Northeastern University College of Engineering

SENTRY Strategic Initiatives Virtual Workshop
2026-02-26 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
This invite-only, virtual workshop will be held on the afternoons of February 25 and 26, 2026 and focus on presentations from and interactive discussions with security experts from academia, government, industry and public venues.
SENTRY is hosting this event with focused sessions on transportation security, crowd evacuation and counter-unmanned aircraft systems to allow for discussion of best practices and opportunities to enhance protection of soft targets and crowded spaces in the U.S.
If you are interested in joining this online workshop, please reach out to Tiffany Lam at t.lam@northeastern.edu.

Case Western Reserve University Graduate and Career Fair
2026-02-27 10:00 - 14:00
Join COE Graduate Admissions at the 2026 Case Western Reserve University Graduate and Career Fair in Cleveland, Ohio! Ask your questions about our graduate engineering programs across the U.S. and Canada during the fair on February 27th from 10am-2pm. We look forward to meeting you there!

Crafting Data Visuals to Tell a Scientific Story: CommLab Drop-In Hours
2026-03-03 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-03-10 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-03-17 10:00 - 11:00 | https://northeastern.zoom.us/j/99770601100?pwd=[REDACTED]
Looking to illustrate your data? Join our Data Visualization Drop-In sessions Tuesdays from 10-11am on Zoom to discuss strategies or receive feedback on your data visualization process.

CV/LinkedIn/Resume CommLab Drop-In Hours
2026-03-03 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-03-10 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-03-17 11:00 - 12:00 | https://northeastern.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEof-quqzwiGNCi3nAuNVzIyX1jgXA03KYO
Graduate students, do you need to increase your on-line presence or update your CV or Resume? Join the CommLab’s LinkedIn, CV, and Resume drop-in hours any Tuesday from 11 am to 12 pm ET. This collaborative space offers valuable advice and peer feedback to enhance your online profile and professional presence. Join this drop-in workshop in person in room 334 CSC or through Zoom.

Intro to Quantum Seminar for the Northeastern Community
2026-03-04 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-03-11 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-03-18 10:00 - 11:00
Spring 2026, West Village H Room 366, Fridays 10-11am, Weekly
Gregory A. Fiete, Professor of Physics, College of Science, Northeastern University
Purpose and Synopsis: Curious about quantum physics but not a physicist or physics major? This seminar series is your chance to learn the fundamentals of quantum physics, quantum computing, quantum sensing, quantum cryptography, and quantum communication in an informal atmosphere without the need to register for a class. The seminar, open to all in the Northeastern community, will begin from basics assuming no prior knowledge of quantum mechanics and build through key concepts relevant to quantum technologies. The first weeks of the seminar will feature tutorial lectures and then the seminar will host experts from across campus who will give accessible talks on their quantum research. The aim is to bring together the entire Northeastern community in a single setting for establishing multi-disciplinary ties across the university for all who have an interest in quantum. Students, postdocs, staff and faculty at all levels are welcome. Questions and interactive discussions during the seminar are encouraged.
Topics Covered: Entanglement, Measurement Disturbance of Quantum Systems, Logic Gates, Quantum Advantage, No Cloning Theorem, Quantum Teleportation, EPR Paradox, Spin, Hilbert Spaces, Basic Mathematical Structure of Quantum Mechanics, Heisenberg Uncertainty Relations.
Speaker/Instructor Bio: Greg is a theoretical physicist specializing in the study of exotic quantum properties of materials. He received his PhD in physics from Harvard University and did postdoctoral work at the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics at UC Santa Barbara. He was a Lee A. DuBridge Prize Fellow in Theoretical Physics at Caltech. He is a recipient of the NSF CAREER Award, the DARPA Young Faculty Award, a DARPA Director’s Fellowship, the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), a Simons Fellowship in Theoretical Physics, and a Bessel Research Award from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. He is an elected Fellow of the American Physical Society. Greg is a core and founding member of the Quantum Materials and Sensing Institute (QMSI) at Northeastern University.
Schedule of seminars

Engineering EXPO- Tickle College of Engineering (Knoxville, Tennesse)
2026-03-04 13:00 - 17:00
Join COE Graduate Admissions at the 2026 The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Graduate and Career Fair in Knoxville, Tennessee! Ask your questions about our graduate engineering programs across the U.S. and Canada during the in person fair on Wednesday, March 4th, 2026 from 1pm to 5pm EST. We look forward to meeting you there!

