Projects

Principal Investigator: Dr. Wael Othman

Funding: Khalifa University

This project focuses on the development of intelligent surgical instruments with real-time tactile feedback for minimally invasive surgery (MIS). The core objective is to restore haptic sensation to surgeons during laparoscopic and robotic-assisted procedures, thereby improving precision, reducing complications, and enhancing patient outcomes.

Research Objectives:

• Design and fabricate soft microfluidic tactile sensors compatible with surgical instruments
• Develop signal processing algorithms for real-time haptic feedback
• Conduct in vitro and ex vivo validation studies
• Translate technology toward clinical applications

Team: Mariam Hassan (PhD Student), Rashid Al-Kaabi (PhD Student), Samir Hassan (Research Assistant)

Principal Investigator: Dr. Wael Othman

Collaborators: NYUAD, Khalifa University

Bacterial biofilms are complex, three-dimensional communities of microorganisms that exhibit remarkable mechanical properties and resistance to antibiotics. This project investigates the biomechanical behavior of biofilms under combined mechanical and environmental stresses using microfluidic devices.

Research Objectives:

• Characterize mechanical properties of biofilms using dynamic mechanical analysis
• Study biofilm response to nutrient starvation and antibiotic exposure
• Develop microfluidic platforms for high-throughput biofilm testing
• Identify biomechanical markers for antibiotic susceptibility

Team: Mariam Hassan (PhD Student), Dr. Ahmed Khalifa (Postdoc)

Co-Principal Investigator: Dr. Wael Othman

Collaborators: UAEU, International Institutions

This project employs first-principles computational methods (Density Functional Theory) to investigate the properties of functionalized two-dimensional materials for biosensing and hydrogen storage applications. The work bridges theoretical materials science with practical biomedical and energy applications.

Research Objectives:

• Perform DFT simulations of graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides
• Design and optimize surface functionalization for biosensing
• Investigate hydrogen adsorption and storage mechanisms
• Validate computational predictions experimentally

Team: Dr. Ahmed Khalifa (Postdoc), International collaborators

Role: PhD Researcher

Institution: New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD)

Funding: NYUAD Global Fellowship

This PhD project developed systems and methods for restoring tactile sensation in laparoscopic surgery through soft microfluidic sensors. The work resulted in multiple peer-reviewed publications and demonstrated the feasibility of haptic feedback in surgical applications.

Key Contributions:

• Designed and fabricated soft microfluidic tactile sensors
• Developed signal conditioning and feedback algorithms
• Conducted human factors studies with surgeons
• Published 8+ peer-reviewed articles in top-tier venues

Role: Master's Researcher

Institution: Khalifa University

Funding: Khalifa University Merit Scholarship

This Master's thesis investigated electrochemical jet processing (EJP) for metal micro-manufacturing. The research focused on process optimization, surface characterization, and the development of precision micro-features for biomedical applications.

Key Contributions:

• Optimized EJP parameters for precision micro-machining
• Characterized surface morphology and material properties
• Developed micro-features for surgical instruments
• Published 2 peer-reviewed articles