Emma Benjaminson

I am currently a PhD student at Carnegie Mellon University in the Mechanical Engineering Department. I am co-advised by Prof. Taylor (Microsystems and Mechanobiology Lab) and Dr. Matthew Travers (Biorobotics Lab). My research is in building and controlling micro- and nano-scale robots using DNA nanotechnology. To build such robots, we are investigating how to optimize the DNA nanotechnology manufacturing process to generate high yields of desired structures - currently we are trying to do this using graph neural networks. And on the control side, we are exploring how to accurately model the dynamics of these robots and then develop optimal swimming gaits and trajectories using connection vector fields and switching time optimization.

Prior to entering the PhD program at CMU, I worked as a mechanical engineer for Glaukos Corporation (an ophthalmic medical device company) and for the Boeing Company. I graduated with a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from MIT in 2014. While at CMU I am maintaining a virtual lab notebook on my personal website.

Current Projects

  • Development of a graph neural network-based approach to optimizing the manufacturing process for micro- and nano-robots using DNA nanotechnology.
  • Creation of novel geometric control policies that will allow for robust and real-time control of microswimmers in situ.

Publications

Papers

  • Benjaminson, Emma, Praveen, Satyarth, Luise, Giulia, Johnson, J. Emmanuel, Strange, Richard, Memarzadeh, Milad and Ahmed, Nadia. “Detecting Spatiotemporal Lightning Patterns: An Unsupervised Graph-Based Approach.” Paper/poster to NeurIPS 2021 Machine Learning and the Physical Sciences Workshop.
  • Benjaminson, Emma, Taylor, Rebecca, Travers, Matthew. “Predicting Nanorobot Shapes via Generative Models.” Paper/poster, NeurIPS 2020 Machine Learning for Engineering Workshop (https://arxiv.org/abs/2101.12719).
  • Benjaminson, Emma, Travers, Matthew, Taylor, Rebecca. “Steering Magnetic Robots in Two Axes with One Pair of Maxwell Coils.” Paper, 2020 IEEE IROS Conference (https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9341078).

Posters

  • Benjaminson, Emma, Basit, Fatima, Vedova, Daniel, Grover, Jaskaran, Kumar, Sriram, Liu, Ying, Harmatz, Mitchell, Sneeringer, Rachel, Travers, Matthew, Taylor, Rebecca. “Optimizing Microswimmer Motion by Tuning Bending Stiffness with DNA Nanotechnology.” Poster, Proceedings of the Biomedical Engineering Society, Philadelphia, PA,2019.
  • Slocum, A., Campbell, S. and Benjaminson, E. “Solar Power Concentrators: Bending Metal Tubing at High Precision”, poster presented at 2012 ASPE annual meeting, San Diego, CA.

Grant Proposals

  • National Science Foundation National Robotics Initiative. “Self-Assembly of Modular Robots Constructed using DNA: Modeling and Manufacturing Nanostructures with Graph Neural Networks and DNA Origami.” Awarded September 2021.
  • National Science Foundation Cyber-Physical Systems, Medium. “Self-assembly of Components Optimized on Two Testbeds for Yield (SCOTTY): Modeling and Manufacturing Nanostructures with Graph Neural Networks and DNA Origami.” Submitted June 2020.

Fellowships, Awards and Service

  • Spring 2021 Best PhD Teaching Assistant Award from Mechanical Engineering Dept.
  • Member of the Mechanical Engineering Dept. Task Force on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (Sept 2020 - Nov 2021)
  • G. Sundback Graduate Fellowship Recipient (2020)
  • Spring 2020 Best PhD Teaching Assistant Award from Mechanical Engineering Dept.
  • National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow Recipient (2019)

Previous Experience

Mechanical Engineer II -- Glaukos Corporation
Sept 2015 - July 2018

  • Promoted from Mechanical Engineer I in Aug 2017
  • Developed prototypes and conducted early in vitro and in vivo testing for new Class III medical device
  • Led cross-functional teams to bring Class I and Class III devices to market
  • Wrote documentation to FDA and ISO standards including design requirements traceability matrix, hazard analysis, validations, technical reports and drawings

Materials, Process and Physics Engineer -- The Boeing Company
Sept 2014 - Sept 2015

  • Supported Fuselage Automated Upright Build (FAUB) project in Everett, WA for 777X program. Operated robot arm simulation software, prepared manufacturing routines for testing, measured test coupons and performed troubleshooting and analysis
  • Developed orbital drilling processes for use in the 787 and 777X programs and implemented them in collaboration with factory technical staff
  • Presented at Third Wave Systems users conference to demonstrate Boeing's use of their simulation software for analyzing state of stress in holes drilled on wing-to-body join of various aircraft

Student Researcher -- MIT Center for Polymer Microfabrication
Oct 2012 - May 2014
- Completed undergraduate thesis titled "Dynamic Testing of Polydimethylsiloxane for Applications in Micro-Contact Roll Printing" under Prof. David Hardt
- Derived transfer function characterizing behavior of test setup
- Constructed test bench using various tools including waterjet and mill and requiring selection of various electrical components including voice coil motor and LVDT

Patent Applications

  • Kalina, C., Fjield, T., Crimaldi, D., Martin, R., Brown, T., Huynh, H., Benjaminson, E., et al. “System and Method for Delivering Multiple Ocular Implants”, patent pending (Glaukos Corporation).
  • Crimaldi, D. and Benjaminson, E. “Process for Micro-molding Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR) Components with hollow cores”, patent pending (Glaukos Corporation).
  • Holleman, W., Farrell, N. and Benjaminson, E. “Orbital Drilling System and Associated Methods and Apparatuses”, patent pending (The Boeing Company).

Contact Information

  • Please contact me by email: ebenjami@andrew.cmu.edu