technical Research CorporationAna SaplanTime-expanded Space Logistics Network Modeling and Optimization for On-orbit Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing
Fabio SemperlottiPurdue UniversityJoshua Stults A variable and multi-fractional order computational mechanics framework: Simulation, optimization, and monitoring of hypersonic structures in a multi-physics environment.
Kourosh ShoeleFlorida State UniversityNathan GreinerEnvironment Informed Vibration Based Health Monitoring Technique

2018

Principal InvestigatorInstitutionPM MentorTitle
Andrea L'AfflittoUniversity of OklahomaPhillip Root A bio-inspired approach to fly undetected in cluttered environments
Chuanhua DuanBoston UniversityPaul SheehanReplicating Neurotransmission Using 3D Nanofluidic Devices with Nanoparticle Blockage Enabled Voltage Gated Nanopore Arrays
Daniele SchiavazziUniversity of Notre DamePeter ErblandUnified Bayesian Networks for Uncertain Inputs and Partial Model Ensembles
Ehsan ElhamifarNortheastern UniversityJennifer RobertsRAISS: Robust, Adaptive, Interactive and Scalable Summarization for Big Data 
Elizabeth SattelyStanford UniversityBlake BextineEngineering a Plant Chassis for Rapid and Scalable Production of Small Molecule Therapeutics
Evgueni FilipovUniversity of MichiganRonald PolcawichFunctional Small Scale Actuation with Origami Inspired Assemblages
Haori YangOregon State UniversityMark WrobelNanocrystalline Semiconductors for Radiation Detection
Heather KulikMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyAnne FischerAdaptive-focus topological features for machine-learning-driven discovery of 2D coordination polymers
Hua WangGeorgia Institute of TechnologyTimothy HancockMAXIMA: Multi-Mode Hybrid Power Amplifier with EXtreme Instantaneous Bandwitdth and Recursive Scalable Marchand-Doherty Load ModulAtion Network
Hun-Seok KimUniversity of MichiganNeil Fox / Michael FiddyHyper‐Dimensional Modulation for Robust Low‐Latency Low‐Power IoT Networks
Hyung BaeHoward University Hava Siegelmann / Michael FiddyPolymer based replicated multi-modal fiber Bragg grating (FBG) for Fentanyl detection
Jeremy MundayUniversity of MarylandMichael FiddyEngineering the Quantum Vacuum 
Jonathan KlamkinUniversity of California, Santa BarbaraGordon KeelerAttojoule Sources for Photonic Integrated Circuits (ASPIC)
Juejun HuMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyGordon KeelerReconfigurable Energy-efficient Chip-scale Optical Network: Beyond the Classical Figure-of-merit (RECONFig)
Seth CaligaSRI International John Burke / Thomas Ehrenreich Integrated Magnetic BEC Formation and Loading of an Optical Waveguide Trap for Atomic Inertial Sensing
Kaushik SenguptaPrinceton UniversityTimothy HancockGeneralized Assymetrical Multi-port mm-Wave Power Amplifier Architecture for Simultaneous Frequency and Back-off Re-configurability 
Mac SchwagerStanford UniversityPaul ZablockyDecentralized Tactical Modular Teaming for Real-World UAS Networks
Markita LandryUniversity of California, BerkeleyAlfred EmondiBrain Chemical Signaling: A New Input Signal for Brain-Computer Interfaces  
Mayar EftekharArizona State UniversityFotis BarlosHorizontal Coordination in Disaster Relief Operations: Incentives and Mechanisms
Mercedeh KhajavikhanUniversity of Central Florida Joseph AltepeterTopological Phenomena in Active Photonic Platforms
Michael BartlettIowa State University / VTECHVishnu SundaresanRapid, High Force Actuators through Mechanically ‘Invisible’ Heat Sinks
Michalis PolychronakisStony Brook UniversityJacob TorreyCompiler-assisted Software Specialization against Vulnerability Exploitation
Nathalie de LeonPrinceton UniversityGordon KeelerNanophotonics for Telecom Quantum Networks Based on Neutral Silicon Vacancy Centers in Diamond
Neil DasguptaUniversity of MichiganLori AdornatoRational Design of Hierarchically-Structured Anti-Fouling Surfaces
Neville SanjanaNew York University Anne CheeverGenome-wide CRISPR Approaches for High-efficiency Homologous Recombination
Oscar Vazquez MenaUniversity of California, San DiegoGopal SarmaAcoustic Metamaterial for Ultrasound Transmission at 10 MHz Through the Skull for High Resolution Neural Modulation and Brain Imaging
Paul HamiltonUniversity of California, Los AngelesJohn BurkeIncreasing Spacetime Area Enclosed in Compact, High Quality Trapped Matter Wave Interferometers
Rui BoMissouri University of Science and Technology Phillip Root Agent-based Anti-gaming Platform for Wholesale Electricity Market Monitoring and Rule Design Using Big Data Analytics and Computational Intelligence
Subith VasuUniversity of Central Florida Michael FiddyTASER-FENTADET: Terahertz Handheld Detector Array Using Reflectance SpEctroscopy for Remote FENTAnyl DETection
Sze Zheng YongArizona State UniversityTimothy ChungIdentification and Estimation of Swarm Intent via Partitions of System Dynamics
Tom GoldsteinUniversity of MarylandJennifer RobertsSelf-assessing network models for big data summarization
Umit OrgasArizona State UniversityJeff Maas RETICLE: Energy Harvesting IoT Devices for Situational Awareness
Victor BrarUniversity of Wisconsin, MadisonMichael FiddyProbing the Limits and Implications of Ultra-high Electric Field Concentrations in Graphene Plasmonic Resonators 
Vinod ValikuntanathanMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyHava Siegelmann / Joshua BaronAdversarial Machine Learning through the Cryptographic Lens
William WangUniversity of California, Santa BarbaraBoyan OnyshkevychDynamo: Dynamic Multichannel Modeling of Misinformation

