The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) welcomed two new faculty members for the start of the 2026-27 academic year, Assistant Professors Brittany N. Smith and Wei-Hsi Chen.
Brittany N. Smith
Smith’s expertise bridges cleanroom fabrication and 2D-printed electronics. She directs the Fabrication Laboratory for Active Microelectronics (FLAME), which works to integrate new materials into sensors, transistors, memory devices and micro-scale robotics by combining traditional cleanroom techniques with 2D printing. Smith and her interdisciplinary team will develop scaled active microelectronics for real-world applications, spanning wearable devices to space technology and beyond.
“The College of Engineering’s dedication to translating materials and device fabrication research into real-world solutions makes it an exciting environment to launch my research lab on developing microelectronics,” said Smith. “I am thrilled to join such a welcoming, interdisciplinary community, and I look forward to contributing to NC State's legacy of excellence through my research and teaching.”
Before joining NC State, Smith worked as a postdoctoral researcher in the Miskin Lab at the University of Pennsylvania. She received her Ph.D. from Duke University (2024) and B.S. from the University of Connecticut (2020), both in electrical and computer engineering.
Wei-Hsi Chen
Chen’s research sits at the intersection of robotics, computational design and computational fabrication. He leads the Function-Oriented Robotics Geometry and Engineering (FORGE) lab at NC State.
“By understanding how geometry, materials, actuation and control collectively determine a robot's capabilities, I hope to develop computational tools that can automatically generate robot designs from desired tasks,” said Chen. “In other words, my long-term vision is to transform robot design from an artisanal process into an engineering discipline driven by first principles and algorithms.”
By combining mechanical design, control and fabrication, Chen aims to create adaptable robotic systems that can operate effectively in challenging environments.
“I’m fascinated by the collaborative and collegial work happening across NC State ECE,” said Chen. “I’m thrilled to contribute my small piece of the robotics puzzle while learning from this incredible community.”
Prior to joining NC State, Chen worked as a postdoctoral associate in the GRASP Laboratory at the University of Pennsylvania. He received his Ph.D. in electrical and systems engineering (2022) and M.S. in robotics (2022) from the University of Pennsylvania. Chen also holds an M.S. (2013) and B.S. (2011) in mechanical engineering from National Taiwan University.