• Professor, Mechanical Engineering
  • Oscar S. Wyatt, Jr. '45 Chair II Professor
  • Member, National Academy of Engineering
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M. Cynthia Hipwell

Educational Background

  • Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley — 1996
  • M.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley
  • B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Rice University — 1991

Research Interests

    • Nanoscale thermal energy transport
    • Nanoscale tribology
    • Surface and interface physics in the finger-device interface for human machine interfaces and haptics
    • Micro/nanoscale sensor and actuator integration and characterization for human-machine interfaces and haptics
    • Innovation and technology development processes

Industry Experience

    • Technology and business process innovator with senior level leadership experience in engineering, advanced R&D, and new product development (19 years, Seagate Technology).
    • Known for bringing discipline to the experimental process and leveraging Lean and Agile methodologies.Skilled in leading critical technology transitions, developing strategy and roadmaps, and accelerating project delivery.

Awards & Honors

  • 2021 ASME Robert Henry Thurston Lecture Award
  • 2019 Aggie Women Network Eminent Scholar
  • 2019 Mechanical Engineering Industry Advisory Council Faculty Mentoring Award
  • Fellow, National Academy of Inventors

Selected Publications

  • Choi, Changhyun, Yuan Ma, Xinyi Li, Sitangshu Chatterjee, Sneha Sequeira, Rebecca F. Friesen, Jonathan R. Felts and M. Cynthia Hipwell, “Surface haptic rendering of virtual shapes through change in surface temperature", Science Robotics, 23 Feb 2022, Vol 7, Issue 63.
  • Li, X., Y. Ma, C. Choi, X. Ma, S. Chatterjee, S. Lan, and M.C. Hipwell, “Nanotexture Shape and Surface Energy Impact on Electroadhesive Human-Machine Interface Performance,” Advanced Materials, June 25, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202008337.
  • Changhyun Choi, Yuan Ma, Xinyi Li, Xuezhi Ma, and M. Cynthia Hipwell “Finger Pad Topography beyond Fingerprints: Understanding the Heterogeneity Effect of Finger Topography for Human-Machine Interface Modeling” ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 2021 13 (2), 3303-3310 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c15827
  • Li, X., C. Choi, Y. Ma, P. Boonpuek, J. R. Felts, J. Mullenbach, C. Shultz, J. E. Colgate, M. C. Hipwell, "Electrowetting: A Consideration in Electroadhesion," in IEEE Transactions on Haptics, vol. 13, no. 3, pp. 522-529, 1 July-Sept. 2020, doi: 10.1109/TOH.2020.2979439
  • Boonpuek, P. , Y. Ma, X. Li, C. Choi, M. C. Hipwell, and J.R. Felts, “Evaluation of the Electrowetting Effect on the Interfacial Mechanics Between Human Corneocytes and Nano-Asperities" Langmuir, March 2021.
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