Oral Presentations: CommLab Drop-In Workshops
2026-03-05 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-03-12 11:00 - 12:00 | https://northeastern.zoom.us/meeting/register/Z5yCbd9WQ_OvtJoYqYSsMA
The NU CommLab is hosting a weekly hybrid Oral Presentation Drop-in practice for graduate students. Drop-in virtually or in-person any week to practice for your upcoming presentations whether it is for your oral exams, proposals, thesis, dissertation or conference. Receive and implement feedback on your verbal and non-verbal public speaking skills. Drop-in any Thursday from 11-12 pm ET in 334 Curry Student Center or on Zoom.

Deep Dive into Electrical and Computer Engineering Research Webinar
2026-03-10 10:00 - 11:00 | Virtual
As you continue exploring your graduate school options, we invite you to join a special webinar highlighting the exciting research taking place within our Electrical & Computer Engineering Department.
With four NSF- and DHS-funded research centers and over 20 industrial partners, faculty and students are actively conducting cutting-edge research in areas such as computer vision; pattern recognition and machine learning; brain-computer interface; power systems and power electronics; underwater communication networks and signal processing; robotics; information theory; communications, control, and signal processing; RF, electromagnetics, optics, and magnetic materials; micro/nanomechanical structures and advanced nanomaterials; power-first system/computer architecture; internet-of-things; ultra-low power biomedical and neural circuits and systems.
During this session, you’ll hear an overview of each research area and have the opportunity to ask Dr. Josep Miquel Jornet, Professor and Associate Dean of Research questions about his work.

Northeastern University Graduate Fair Spring 2026
2026-03-10 10:00 - 14:00 | Curry Student Center, 360 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA, 02115, United States
Join us for free food, exciting giveaways, and the chance to learn more about graduate programs at Northeastern. Plus, learn more about Double Husky Scholarship and the Plus One option.
AGENDA:

10:00am – 2:00pm | Tabling: Meet college admissions teams, GEM, SFS, and more.
Give Aways announced every 30 min
Photobooth, 360 rotating
Free food

LOCATION: Curry Student Center Ballroom
Pre-Registration Form
EVENT DESCRIPTION
Thinking about grad school, but not sure if it’s the right move or what the next step might be? We’ve got you covered! This informal event is all about giving you the real deal on graduate school, so you can make an informed decision for your future. Unlock your Double Husky and become a master in your field and your future career. Open to all majors!

Meet with representatives from colleges and campuses to find the graduate program that aligns with your goals.
Learn how to unlock the Double Husky Scholarship—a 25% tuition discount on 120+ eligible programs.
Explore the PlusOne pathwayto accelerate your degree and begin graduate coursework early.
Discover the benefits of Northeastern’s global campus networkacross the U.S., U.K., and Canada.
Enjoy free food, photobooth, win giveaways, and pick up Northeastern swag.

University of Arkansas, Fayetteville STEM and Research Fair
2026-03-11 10:00 - 15:00
Join COE Graduate Admissions at the 2026 University of Arkansas STEM Career and Internship Fair in Fayetteville, Arkansas! Ask your questions about our graduate engineering programs across the U.S. and Canada during the fair on March 11th from 10am-3pm. We look forward to meeting you there!