2017

Principal InvestigatorInstitutionPM MentorTitle
Maren VitousekCornell UniversityAdam RussellUncovering the mechanistic links between stressor exposure, the social environment, and future performance
James WatsonOregon State UniversityAdam RussellComparing Micro-Macro Dynamics and Control Across Social-like Systems Using Equation Free Modeling
Liang GuoThe Ohio State University Al Emondi Implantable, Programmable Integrated Cellular Circuits
Andrew NussUniversity of Nevada, RenoAnne CheeverDevelopment of strategies to target key mosquito host-seeking factors governing human host preference
Shelley ClaridgePurdue UniversityAnne FischerTranslating Molecular Assembly in the Cell Membrane to nanoscopic Graphene Devices
David CookKansas State UniversityBlake BextineTranscriptome engineering for enhanced agronomic defense, response and performance
Mykel KochenderferStanford UniversityHava SiegelmannModular Representations and Coordination for Lifelong Learning
Mohit BansalThe University of North Carolina at Chapel HillHava SiegelmannDynamically Revising Neural Networks via Commonsense and Conversational Feedback
Mark FugeUniversity of MarylandJan VandenbrandeTopology and Synthesis of Design Manifolds
Stefanie JegelkaMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyMAJ Charlton LewisThe Promise of Diversity: Geometry, Probability, Optimization and Machine Learning
Amir Ali AhmadiPrinceton UniversityMAJ Charlton LewisExploiting Geometry in the Design of Scalable Algebraic Relaxations for Nonconvex Polynomial Optimization
Lizhen LinUniversity of Notre DameMAJ Charlton LewisTopological, Geometric and Statistical Foundations of Dynamic networks
Paul BogadanUniversity of Southern CaliforniaMAJ Charlton LewisData Driven Modeling Inference and Control of Complex Time Varying Networks A Statistical Physics Approach
Howard (Ho Wai) LeeBaylor University Michael FiddyUltrafast nonlinear epsilon-near-zero optics in active conducting oxide metasurfaces
Zubin JacobPurdue University Michael FiddyReasonance Energy Transfer Model of No-Harmonic Light
Zongfu YuUniversity of Wisconsin, MadisonMichael FiddyPhysics-guided Machine Learning for the Inverse Design of Metasurfaces
Alexander GreenArizona State UniversityPaul Sheehan Artificial Ribosomes for Fully Programmable Synthesis of Nonribosomal Peptides
Yaniv ErlichColumbia University in the City of New YorkRenee WegrzynResistant and scalable storage using semi-synthetic DNA
Cong TrinhThe University of TennesseeRenee WegrzynViPaRe (Virulent Pathogen Resistance): A highly adaptable defense system against virulent pathogens
Anushree ChatterjeeUniversity of Colorado BoulderRenee WegrzynDeveloping Sequence blocking adaptable therapeutic strategy for Pathogen targeting
Michael SmanskiUniversity of MinnesotaRenee WegrzynEngineering reproductive barriers to accelerate niche differentiation
Ilija ZeljkovicBoston CollegeRosa Lukaszew3D Printing of Novel High-Temperature Superconductors
Vladimir ManucharyanUniversity of MarylandRosa LukaszewMulti-Terminal Semiconductor/Superconductor Hybrid Josephson Junctions
Kurt RohloffNew Jersey Institute of TechnologyThomas RondeauMARSHAL: Modular Adaptive Reuse of Secure and High-performance Advanced Libraries
Kaushik ChowdhuryNortheastern UniversityThomas RondeauRAIDER: Reconfigurable and Application
Jeffrey NanzerMichigan State UniversityTimothy HancockOpen-Loop Coherent Distributed Arrays
Arun NatarajanOregon State UniversityTimothy HancockCollaborative mm-Wave Beamforming Relays with Self-Interference Cancellation for Simultaneous Transmission and Reception
Zico KolterCarnegie Mellon UniversityTrung TranLearning optimization: optimization in the loop in deep learning models

2016

Principal InvestigatorInstitutionPM MentorTitle
Sumeet Kumar GuptaPennsylvania State University / (Sub) Purdue Kerry BernsteinUltra-Low Power Non-Volatile Processors Enabled by Ferroelectric Transistors
Hanna ChoOhio State UniversityRonald PolcawichTailoring structural nonlinearity to manipulate mechanical resonances
James ManimalaOklahoma State UniversityRonald PolcawichMetamaterials-Inspired Nonlinear and Inertant MEMS Devices
Jennifer KitchenArizona State UniversityTimothy Hancock Hybrid Silicon/GaN-Based Digital Transmitter Hardware for Realizing Wideband Transmitter-to-Antenna Interfaces
Jacob AdamsNorth Carolina State UniversityTroy Olson Modeling and Characterization of Wideband Communications Via Narrowband Channels Using Direct Modulation
Jing (Jane) LiUniversity of Wisconsin - MadisonLinton SalmonLiquid Silicon: A New Computing Paradigm Enabled by Monolithic 3D cross-point memory
Dae Hyun KimWashington State UniversityLinton SalmonDesign of High-Performance Multi-Tier Monolithic 3D Microarchitecture
Matthew HirnMichigan State UniversityFariba FahrooDeep Wavelet Scattering for Quantum Many Body Physics
Imre (Risi) KondorUniversity of ChicagoFariba FahrooMultiresolution Machine Learning for Molecular Modeling
Suchi SariaJohns Hopkins UniversityHava SiegelmannA Novel Modular Probabilistic Architecture for Individualized Reasoning
Amin KarbasiYale UniversityHava SiegelmannEfficient Learning of Human Intent from Observations
James BoedickerUniversity of Southern CaliforniaJim GimlettRobustness of collective behavior in heterogeneous microbial networks
Xiang ChengUniversity of MinnesotaJim GimlettStudying the emergent collective flows of active fluids using engineered bacterial strains
Shu JiaStony Brook University, State University of New YorkMichael Fiddy Wavefront-Engineered, High-Speed Super-Resolution Microscopy for Nanometer-Scale, Live-Tissue Imaging
Fang HuangPurdue UniversityMichael Fiddy 3D Super-resolution Imaging of Intact Animals
Alon A. GorodetskyUniversity of California, IrvineJan VandenbrandeReconfigurable Cephalopod-Inspired Smart Materials for Soldier Health
Emilio FerraraUniversity of Southern California Information Sciences Institute (USC ISI)Adam RussellModeling Individual Trajectories and Incentives in Gamified Techno-social Environments
Casper HarteveldNortheastern UniversityAdam RussellPersonalized and Crowdsourced Scenario Generation
Zhimin XiUniversity of MichiganJan VandenbrandeNew Theory in Model-Based Design: A Design Foundation Driven by Probability of Design Errors
Samira KianiArizona State UniversityRenee WegrzynClustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)-based synthetic genetic circuits as next generation gene therapy of inner ear
Kathryn A. WhiteheadCarnegie Mellon UniversityRenee WegrzynNext Generation mRNA Delivery Systems with Precise Spatial and Temporal Activity
Ahmad S. KhalilTrustees of Boston UniversityRenee WegrzynAdvanced Genetic Control for Gene Therapy Using Synthetic Biology
T. Alex PerkinsUniversity of Notre DameCol. Matt HepburnBridging Gaps Across Multiple Spatial Scales for Models of Mosquito-Borne Viral Disease Dynamics
Raina PlowrightMontana State UniversityCol. Matt HepburnModeling Pathways to Zoonotic Spillover
Nicholas G. ReichUniversity of Massachusetts, AmherstCol. Matt HepburnOptimal Infectious Disease Prediction with Multi-Scale Ensemble Models
Stephen TechtmannMichigan Technological UniversityJustin GallivanBilge Water Microbiomes as Biosignatures of Maritime Provenance
Rebecca SchulmanJohns Hopkins UniversityPaul Sheehan Self-Targeting Biotic-Abiotic Interfaces

