I am an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering in the School of Engineering at Santa Clara University (SCU). I also direct the Machine Learning & Safety Analytics (MLSA) Lab at SCU to conduct research on various aspects of applied machine learning for improving industrial systems, focusing on human safety analytics and occupational ergonomics, condition monitoring and predictive maintenance, and process quality improvement. 

Prior to joining SCU, I was an Assistant Professor and Associate Professor at San Jose State University (SJSU), in the Engineering Technology- Manufacturing Systems Specialization for 5 years, from August 2018 to August 2023. I first founded the MLSA Lab at SJSU in Spring 2019. My research received over $780K in funding from industrial grants in semiconductor manufacturing, Mineta Transportation Institute, and SJSU internal grants. I also supervised more than 13 undergraduate and graduate students in research activities across engineering disciplines of aerospace engineering, industrial and systems engineering, mechanical engineering, computer engineering, data science, quality engineering, and engineering technology. 

My academic background is in Mathematics (B.S.), Applied Engineering and Technology Management (M.S.), Industrial Technology and Manufacturing Systems (Ph.D.) and Statistics (Ph.D. Minor). In addition to my research focus in applied machine learning, I am passionate about Scholarship of Teaching and Learning where I apply various pedagogical approaches to improve students' learning outcomes in STEM education. 

• February 2025: Paper Biomechanical Risk Classification in Repetitive Lifting Using Multi-Sensor Electromyography Data, Revised National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Lifting Equation, and Deep Learning is published in Biosensors (Impact Factor: 4.9; 5-Year Impact Factor: 5.2; Q1 in Engineering)

• December 2024: Paper "Integrating Synthetic Data and Deep Learning for Enhanced Defect Detection and Quality Assurance in Manufacturing Processes" is under review at Applied System Innovation. 

• December 2024: Conference paper  "Developing Affordable Tactile Gloves for Real-Time Musculoskeletal Strain Monitoring in Heavy Lifting Using Machine Learning", is accepted for publication in the proceedings of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (2025 IISE Annual Conference & Expo) 

• December 2024: Conference paper  "Optimized Machine Learning Approach for Assessing Impact of Back-Support Exoskeletons on Muscle Strain and Fatigue in Manual Material Handling", is accepted for publication in the proceedings of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (2025 IISE Annual Conference & Expo)

• December 2024: Conference paper  "Decision Trees and IMU Sensors for Risk Prediction in Manual Material Handling", is accepted for publication in the proceedings of the Human-Computer Interaction International Conference (HCII 2025). ( Acceptance Rate 29% ; H5Index 38) 

• November 2024: MLSA lab was awarded $2k by SCU undergraduate research grant to support an undergraduate student in Computer Science and Engineering (CSEN) to develop a collaborative smart manufacturing framework. 

• November 2024: Conference paper "EMG-Based Anomaly Detection for Evaluating Exoskeleton Impact on Muscle Strain", is accepted for publication in the proceedings of the of the   IEEE 43rd International Conference on Consumer Electronics (IEEE ICCE 2025). 

• August 2024: Conference paper "Gender-Specific Ergonomic Evaluation and User Experience of Passive Exoskeleton in Industrial Settings", is accepted for publication in the proceedings of the AHFE International Conference on Human Factors in Design, Engineering, and Computing (AHFE 2024 Hawaii Edition). 

• August 2024: Conference paper "Musculoskeletal Risk Modeling Using Sensors and Machine Learning" is accepted for publication in the proceedings of the IEEE International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management (IEEM2024). 

• July 2024: Paper "Evaluating Efficacy of Passive Occupational Exoskeleton for Enhancing Ergonomic Outcomes in Manufacturing" is published at Applied Sciences. 

• July 2024: MLSA lab was awarded $19,917 by Ciocca Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship for research on Assessing the Impact of AI and Assistive Technologies on Entrepreneurial Growth and Workforce Inclusion in Manufacturing. This grant supports the research opportunity for one undergraduate and one graduate student in the SoE. 

• May 2024: Paper "Evaluating Efficacy of Passive Occupational Exoskeleton for Enhancing Ergonomic Outcomes in Manufacturing" is under review at Applied Sciences (published; DOI)

• April 2024: Paper "Optimization of Sensor Placement for Modal Testing Using Machine Learning " is published at Applied Sciences. 

• April 2024: MLSA Lab, as Co-I, was awarded $8,475 by School of Engineering's 2024 Kuehler Undergraduate Research Program  to support an undergraduate ECEN student in a project on ergonomic human-robot collaboration. (PI: Dr. Maria Kyrarini, ECEN)

• March 2024: MLSA lab was awarded $2k by SCU undergraduate research grant to support an undergraduate student in Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECEN) to develop prototypes in ergonomic assistive tools. 

• February 2024: Conference paper  "User Assessment of Passive Exoskeleton in Manual Material Handling", is accepted for publication in the Human-Computer Interaction International Conference (HCII 2024), 29 June-4 July 2024, Washington DC, USA. ( Acceptance Rate 29% ; H5Index 38) (published in June 2024; DOI)

• October 2023: “Application of Artificial Neural Networks for Bearing Fault Classification" was presented at the ATMAE2023, Annual Conference of Association of Technology Management & Applied Engineering in Atlanta, GA, 25-27 October, 2023.