January 19, 2023
By Peralte C. Paul

The George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering is an inclusive, innovative, and thriving educational and research environment that is making significant contributions to society through its research in a wide range of disciplines ranging from mechanics, robotics and automation, and energy systems, to bioengineering, nuclear and medical physics, and acoustics.

This installment of the Faces of Research Q&A series is with W. Hong Yeo, associate professor, Woodruff Faculty Fellow, and the director of the Center for Human-Centric Interfaces and Engineering.

What is your field of expertise and why did you choose it?
"Biosensors and Bioelectronics for Human Healthcare." I chose this area since I have always been interested in helping people with my research. So, I thought this was the best research area to do so.

What makes Georgia Tech research institutes unique?
Georgia Tech has an amazing research environment since we have super-talented faculty, students, and researchers from many different research fields, and this provides an excellent opportunity for interdisciplinary research.

What impact is your research having on the world?
My research that develops new biomedical devices could enhance human healthcare through advanced health monitoring, disease diagnosis, therapeutics, and persistent human-machine interfaces.

What is the most challenging aspect of your research?
That comes from the required collaboration with clinicians and other researchers. As mentioned earlier, my research is interdisciplinary, needing the understanding of multiple aspects of materials, biology, mechanics, manufacturing, electronics, and more. So, I have to find the best way to communicate with people in different disciplines and share knowledge to develop new biomedical solutions.

If you weren't a researcher, what would you be?
I have always wanted to be a calligraphy artist since I have spent more than 10 years in calligraphy since elementary school.

If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why?
It might be a healing power that could cure fatal diseases in humans.