2015

Principal InvestigatorInstitutionPM MentorTitle
Swaroop GhoshUniversity of South FloridaKerry BernsteinThreshold-Defined Switches for Novel Logic Engines
Caleb FultonUniversity of OklahomaTroy Olsson A Multi-Tiered, Systematic Approach to Digital Array Interference Mitigation
Patrick MercierUCSDTroy Olsson A Dynamically Reconfigurable DC-RF Power Inverter Fully Integrated in CMOS
Srabanti ChowdhuryArizona State UniversityTimothy HancockUltimate high power vertical transistors for RF application using GaN and Diamond
Barry RandPrinceton UniversityTroy Olsson Compound Semiconductors for Transient Electronic and Optoelectronic Systems
Tengfei LuoUniversity of Notre DameAvram Bar-Cohen Nanostructure Enabled Thermal Boundary Resistance Reduction across GaN-Substrate Interfaces
Kiersten Kerby-PatelThe University of Massachusetts, BostonDev Palmer HIStrip: a Guided-Wave Framework for Low-Profile Antennas with High Impedance Ground Planes
Zhiru ZhangCornell UniversityLinton Salmon Scale-Out Design Automation for Highly Productive Hardware Specialization
Janelle AyresThe Salk Institute for Biological StudiesCol. Matthew Hepburn, MD  Discovery of tolerance mechanisms: New therapeutics for infectious diseases
Amanda JamiesonBrown UniversityCol. Matthew Hepburn, MD  Influence of the lung microbiome on tolerance to pulmonary infections
Semiha ErganNew York University Polytechnic School of EngineeringJustin Gallivan Neuroscience for Architecture: Quantification of Human Responsiveness in Static and Responsive Built Environments
Xue HanBoston UniversityAl Emondi New Tools and Principles for Understanding the Biophysical Mechanisms of Ultrasound Neuromodulation
David BortonBrown UniversityAl Emondi Restoring balance and locomotion via model-driven sensory stimulation within dynamic and diverse environments
Stephen DavidOregon Health and Science UniversityBrad RingeisenRepresentation of natural sounds in the active auditory system
Stefanie TellexBrown UniversityHava Siegelmann Reducing Errors in Human-Robot Communication with Real-Time Feedback
Stephen R. NiezgodaOhio State UniversityJohn Main Computational Design Tools for Qualifying Uncertainty Due to Material Variability
George KonidarisDuke UniversityHava Siegelmann Bridging the Gap between Low-level Robot Control and Flexible High-level Task Planning
Amy LaViersUniversity of IllinoisHava Siegelmann Choreography of Embodied, Platform-invariant Motion Primitives
Xiaobo YinUniversity of ColoradoAnne Fischer Super-resolution Photoacoustic Wavefront Shaping (SuperPAWS)
Wei XiongUCSDAnne Fischer Heterodyned 2D SFG Spectromicroscopy-in situ visualization functionality origins at complex Nano-assembly interfaces
Thomas FaulknerUniversity of IllinoisFariba Fahroo Geometrization of strongly correlated phenomena via gauge-gravity duality: from fractional quantum Hall to quantum entanglement
Lek-Heng LimUniversity of ChicagoFariba Fahroo Statistical Inference on Grassmannians
Javad LavaeiUC BerkeleyFariba Fahroo New Theoretical Approaches to High-Dimensional Optimization
Nanfang YuColumbia UniversityPredrag MilojkovicMetasurface-Based Spatial Light Modulators

2014

Principal InvestigatorInstitutionPM MentorTitle
Panagiotis Artemiadis Arizona State University JC LedeOptimizing human supervision of multi-agent systems
Spring Berman Arizona State UniversityJC LedeSpecification and Control of Customizable Multi-Robot Systems for Distributed Sensing and Cooperative Manipulation
Emily Falk University of Pennsylvania Adam RussellNeural mechanisms of influence, deterrence and message propagation
Necmiye Ozay University of MichiganFariba Fahroo Dynamics-based information extraction: a hybrid systems approach
Jarvis Haupt University of MinnesotaFariba Fahroo Model-Based Matrix Completion: A Paradigm for Imputation, Fusion, and Inference from Multi-modal Data
Yang Jiao Arizona State University Michael Maher Integrated Computational Scheme for the Characterization, Modeling and Prediction of Microstructure Evolution and Fatigue Response in Titanium Alloys
Michael Sangid Purdue UniversityFariba Fahroo Predictive Materials Science and Fatigue Life Prognosis
Clair Sullivan University of Illinois Mark Wrobel A New Approach to Stand-off Detection of Special Nuclear Material using Big Data Analysis
Carlos Romero-Talamas University of Maryland Baltimore County Vincent Tang Simulations of spheromak formation and sustainment from multi-pulse helicity injection
Mikhail Shapiro California Institute of Technology Fariba Fahroo Selective Ultrasonic Bioswitches for Precise Local Modulation of Physiology
Amin Arbabian Stanford University Fariba Fahroo Highly Miniaturized Deep-Tissue Wireless Implants with Acoustic Power and Data Links
Christopher Bettinger Carnegie Mellon University Daniel Wattendorf / Douglas Weber Orthogonal Parameterization of Bioinspired Peripheral Nerve Interface Materials
Andrea Tao University of California, San Diego Prem Kumar Plasmonic Nanoprobes for Neuronal Monitoring
Rajesh Rao Nadakuditi University of Michigan Fariba Fahroo Topological methods for uncovering hidden structure in neural activity and connectivity
Ovijit Chaudhuri Stanford Unviersity Tyler McQuade Hierarchically Structured Hybrid Biopolymer Hydrogels for Treatment of Traumatic Injuries on the Battlefield and to Promote Long-Term Tissue Regeneration
Aaron Esser-Kahn University of California, Irvine Tyler McQuade Morphogenetic systems for adaption in complex materials
Tak-Sing Wong Pennsylvania State University Douglas Weber Mind-Controllable Interfacial Materials
Vivienne Sze Massachusetts Institute of Technology Joseph Cross Energy-Efficient Embedded Vision Systems
David Wentzlaff Princeton UniversityJoseph Cross Looking Beyond the Dark, Rethinking General Purpose Computer Architecture for UAV and Space Processing
Jessica Ruyle University of Oklahoma Dev Palmer Placement Insensitive Antennas Approaching Two-Dimensionality for Conformal Multi-Platform Use
John Albrecht Michigan State UniversityAvram Bar-Cohen Modeling Phonon Generation and Transport in the Near Junction Region of Wide Band Gap (WBG) Transistors
Satish Kumar Georgia Tech Research Corporation Avram Bar-Cohen Electron-Phonon Transport in High-electron Mobility Transistors including Electromagnetic Effects
Jacob Robinson Rice Univesity Justin Gallivan Electrophysiology-Assisted Cell Sorting (E-phACS) for High-throughput Synthetic Neurobiology
Pamela Peralta-Yahya Georgia Tech Research Corporation Justin Gallivan Chip-based yeast engineering for the production of chemicals
Songbin Gong University of Illinois Kerry Bernstein Parametrically Excited Resonant Computing systems (PERCs)
Becky Peterson University of Michigan Fariba Fahroo Amorphous Oxide Thin Film Transistors for Switched-Mode Power Supplies
Thomas Serre Brown University Fariba Fahroo Scaling up computational models of visual processing in cortex
Mike Shuo-Wei Chen University of Southern California Daniel Hammerstrom Dual-Channel UWB Impulse-Based interconnect towards Large Scale Plastic Neural Network
Vladimir Itskov Pennsylvania State University Pre KumarTopological Methods for Uncovering Hidden Structure in Neural Activity and Connectivity in the Brain

