Team Members
Walter Voit, PhD
Founder of the Center for Engineering Innovation, UT Dallas Associate Professor with the Departments of Materials Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering
Read more about Dr. Voit and CEI here
972-883-5778 | BSB 11.633 | Mailstop: BSB13
Eric Kildebeck, MD, PhD
CEI Director – Polycraft World Team, UT Dallas Research Professor
Dr. Eric Kildebeck, MD, PhD co-directs the Center for Engineering Innovation (CEI) at UT Dallas. The mission of this Center is to use an engineering and entrepreneurial mindset to innovate and translate technologies that solve real-world problems. Dr. Kildebeck directs the CEI’s Polycraft World team, which builds active learning environments for learners, AI agents, and human-AI teams in video games such as Minecraft. Eric co-founded EdTech startup Pedegree Studios, Inc. in 2024, a CEI-spinout focused on delivering personalized learning, where he serves as SVP of Education and leads pedagogy and AI strategy.
Richardson Innovation Quarter HQ (IQ HQ) at East Collins Blvd.
BSB 11.641 | Mailstop: BSB13
Benjamin Lund, PhD
CEI Director – Research, UT Dallas Research Scientist
Dr. Benjamin R. Lund is a materials chemist specializing in advanced polymers for electronics, additive manufacturing, and flexible devices. He holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from UT Dallas, where he has contributed for over a decade in both academic and industry-facing roles. Dr. Lund previously served as VP of Materials at Adaptive3D Technologies and Director for Applied Polymer Research at Desktop Metal. He currently serves as Chief Technology Officer at Qualia Oto and co-Director for the Center for Engineering Innovation at UT Dallas.
BSB 11.637 | Mailstop: BSB13
Robert (Joey) Steininger, PhD
UT Dallas Research Scientist
Dr. Robert (Joey) Steininger is a research scientist at the Center for Engineering Innovation (CEI) at UT Dallas. He holds an undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering from MIT and a Ph.D. from UTSW Medical Center. He has worn many hats with the CEI from managing personnel and funding to leading biological and education-based research. In 2024 Joey co-founded EdTech startup Pedegree Studios, Inc., a CEI-spinout focused on delivering personalized learning, where he serves as Puzzlemaster and leads game development and player engagement.
Richardson Innovation Quarter HQ (IQ HQ) at East Collins Blvd.
Mailstop: BSB13
Jesse Huffstetler
UT Dallas Project Engineer Scientist
Mr. Jesse Huffstetler is a Project Engineer Scientist at CEI. With over a decade of commercial experience, Mr. Huffstetler serves as lead laboratory researcher, designing and optimizing varied chemical formulations for additive manufacturing. Mr. Huffstetler received a B.S. in Chemistry (2014) from the University of Texas at Dallas before joining Adaptive3D/Desktop Metal and then transitioned to work at CEI.
jesse.huffstetler@utdallas.edu
BSB 11.641 | Mailstop: BSB13
Caleb Lund, M.S.
UT Dallas Project Engineer Scientist
Mr. Caleb Lund is a Project Engineer at CEI. In this role, Mr. Lund acts as a lead CAD designer for additive manufacturing (leveraging nearly a decade of commercial experience), optimizing designs for varied mechanical responses, improving printed part proficiency, and facilitating fundamental exploration of 3D printing capabilities. Mr. Lund received a M.S. in Mathematics from the University of Texas at Dallas before joining Adaptive3D/Desktop Metal and then transitioned to work at CEI.
BSB 11.506 | Mailstop: BSB13
Ovidio Rodriguez Lopez, PhD
UT Dallas Postdoctoral Fellow
Dr. Ovidio Rodriguez Lopez is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at UTD’s Center for Engineering Innovation, working on the research and fabrication of semiconductor devices and the development of flexible electronics for the improvement and manufacturing of biomedical devices. He earned his master’s (2019) and doctorate (2023) degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Texas at Dallas. He also holds a degree in Mechatronics Engineering from the Instituto Tecnológico de Saltillo (Mexico). Currently, his work focuses on the research and development of neural implants and bioelectronic devices for the treatment of neural diseases.
ovidio.rodriguezlopez@utdallas.edu
BSB 11.545 | Mailstop: BSB13
Graduate Students
Ramya Krishnasamy – Research Assistant, PhD Program at the Materials Science and Engineering Department at UT Dallas
Ramya is a PhD candidate in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering working in Dr. Voit’s group. In collaboration with Zyvex Labs and NIST, she fabricates and characterizes silicon devices to study atomically precise δ-doped layers for cryogenic electronics. Her expertise includes cleanroom microfabrication, semiconductor device fabrication, materials and device characterization, and cryogenic electrical testing.
She holds an M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from UT Dallas and a B.Tech. in Textile Technology from PSG College of Technology (India). She also has prior research and industry experience in polymers, textiles, and composites.
ramyapriya.krishnasamy@utdallas.edu
BSB 11.545 | Mailstop: BSB13
Kannan Nambiar – Research Assistant, PhD Program at the Mechanical Engineering Department at UT Dallas, co-supervised by Drs. Walter Voit (MSE) and Hongbing Lu (ME)
Kannan’s research focuses on thiol-X-based polymers and composites for advanced semiconductor packaging, integrating experimental solid mechanics, thermal and viscoelastic analysis (TGA, DSC, DMA, TMA), and microscale characterization (SEM, AFM, nanoindentation).