ChE PhD Dissertation Defense: Justin Hayes
2026-03-11 11:00 - 13:30 | The Cabral Center, 40 Leon Street, Boston, MA, 02115, United States
Name:
Justin Hayes
Title:
Leveraging Synthetic Biology and Gut-on-chip Systems to Interrogate and Modulate Intestinal H₂S
Date:
03/11/2026
Time:
11:00:00 AM
Committee Members:
Prof. Benjamin Woolston (Advisor)
Prof. Ryan Koppes (Advisor)
Prof. Abigail Koppes
Philip Strandwitz
Location:
Cabral Center
Abstract:
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a gaseous and reactive molecule fundamental to human biology. The gut microbiota is a major producer of sulfide, yet our understanding of how it impacts intestinal diseases is poorly understood. Many studies are contradicting, some suggesting it drives diseases like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and colorectal cancer, while others suggest it has anti-inflammatory properties and can promote wound healing. Emerging research suggests its role in health is concentration dependent. Contributing to this confusion is the difficulty in controlling sulfide concentration in vitro and in vivo due to its gaseous and reactive nature. Thus, studying the molecule has been a bottleneck in understanding its fundamental role in human health and translating these findings as treatments. The goal of this thesis is to use engineered bacteria as systems for controlling sulfide concentration in intestinal environments. Metabolic engineering of bacteria offers a method for continuous and tunable production and degradation of sulfide in intestinal environments. These engineered bacteria hold promise as tools for investigating its dose-dependent roles in human health and for therapeutic uses.
Within the thesis, a panel of engineered bacteria was developed to titrate the level of H2S across the putative gut physiological concentration range. To do so, sulfur metabolism of Escherichia coli (E. coli) was engineered via gene knockouts, overexpression of putative L-cysteine desulfidases and transporters, and use of different strength promoters to drive gene expression. In an in vitro setting, these strains titrated H2S across a 53-fold range, spanning the putative gut concentration range. The work also contributed to the general knowledge of E. coli sulfide biology and the role of these desulfidases and transporters in its production.
These strains were used in human gut-on-chip systems to explore the concentration dependent impacts of H2S on human gut epithelial cell biology. The engineered bacteria titrated sulfide across a 16-fold range on chip, and the effects on gut permeability, metabolism, and gene expression were investigated. The data show the engineered bacteria are superior to sodium sulfide at maintaining specific H2S levels on chip, critical for studying the impacts on epithelial biology. Increasing sulfide levels significantly elevated gene expression associated with DNA damage and an increase in thiosulfate levels, and a non-significant trend towards higher gut permeability. Broadly, the platform represents a new method to investigate the fundamental role of volatile and reactive molecules on the gut environment.
Beyond in vitro studies, the thesis aimed to develop strains for functionality in vivo, which would enable exploring the impacts of sulfide in animals. The intestinal tract is a complex organ, with strong longitudinal differences in pH, metabolic environment, oxygen tension, microbiota abundance, secreted host factors, and more. Considering these variables in engineered strain design is critical. For design inspiration, human fecal microbiota communities were used to probe how the human gut microbiota degrade and produce sulfide. E. coli was engineered to produce and consume H2S under several complex in vitro environments, including in the presence of human fecal microbiota, under different oxygen tensions, and diverse nutrient environments.
The strains that successfully modified H2S in these in vitro screens were tested in vivo to demonstrate proof-of-concept data. The H2S-producing engineered bacteria successfully delivered and elevated H2S in the mouse upper gut. The engineered strain was superior to the gold-standard sulfide delivery molecule, GYY4137, at elevating intestinal levels. This highlights the value of this microbe as a tool for probing H2S hypotheses and as a translational tool for precise H2S delivery. The H2S-consuming strains were also tested in vivo but failed to demonstrate significant reductions in sulfide levels. Testing in ex vivo small intestinal extracts demonstrated significant sulfide reduction by the microbe, underscoring the challenges of creating in vivo models for H2S elevation and degradation.
Overall, the thesis represents several contributions to scientific knowledge and the development of new research tools. These include a deeper understanding of E. coli sulfur metabolism and the development of microbial tools as novel H2S delivery vehicles. Further, this thesis developed a gut-chip workflow for probing how gaseous molecules impact the gut, generated insights into human gut microbiota sulfide metabolism, and a general framework for designing and evaluating engineered bacteria destined for in vivo use.

After receiving a BS in chemical engineering and BA in Spanish from the University of Rhode Island, Justin Hayes, PhD’26, chemical engineering, began his PhD program at Northeastern in 2020 and is supported by a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. He is advised by Ryan Koppes, associate professor of chemical engineering, and Benjamin Woolston, assistant professor of chemical engineering. Hayes’ research focuses on understanding how gut microbial metabolism impacts human health. Insights from his research are being leveraged to develop probiotic therapeutics and medical foods for individuals suffering from gastrointestinal disease.

