Director
Dr. Jerzy T. Sawicki
Dr. Jerzy T. Sawicki established the RoMaDyC Center in the Washkewicz College of Engineering in 2006 and since then he has been serving as its Director.
Dr. Sawicki received a PhD in Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering from Case Western Reserve University (1992), BS and MS in Applied Mathematics from the University of Gdansk (1986), and BS and MS in Mechanical Engineering from Gdansk University of Technology (1980), Poland.
Dr. Sawicki joined the university in 1993, was promoted to full professor in 2001, and since 2004 holds the Bently and Muszynska Endowed Chair position. He has published over 60 peer-reviewed journal papers, over 150 peer-reviewed conference articles, one research monograph, and has co-edited three books in the fields of rotor dynamics, tribology, dynamics and vibrations, and advanced control. His research has been funded by federal and state agencies, industry and the Ohio Board of Regents. Dr. Sawicki currently serves as an Associate Editor for ASME Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power. He is a U.S. representative to the ISO/TC 108/SC 2/WG 7 international committee, a Fellow of ASME, recipient of several Best Paper awards, Ohio Outstanding Engineering Educator Award, Distinguished Faculty Award for Research at Cleveland State University, and Siemens-Westinghouse Distinguished Speaker honor. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Ohio.
Dr. Sawicki also serves as Vice President for Research at Cleveland State University.
Director
Dr. Hanz Richter
Dr. Richter obtained the MSc and PhD degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Oklahoma State University in 1997 and 2001. His field of specialization and interest is in the broad area of dynamic systems and control, with applications to aerospace systems and industrial and biomedical robotics. Dr. Richter’s research has been funded by the National Science Foundation, NASA, the Cleveland Clinic and the State of Ohio.
Director
Dr. Ryan J. Farris
Dr. Farris received a PhD and MS in Mechanical Engineering from Vanderbilt University (2012, 2009), a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Western Kentucky University (2007), and an MBA from Quantic School of Business and Technology in 2021. Dr. Farris is a Scholar Chair and Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Messiah University and a Principal Advisor of Medical R&D at Ekso Bionics. A co-inventor of the Indego medical exoskeleton, his work with Ekso Bionics focuses on the development of advanced wearable robotic systems for individuals with a variety of mobility impairments. At Messiah University, Farris leads research toward improved orthotic and neuroprosthetic solutions for underserved populations and geographies. He holds 24 US and international patents and has published over 30 peer reviewed journal and conference papers. He was recognized in Forbes 30 Under 30 list and has received numerous accolades including a Popular Mechanics Breakthrough Innovator Award and an R&D 100 Award.
Director
Dr. Douglas A. Wajda
Dr. Douglas Wajda is an Assistant Professor and member of the Department of Health Sciences and Human Performance in the College of Health at CSU. He received his PhD in Kinesiology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2016. He also holds M.S. and B.E. degrees in Mechanical Engineering and a B.S. in Applied Mathematics. Currently, Dr. Wajda serves as the Director of the CSU Center for Human Machine Systems and the CSU Human Performance Laboratory. His research primarily focuses on gait and balance deficits in individuals with neuromuscular impairment and the use of technology to improve motor function, symptom management, and quality of life.