Research labs and groups

Faculty: Dr. F. Ernesto Penado

The Advanced Composite Materials Laboratory is an instructional and research facility equipped for the fabrication, testing, and analysis of composite materials. The facility features specimen fabrication equipment, strain gage instrumentation and data acquisition equipment, and everything a researcher would need to manufacture or test composite materials.

Faculty: Dr. Tim Becker

Website: Bioengineering Devices Lab

BDL provides opportunities students interested in neurovascular devices such as new microcatheter designs, ischemic stroke systems, and innovative embolic agents for aneurysms (improving on coils, flow diverters, liquid embolics, etc).  The BDL also conducts extensive in vitro cerebrovascular flow model development.

Facutly: Dr. Zach Lerner

Website: Biomechatronics Lab

The Biomechatronics Lab is a research facility focused on improving mobility in individuals with neuromuscular and musculoskeletal disabilities through innovation in mechanical and biomedical engineering.  The laboratory conducts experiments and develops musculoskeletal models and simulations to study the underlying mechanisms causing movement and orthopedic disorders. The insight gained from these analyses aids the design of robotic assistive devices and treatment strategies, which are subsequently evaluated and refined using experimental and computational methods.

Faculty: Dr. Amir Arzani

Website: Cardiovascular Biomechanics Lab

We use computer modeling and numerical methods to study blood flow and cardiovascular disease. Our work spans a variety of disciplines such as computational fluid dynamics (CFD), computational nonlinear structural mechanics, mass transport, dynamical systems, medical imaging, systems biology, and multiscale modeling.

Faculty: Dr. Michael Shafer

Website: Dynamic and Active Systems Lab

The Dynamic and Active Systems Lab is a research group setup for the development and study of smart materials, mechatronic systems, and novel wildlife telemetry systems. Major equipment in the lab includes a single-point laser vibrometer, data acquisition systems, a fused deposition modeling 3D printer, multiple pieces of active and passive electronic systems equipment, and multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV-RT systems). The lab’s research areas span the biology and electrical systems domains needed for wildlife telemetry systems development, and the mechanics and dynamics domains associated with smart materials.

Faculty: Dr. Tom Acker

Website: Energy and Computational Modeling Lab

The Energy and Computational Modeling Laboratory is an instructional and research facility for the development of sustainable energy technologies.

Faculty: Dr. Heidi Feigenbaum

Website: Feigenbaum Research Group

The Feigenbaum Research Group studies a wide variety of topics in theoretical and applied mechanics, including, but not limited to, plastic deformation of materials, adaptive materials, structural mechanics, continuum mechanics, biomechanics, and biomimetics.

The Keck Laboratory for Bioengineering Innovation is managed by a team of faculty from the Departments of Mechanical Engineering, Biology, Physics, and Chemistry. The lab explores both fundamental & applied questions at the intersection of biology & physical sciences/engineering, with shared space to promote scientific interaction & collaboration. Experimental capabilities in the lab include atomic force microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, optical holography and tomography, chemical spectroscopy, biomechanical analysis, and mechanical testing of biological samples.

Faculty: Dr. Constantin Ciocanel

Website: Multifunctional Materials and Adaptive Systems Lab

The Multifunctional Materials and Adaptive Systems Lab is a research facility that focuses on the development and characterization of multifunctional materials and adaptive electro-magneto-mechanical systems.

Faculty: Dr. John Tester

Website: RAPIDLab

RAPIDLab gained support from the Office of the Vice President for Research in 2011 through TRIF and the Governor’s Office on Economic Recovery. Its purpose is to assist NAU by designing and fabricating specialized equipment to help facilitate ongoing research in technological fields. RAPIDLab is also available as a resource to Northern Arizona Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology (NACET) clients who partner with NAU as part of their product development.

Faculty: Dr. Peter Vadasz

Website: Dr. Vadasz