Bioengineering Spring Seminar Series
2026-03-11 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-03-18 12:00 - 13:00
BIOE 7390 – Spring 2026
Bioengineering Seminar Series Schedule
Internal and external faculty seminar speakers, weekly 12-1pm on Wednesdays in Richards Hall 300
JANUARY
1/7 – Jonathan Weissman, PhD
Professor of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Whitehead Institute
1/14 – Joey Davis, PhD
Associate Professor Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1/21 – David Cronin, MBA
*Industry Seminar, Industrial Advisory Board Member
Chief Executive Officer, Cognition Corporation
1/28 – Amir Vahabikashi, PhD
Assistant Professor of Bioengineering, Northeastern University
FEBRUARY
2/4 – Wilson Wong, PhD
*Collab with CHME
Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University
2/11 – Christopher Evans, PhD
Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic
2/18 – None
2/25 – None
MARCH
3/4 – None, spring break
3/11 – Vijay Vedula, PhD
Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University
3/18 – Ibraheem Badejo, PhD
*Industry Seminar, Industrial Advisory Board Member
Senior Director, External Innovation, Johnson & Johnson Innovation
3/25 – Tao Sun, PhD
Assistant Professor of Bioengineering, Northeastern University
APRIL
4/1 – Marsha Rolle, PhD
*Collab with CHME
Director, Advancement, Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives
4/8 – Era Jain, PhD
Assistant Professor of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Syracuse University
4/15 – Meghan Rebuli, PhD
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Director of the curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill

Future of Robotics at Northeastern University
2026-03-16 09:00 - 10:00 | Virtual
Join us on March 16, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. ET for an exclusive webinar highlighting Northeastern University’s MS in Robotics at the Seattle campus — located in one of the most advanced tech ecosystems in the world.
You’ll develop expertise in algorithms, perception, sensors, control systems, autonomy, and intelligent machines — while gaining hands-on, industry-connected experience that sets you apart in a competitive field.
During this webinar, you will:

Hear from program director Dr. Rifat Sipahi, about the curriculum, career outcomes, and student experience
Discover how Seattle’s tech hub powers real co-op and career opportunities
Learn how multinational companies connect directly with Northeastern robotics students
Discover how to qualify for a 25% tuition scholarship for the entire program duration at select College of Engineering regional campuses (excluding Boston and Portland) for Spring 2026, Fall 2026, or Spring 2027 entry.

ChE PhD Dissertation Defense: Bryan Schellberg
2026-03-16 12:00 - 14:00
Name:
Bryan Schellberg
Title:
A Robust, Scalable, and User-Friendly Organ-Chip Platform for Automated, Spatiotemporal Characterization of Living Cell Culture Conditions
Date:
03/16/2026
Time:
12:00:00 PM
Committee Members:
Prof. Abigail Koppes (Advisor)
Prof. Ryan Koppes (Advisor)
Prof. Allison Dennis
Prof. Samuel Chung
Location:
Hastings 113
Abstract:
Organ-chips, or microphysiological devices (MPSs) are an emergent technology that bridges the gap between current in vitro and in vivo models used in biomedical research. To address the technological gaps associated with current options, MPS models have been engineered to integrate three-dimensional tissue architectures in vitro to recapitulate organ-specific function. These systems offer improved bio-relevance and controlled complexity via integration induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines, physical and chemical stimulation, and biomimetic extracellular matrices. Although significant advancements have been made toward recreating organ-specific physiology on-chip, the methods available to study the structure and function of the cell microenvironment are still limited. This work developed, validated, and applied a technology platform for characterizing the state of the cellular microenvironment on chip.
A fiber-optic-based sensing platform was engineered and validated to noninvasively sense luminescence from MPS devices. The optical setup delivered excitation light via fiber-coupled LEDs and recorded luminophore emission to a monochrome camera. Linking a microcontroller enabled automated image capture for remote data acquisition and characterization of the on-chip cellular microenvironment. Addition of multi-fiber bundles permitted spatiotemporal data acquisition for whole-chip monitoring. This fiber-optic-based sensing platform provides a starting point for significant improvements to real-time interrogation of on-chip structure and function.
We applied our sensing platform to a previously validated MPS model of intestinal barrier function to confirm efficacy and reliability. Caco-2 epithelial cells were cultured in our established MPS and subjected to a cocktail of pro-inflammatory cytokines to disrupt barrier function. MPSs dosed with the cytokines showed significantly decreased barrier function, as monitored by our fiber optic sensing platform.
Integration of MPS sensing with automation tools is essential to bridge the academic-industrial gap for broad use of these devices. Here, we coupled our fiberoptic-based sensing system with a fluid handling robot and motorized programmable microscope stage. With these tools, we demonstrated automated culture and monitoring of iPSC-derived cardiomyocyte beat rate, providing a blueprint for high-throughput MPS sensing.
In summary, this thesis outlines tools and techniques that may be used to design, build, validate, and apply optical sensing approaches for rich, real-time, and highthroughput data acquisition from MPS devices.

