Raudel Avida, PhD

Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Rice University
Director, Computational Mechanics and Bioelectromagnetic Laboratory

Lecture Title: Engineering Modeling insights for Hydrocephalus – from Biomechanics to Skin-like Devices

Dr. Raudel Avila is an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Rice University and leads the Computational Mechanics and Bioelectromagnetic Laboratory, where his work focuses on the theoretical and computational modeling of next-generation bioelectronic devices.

Dr. Avila’s research focuses on expanding the functional and clinical potential of bioelectronics, particularly in wireless sensing, implantable systems, and wearable technologies. His laboratory develops design and modeling frameworks that optimize mechanical performance and electromagnetic efficiency across multiple scales—from materials to fully integrated devices. His projects have advanced applications ranging from transient, bioresorbable pacemakers and soft optogenetic implants to microfluidic sweat sensors and ultra-soft biosensors for neonatal and pediatric care.

His contributions to wearable and skin-interfaced electronics have been featured in high-impact publications including Nature Biomedical Engineering and Nature, where his collaborative work has addressed critical challenges in signal fidelity and device resilience. He has also contributed thought leadership in the field through a 2025 perspective article on transient mechanics in the Journal of Applied Mechanics.

Dr. Avila received his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Northwestern University and holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Texas at El Paso. He is a recipient of the 2024 Pi Tau Sigma Gold Medal by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the Outstanding Researcher Award from the International Institute of Nanotechnology. In 2022, he was named a Future Trailblazer in Engineering by Purdue University for his leadership in advancing representation and innovation in STEM.