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Email: cxu at uab.edu
Office: Gorrie Hall 5229, 902 14th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35205
Lab: Gorrie Hall 1215
Research Interest:
Physical intelligence
Human/robot touch
Soft sensors & actuators
Bioinspired materials
Digital manufacturing
Principal Investigator
Principal Investigator
Chengyi Xu, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, X-Lab
Department of Mechanical & Materials Engineering (MME)
School of Engineering
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)
Affiliated Faculty
Neuroengineering PhD Program
Graduate Biological Science Program
Associate Scientist
Comprehensive Neuroscience Center
Heersink School of Medicine
Training & Education Background
Stanford University, CA (2020-2024)
Research Staff Scientist / Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Department of Chemical Engineering
Advisor: Zhenan Bao
University of California, Irvine, CA (2015-2020)
Ph.D. in Materials Science & Engineering
Advisor: Alon A. Gorodetsky
University of Science and Technology of China (2012-2015)
M.S. in Polymer Chemistry & Physics
University of Science and Technology of China (2008-2012)
Special Class for the Gifted Young (少年班)
B.S. in Chemistry
Welcome to Join Our Interdisciplinary Research Team!
X-Lab Culture
(A) Always Ask, (B) Be Kind, (C) Collaborative, (D) Disciplined, (E) Empathetic
Multiple openings are available at the PhD, master's, and undergraduate levels. See application links below.
Motivated prospective interns from Bham high schools are also encouraged to apply.
Graduate Application: https://www.uab.edu/engineering/mme/graduate
Undergrad Application: https://www.uab.edu/engineering/mme/undergraduate
Team Members
Team Members
Md Harun Or Rashid Molla
PhD Student in MME, Blazer Fellow
Year Joined: 2024
Email: mmolla@uab.edu
Previous Institution
M.Sc. in MechE
University of Texas at El Paso
Research Interest
Intelligent robotic interface
Hobbies
Traveling, cooking, and playing indoor games, as these allow me to explore new cultures, create delicious meals, and engage in fun, strategic challenges
Jinxin Chen
PhD Student in Neuroengineering
Year Joined: 2024
Email: jchen9@uab.edu
Previous Institution
M.Sc. in BME
Case Western Reserve University
Research Interest
Neuro-modulation and imaging, multimodal analysis
Hobbies
Swimming, playing guitar, cooking, basketball, gaming
Nyeem Ul Haque Durjoy
PhD Student in MME, Blazer Fellow
Year Joined: 2025
Email: ndurjoy@uab.edu
Previous Institution
KUET
Research Interest
Robotic skin
Hobbies
Traveling, playing badminton, cricket, chess
Brijesh Brijesh
Master Student in CS
Year Joined: 2025
Email: bbrijesh@uab.edu
Previous Institution
UAB
Research Interest
AI for robotic materials discovery
Hobbies
Gaming, swimming, basketball, traveling
Taha Khan
Master Student in Engineering Management
Year Joined: 2025
Email: khan9@uab.edu
Previous Institution
UAB
Research Interest
Intelligent robotic interface
Hobbies
Traveling, going to gym, gaming, and watching movies
Saketh Varma Kanumuri
Undergrad (BME)
Year Joined: 2024
Email: svkanumu@uab.edu
Institution
UAB
Research Interest
Engineering artificial mechanoreceptors
Hobbies
Hanny Cardoso-Alcantar
Undergrad (BME)
Year Joined: 2024
Email: hgcardos@uab.edu
Institution
UAB
Research Interest
Engineering artificial mechanoreceptors
Hobbies
Enjoy drawing, reading, and spending time with my family and friends
Albert Chen
High school intern
Year Joined: 2025
Institution
Alabama School of Fine Arts
Research Interest
Engineering artificial mechanoreceptors
Hobbies
Alumni
Alumni
Leonardo Wang
Undergrad (REU Student)
Year Joined: 2025
Email: lw7@uab.edu
Institution
Columbia University (EE)
Sewanee: The University Of The South (Physics)
Research Interest
Soft electronics
Hobbies
Martial arts, chess, and driving
Ashima Sharma
Master Student in CS
Year Joined: 2025
Email: sharma4@uab.edu
Previous Institution
UAB
Research Interest
AI for robotic materials discovery
Hobbies
Trekking, Badminton, Gaming, Traveling
John Logan Sliman
Undergrad (EE)
Master-track (CEE)
Year Joined: 2025
Email: jlsliman@uab.edu
Research Interest
Artificial muscles
Hobbies
Building computers, and scuba diving
Takumi Uesaka
Master Student in MME
Year Joined: 2024
Email: tuesaka@uab.edu
Previous Institution
B.S. in MechE
Osaka City University (Japan)
Research Interest
Adaptive materials
Hobbies
Traveling, snowboarding
Honorable Member
Honorable Member
BuBu
Canine Scholar
He/him/his
Year Joined: 2025
Current Institution
UAB 🐲
Research Interest
How to efficiently break plush toys
Hobbies
Hiking, chasing birds, and eating kale
Fun Fact
Born in Huntsville, AL - NASA's Rocket City 🚀
Best friend: Rocky the Dachshund
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