Bryan Schellberg is a 5th year PhD Candidate in Chemical Engineering at Northeastern University. He will graduate in March 2026 with his thesis defense titled “A Robust, Scalable, and User-Friendly Organ-Chip Platform for Automated, Spatiotemporal Characterization of Living Cell Culture Conditions.” Bryan’s work focuses on the intersection of biology and technology to build improved sensing approaches for applications in human pathophysiology and novel drug development. Throughout his time at Northeastern, Bryan has engineered, validated, and applied a fiber-optic-based sensing platform for real-time, high-throughput data collection from organ-on-a-chip systems. As a result from this work, he has submitted a patent application for the technology developed, two first-author publications, and submitted an additional co-first author manuscript for review. In the short-term, Bryan looks forward to applying his expertise to the private sector to aid in the development of disruptive technologies to overhaul the current drug discovery pipeline.

ChE PhD Dissertation Defense: Alexandra Nukovic
2026-03-17 10:00 - 12:00
Name:
Alexandra Nukovic
Title:
Optimizing the Immunogenicity of an Oxygen-Generating Cryogel Vaccine Platform Against Prostate Cancer
Date:
03/17/2026
Time:
10:00:00 AM
Committee Members:
Prof. Stephen Hatfield (Advisor)
Prof. Sidi Bencherif
Prof. Kara Spiller
Prof. Rebecca Carrier
Prof. Allison Dennis
Location:
Hastings 209
Abstract:
Therapeutic cancer vaccines have been a promising avenue of research to boost patients’ own immune system to fight cancer, targeting tumor eradication and inducing long-term immunological memory. However, promising vaccine candidates have had limited success in clinical trials due to immunosuppressive mechanisms and insufficient delivery methods to overcome tolerance to tumor antigens. Cryogel delivery scaffolds have already been established as a promising delivery vehicle for cancer vaccines, due to their biocompatibility and macroporous nature, which allow effective delivery to infiltrating cells; however, cryogel-based vaccines are limited by rapid, diffusion-mediated burst release of encapsulated recombinant proteins and local immunosuppressive hypoxia within the scaffold. Herein, biochemical strategies are explored to improve hyaluronic acid-glycidyl methacrylate (HAGM) cryogels as effective delivery vehicles for a therapeutic prostate cancer vaccine.
First, the degradation of cryogels via polymer oxidation was investigated as a potential strategy to control in vivo degradation and cargo delivery. Degradation of HAGM is hindered by the slow hydrolysis of the polymer after free-radical polymerization, yielding dense polymer networks that endow cryogels with mechanical robustness. Ideally, the degradation and resorption of HAGM cryogels should align with the timing of their application. Oxidation of the polymer facilitates degradation through alkaline hydrolysis. This work emphasizes the complexities involved in modeling degradation kinetics, demonstrates that polymer degradation enhances the in vivo delivery of the model antigen ovalbumin, and highlights the potential of cryogels as biocompatible, degradable, and injectable scaffolds for biomedical uses, reducing long-term side effects and removing the need for surgical removal.
Next, a cryogel-based vaccine platform was explored to improve immunological memory to an anti-cancer vaccine for prostate cancer. Click conjugation of a tumor-associated protein within the cryogel improved antigen delivery, supporting strong cellular memory responses. Meanwhile, the inclusion of oxygen generation within the cryogel serves as a powerful co-adjuvant to boost humoral immunity. Cryogel-based vaccination elicited a robust anti-cancer response, inhibiting tumor growth. Together, these biochemical strategies prove to be key improvements that could help tailor cryogel-based delivery of immunological agents to improve patient responses

Alexandra (Alex) Nukovic is currently a PhD candidate in her 5th year of study in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Northeastern University. She has previously graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Bioengineering from Clemson University. Alex has been a member of the Biomedical Engineering Society, the Society of Biomaterials, and the American Association for Cancer Research. She is currently a member of the Association for Women in Science.

