CV -- Dr. Mark A. Haidekker

Education

Postdoctoral Education in Biomedical Engineering (University of California, San Diego, 1999-2000)
Research area: Measurement of cell membrane fluidity changes under fluid shear stress
Mentor: Dr. John A. Frangos, University of California, San Diego.
Ph.D. in Computer Science (University of Bremen, Germany, 1998)
Dissertation: Automated Classification of the Structure in Computed Tomography Images for the Diagnosis of Osteoporosis and in Twin Brain Research
Dissertation published in book form by the Society of German Engineers (VDI), ISBN 3-18-318117-7
Doctoral Advisor: Prof. Dr. Heinz-Otto Peitgen, CeVis Institute for Complex Systems and Visualization, University of Bremen, Germany.
M.Sc. ¹ in Electrical Engineering (University of Hannover, Germany, 1990)
Thesis: Universal Testing Instrument for Defibrillator Batteries and their Charging Units
Thesis supervisor: Prof. Dr. Otto Anna, Institute for Biomedical Technology, University Hospital of Hannover, Hannover, Germany.

Employment

Professor Emeritus, College of Engineering
2025 - Present
University of Georgia
Professor, College of Engineering
2013 - 2025
University of Georgia
Associate Professor, Faculty of Engineering
2007 - 2013
University of Georgia
Adjunct Professor of Electrical Engineering
2004 - 2007
University of Missouri-Columbia
Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering
2002 - 2007
University of Missouri-Columbia
Assistant Research Scientist, Department of Bioengineering
2000 - 2002
University of California, San Diego
Postdoctoral Fellow, Bioengineering (with Dr. John A. Frangos)
1999 - 2000
University of California, San Diego
Graduate Research Assistant, Computer Science (with Dr. H.-O. Peitgen)
1994 - 1998
University of Bremen, Germany

Personal Statement

My research career has centered on sensing and imaging methods with an initial focus on fluorescence. One special area of expertise is the combination of electronic instrumentation with computer firmware and software, which allows me to create devices of very high complexity. Examples range from a fully custom x-ray computed tomography scanner to an instrument that records the electric activity of cultured neuronal tissue, instrumentation to measure and optimize light use efficiency in controlled-environment agriculture by means of biofeedback-controlled illumination, and a desktop MRI scanner for the analysis of poultry meat quality.

Most recently, I have engaged in the development of a wearable device that uses volateile organic compounds exuded by epilepsy patients prior to the onset of a seizure. I am collaborating with Dr. Ashley Galanti and her company, AMG Detection, to develop a working prototype for clinical studies.

My decision to seek Emeritus status is partly linked to this activity. Technology development for the pre-seizure VOC detection has accelerated over the last year as we reached key milestones of sensitivity and specificity. The development of the wearable-device hardware and firmware platform is time-intensive, and as Professor Emeritus I can dedicate more effort to the prototype development than I can offer with a regular academic position.

As Professor Emeritus, my link to the university and access to its resources is maintained, and I am continuing to offer classes and pursue research projects, including ongoing collaborations.

Honors and Awards

ASABE IET Select Paper Award (2012)
Sigma Xi Excellence in Research Award (2007)
MU College of Engineering Outstanding Junior Faculty Research Award (2006)
MU CAFNR Outstanding Teaching Award (2005)
Sigma Xi Excellence in Graduate Research Mentoring Award (2005)
NIH National Research Service Award (1999)
Award „Certificate of Achievement“, International Society for Clinical Densitometry (1998)
Award „Certificate of Merit“ (with co-authors), European Congress of Radiology (1997)