2013

Principal InvestigatorInstitutionPM MentorTitle
Eric BrustadThe University of North Carolina at Chapel HillJustin GallivanExpanding Enzyme Catalysis Through Non-natural Amino Acids and Cofactors
Cullen BuieMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyJustin GallivanEnabling Novel Chassis for Synthetic Biology
Bradley BundyBrigham Young UniversityJustin GallivanA Cell-free Synthetic Biology Approach to Expand the Language of Biology
Fuzhong ZhangWashington University in St. LouisJustin GallivanBiosynthesis of Non-Natural Fatty Acids for the Production of Chemicals and Advanced Biofuels
Sheng ShenCarnegie Mellon UniversityAvram Bar-Cohen/ Joe CrossCompliant and Thermally Conductive Ordered Nanostructures for Next Generation Thermal Interface Materials
Mustafa AkbulutTexas A&M Engineering Experiment StationAvram Bar-Cohen/ Joe CrossNext-Generation Solders Involving Dispersion of Soft Ligand Functionalized Boron Nitride Nanoribbons or Nanosheets in Alloys as Thermal Interface Materials (TIMs)
Konstantin ZeldovichUniversity of Massachusetts Medical SchoolJim GimlettRobust Analysis and Prediction of Influenza Reassortment (RAPleR)
Hai (Helen) LiUniversity of PittsburghDan HammerstromAn Adaptive Information Processing System Resilient to Device Variations and Noises
Omer OralkanNorth Carolina State UniversityLt.Col. Daniel WattendorfAn Ultrasound-Based Noninvasive Neural Interface to the Retina
Elliot HuiThe Regents of the University of California, IrvineLt. Col. Daniel WattendorfDirected Evolution of Phytochrome Absorption Spectra for Multichannel Optogenetic Cellular Interfaces
Polina AnikeevaMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyLt. Col. Daniel WattendorfNanoparticle-Enabled Sensitivity of Specific Neurons to Alternating Magnetic Fields for Targeted Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Pieter AbbeelThe Regents of the University of CaliforniaGill PrattSupervised Autonomy for Robotic Manipulation
Andrea Thomaz Georgia Tech Research CorporationGill PrattObject‐Level Communication for Human‐Robot Motion Generation
Edwin OlsonThe Regents of the University of MichiganGill PrattMutual Modeling for Human/Robot Teaming with Minimal Communications
Sangbae KimMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyGill PrattA Disaster Response Robot Capable of Power Manipulation
Walter VoitThe University of Texas at DallasDouglas Weber Smart Polymer Devices for Chronic Multifascicular Microstimulation
Nuh GedikMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyPrem Kumar Time, Energy and Momentum Resolved Probing of Ultrafast Dynamics in Quantum Materials
Chris MarianettiThe Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New YorkJim Gimlett MicNovel functionality in Oxides via Jahn-Teller Ions: a DFT+DMFT Study
Gregory FieteUniversity of Texas at AustinJim Gimlett Establishing Design Principles for Strongly Correlated Quantum Materials
Jonathan SimonThe University of ChicagoPrem Kumar Photons in Gauge Fields: Spin-Hall Effect to Strong Correlations
Zhaowei LiuUniversity of California San DiegoJoshua ConwayHigh-speed Nanophotonic LEDs at 100GHz and Beyond
Daniel FeezellRegents of the University of New MexicoJoshua ConwayHigh-Speed Nonpolar InGaN/GaN Light-Emitting Diodes Using Plasmonic Core-Shell Nanowires
Aaron DollarYale UniversityMichael MaherRapid Field Fabrication by Non-Experts
Jesse RissmanThe Regents of the University of California, Los AngelesDouglas WeberGiving Classic Learning Principles a Virtual Makeover: Neural Correlates of Effective Retrieval of Memories Formed in a Virtual World
Jonathan HauensteinUniversity of Notre DameReza Ghanadan Numerical Algebraic Geometric Methods for Data Analysis

