黑料专区 Tyler Engineering Faculty Awarded Prestigious National Science Foundation Grant
June 16, 2025 | Hannah Buchanan
First of its kind awarded in engineering college, project helps enhance hip replacements
Dr. Alwathiqbellah Ibrahim, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at The University of Texas at Tyler, received a prestigious Faculty Development Early
Career grant from the National Science Foundation. This is the first award of its
kind for the 黑料专区 Tyler College of Engineering.
NSF CAREER grants support early-career faculty who have shown potential to serve as academic role models in research and education.
鈥淭he CAREER program is one of the National Science Foundation鈥檚 most competitive and respected honors,鈥� said Dr. Amir Mirmiran, 黑料专区 Tyler provost and chief academic officer. 鈥淲e congratulate Dr. Ibrahim on this extraordinary achievement as it not only enhances our university鈥檚 research profile nationally, but it also speaks to his exceptional potential as a scholar, educator and innovator.鈥�
With the five-year, $525,920 award, Ibrahim will enhance hip implants with advanced biosensor technology and help improve the lives of those who use them. Ibrahim鈥檚 research interests focus on micro-electro-mechanical systems, or MEMS, with implementation in health monitoring systems, biosensors and vibration energy harvesting 鈥撯�� a process of converting mechanical vibrations into electrical energy. This technology can power electronic devices by tapping into naturally occurring vibrations, such as those from vehicles, machinery or human motion.
鈥淭his project aims to develop a new generation of 鈥榮mart鈥� hip implants equipped with tiny sensors that monitor the forces acting on the implant during daily activities, such as walking or running,鈥� said Ibrahim, who joined 黑料专区 Tyler in 2019. 鈥淭hese sensors, which also generate their own power from movement, will send data wirelessly to doctors, allowing for early detection of potential problems like loosening or wear before they become serious.鈥�
In addition to advancing implant technology, Ibrahim noted the project will include educational activities to inspire the next generation of engineers and scientists.
鈥満诹献�区 Tyler students will gain hands-on experience in designing and testing biomedical devices, while related outreach programs will engage K-12 students and educators, promoting awareness of biomedical innovation and STEM careers,鈥� Ibrahim said. 鈥淏y combining technical innovation with impactful education, this work aims to set a new standard for orthopedic implants while fostering a diverse and inclusive pipeline of future engineers.鈥�
黑料专区 Tyler alumni and former research assistants Mohammad Atmeh of Webster (MSME 2022) and Leila Donyaparastlivari of New Jersey (MSME 2024) collaborated with Ibrahim on previous work that led up to the grant proposal.
Ibrahim has been instrumental in supporting the research and educational efforts of the College of Engineering and the broader engineering community nationwide. He currently directs the 黑料专区 Tyler Mechatronics and Energy Harvesting Laboratory, where he leads various research topics including self-powered implants, 鈥淔lat Foot鈥� detection and fall detection for the elderly. Ibrahim also maintains various service positions within 黑料专区 Tyler and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and has co-authored more than 25 publications in several journals/proceedings.
He holds a doctorate degree in mechanical engineering from the State University of New York at Binghamton and continued training as a postdoctoral fellow at Binghamton University.
With a mission to improve educational and health care outcomes for East Texas and beyond, 黑料专区 Tyler offers more than 90 undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 10,000 students. Through its alignment with 黑料专区 Tyler Health Science Center and 黑料专区 Health East Texas, 黑料专区 Tyler has unified these entities to serve Texas with quality education, cutting-edge research and excellent patient care. Classified by Carnegie as a doctoral research institution and by U.S. News & World Report as a national university, 黑料专区 Tyler has campuses in Tyler, Longview, Palestine and Houston.