Key Funded Projects

USDA NIFA, 2018-51181-28365 Optimizing the cost-effectiveness of lighting in controlled environment agriculture. August 1, 2018–July 31, 2023 (extended until 7/31/2024)
NIH 1R21 RR 025358, Development of molecular rotors as viscosity sensors in the cell.
08-01-2009 to 07-31-2012.
The goal of this project is to develop new molecular rotor-based sensors as viscosity-reporting tools to be used in studies involving the cell membrane and cytoplasm.
NSF CMMI-0652476, Photophysical properties of mechanosensitive fluorescent molecular rotors.
09/01/07 to 08/31/09.
The goal of this project is to explore the underlying photophysical mechanisms of the viscosity and shear-stress sensitivity of molecular rotors and develop applications in microfluidics.
NIH 1R21 HL81308, Noninvasive imaging of tissue-engineered blood vessels.
6-01-06 to 5-31-09.
The goal of this project is to develop laser-optical imaging methods to perform noninvasive routine quality control and growth monitoring for tissue-engineered constructs.
NIH 1R21 RR018399 Phased Innovation Award Development of a Fluorescence-Based Biofluid Viscometer
08-01-02 to 07-31-07
The goal of this project is to provide proof-of-principle for high-accuracy bulk fluid measurement with moelcular rotors, and to design methods and instrumentation for fluorescence-based biofluid measurement.
NIH 1F32 GM20476 Investigation of cell membrane fluidity under fluid shear stress
05-01-00 to 30-04-01

Milestone Publications

This is a selection from the comprehensive publication list of publications that report fundamental new discoveries or major progress towards project goals.

Xia J, Mustafic A, Toews MD, Haidekker MA. Stink Bug Feeding Induces Fluorescence in Developing Cotton Boll. Journal of Biological Engineering 2011, 5:11.
Haidekker MA, Theodorakis EA. Environment-Sensitive Behavior of Fluorescent Molecular Rotors (invited review). Journal of Biological Engineering 2010; 4: 11. (doi:10.1186/1754-1611-4-11)
Haidekker MA, Theodorakis EA. Molecular rotors--fluorescent biosensors for viscosity and flow. OBC 2007; 5: 1669-1678.
Haidekker MA, Akers WJ, Fischer D, Theodorakis EA. Optical Fiber-Based Fluorescent Viscosity Sensor. Optics Letters 2006; 31(17): 2529-2531.
Haidekker MA, Brady TP, Lichlyter D, Theodorakis EA. A Ratiometric Fluorescent Viscosity Sensor. JACS 2006; 128: 398-399.
Akers W, Haidekker MA. Precision Assessment of Biofluid Viscosity Measurements Using Molecular Rotors. Journal of Biomechanical Engineering 2005; 127: 450-454.
Haidekker MA, Akers W, Lichlyter D, Brady TP, Theodorakis EA. Sensing of Flow and Shear Stress Using Fluorescent Molecular Rotors. Sensor Letters 2005; 3: 42-48.
Haidekker MA, Tsai AG, Brady T, Stevens HY, Frangos JA, Theodorakis E, Intaglietta M. A novel approach to blood plasma viscosity measurement using fluorescent molecular rotors. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2002;282(5):H1609-14.
Haidekker MA, L'Heureux N, Frangos JA. Fluid shear stress increases membrane fluidity in endothelial cells: a study with DCVJ fluorescence. Am J Physiol 2000; 278(4):H1401-6.

Teaching Experience

University of Georgia

ENGG8840: Advanced Biomedical Image Analysis (Spring 2010)
ENGG3070: CURO Gateway Seminar, Fall 2010 (now taught by Adrienne Madison)
ENGR 4620/6620: Biomedical Imaging (every fall semester since 2007)
ENGR 4220/6220: Feedback Control Systems (every spring semester since 2008)
ENGR 4210/6210: Linear Systems (every spring semester since 2012)

University of Missouri

BE 8001: Microcontroller-based Bioinstrumentation (Fall 2006)
BE 3001: Introduction to Programming for Engineers (Fall 2006, team taught)
BE 4380/7380: Applied Electronic Instrumentation (Winter 2006)
BE 4085: Introduction to Digital Signal Processing (Spring 2005)
BE 401: Advanced Image Analysis and Visualization (Spring 2004)
BE 8270: Fluorescence Spectroscopy - Fundamentals and Applications (Spring 2003, Spring 2005)
BE 4570/7570: Biomedical Imaging (Fall 2002 through Fall 2006)

Other teaching assignments

MAE 152: Computer Graphics for Scientists and Engineers
University of California, San Diego, Fall 1999, Spring 2001, Fall 2001
Math 3-110: Introduction to Mathematical Modeling (team taught)
University of Bremen (Germany), Summer 1998

¹ The German University Diploma is a five-year professional degree that culminates in a research- based thesis. The Diploma is universally accepted as equivalent to the degree of Master of Science, and the Diploma bypasses the B.Sc. degree, for which there is no equivalent.