2012

Principal InvestigatorInstitutionPM MentorTitle
Dirk EnglundMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyPrem KumarChip-Integrated Timing and Inertial Measurement Using Electron Spins in Diamond
Harmut HaeffnerUniversity of California, BerkeleyPrem KumarInterfacing Trapped Ions With a Tank Circuit for Hybrid Quantum Devices
Benjamin LevStanford UniversityPrem KumarQuantum Brazovskii Physics via Fully Emergent and Compliant Optical Lattices
Holger MullerUniversity of California, BerkeleyPrem KumarCavity-based Atomic Rotation and Acceleration Sensor
Michelle ChangUniversity of California, BerkeleyJustin GallivanSynthetic Biology Approaches to Cellular Nanomaterials
Harvinder Singh GillTexas Tech UniversityJustin GallivanPollen Grains as Novel Vaccine-Transporters for Oral Vaccination
Julius LucksCornell UniversityJustin GallivanA Platform for Design and Global Characterization of Light-modulated RNA Networks
Georg SeeligUniversity of WashingtonDan WattendorfNucleic Acid Circuitry for Point-of-Care Biomarker Detection and Analysis
Heather ClarkNortheastern UniversityJustin GallivanLighting up the Chemistry of the Brain: Nanosciences Monitor Neurotransmitter Release
Michael McAlpinePrinceton UniversityDan WattendorfPiezoelectric Nanoribbons for Interfaced Cellular Nanomechanics
Ryan AdamsHarvard UniversityReza GhanadanDeveloping New Methods of Multi-Core Statistical Interference Towards Rapid Data Fusion and Information Extraction
Maria CameronUniversity of MarylandReza GhanadanMethods for the Study of Rare Events
John Gunnar CarlssonUniversity of MinnesotaReza Ghanadan    Strategically Allocating Resources in a Geographic Environment
Matthew KahleOhio State UniversityReza Ghanadan  Topology and Geometry of Random Simplicial Complexes
Mark TygertNew York UniversityReza GhanadanComputer-enabled Metrics of Statistical Significance
Abhay Pasupathy NarayanColumbia UniversityPrem KumarThe Two-Dimensional Limit of Strongly-Correlated Materials
James M. RondinelliDrexel UniversityPrem KumarSeizing the Third Dimension in Correlated Oxide Thin Films
Jaafar A. El-AwadyJohns Hopkins UniversityTyler McQuadeMicro-Mechanics Modeling of Surface Roughness Evolution
Naomi S. GinsbergUniversity of CaliforniaTyler McQuadeBeneath the Bulk: Domain-Specific Efficiency and Degradation in Organic Photovoltaic Thin Films
Randall GoldsmithUniversity of Wisconsin - MadisonTyler McQuadeEstablishing Rules for Thin Film Organic Electronic Devices
Bryan W. BoudourisPurdue UniversityMichael MaherRadical Polymers for Nanostructured, Next Generation Thermoelectric Devices
Andrea M. HodgeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaMichael MaherHighly Nanotwinned Ultra High Strength Aluminum Alloys
Gap-Yong KimIowa State UniversityJudah GoldwasserManufacturing of High-strength, Lightweight Magnesium Panels with Hierarchical Structures
Krishnan S. RajaUniversity of IdahoJudah GoldwasserDesign and Synthesis of Ceramic Molecular Auxetic Materials
James HendersonSyracuse UniversityMichael MaherShape-Memory-Actuated Materials for Accelerated Healing of Orthopedic Injuries in Warfighters
Aydin BabakhaniRice UniversityDan PurdyA sub-THz CMOS On-chip Antenna with an Integrated Oscillator
Muhannad BakirGeorgia Institute of TechnologyWilliam ChappellRadical Interconnect Technologies for 3D Heterogeneous System Integration
Christopher BattenCornell UniversityWilliam ChappellComplexity-Effective Vector Specialization for Image and Video Processing
Prem ChahalMichigan State UniversityWilliam ChappellHeterogeneous Integration of Nanodevices for THz Circuit Applications
Hyoung Koo LeeMissouri University of Science & TechnologyWilliam ChappellFlat-Panel X-ray Sources
Qiangfei XiaUniversity of Massachusetts AmherstWilliam Chappell3D All-silicon-based Resistive Random Access Memory
Robert DeeganUniversity of MichiganAvi Bar-CohenA Microfluidic Platform Actuated with Light
Neal HallUniversity of Texas, AustinAvi Bar-CohenUltra-small, Ultra-low-noise, Broadband Acoustic Sensors
Pramod ReddyUniversity of MichiganAvi Bar-CohenNanoscale Engineering of Interfacial Thermal Transport in HEMTs for Improved Reliability
Evan ReedStanford UniversityAvi Bar-CohenNEMS with 2D engineered piezoelectric materials
Matteo RinaldiNortheastern UniversityAvi Bar-CohenUn-cooled Nanomechanical Infrared/THz Detectors Based on Piezoelectric Resonant Nano Plates
Mikhail BelkinUniversity of Texas, AustinRichard HeinrichsRoom-Temperature High-Power Terahertz Semiconductor Laser Sources
Amy FosterJohns Hopkins UniversityRichard HeinrichsThree-dimensional Integration of CMOS-compatible Nonlinear Photonic Circuits
Chris GiebinkPennsylvania State UniversityRichard HeinrichsOrganic Photonics: Enabling Complex Index Modulation for Optical Isolation and Switching in Next-generation Plastic Fiber Networks
Wei JiangRutgers, The State University of New JerseyRichard HeinrichsHigh Speed Spatial Light Modulator (SLM) with Flexible Inter-pixel Processing
Jongseung YoonUniversity of Southern CaliforniaRichard HeinrichsConformal, Flexible Assemblies of Ultrathin, Microscale VCSEL Arrays Towards Wearable and Implantable Integrated Optical Diagnostic and Therapeutic Platform
Wojciech MatusikMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyReza GhanadanHigh-fidelity Mapping From Specification to Fabrication
Alaa AhmedUniversity of Colorado Influence of Threat on Decision Making under Risk: A Neuroeconomic Approach to Movement Control
William KillgoreHarvard Medical School Multimodal Neuroimaging to Predict Cognitive Resilience Against Sleep Loss
Chet T. MoritzUniversity of WashingtonJustin SanchezA Brain-Machine-Spinal Interface BMSI to Replace and Repair the Injured Nervous System
Dario PompiliRutgers, The State University of New Jersey Towards Real-time Vital Sign Data Processing in Mobile Computing Grids for Advanced Operational Neuroscience
Matthew LeaseUniversity of Texas, AustinRand WaltzmanBlending Crowdsourcing with Automation for Fast, Cheap, & Accurate Analysis of Spontaneous Speech
William RandUniversity of MarylandRand WaltzmanIntelligent Interfaces for Social Media: Monitoring, Modeling and Engaging in Online Conversations
Daniel GoldmanGeorgia Institute of TechnologyGil Pratt Towards a Terramechanics of Heterogeneous Granular Media
Hadas Kress-GazitCornell UniversityGil Pratt Autonomous robots: Explaining failures and boosting success of high-level tasks
Carmel MajidiCarnegie Mellon UniversityGil PrattSoft Machines and Electronics for Bio-inspired Robots and Wearable Assistive Technologies

