People
Principal Investigator
Ye (Sarah) Sun
Associate Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, joint appointment
Sun joined UVA as an associate professor in 2021. Prior to her position at UVA, Sun was an associate professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Michigan Technological University.
Graduate Students
Chukwuemeka ("Chooks") George Ochieze
Ph. D. Candidate
Chooks is a PhD candidate in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Virginia and a member of the WEARLab since 2021. His research sits at the intersection of soft robotics and machine learning. He builds soft robotic systems and develops learning-based methods that let them model and control their own behavior. His work spans the full stack: hardware design, embedded programming, system integration, and data-driven control. He is especially interested in how robots that interact with the physical world can learn to move reliably and adaptively.
Chooks holds an MS in Mechatronics from Michigan Technological University and a BEng in Mechanical Engineering from the Federal University of Technology Owerri, Nigeria. His industry experience includes R&D internships with Boston Scientific. Outside the lab, he enjoys playing soccer, hiking and volunteers as a firefighter with the Seminole Trail Volunteer Fire Department.
Research Interests: Soft robotic systems, Learning-based control, Embodied / Physical AI, Robot hardware and system integration
Nazirah Farach Rojo
Ph. D. Student
Nazirah Farach Rojo is a Ph.D. student in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Virginia. Her research focuses on enhancing mobility through comfortable and intuitive exoskeleton systems. She is particularly interested in the mechanical design and control of exoskeletons, human biomechanics, and the interpretation of user intent for responsive assistance. Her work also involves using EMG to better understand muscle activity and effort, as well as studying physical human-exoskeleton interaction (pHEI) to evaluate load transfer, comfort, and interface performance. Her research lies at the intersection of wearable robotics, biomechanics, control, and human-centered exoskeleton design.
Soroush Zare
Ph. D. Candidate
Soroush Zare is a Ph.D. candidate in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Virginia, with research expertise spanning artificial intelligence, robotics, brain-computer interfaces, and wearable assistive technologies. His work focuses on developing intelligent, adaptive systems for human-robot interaction by integrating multimodal physiological sensing, machine learning, and real-time control to advance neurotechnology and rehabilitation robotics.
Faisal Rehman
Ph. D. Candidate
Faisal is a Ph.D. candidate in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at UVA. He works on embroidered electronic systems for wearable applications. His research focuses on digital e-textile manufacturing, EDA tools for electronics design, biosensors, low-impedance skin-contact electrodes, biomedical signal acquisition, and integrated sensing systems for healthcare applications.
Navian Francis
Ph. D. Student
Ellianna Xinyi Bailey
Ph. D. Student
Summer Research Interns — 2026
Hazel Chen is a third-year Mechanical Engineering student at the University of Virginia with a minor in Electrical Engineering. She leads the electrical subteam for Virginia Motorsports' FSAE team, focusing on battery systems and high-voltage design. Her interests include PCB design, thermal analysis, and fabrication.
Bowen Dong is a rising senior at Virginia Tech pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering with a minor in Finance. During his summer internship at WEARLab, he developed a simulated real-time EEG control system using motor-imagery data, machine learning, and Arduino-based hardware.
Dante Huaman is a third-year Mechanical Engineering student at the University of Virginia. During his summer at WEARLab, he worked on the development and mathematical modeling of an inflatable pleated actuator for antagonistic joints in an inflatable soft robotic arm. Through this project, he gained experience in soft robotics, actuator design, and mathematical modeling. His research interests include robotics, mechatronics, and fixed-wing and multirotor unmanned aerial vehicles. Outside of research, Dante enjoys playing the tenor saxophone, cooking, and hiking.
Jacob is a third-year Mechanical Engineering student at the University of Virginia. During his summer at WEARLab, he contributed to the design and fabrication of a wearable supernumerary robotic limb, gaining experience in soft robotics, pneumatic actuation, fabric-based structures, and embedded control systems. His research interests include mechanical design, robotics, and the development of assistive and augmentative robotic technologies. Outside of research, Jacob enjoys playing recreational soccer, exploring the outdoors, and contributing to the development of robotic prosthetic arms and hands as a member of UVA's CAVALIMBS engineering club.
Ashwini is a third-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Virginia. During her summer internship at WEARLab, she worked on electromyography (EMG) data collection and signal processing to support wearable robotics and human-machine interface research.
Austin is a mechanical engineering student at the Georgia Institute of Technology. During his summer internship at WEARLab, he contributed to the development of a soft wearable exoskeleton prototype for stroke rehabilitation. His work focused on integrating inertial measurement units into the system to measure joint angles and support feedback-based actuation control.
Chris is a fourth-year Mechanical Engineering student at the University of Virginia with interests in robotics, controls, and mechatronics. During the summer at WEARLab, he contributed to the development of a wearable exoskeleton by designing and refining its control system. Through this work, he gained experience with control, system identification, controller tuning, and experimental testing to improve system performance.
Alumni
Xian Li
Former Postdoctoral Scholar
Assistant Teaching Professor, Northeastern University
Sameh Beaber
Ph.D. Alumnus, 2025
Assistant Professor
Sarah Elizabeth Hemler
M.Sc. Alumnus, 2025
C. George Ochieze
M.S. Alumnus, Michigan Technological University
Ph.D. Student, University of Virginia
Somerset Shrock
M.Sc. Alumnus, Michigan Technological University, 2021
Design Engineer, Parker Hannifin
Rutuja Shivarkar
M.Sc. Alumnus, Michigan Technological University, 2021
Body Controls Engineer, Canoo, California
Si Liu
M.Sc. Alumnus, Michigan Technological University, 2019
Ph.D., McMaster University, 2024 | Assistant Professor, Kent State University
Hui Huang
Ph.D. Alumnus, Michigan Technological University, 2019
Senior Research Scientist, University Technical Services, Inc.
Dean’s Award for Outstanding Scholarship
Xian Li
Ph.D. Alumnus, Michigan Technological University, 2019
Postdoctoral Scholar, University of Pennsylvania