MSAL Member Wins the 2025 George Harhalakis Outstanding Systems Engineering Graduate Student Award

Dr. Michael A. Straker is a part of the MEMS Sensors and Actuators Laboratory (MSAL) and has successfully defended his Ph.D. dissertation in September 2025.

Michael received his Bachelor of Science degree from Temple University in Bioengineering in 2016 and his Master of Science degree from Morgan State University in Science – Physics in 2020. His previous research experience involved evaluating the mechanical integrity of nano-diamond-infused ACL grafts and the growth and characterization of boron carbide single crystals. He joined the University of Maryland Fischell Department of Bioengineering in the Fall of 2020 to pursue his PhD in Bioengineering and joined MSAL in Spring of 2021. His current research interests are the development of MEMS-based drug delivery systems and sensor-integrated in vitro platforms. His multidisciplinary work on drug-delivery systems and sensor-integrated in vitro platforms in bioengineering, along with his leadership and mentorship positions, has earned her the 2025 George Harhalakis Outstanding Systems Engineering Graduate Student Award.