2011

Principal InvestigatorInstitutionTitle
Anastassia AlexandrovaUCLA The Inside-Out Design of Artificial Metallo-Enzymes with Unprecedented Specificity and Reactivity 
Dimitris AnagnostouSD School of Mines & Technology Basic Research on Autonomous and Multi-Reconfigurable Antenna Arrays 
Joseph BardinUniversity of Massachusetts Programmable Front-Ends in Advanced Technologies 
Xing ChengTexas A&M Surface-Phonon-Polariton-Enhanced Infrared Antennas for Exceptionally Sensitive Chemical Detection 
Dino Di CarloUCLA High-Throughput Mechanical Characterization of Cell State and Function 
Brian FloydNorth Carolina State University Interferometric Imaging Using Reconfigured Millimeter-Wave Phased Arrays in Silicon (IIRIS) 
Mark FosterJohns Hopkins University SWiPhT: Scalable Ultra-High-BandWidth Photonic Transmultiplexer 
Mahmoud HusseinUniversity Of Colorado Vibration Isolation via Directional Subwavelength Dissipation 
Michael JewettNorthwestern University Synthesis of Sequence-Defined Vinyl Polypeptides for Functional Biohybrid Materials 
Hanseup KimUniversity of Utah Infinite-Loop Micro Circulatory Gas Chromatograph (MCCG) 
Rafal KomendarczykTulane Topological Invariants of Fluid Flows 
Rouslan KrechetnikovUCSB Low-Dimensional Modeling and Identification of Finite-Amplitude Instabilities in Complex Systems 
Harish KrishnaswamyColumbia University Active Waveguides on Silicon for Sub-mmWave/Terahertz Electronics 
Minjoo Larry LeeYale University InGaAs Quantum Dots on GaP/Si: A New Platform for Si-Based Light Emitters 
Sang-Hyun OhUniversity of Minnesota Stretchable Plasmonic Devices with Sub-1-nm Critical Dimensions 
Christine PayneGeorgia Tech Intracellular Synthesis of Conducting Polymer Nanowires for Electrical Stimulation and Sensing 
Balakanapathy RajaratnamLeland Stanford Junior University Rigorous Mathematical Foundations for Network Analysis 
Mark RiedlGeorgia Tech Automated Narrative Reasoning for Training Adaptive Leaders and Warfighters 
Robert RiouxPenn State Lignin Depolymerization by Surface Organocatalysts in Ionic Liquids 
Raymond RumpfUniversity of Texas, El Paso Direct Digital Manufacturing of 3D Metamaterial Devices 
Vito ScarolaVirginia Polutechnic Institute & State University Emulating Strongly Interacting Quantum Matter with Optical Lattices 
Thomas SchibliUniversity Of Colorado Monolithic Ultrafast Solid-State Lasers 
David SchusterUniversity of Chicago Quantum Memories and Ultrasensitive Spin Detection Using Superconducting Circuits 
Sanjiv SinhaUniversity of Illinois A Circuit-Level Directional Heat Spreader for Short Time Scale Transients 
Rifat SipahiNortheastern University Model-Free Algorithms to Assist and Control Human-Task Missions against Dynamic Environments 
Nathan SniadeckiUniversity of Washington A BIOMEMS Platform for Coagulation Testing 
Mark StyczynskiGeorgia Tech Identifying Allosteric Metabolite-Protein Interactions for Engineering Therapeutics 
Zeeshan SyedUniversity Of Michigan Computational Neuromarkers 
Yayoi TakamuraUniversity of California, Davis Interface Controlled Functionality in Perovskite Oxide Superlattices 
Hakan TureciPrinceton Engineering Complex Photonic Media for High-Performance Compact Coherent Light Sources 
Edo WaksUniversity of Maryland Ultra-Fast Quantum Information Processing Using Quantum Dot Spin Coupled to Photonic Crystals 
Xudong WangUniversity of Wisconsin System Piezoelectric ZnO Nanomembranes for Flexible Nanogenerators 
Kristina WinbladhUniversity of Delaware iMuse: Interactive Model-Based Use-Case and Storytelling Environment 
Xiaodong XuUniversity of Washington Dynamically Tunable Mid-Infrared Quantum Optoelectronics Based on Bilayer Graphene 
Jie XuWashington State University Ear on a Chip: Microfluidics for Characterization and Control of Hair-Cell Sensing with Acoustic Stimuli 
Bin YangWashington State University Jet Fuel Production from Biomass-Derived Lignin in Remote Locations 
Peng YinHarvard Programmable Inorganic Materials Synthesis with DNA Nano-Structures 
Xiao-Dong ZhouSouth Carolina High Power and Long Life SOFC Systems Powered by JP-8 
Olesya ZhupanskaUniversity of Iowa Investigation of Multi-Field Interactions in Composites: Towards Achieving Multi-Functionality 

