Wireless medical devices may change the way we receive healthcare, but only if they operate efficiently and securely, without jeopardizing patient confidentiality.

Hossein Miri Lavasani, an assistant professor in the Department of Electrical, Computer and Systems Engineering, thinks he has some ideas for fine tuning microelectronics so that they advance modern medicine. The National Science Foundation agrees.

In March, the NSF awarded Lavasani a prestigious early career grant to study the security threats and other weaknesses of wireless medical devices and to propose solutions. The five year, $500,000 award will fund a project titled “AI-Enabled Self-Healing and Trusted Wireless Transceivers for Biomedical Applications.”

The Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) is among NSF’s most prestigious awards, supporting faculty early in their careers “who have the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education.”

Department chair Pedram Mohseni said Lavasani’s research offers a “great example” of how artificial intelligence and microelectronic circuit design may intersect to create better, life-enhancing products.

“We are all very proud of him and wish him success in pursuing his impactful research over the next five years and beyond,” he said.