Angelo Gaitas, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Center for Biomedical Engineering and Science (CBES)
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Adjunct Associate Professor, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Biomedical Microsystems | MEMS | Bioinstrumentation | Single-Cell Biophysics | Thermal and Mechanical Sensing | Semiconductor Applications
Office: Woodward 481A
Email: agaitas@charlotte.edu
ECE Faculty Profile: Dr. Angelo Gaitas, PhD
Google Scholar: Google Scholar Profile
Welcome to the research website of Dr. Angelo Gaitas. Our work develops micromachined sensors, microfluidic platforms, scanning probes, and bioinstrumentation for applications in single-cell analysis, cardiovascular systems, embryo biophysics, thermal sensing, and biomedical diagnostics. We combine microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), atomic force microscopy-inspired tools, microfabrication, and quantitative measurement science to create devices that can measure mass, force, temperature, adhesion, and electrophysiological behavior in biological systems.
In addition to biological and biomedical applications, our work also includes semiconductor applications, characterization, and fabrication methods, particularly where probe-based tools and microsystems enable measurements or processing that are difficult with conventional approaches.
Our group works at the interface of electrical engineering, biophysics, instrumentation, translational biomedical research, and advanced device characterization.
Research focus areas
1. Single-cell and tissue biophysics
We develop microsystems and probe-based platforms to measure contractility, mass, adhesion, and mechanical properties of cells and engineered tissues, with particular emphasis on induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes and other biologically relevant models.
2. Thermal sensing and microthermocouples
We design and fabricate micromachined thermal probes, thermocouples, and localized heaters for biological thermometry, intracellular-scale sensing, and advanced thermal measurement problems.
3. Microfluidic cantilevers and fluidic AFM devices
Our lab develops hollow and fluidic microcantilevers for single-cell manipulation, mass sensing, electrophysiology, embryo characterization, and multifunctional probe-based measurements.
4. Biomedical instrumentation and translational microsystems
We create practical instrumentation platforms for diagnostics, drug screening, tissue studies, and disease-related measurements, with a strong emphasis on quantitative device development and application-driven engineering.
5. Semiconductor applications, characterization, and fabrication methods
We also pursue research related to semiconductor applications, electrical and thermal characterization, scanning probe-based metrology, localized heating, and fabrication methods for advanced materials and device analysis.
Highlights
Principal Investigator on NIH and National Science Foundation awards in single-cell biophysics, thermodynamic biosensing, and microdevice-enabled biomedical measurements.
PI on an NSF CAREER Award focused on advanced intracellular thermodynamic biosensing using microdevices.
PI on an NIH R33 project developing automated single-cell electrophysiology and contractility measurements in iPSC-CMs.
Founder and former CEO of PicoCal / Kytaro, with a long track record in invention, grants, and translational device development.
Research spanning biomedical microsystems, semiconductor characterization, thermal microscopy, microcantilevers, graphene synthesis, bioinstrumentation, embryo biomechanics, and cardiomyocyte characterization.
Short bio
Dr. Angelo Gaitas is an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and is affiliated with the Center for Biomedical Engineering and Science. He is also an Adjunct Associate Professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. His work focuses on micromachined devices and advanced instrumentation for biomedical applications, including microfluidic cantilevers, thermal probes, single-cell sensors, biomechanical characterization tools, and microdevices for electrophysiology and contractility measurements.
Before joining UNC Charlotte, he served as a tenure-track Assistant Professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where he established a bioengineering and biophysics laboratory and led projects in thermometry, fluidic AFM, and cellular analysis. Prior to that, he founded PicoCal, later renamed Kytaro Inc., where he led federally funded research and product development in MEMS, scanning probe systems, and biomedical instrumentation.
His background spans academia, entrepreneurship, invention, and translational engineering, with expertise in microsystems for measuring thermal, mechanical, biological, and semiconductor-related phenomena.