2010

Principal InvestigatorInstitutionTitle
Andrew HouckPrinceton UniversityScanned Probe Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics
Brian D'UsroUniversity of PittsburghQuantum Interactions of a Graphene Nanomechanical Oscillator with a Single Spin
Chuanwei ZhangWashington State University at Pullman Induced Topological Order and Quantum Computation in Fermionic Cold Atom Superfluids
Martin ZwierleinMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyStrongly Interacting Fermi Gases in Lower Dimensions
Thomas KnottsBrigham Young UniversityPredicting Protein Behavior on Surfaces for Improved Design of Protein Arrays
Emily GibsonUniversity of Colorado, DenverIntegration of Microfluidic Devices with Nonlinear Spectroscopy for Flow Cytometry and Bioagent Detection
Howard SalisPennsylvania State UniversityRational Design of Nucleic Acid Drugs to Control Metabolism and Kill Pathogens
Andrew BlumbergUniversity of Texas at AustinApplied algebraic topology: Categorical foundations, topological statistics, and practical implementations
Jason MortonPennsylvania State UniversityKernel Counting
Youping ChenUniversity of FloridaPredicting Materials Properties from their Microstructural Architecture
Yashashree KulkarniUniversity of HoustonComputational Modeling of Grain Stability in Nanostructured Materials
Aaron LindenbergStanford UniversityAll-optical control of nanoelectronic devices
Gregory EngelUniversity of ChicagoCoherent Energy Transfer in Novel Excitonic Materials for High Speed Large Area Sensors and Efficient On-Pixel Data Processing
Artem OganovStony Brook UniversityNovel computational methodologies for nananoscale design of functional materials 
Yu HuangUniversity of California, Los AngelesDesign of Broad Spectrum Solar Energy Harvesting Antenna for Organic Photovoltaics
Yongsheng ChenPennsylvania State UniversityCatalyst Deactivation in Steam Reforming of Liquid Hydrocarbons to Produce Hydrogen for Fuel Cell Power Generation
Krishna MandalUniversity of South CarolinaQuantum Cutting Core-Shell Nanocrystals for Enhanced Solar Cell Efficiency
Mona JarrahiUniversity of MichiganPlasmonics-Enabled Ultra-Short Carrier Lifetime Photoconductors for High Power Terahertz Generation
Alyosha MolnarCornell UniversityBio-inspired optical image compression in CMOS
N. Peter ArmitageJohns Hopkins UniversityInvention, Development, and Application of a Time domain THz Ellipsometer
Xiaojing (John) ZhangUniversity of Texas at AustinPatterned Plasmonic Surfaces on MEMS
Dana WeinsteinMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyMutli-GHz Acoustic Resonance in Transistors
Chuan-Hua ChenDuke UniversityA Planar Thermal Diode
Kripa VaranasiMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyLooking Around Corners using Transient Imaging
Lin ZhuClemson UniversityOn-chip coherent combining of angled-grating-confined broad-area semiconductor lasers
Ramesh RaskarMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyLooking Around Corners using Transient Imaging
Ozdal BoyrazUniversity of California, IrvineNitride Semiconductor Single-Photon Emitters and Photon Entanglement
Pei-Cheng KuUniversity of MichiganNitride Semiconductor Single-Photon Emitters and Photon Entanglement
Manuel Gamero-CastanoUniversity of California, IrvineNanodroplet Beam Sputtering for Very Fast Milling and Micromachining of Inert Materials
John JohnsonKent State UniversityTargeting Stress Resilience Without Detriment to Adaptive Stress Response
William TylerArizona State UniversityThe Development of Pulsed Ultrasound for Noninvasive Neural Interfaces
James CaverleeTexas Engineering Experiment Station / Texas A&M University SystemPersonalized Monitoring of the Real-Time Social Web
Abel RodriguezUniversity of California, Santa CruzDynamic Social Modeling: Estimation and Optimal Intervention Design

2009

Principal InvestigatorInstitutionTitle
Scott AaronsonMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyBasic Unresolved Questions about the Capabilities of Quantum Computers
David ArnoldUniversity of FloridaMicroelectromechanical Inductors for Switch-Mode Power Converters
Alan Aspuru-GuzikHarvard UniversityPractical Quantum Simulators
Debra AugusteHarvard UniversityColloid Morphogenesis
Jonathan BoydWest Virginia UniversityNatural Designs for Network Threats
Jennifer ChaUniversity of California, San DiegoManufacturable Approaches for Nanometer Resolution Patterning
Adam CohenHarvard UniversityMolecular spintronics: nanomagnetic control of electronic spins
Baratunde ColaGeorgia Institute of TechnologyPhotothermal Enhanced Carbon Nanotube Rectenna Arrays for Solar Energy Conversion
Mary ComerPurdue UniversityAutomated Segmentation of Micrographs
Christopher DamesUniversity of California, RiversideBallistic-Elastic Thermal Rectification in Asymmetric Nanostructures
Kevin DorfmanUniversity of MinnesotaNanopost Array for DNA Fingerprinting
Julia GreerCalifornia Institute of TechnologyBio-Inspired Design of Damage-Tolerant Materials
Jack HarrisYale UniversityQuantum Optomechanics
Todd HastingsUniversity of KentuckyNanoscale ElectronBeam Induced Processing using Liquid Reactants
Amy HerrUniversity of California, BerkeleyAn Integrated Micro/Nanosystem for Rapid Validation of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Biomarkers 
R. Jason JonesUniversity of ArizonaTwo-Color Phase Coherent High Power Laser System for Efficient Generation of Light at Extreme Wavelengths
Wendy KellyGeorgia Institute of TechnologyBiosynthetic engineering of thiopeptide antibiotics
Xiuling LiUniversity of IllinoisIII-V Nanowire Fin FET on Silicon: A Bottom-up CMOS Compatible Approach
Jennifer LuUniversity of California Merced3D Electromechanical System: Nanoscale Power Generator
William OatesFlorida State UniversityField-coupled Mechanics and Nonlinear Control of Photo responsive Adaptive Structures
Stanley PauUniversity of ArizonaMicrochip Ion Trap
Scott PhillipsPennsylvania State UniversityAutonomous Materials
Kevin PipeUniversity of MichiganHeat Sinks for Ballistic Phonons
Stefan PrebleRochester Institute of TechnologySilicon Nanocrystal 100 Gb/s Electro-Optic Modulator
Beth PruittStanford UniversityMEMS-Based Water Quality Detection
Irfan SiddiqiUniversity of California, BerkeleySuperconducting Nanobridge Junctions for Quantum Information Processing
Jake SoperGeorgia Institute of TechnologyRedox-Active Ligand-Mediated RadicalCoupling at Terminal Metal Oxo Ligands: Reactions Relevant to Water Oxidation for Artificial Photosynthesis
Russell TedrakeMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyLearning Supermaneuverable Flight
Samuel ThomasTufts UniversitySensing with Chemically-Directed Electrostatic Self-Assembly
Doris TsaoCalifornia Institute of TechnologyBrain Mechanisms for Navigation in Primates
Douglas WeibelUniversity of WisconsinEngineering Emergent Behavior in Microbial Communities 
David WentzloffUniversity of Michigan3D Wireless Interconnect for Crossbar Routing in Many-Core Processors
Jonathan WisorWashington State UniversityLocal sleep in the cerebral cortex: a tool for sustained operations 

2008

No awardee class in this year.

