Faculty Directory

Sochol, Ryan D.

Sochol, Ryan D.

Associate Professor
Fischell Institute Fellow
Mechanical Engineering
Fischell Department of Bioengineering
Maryland Robotics Center
The Institute for Systems Research
Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices
2147 Glenn L. Martin Hall, Building 088

BACKGROUND

Prof. Sochol’s Bioinspired Advanced Manufacturing (BAM) Laboratory creates micro/nanoscale additive manufacturing (or “3D printing”) strategies to solve mechanically and physically complex engineering challenges, with a focus on biomedical applications (including those enabled by soft robotics).  Dr. Sochol is an affiliate faculty member of the Fischell Department of Bioengineering, a Fischell Institute Fellow of the Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, an executive committee member of the Maryland Robotics Center, and an affiliate of the Institute for Systems Research.  Dr. Sochol currently serves as Co-President of the Mid-Atlantic Micro/Nano Alliance (MAMNA).

EDUCATION

  • Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley (2011)
  • M.S., University of California, Berkeley (2009)
  • B.S., Northwestern University (2006)

POSTDOCTORAL TRAINING

  • NIH Fellow within the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences & Technology, Harvard Medical School, and Brigham & Women’s Hospital
  • Director/Founder of the Micro Mechanical Methods for Biology (M3B) Laboratory Program within the Berkeley Sensor & Actuator Center at the University of California, Berkeley
  • Visiting Postdoctoral Fellow within the Institute of Industrial Science at the University of Tokyo

HONORS AND AWARDS

  • Micro/Nanoscale Additive Manufacturing (“3D printing”)
  • Advanced Manufacturing & Micro/nanomanufacturing
  • Soft Robotics / Microrobotics / Surgical Robotics
  • 3D Printing-Enabled Biomedical Technologies
  • Cell Mechanobiology & Physicobiology
  • Integrated Fluidic Circuitry
  • 3D Microelectronics
  • Energetics

Fall Semesters

Journal Covers

BAM Lab Journal Covers

Selected Journal Publications

Selected Conference Publications

  • (Oral Presentation | YouTube Link) Sunandita Sarker, Adira Colton, Ziteng Wen, Xin Xu, Piotr Walczak, Miroslaw Janowski, Yajie Liang, and Ryan D. Sochol, “A Hybrid 3D Micro-Nanoprinting Approach for Biomedical Microinjection Needle Arrays,” Proceedings of the 20th Solid-State Sensors, Actuators and Microsystems Workshop (Hilton Head 2022), Hilton Head Island, SC, USA. (Springer Nature Best Paper Award - Runner Up)
  • (Oral Presentation | YouTube Link) Ruben Acevedo, Ziteng Wen, Ian B. Rosenthal, Emmett Z. Freeman, Michael Restaino, Noemi Gonzalez, and Ryan D. Sochol, “3D Nanoprinted External Microfluidic Structures via Ex Situ Direct Laser Writing,” Proceedings of the 34th IEEE International Conference on Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (IEEE MEMS 2021). (Outstanding Paper Award Winner)
  • (Oral Presentation | YouTube Link) Abdullah T. Alsharhan, Anthony J. Stair, Ryan R. Utz, Andrew C. Lamont, Michael A. Restaino, Ruben Acevedo, and Ryan D. Sochol, “A 3D Nanoprinted Normally Closed Microfluidic Transistor,” Proceedings of the 33rd IEEE International Conference on Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (IEEE MEMS 2020), Vancouver, Canada. (Art in Microtechnology Award Finalist)
  • (Oral Presentation | YouTube Link) Andrew C. Lamont, Michael Restaino, and Ryan D. Sochol, “Rapid Multi-Material Direct Laser Writing,” Proceedings of the 32nd IEEE International Conference on Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (IEEE MEMS 2019), Seoul, Korea. (Outstanding Paper Award Winner)
  • (Oral Presentation | YouTube Link) Joshua D. Hubbard, Chase Manny, Andrew Montgomery, Brian Freeman, Alec Boyle, and Ryan D. Sochol, “Multi-Material 3D Printed Microfluidic Circuitry Components,” Proceedings of the 21st International Conference on Miniaturized Systems for Chemistry and Life Sciences (µTAS 2017), Savannah, GA.

Taiwanese Embassy visits the University of Maryland, tours Fischell Institute

The visit was an effort to connect the university’s biotechnology and advanced manufacturing personnel with Taiwanee representatives in the hopes of future collaborations.

Bentley Group’s Chen-Yu Chen receives IEEE MEMS 2025 Outstanding Student Oral Presentation Award

Chen was recognized for his presentation, “3D-Micro Printed Microfluidic Scaffolds and the Rapid Seeding Strategy for Organ-on-a-Chip Applications,” which introduced a method to accelerate the process of integrating cells into 3D-printed microstructures

Fischell Institute Affiliate Fellow Spotlight:  Eleonora Tubaldi

Her research focuses on developing devices that integrate seamlessly with biological systems, for applications such as cardiovascular prosthetics and minimally invasive surgery.

Maryland Engineers Take On Big Challenges in Medicine

Read about Clark School researchers who are engineering medical breakthroughs needed today in the Fall/Winter 2024 issue of Engineering at Maryland magazine.

State-of-the-Art 3D Nanoprinter Now at UMD

The $650,000 3D printer housed in Prof. Ryan Sochol’s Laboratory is the only system of its kind within 400 miles of UMD.

Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices invests $200K in the future of biomedical devices, cultivating up-and-coming investigators and immersing them in successful multidisciplinary teams

Designed to bolster young, postdoctoral researchers by pairing them with existing, proven research teams, the fellowship aims to propel the careers of awardees, enabling them to apply for additional grants or faculty positions in the future.

Forty years of MEMS research at the Hilton Head Workshop

UMD Professor Reza Ghodssi is president of Transducer Research Foundation (TRF), the organization that sponsors the event.

Pneumatically controlled soft robotic catheters offer accuracy, flexibility

Researchers from UMD, JHU and UMSOM develop new robotic system for minimally invasive surgery.

Fischell Institute Spotlight: Sunandita Sarker

Sarker was inspired to attend the University of Maryland for her postdoctoral research for its fantastic mechanical engineering program, especially in additive manufacturing. 

Fischell Institute Fellow Spotlight: Ryan Sochol

Dr.  Ryan Sochol is a Fischell Institute Fellow with a focus on 3D micro/nanoprinting-enabled strategies  
 

Sochol-led Team to Develop 3D-Nanoprinted Neurosurgical Tools

The NIH has awarded $2.7 million to a UMD/JHU/UMSOM team that will leverage machine learning and 3D printing.

University of Maryland Engineers Have 3D Printed a Soft Robotic Hand That Can Play Nintendo

Achievement opens the door for new advances in soft robotics.

Mighty Morphing 3D Printing

UMD engineers demonstrate a new shape-changing nozzle that could revolutionize “4D Printing” applications.

Sochol Receives NSF CAREER Award to Explore New Multi-Material 3D Nanoprinting Technique

New research could expand additive manufacturing capabilities with multiple materials at smaller sizes while offering students unique hands-on research opportunities.

New Multi-Material 3D Nanoprinting Strategy Could Revolutionize Optics, Photonics and Biomedicine

UMD engineers demonstrate new approach by 3D printing a five-material DNA-inspired microstructure that is a fraction of the size of a human hair.