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Amir Jafari

Associate Professor

University of North Texas

Department of Biomedical Engineering

Email: Amir.Jafari@unt.edu

Education

  • PhD, University of Genoa, 2011
    Major: Robotics, Neuroscience and Nanotechnology
    Dissertation: Actuators with Adjustable Stiffness
  • MS, Oroumieh University, 2006
    Major: Mechanical Engineering
  • BS, Isfahan University of Technology, 2003
    Major: Industrial Engineering

Licensures and Certifications

  • CITI Training, CITI. (2020 - Present).

Teaching

Teaching Experience

    University of North Texas

  • BMEN 2900 - Special Problems in Biomedical Engineering, 2 courses.
  • BMEN 4100 - Biomedical Mechatronics, 3 courses.
  • BMEN 4980 - Experimental Course, 1 course.
  • BMEN 5311 - Rehabilitation Engineering, 2 courses.
  • BMEN 5332 - Soft Robotics in Biomedical Engineering, 2 courses.
  • BMEN 5800 - Topics in Biomedical Engineering, 2 courses.
  • BMEN 5900 - Special Problems in Biomedical Engineering, 5 courses.
  • BMEN 5950 - Master's Thesis, 5 courses.
  • BMEN 6910 - Individual Research, 2 courses.
  • BMEN 6950 - Biomedical Engineering Doctoral Dissertation, 4 courses.

Directed Student Learning

  • Dissertation Committee Chair, "NOVEL PHASE-CHANGE SOFT ACTUATORS CONTROLLED VIA PELTIER," Biomedical Engineering. (July 23, 2021 - June 21, 2023).

Research

Published Intellectual Contributions

    Conference Proceeding

  • Exley, T., Wijesundara, R., Tan, N., Sunkara, A., He, X., Wang, S., Chan, B., Jain, A., Espinosa, L., Jafari, A. (2024). Agonist-Antagonist Pouch Motors: Bidirectional Soft Actuators Enhanced by Thermally Responsive Peltier Elements. 2024 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS). 9214-9220. IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/iros58592.2024.10802253
  • Ruiz, K., Ryan, S., Stutsman, S., Tirumala, T., Williams, J., Wijesundara, R., Exley, T., Jafari, A. (2024). Design considerations of Peltier-Integrated Therapeutic Wrist Wrap for Medical Applications. 2024 46th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBC). 1-4. IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/embc53108.2024.10781731

    • Journal Article

  • Jafari, A., Deary, T., Johnson, D. (2024). Comparative Analysis of Peltier Devices and Flexible Heater Strips for Enhancing Bandwidth in Thermo-Active Soft Actuators. IEEE Transactions on Medical Robotics and Bionics. 7 (24) 465-470. Denton, Journal of Medical Robotics Research. 3940 N Elm street
  • Jafari, A., Exley, T., Johnson, D. (2024). Toward a Unified Naming Scheme for Thermo-Active Soft Actuators: A Review of Materials, Working Principles, and Applications. Robotics Reports. 7 (4) 768-774. Denton, Marry Ann. 3940 N Elm street
  • Exley, T., Johnson, D., Jafari, A. (2023). A Novel Variable Impedance Actuator Utilizing Adjustable Viscoelastic Properties of Thermoresponsive Polycaprolactone. Other. 1 (1) Mary Ann Liebert.
  • Johnsn, D., Exley, T., Jafari, A. (2023). Towards a novel thermal-based variable impedance module through adjusting viscoelastic properties of a thermoresponsive polymer. Other. 5 (4) IEEE.
  • Exley, T., Johnson, D., Jafari, A. (2023). Utilizing the peltier effect for actuation of thermo-active soft robots. Smart Materials and Structures. IOP Science.
  • Hays, E., Slayton, J., Tejeda-Godinez, G., Carney, E., Cruz, K., Exley, T., Jafari, A. (2023). A Review of Rehabilitative and Assistive Technologies for Upper-Body Exoskeletal Devices. Actuators. 12 (4) 178. MDPI AG. https://doi.org/10.3390/act12040178
  • Habibi, N., Ghasemzadeh, F., Jafari, A., Fouladgar, F. (2023). Substrate-free self-assembly of peptides nano-particles through acoustic levitation. Other. 657, (130439) 245-261. Netherlands, Elsevier.
  • Exley, T.N., Jafari, A.N. (2022). Increasing robustness and output performance of Variable Stiffness Actuators in periodic motions. 169 104645. The Netherlands, Elsevier. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0094114X21003761
  • Exley, T.N., Jafari, A.N. (2021). Maximizing energy efficiency of variable stiffness actuators through an interval-based optimization framework. Sensors and Actuators A: Physical. Part of the work for my NSF CAREER award. 332 (1) 113123. Netherlenad, Elsevier. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0924424721005884
  • Hoshyarmanesh, H., Ebrahimi, N., Jafari, A., Hoshyarmanesh, P., Kim, M., Park, H. (2018). PZT/PZT and PZT/BiT Composite Piezo-Sensors in Aerospace SHM Applications: Photochemical Metal Organic + Infiltration Deposition and Characterization. Sensors. 19 (1) 13. MDPI AG. https://doi.org/10.3390/s19010013

