This summer, five faculty members joined the Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering (BCOE) at UC Riverside, bolstering the college’s areas of expertise in Biomaterials, Biotechnology, Data Science, Machine Learning and Robotics. Two faculty members joined the Department of Bioengineering, and one faculty member joined each of the following departments: Computer Science and Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. 

“We are proud to welcome these scholars to our growing roster of more than 130 full-time faculty,“ said Marek Chrobak, associate dean for academic personnel at BCOE. “BCOE continues to attract top talent and is ripe with opportunity for professional success, as evidenced by our new Department of Defense Center of Excellence, nine 2021 National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER awardees, and new NSF grant to improve equity and inclusion in engineering.”

Below is more information about each new faculty member:

Iman Noshadi, Assistant Professor, Department of Bioengineering | Noshadi’s research expertise in the development of biomaterials and tissue engineering for biomedical device fabrication has led to patented technologies such as BioGels. Noshadi’s research has been funded by the National Science Foundation, the New Jersey Health Foundation and the Camden Health Initiative. Before starting at UC Riverside, he was an assistant professor of chemical engineering at Rowan University, developing bioelectronics for regenerative medicine applications. Noshadi was a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Noshadi earned a doctorate degree in chemical engineering from University of Connecticut, a master’s degree in science from University of Technology, Malaysia and a bachelor’s degree in science from Shiraz University.

Jonathan Realmuto, Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering | In the Bionic Systems Laboratory, Realmuto's research team develops human-robot systems that restore and enhance human mobility and perception, including wearable and assistive robots, active prostheses and orthoses, and neuroprotheses. Through this work, Realmuto hopes to empower people with disabilities, improve precision and personalized medicine, and extend sensory experience and physicality. Prior to joining UCR, Realmuto conducted postdoctoral research of University of California, Irvine (UCI) and University of Southern California. Realmuto earned a doctorate degree in mechanical engineering from University of Washington and a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Jia Chen, Assistant Teaching Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering | Previously Chen conducted research on machine learning, signal processing and data analytics as an assistant professor at University of Texas Rio Grande Valley – with funding from the U.S. Department of Defense. Chen earned a doctorate degree in electrical engineering from University of Texas at Arlington, a master’s degree in electrical engineering from University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, and a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Southwest Jiaotong University.

Robert McKee, Assistant Teaching Professor, Department of Bioengineering | McKee believes in constructing environments that foster a lifelong learning mindset and teaches students both scientific theory and professional mentality in order to set them up for success wherever life takes them. As a postdoctoral researcher at University of Delaware, McKee developed a microfluidic perfusion and ventilation system to study the effects of mechanical forces on neonate mouse lung development and how abnormal mechnical forces influence the pathophysiology of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. At University of Notre Dame, McKee investigated how the kidney responds to antibiotic and chemotherapeutic agents. McKee earned a doctorate degree in biological sciences from University of Notre Dame and a bachelor’s degree in biology from Saint Vincent College.

Neftali Watkinson, Assistant Teaching Professor, Department of Computer Science and Engineering | In his previous role as a postdoctoral researcher at UCI, Watkinson used hyper-dimensional computing to help detect and predict the onset of diabetes, COVID-19 and sepsis. Watkinson earned a doctorate degree in computer science from UCI, a master’s degree in computer science from Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada, and a bachelor’s degree in software engineering from CETYS Universidad.

This year, the college will be recruiting for faculty positions in several departments: Computer Science and Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Chemical and Environmental Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering.

For full position descriptions and to apply, visit www.engr.ucr.edu/hireme.