Guillermo Aguilar: Mechanical Engineering Distinguished Seminar Series

Title Light, Heat, and Materials: Engineering Solutions for Biomedical Discovery and Therapeutic Innovation Abstract For more than two decades, my research has explored how interactions among light, heat and matter can address challenges in medicine and engineering, spanning laser-assisted cooling and heating for dermatological applications, biomedical optics, laser diagnostics, laser-induced cavitation and advanced laser-based manufacturing and surface engineering. A major current focus is developing transparent yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) cranial implants that provide permanent optical access to the brain for noninvasive imaging, sensing and therapeutic light delivery. This technology could improve the diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders, including traumatic brain injury and brain cancer, while reducing repeated invasive procedures. Through the NSF Engineering Research Center ATP-Bio, we are also developing laser-driven platforms to safely rewarm cryogenically pres...