Michel Maharbiz

Associate Professor

Research Centers

• Berkeley Sensor & Actuator Center (BSAC)

Teaching Schedule (Fall 2013)

• EE 40. Introduction to Microelectronic Circuits, MWF 10-11A, 105 Stanley
• EE 98-2. 3D Printing and the Maker Movement, Tu 5-7P, 130 Wheeler
• EE 198-2. 3D Printing and the Maker Movement, Tu 5-7P, 130 Wheeler

Biography

Associate professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences at UC Berkeley. His current research centers on building micro/nano interfaces to cells and organisms and exploring bio-derived fabrication methods. His research group is also known for developing the world’s first remotely radio-controlled cyborg beetles; this was named one of the top 10 emerging technologies of 2009 by MIT’s Technology Review (TR10) and was among Time magazine’s Top 50 Inventions of 2009. His long-term goal is understanding developmental mechanisms as a way to engineer and fabricate machines. He received his Ph.D. in 2003 from UC Berkeley for his work on microbioreactor systems, which led to the foundation of Microreactor Technologies Inc., which was recently acquired by Pall Corporation. He has been a GE Scholar and an Intel IMAP Fellow.

Selected Publications

• T. Kim, M. Pinelis, and M. Maharbiz, "Generating steep, sheer-free gradients of small molecules for cell culture," Biomedical Microdevices, 2008.
• M. Pinelis, L. Shamban, A. Jovic, and M. Maharbiz, "A high-yield method for generating mass-transfer gradients in elastomer microfluidics using impermeable capillaries," Biomedical Microdevices, vol. 10, no. 6, pp. 807-811, Dec. 2008.
• R. F. Ismagilov and M. Maharbiz, "Can we build synthetic, multicellular systems by controlling developmental signaling in space and time?," Current Opinion in Chemical Biology, vol. 11, no. 6, pp. 604-611, Dec. 2008.
• T. Bansal, M. Chang, and M. Maharbiz, "A class of low voltage, elastomer-metal 'wet' actuators for use in high-density microfluidics (Communication)," Lab on a Chip, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 164-166, Feb. 2008.
• H. Sato, C. W. Berry, B. E. Casey, G. Lavella, Y. Yao, J. M. VandenBrooks, and M. Maharbiz, "A cyborg beetle: Insect flight control through an implantable tetherless microsystem," in 21st IEEE Intl. Conf. on Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS 2008) Technical Digest, Piscataway, NJ: IEEE Press, 2008, pp. 164-167.
• R. T. Borno, J. D. Steinmeyer, and M. Maharbiz, "Transpiration actuation: The design, fabrication and characterization of biomimetic microactuators driven by the surface tension of water," J. Micromechanics and Microengineering, vol. 16, no. 11, pp. 2375-2383, Nov. 2006.