He previously interned at Adaptive3D/Desktop Metal, where he performed compression, fatigue, and drop testing on 3D-printed elastomeric lattice structures, and at Western Digital (SanDisk), where he used ABAQUS simulations to accelerate failure analysis by tuning cohesive-zone laws to replicate failure patterns observed in dye-and-pry testing. Passionate about developing new materials to tackle next-generation challenges in semiconductor packaging and advanced manufacturing, Kannan holds a B.Tech. in Mechanical Engineering from Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) in India.
BSB 11.645 | Mailstop: BSB13
Daniel Zamorano – Research Assistant, PhD Program at the Bioengineering Department at UT Dallas
Daniel Zamorano is a first year PhD candidate in the Fall 2025 cohort studying Biomedical Engineering. Daniel has a B.S. in Biochemistry from UT Dallas, where he did undergraduate research with Dr. Voit’s Advanced Polymer Research Laboratory. Daniel also worked for Adaptive3D/Desktop Metal and is combining his years of industry experience related to additive manufacturing, analytical, and materials science to further research and develop Shape Memory Polymer (SMP) functionality and understanding for biomedical devices. Daniel also functions as the Center for Engineering and Innovation (CEI) Service Director helping manage and connect different instruments and methods for optimal use.
BSB 11.645 | Mailstop: BSB13
Jack Czyz – Spring’2026 PhD Program candidate at the Mechanical Engineering Department at UT Dallas
Jack Czyz, a Research Visitor at the Center for Engineering Innovation, is a first year PhD candidate in the Spring 2026 cohort studying Mechanical Engineering. Jack has a B.S. in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from Purdue University, where he researched additive manufacturing of energetic materials and alternative manufacturing methods. He aims to further analyze the manufacturing methods of polymers and elastomers for industry use.
BSB 11.645 | Mailstop: BSB13
Research Affiliates
Melanie Ecker, PhD
Associate Professor at the University of North Texas
Dr. Melanie Ecker is an Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the University of North Texas and Principal Investigator of the Smart Polymers for Biomedical Applications Lab. She holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), in Germany, and leads research on shape memory polymers and hydrogels for biomedical and bioelectronic applications. A recipient of the NSF CAREER Award, her work focuses on stimuli-responsive materials for minimally invasive devices and tissue engineering, and has been cited over 1,600 times. She also serves as the faculty advisor for the UNT BMES chapter.
Alexandra Josi-Imre, PhD
Process Engineer at the UT Dallas Cleanroom Research Laboratory, Office of Research
Dr. Josi-Imre is supporting the Cleanroom Research Laboratory by training students, assisting operations and by conceiving and implementing innovative designs and microfabrication processes. Her specialties: micro- and nanofabrication, microscopy, metrology, neuroelectronic interfaces, nanoscience, nanoscale ferromagnetism, plasmonics. Dr. Josi-Imre got her Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the Budapest University of Technology and Economics in Hungary, and received her PhD at the University of Notre Dame in the USA. She has joined UTD family (Neural Interfaces Laboratory and Advanced Polymer Research Laboratory) after spending over 4 years at the Argonne National Laboratory, one of the U.S. Department of Energy’s national laboratories for science and engineering research.
Alexandra.Joshi-Imre@utdallas.edu
NSERL | Mailstop: RL10
Matthew Di Prima, PhD
Materials Scientist at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Office of Science and Engineering Laboratories
Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Dr. Di Prima, FDA’s 3D Printing Guru is a point person for 3D printing of medical devices. Di Prima craved a career in aerospace. He had done summer internships at Raytheon Company while an undergraduate at Rice University. He chose Georgia Tech for a doctorate.Within the FDAdministration, Di Prima is chair of the Additive Manufacturing Working Group and co-chair of the Advanced Manufacturing Technologies Working Group, where members share information about cutting-edge developments like continuous manufacturing for pharmaceuticals, large-scale bioreactors and point-of-care manufacturing technologies. He also is involved with the CDRH’s Experiential Learning Program, helping plan site visits for staff to gain hands-on knowledge of the technology and processes they regulate.
Jason B. Carmel, MD, PhD
Associate Professor of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, Chief, Division of Child Neurology
Dr. Jason B. Carmel is a child neurologist and motor system neuroscientist interested in central nervous system injury and repair. During his postdoctoral fellowship in Jack Martin’s laboratory, Dr. Carmel developed expertise in corticospinal injury and response to activity-based treatments. Using a combination of anatomy, physiology (brain mapping), and behavior, he has been able to identify the brain circuits that adapt to developmental brain injury.
Dr. Carmel’s laboratory uses activity-based therapies, including brain stimulation and intensive behavioral training to promote recovery of function, both in rodents and humans. In a rodent hemiparesis model, they have demonstrated that stimulation of spared motor circuits causes them to sprout at their terminations in the spinal cord, form functional connections with spinal motor circuits, and restore motor skill.
Movement Recovery Laboratory – Weinberg Family Celebral Palsy Center
Staff
Renata Freindorf, M.S.
CEI Business Manager
BSB 11.637 | Mailstop: BSB13