2007

Principal InvestigatorInstitutionTitle
Abbas Abbasour-TamijaniArizona State UniversityProgrammable Acoustic Filters Based on Silicon Microstructures
Ehsan AfshariCornell UniversityOptotronics: Optically Inspired Electronics
Richard AverittBoston UniversityMetamaterial Enhanced MEMS for Terahertz Technology
Seth BankUniversity of Texas at AustinCompact, High-Efficiency, MidInfrared Dilute-Nitride Diode Lasers
Sarah BergbreiterUniversity of Maryland, College ParkSilicon/Elastomer Components for Autonomous Jumping Microrobots
Sunil BhaveCornell UniversitySilicon Opto-Acoustic Oscillator
Markus J. BuehlerMITBio-Inspired Nano-Engineered Hierarchical Structures for Adaptive Thermal Management
J. Scott BunchUniversity of Colorado, BoulderGraphene Membrane
Sylvain CloutierUniversity of DelawareLow-Cost Chip-Integrated Small FormFactor Random Lasers for Advanced High-Speed Opto-Electronic Hybrid Circuits 
Marija DrndicUniversity of PennsylvaniaElectrical Multiple Exciton Generation (MEG) Detection in Semiconductor Nanocrystals and the Development of Efficient and Tunable Single Nanocrystal Photodectors
A. John HartUniversity of MichiganHybrid Nanostructure Arrays for Microand Nano-scale Energy Conversion and Storage
Hossein HashemiUniversity of Southern CaliforniaSilicon-based Ultra Wideband Camera for Spatial and Spectral Awareness
Tsinghua HerUniversity of North Carolina, CharlotteGain-Guiding in Photonic Bandgap Fibers: A New Paltform for Ultra HighPower Lasers and Amplifiers
Carlos HidrovoUniversity of Texas at AustinHigh Speed Droplet Flows: Microscale Total Analysis and Thermal Management Systems Applications
Hongrui JiangUniversity of Wisconsin, MadisonSuper Artificial Eyes (SAE) 
Igor JovanovicPurdue UniversityDirect Temporal Pulse Shaping Via Phase-Sensitive Three-Wave Mixing
Christine LuscombeUniversity of WashingtonNanostructures for Optimal Energy Harvesting
Michael LeuenbergerUniversity of Central FloridaHigh-Temperature Electrially Driven Mbps Single-Photon Source at Telecom Wavelengths
Yifei LiUniversity of Massachusetts, DartmouthIntegrated Photonic Frequency Mixer
Zhenqiang (Jack) MaUniversity of Wisconsin, MadisonToward 3D Si Photonics: DBR-Free VCSELs on Si Enabled with Manufacturable Nanomembrane Stacking
Kenn OldhamUniversity of MichiganEnergy Efficient Piezoelectric Servo Control for Micro-Robotics
Tomás PalaciosMITOn-Wafer Integration of Nitride and Silicon CMOS Electronics
Harold ParkUniversity of Colorado, BoulderNovel Multiscale CAE Tools for Surface-Dominated NEMS
Sumita PennathurUniversity of California, Santa BarbaraPortable, Efficient Electrokinetic Energy Generation using a Novel Graphene based Nanofluidic Device
Eric PopUniversity of Illinois, Urbana-ChampaignFemto-Joule Atomic-Scale Reversible Switch
Farhan RanaCornell UniversityTerahertz Plasmon Oscillators: Lasers for Circuits
Ronald ReanoOhio State UniversityAll-Dielectric Doubly Resonant RF/Optical Degenerate Band-Edge Crystal Antenna 
David RickettsCarnegie Mellon UniversitySpin-torque Oscillators for Spectrumagile RF
Jay SharpingUniversity of California, MercedWideband Quantum Frequency Conversion in Optical Fibers: Enabling Transparent Quantum Information Processing
Wei TanUniversity of Colorado, BoulderHighly Selective, Stable and Manufacturable Nano-Bio-Sensor
Emanual TutucUniversity of Texas at AustinGermanium Nanowire Gate All Around Tunneling Field Effect Transistors
Michael VasilyevUniversity of Texas at ArlingtonCoherent Nonlinear-Optical Image Processing in Plasmonic Metamaterial
Jelena VuckovicStanford UniversityUltrafast Optical Switches Controlled at a Single Photon Level
Michael B. WakinUniversity of MichiganGeometric Methods for Compressive Multi-Signal Processing
Chunlei WangFlorida International UniversityFabrication of Nano Fractal Electrodes for On-Chip Supercapacitor Application
Evelyn N. WangMITTunable Nanostructured Arrays for Stable High-Flux Microchannel Heat Sinks
Benjamin WilliamsUniversity of California, Los AngelesNanowire Heterostructure Intersublevel Optoelectronics
Ronggui YangUniversity of Colorado, BoulderSurface-Plasmon Enabled High Efficiency Thermoelectric Devices
Xiaolin ZhengStanford UniversityCell Motion-Based Toxin Detector Using Nanowires 

2006

Principal InvestigatorInstitutionTitle
Chee Wei WongColumbia UniversityNonlinear signal processing in silicon photonic crystal nanocavities
Benton CalhounUniversity of VirginiaSub-threshold FPGAs for Ultra-Low-Power Applications
Robert WoodHarvard CollegeAt-Scale Insect Aerodynamics and Creation of Winged Robots
Hooman MohseniNorthwestern UniversityElectrically Tunable Quantum Dots for Adaptive Infrared Imaging
Mark JohnsonNC State UniversityDemonstration of Epitaxial MOS for Nitride Semiconductors
Olgica MilenkovicUniversity of ColoradoBelief Propagation Algorithms for Compressed Biosensing
Marc ChristensenSouthern Methodist UniversityActive Illumination for Adaptive Multi-resolution Sensing 
Greg WalkerVanderbilt UniversityThermal Rectification Using Nanostructured Materials
Farinaz KoushanfarRice UniversitySymmetric Variability-Based Integrated Circuits Metering
Ville KaajakariLouisiana TechPorous silicon for MEMS vacuum packages
Jamie PhillipsUniversity of MichiganOxide Electronics for Integrated Microsystems and Displays
Katherine ZhangBoston UniversityMicro- and Nano- Mechanics of Thin Films and Coatings
James BuckwalterUniversity of California, San DiegoHigh-Voltage Soliton Circuits in Silicon Germanium
Hang LuGeorgia TechHybrid Biometric MEMS for Detecting Water Contamination
Gu-Yeon WeiHarvard CollegeSwitch-Mode Power-Supply Regulators for Chip Multiprocessors
Yoav PelesRensselaer Polytechnic InstituteExploiting cavitation to power submerged microdevices
Thomas MurphyUniversity of MarylandLinearized Electro-optic Phase Modulation
Kamran MohseniUniversity of ColoradoThermal Management with Digitized Heat Transfer
Dennis AkosUniversity of ColoradoSoftware Based Detection System for Satellite Navigation
Xinming HuangWorcester Polytechnic InstituteDynamically Reconfigurable Microsystems
David BrooksHarvard CollegeµWatt Computing - Architectures for Wireless Sensors
Manal OmaryTexas Woman's UniversityPhosphorescent PLEDs
Hod LipsonCornell University3D Digital Printer for Desktop Microfabrication
David EricksonCornell UniversityIntegrated Nanosystem for Autonomous Health Monitoring 
Resources 

YFA awardees (2006-2026)

Podcast 

The YFA goal is to build a pipeline for the next generation of academic scientists, engineers, and mathematicians to focus on national security issues.

Voices from DARPA

Young Faculty Award | Ep 74

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