    • Patent

  • Jafari, A. (2023). Microrobotic systems and methods for endovascular interventions. https://patents.google.com/patent/US20230060639A1/en

    • Poster

  • Jenkins, J., Madera, O., Guerrero, C., Siu, K., Jafari, A., Exley, T. (2024). Motor Control System for Treadmill with Adjustable Stiffness. IEEE Dallas Circuits and Systems conference 2024.

Presentations Given

    Invited Talk

  • Jafari, A. (Presenter), University of Texas at Arlington- UTARI, Physical Human-Robot-Interaction, UTARI, Arlington, United States of America. (2021).

    • Poster

  • Johnson, D. (Author), Exley, T. (Author), Torres, M. (Author & Presenter), Jafari, A. (Author), Ecker, M.J. (Author), BMES Annual Meeting, Silicone Elastomers for Soft Robotics: Controlling Strain-Limiting Functionality, Biomedical Engineering Society, Seattle, WA, United States of America. (2023 - 2023).

Contracts, Grants, Sponsored Research

    Grant - Research

  • Jafari, A.N. (Principal), "CAREER: A Prosthetic Elbow with Network of Soft and Modular Thermo-Active Actuators for Mobility Impaired Patients," sponsored by NSF, Federal, $525046 Funded. (2021 - 2026).

Copyrights, Patents

    Patent

  • Jafari, A., Exley, T., Thermal-based variable impedance actuator, 18418008. Provisional, Date Patent Approved: 2024. .
  • Jafari, A., Exley, T., Thermoactivate modular soft actuator based on phase transition, US20240326240A1. Provisional, Date Patent Approved: 2024. .
  • Jafari, A., Exley, T., Devices for biomechanical assistance including an exoskeleton and a robotic glove, US20240358527A1. Regular, Date Patent Approved: 2024. .
  • Jafari, A., Exley, T., Peltier-integrated therapeutic wrap, US20240358543A1. Provisional, Date Patent Approved: 2024. .
  • Jafari, A., Ebrahimi, N., ELECTROMAGNETICSOFTACTUATORS, US11,448,103B2. Regular, Date Patent Approved: September 2, 2022. .

Service

University Service

  • Committee Member, search committee. (2033 - 2023).
  • Committee Member, PAC. (2023 - 2023).
  • Committee Member, Search for Dean of COE. (September 12, 2022 - December 31, 2022).
  • Committee Member, Mechanical Engineering new hire. (October 20, 2021 - March 12, 2022).

Public Service

  • Chairperson, Seminars on Robotics and AI. DFW, Texas. (2023 - 2024).

Professional Service

  • Editor, Associate Editor, Robotics Reports. (January 23, 2023 - 2024).
  • Editor, Associate Editor, IEEE Transaction on Biomeidal Robotics and Bionics. Milan, Lombardi. (November 14, 2022 - December 31, 2022).
  • Editor, Associate Editor, IEEE Robotic and Automation Society RAS. Denton, Texas. (January 1, 2017 - December 30, 2022).