Imaging Emergent Quantum States at the Atomic Scale
2026-03-17 11:30 - 12:30
Speaker: Ilija Zeljkovic, Boston College
Hosts: Prof. Arun Bansil & Prof. Kin Chung Fong
Abstract
Understanding how collective electronic states emerge in quantum materials is a central challenge in condensed matter physics. Scanning tunneling microscopy provides a powerful way to probe these systems by imaging electronic structure directly at the atomic scale. In this talk, I will discuss how atomic-scale imaging has enabled the discovery of unexpected electronic phenomena in quantum materials, focusing in particular on kagome metals. Our measurements reveal a cascade of symmetry-broken states, including novel charge density waves and nematic order alongside superconductivity, illustrating how local probes can reveal broken symmetries often hidden to conventional bulk techniques. I will also outline future directions in which scanning probe microscopy is combined with quantum sensing and machine-learning-assisted analysis to accelerate the discovery and control of emergent quantum phenomena. These approaches open new opportunities for interdisciplinary research linking quantum materials, nanoscale devices, and data-driven experimentation.
About the Speaker
Ilija Zeljkovic is a Professor of Physics at Boston College. He received his Ph.D. in Physics from Harvard University in 2013, where he built a low-temperature scanning tunneling microscope to study the interplay of structural, chemical, and electronic properties of high-temperature superconductors. His research focuses on the synthesis and atomic-scale characterization of quantum materials using molecular beam epitaxy and advanced scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy techniques, with the goal of uncovering and controlling novel electronic phases. Zeljkovic is the recipient of the DARPA Young Faculty Award (2017), NSF CAREER Award (2017), ARO Young Investigator Award (2017), DOE Early Career Award (2019), the Marko Jaric Award (2023), and is a Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation Experimental Physics Investigator (2024).
Venue: Elliott Hall – Room 130C, 147 S. Bedford St, Burlington, MA
Remote: MS Teams Link

MIE Seminar: Automated Driving from a Control Systems Perspective: Architectures, Learning, and Safety Guarantees
2026-03-17 15:30 - 16:30
Location: 011 Kariotis Hall
We welcome you to join us for our next MIE Seminar Series of the Spring 2026 semester, featuring Dr. Stefano Di Cairano, Distinguished Research Scientist, Senior Team Leader, Deputy Director, and IEEE Fellow, at Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories.
Dr. Di Cairano will present a seminar titled: “Automated Driving from a Control Systems Perspective: Architectures, Learning, and Safety Guarantees.” This seminar explores deployment-ready, control-inspired approaches to autonomous driving—drawing on two decades of academic and industry experience—while highlighting remaining challenges, cross-domain lessons, and a near-deployment application in autonomous logistics.
Abstract:
After years of strong enthusiasm for autonomous vehicles, recent adjustments in targets and expectations have highlighted that significant challenges remain before these technologies can be deployed everywhere at scale. In this talk, I will share some insights from nearly 20 years of work in automated driving across both academia and industry, spanning early prototypes, ADAS technologies, road-tested vehicles, and systems deployed in production and pre-production environments.
The talk will focus on control-inspired approaches that have proven effective for deployment in real-world environments. These include predictive constrained control, statistical sampling–based planning, learning with safety guarantees, and architectural integration based on reachable and invariant sets.
Finally, I will discuss key challenges that still need to be addressed, what lessons can be drawn from related domains—such as fault-tolerant control for spacecraft and planning for autonomous drones—and the underlying research questions that remain open. I will also present a recent application in autonomous logistics, currently approaching deployment, that leverage infrastructure support to address some of these challenges.
Bio: Stefano Di Cairano received the Master’s (Laurea) and the Ph.D. degrees in information engineering in 2004 and 2008, respectively, from the University of Siena, Italy. During 2008-2011, he was with Powertrain Control R&A, Ford Research and Advanced Engineering, Dearborn, MI, USA. Since 2011, he is with Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Cambridge, MA, USA, where he is currently a Deputy Director, and a Distinguished Research Scientist. His research focuses on optimization-based control and decision-making strategies for automotive, factory automation, transportation, and aerospace. His research interests include model predictive control, constrained control, path planning, hybrid systems, optimization, and particle filtering. He has authored/coauthored more than 300 peer-reviewed papers in journals and conference proceedings and is an inventor in more than 100 patents. Dr. Di Cairano is a Fellow of IEEE, and a winner of the IEEE T-ASE best new application paper award, 2024. He has been the chair of the IEEE CSS Technical Committee on Automotive Controls and of the IEEE CSS Standing Committee on Standards. He was the inaugural Chair of the IEEE Technology Conferences Editorial Board and an Associate Editor of the IEEE Transactions on Control Systems Technology.

