Principal Investigator

K. Kirk Shung, Ph.D.
Director, Resource Center for Medical Ultrasonic Transducer Technology
Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering
University of Southern California
Email: kkshung@usc.edu
Research
Ultrasonic imaging, ultrasound-tissue interaction, ultrasonic contrast agents and time-domain blood flow measurements
Teaching
Ultrasonic transducer/array design, medical imaging, ultrasonic imaging and biomedical instrumentation

Research Faculty

Jonathan M. Cannata, Ph.D.
Engineering Manager, Resource Center for Medical Ultrasonic Transducer Technology
Assistant Research Professor
Department of Biomedical Engineering
University of Southern California
Email: cannata@usc.edu
Research
High-frequency array design, modeling and fabrication techniques
Wenwu Cao, Ph.D.
Professor, Departments of Mathematics and Materials Science
Materials Research Laboratory
Pennsylvania State University
Email: cao@math.psu.edu
Research
Piezoelectric composites, transducers and actuators, computer simulations and finite element analysis, ultrasonic measurements and signal analysis
Teaching
Piezoelectric composites and finite element analysis
Thomas R. Shrout, Ph.D.
Professor of Materials
Senior Scientist
Materials Research Laboratory
Pennsylvania State University
Email: tshrout@psu.edu
Research
Fine grain PZT, single crystal relaxor ferroelectric materials and material processing
Teaching
Ferroelectric materials
Jesse T. Yen, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Biomedical Engineering
University of Southern California
Email: jesse.yen@usc.edu
Research
2-D arrays and imaging systems
Teaching
Ultrasonic transducer/array design, medical imaging, ultrasonic imaging and biomedical instrumentation
Qifa F. Zhou, Ph.D.
Research Associate Professor
Department of Biomedical Engineering
University of Southern California
Email: qifazhou@usc.edu
Research
Material property characterization, thin film transducers, and high-frequency transducer design and fabrication

Co-Investigators

Brian A. Francis, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology
University of Southern California
Email: bfrancis@usc.edu
Research
 
Teaching
 
Eun Sok Kim, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Electrical Engineering-Electrophysics
Department of EE-Electrophysics
University of Southern California
Email: eskim@usc.edu
Research
(1) Self-Focusing Acoustic Transducers (SFAT) for liquid droplet ejection, micropropulsion of atomized liquid jet, micromixing, liquid transport, etc.; (2) Dome Shape Diaphragm Transducers (DSDT) for micropumping, microspeaker, etc.; (3) Film Bulk Acoustic-Wave Resonators (FBAR) for voltage controlled oscillators and filters at GHz, liquid and vapor mass sensing, etc.; (4) Tunable capacitor for RF front-end electronics; and (5) Accelerometer for bio-implantable muscle stimulator
Teaching
An undergraduate Circuits-design course (EE479L) in Fall semesters and a graduate MEMS course (EE607) in Spring semesters
Philip Whitney Ralls, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Radiology
Keck School of Medicine
University of Southern California
Email: ralls@usc.edu
Research
(1) Multicenter trial to compare the diagnostic accuracy of Definity®-enhanced ultrasound imaging versus contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) for characterizing liver lesions; (2) Multicenter randomized study for the characterization of focal liver lesions using Sonovue-enhanced ultrasonography
Teaching
Not teaching formal classes at this time

Engineering Staff

Beth Jones
Research Technician
Materials Research Laboratory
Pennsylvania State University
Email: baj2@psu.edu
Research
Scanning electron microscopy
Jay A. Williams
Transducer Engineer
Webmaster, Resource Center for Medical Ultrasonic Transducer Technology
Department of Biomedical Engineering
University of Southern California
Email: jayawms@usc.edu
Research
Novel transducer/array design and fabrication techniques, fine-scale piezo-composites, information technology

Research Associates

Chang-Hong 'Antton' Hu, Ph.D.
Research Associate
Department of Biomedical Engineering
University of Southern California
Email: changhoh@usc.edu
Research
Digital beamformer for high-frequency ultrasound transducer arrays
Jungwoo Lee, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Department of Biomedical Engineering
University of Southern California
Email: jungwool@usc.edu
Research
Development of acoustical tweezer

Graduate Students

Hamid R. Chabok
Doctoral Candidate
Department of Biomedical Engineering
University of Southern California
Email: chabok@usc.edu
Research
High-frequency ultrasound transducers
Jin Ho Chang
Doctoral Candidate
Department of Biomedical Engineering
University of Southern California
Email: jinhchan@usc.edu
Research
High-frequency imaging electronics
Hyung Ham 'David' Kim
Doctoral Candidate
Department of Biomedical Engineering
University of Southern California
Email: hyungham.kim@usc.edu
Research
High-frequency annular array and linear array transducers, acoustic output measurement
Dawei Wu
Doctoral Candidate
Department of Biomedical Engineering
University of Southern California
Email: daweiwu@usc.edu
Research
High-frequency MEMS and Thin-film transducers
Lequan 'Roy' Zhang
Doctoral Candidate
Department of Biomedical Engineering
University of Southern California
Email: lequanzh@usc.edu
Research
High-frequency imaging electronics