Dr. George Knopf
George K. Knopf is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering and the Director of Western Engineering’s collaborative (MEng) Engineering in Medicine program. He has expertise in engineering design and advanced manufacturing processes. His research focuses on functional materials and fabrication processes for developing biosensors, bioelectronics and wearable technologies.
Past contributions have been to the development of intelligent systems for engineering design including studies on the characterization of micro geometry flaws in product data exchange, efficient packing of 3D parts for layered manufacturing, and the adaptive reconstruction of complex freeform surfaces. In recent years, the focus of research has significantly expanded in the areas of laser microfabrication, micro-optics and light driven technologies. These technologies include a unique approach to surface geometry measurement using an unconstrained range-sensor head [US patent 6,542,249], micro-optic element design for large area light guides and curtains, non-lithographic fabrication of metallic micro-mold masters by laser machining and welding, laser micro polishing and development of several bioelectronic devices that exploit the photoelectric signals generated by dried bacteriorhodopsin (bR) films.
Research Group
Dogan Sinar (PhD Candidate) - Inkjet printing and functionalization of graphene films
Anatoly Andrushchenko (PhD Candidate) - Laser modified printed graphene films on flexible substrates
Collaborators (National Research Council of Canada, London Ontario, Canada)
Dr. Evgueni Bordatchev - Specialty Coatings and Microfabrication, National Research Council of Canada
Dr. Suwas Nikumb - Automotive and Surface Transportation, National Research Council of Canada
Dr. Amarjeet Bassi - Department of Chemical & Biochemical Engineering, The University of Western Ontario
International Research Assistants (Undergraduate)
Mariana F. Merlin
- Visualizing Multi-Dimensional Optimal Pareto Solutions May 2016 - Aug. 2016
- Exchange student: State University of Campinas, Limeira, SP, Brazil
- Funded: Western’s Science without Borders (SWB) program
Jose A.R. Hurtado
- Mechanically Flexible and Stretchable Graphene Microcircuits May 2015 - Aug. 2015
- Visiting student: Universidad De Guadalajara, Mexico
- Funded: Globalink Research Internship (summer only)
Francielle L. Cruz
- Adjustable Liquid Pressure Varifocus Lens May 2015 - Aug. 2015
- Exchange student: Universidade Federal do Ceara, Brazil
- Funded: Western’s Science without Borders (SWB) program
Jehovah T.C. Neto
- Embedded Microcontrollers for Smart Products in Healthcare and Medicine May 2015 - Aug. 2015
- Exchange student: Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Brazil
- Funded: Western’s Science without Borders (SWB) program
Mateus P. Camargo
- Mechanically Flexible Interdigital Capacitor (IDC) Biosensors May 2014 - Aug. 2014
- Exchange student: University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Brazil
- Funded: Western’s Science without Borders (SWB) program
Pedro M. Sakaguchi
- Investigation on the Flexibility and Stretch-ability of Printed Graphene Electrodes May 2014 - Aug. 2014
- Exchange student: Universidade Federal do ABC, Brazil
- Funded: Western’s Science without Borders (SWB) program
Jan M. Müller
- Development of Customer Specifications for a Service Robot that Improves Wheelchair Accessibility Sept. 2013 - Dec. 2013
- Exchange student: Leibniz University, Germany
Lucas C. Novaes
- Microcontrollers for Sensing and Automated Control May 2013 - Aug. 2013
- Exchange student: University of São Paulo, Brazil
- Funded: Western’s Science without Borders (SWB) program
Visiting Professors/ Research Scientists (International Collaborators)
Dr. Khaled Al-Aribe
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Abu Dhabi University, UAE
- Collaborative Research: Smart materials for microfluidic and microrobotic systems
- Dates: July 21, 2015 to August 28, 2015; July 25, 2016 to August 26, 2016
Dr. Gideon Avigad
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ort Braude College of Engineering, Israel
- Collaborative Research: Multi-objective optimization and robotics
- Dates: July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015
Ms. Erella Matalon-Eisenstadt
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ort Braude College of Engineering, Israel
- Collaborative Research: Multi-objective optimization
- Dates: July 5, 2014 to August 31, 2014
Western Engineering