National Society of Black Engineers Conference
2026-03-18 - 2026-03-21
Join COE Graduate Admissions at the 2026 National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) Conference in Baltimore, Maryland! Ask your questions about our graduate engineering programs across the U.S. and Canada during the conference on March 18th-21st. We look forward to meeting you there!

SUNY Canton All Majors Career Fair
2026-03-18
Join COE Graduate Admissions at the 2026 SUNY Canton All Majors Career Fair in Canton, New York! Ask your questions about our graduate engineering programs across the U.S. and Canada during the fair on March 18th. We look forward to meeting you there!

National Society of Black Engineers Conference
2026-03-18 - 2026-03-21
Join COE Graduate Admissions at the 2026 National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) Conference in Baltimore, Maryland! Ask your questions about our graduate engineering programs across the U.S. and Canada during the conference from March 18th-21st. We look forward to meeting you there!

Chemical Engineering Spring Seminar Series: Andrew D. Jones
2026-03-18 12:00 - 13:00
Come to my window: Porosity and binding distribution provide better predictors for biofilm penetration
Location: 108 Snell Engineering Center
Abstract: The Jones Systems for Engaging the Environment Lab builds novel tools to study biofilm dynamics. In this presentation we will discuss two such tools: a mechanical tool and a mathematical tool describing Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 interaction with antibiotics. Biofilms are the common mode of life for bacteria in infections and in the environment. Biofilm infections have been shown to be more recalcitrant to antibiotic treatment than planktonic bacteria. This recalcitrance has been partially attributed to periphery sequestration, where antibiotics fail to penetrate biofilm cell clusters. Biofilms have also been identified as the primary environmental sink of engineered nanomaterials. However, there have been results attributing charge as the main predictor of biofilm uptake of these nano-sized materials. We developed a model for antibiotic accumulation in bacterial biofilm microcolonies using heterogenous porosity and attachment site profiles replicating the periphery sequestration reported in prior experimental studies on Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 biofilm cell clusters. We account for periphery sequestration using two physical phenomena: biofilm matrix attachment and volume-exclusion due to variable biofilm porosity. The antibiotic accumulation model which incorporated both phenomena better fit observed periphery sequestration data compared to previous models that leveraged charge. We propose a novel tool for being able to conduct medium throughput screens with microscopy measurements on these biofilms and validate it against existing standards. We show quantifiable effects of antibiotics on biofilm streamers and propose that this may be useful for quantifying the attachment site density and porosity.

Akhenaton-Andrew (Andrew) D. Jones, III is an Assistant Professor of Environmental Engineering and affiliate faculty in the Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science Department, Duke Materials Initiative, and Integrated Toxicology & Environmental Health Program at Duke University. His research uses engineering and policy analysis to help solve global challenges related to water and health. He is a 2021 recipient of the NIH R35 Maximizing Investigator’s Research Award to develop new models and tools for studying biofilms and a 2019 Sloan SEED fund award to develop new tools for point of use water quality monitoring systems. He was recognized as Young Investigator by the Center for Biofilm Engineering at Montana State, the premier center for biofilm research in the US. He received a BS in Mathematics and BS, MS, and PhD in Mechanical Engineering from MIT where he was a Lemelson Presidential Fellow and Alfred P. Sloan UCEM Scholar. He completed post-doctoral training as a Future Faculty Fellow at Northeastern University. He has directly supervised 2 high school students, over 20 undergraduates, 5 MS, 6 PhD, and 2 post-doctoral trainees including 12 from underrepresented backgrounds and 24 women. He and his team have presented at over 50 conferences and seminars. He is the 2023 Recipient of the Duke Outstanding Postdoctoral Mentor Award.

The Gordon Institute: Virtual Information Session
2026-03-18 17:30 - 18:30 | Virtual
Learn how you can earn a Graduate Certificate in Engineering Leadership through The Gordon Institute as a stand-alone certificate or in combination with one of 25+ Master of Science degrees offered through Northeastern University College of Engineering, Northeastern University College of Science, or Khoury College of Computer Sciences.
You will have the opportunity to hear from alumni about how The Gordon Institute propelled their engineering careers, speak with program professors about the curriculum, and ask the director of admissions your application questions for fall 2026.
Upcoming Information Session Dates:

January 14, 2026 @ 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
February 11, 2026 @ 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
March 18, 2026 @ 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm

The Gordon Institute also offers one-on-one info calls with admissions representatives. If you are interested in scheduling a call, please contact Amy Manley at a.manley@northeastern.edu.
