Human Fusions Institute
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humanfusions.bsky.social
Human Fusions Institute
@humanfusions.bsky.social
Changing the future of the human-tech relationship.
Congratulations Luis Mesias Flores on a successful Ph.D defense! Advisor Michael Fu reflected on how Luis first expressed interest in VR systems as an undergrad back in 2018, and is now the go-to for VR applications in the lab in 2025. Oh, and nice hat! 🥳 #virtualreality #research
November 3, 2025 at 5:28 PM
PhD student Laura McGann's presentation sparked curiosity from a global audience at the IEEE Telepresence Conference in the Netherlands. Read more to find out why: bit.ly/48EFUp6

#telepresence #neurotechnology #humanrobotinteraction #humanfactors
October 20, 2025 at 3:46 PM
This week we welcomed five local high schools to the lab for a series of live tech demos and presentations. Visitors had the opportunity to talk one-on-one with grad students and research faculty. Props to our lab members for designing exciting, accessible demos!
#biomedicalengineering #education
October 17, 2025 at 5:38 PM
We welcome intern Gabriela García to HFI! She is spending the Fall 2025 semester with the SaPHaRI (Social and Physical Human-Robot Interaction) Lab at Case Western Reserve University.
Read more about García and her plans in the lab: humanfusions.org/meet-hfis-fa...
October 2, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Human Fusions researcher Dr. Emily Graczyk was interviewed by WKYC Studios to discuss the $9.9 million Department of Defense funding awarded to Case Western Reserve University and the Louis Stokes VA Medical Center to study sensory-enabled upper limb prosthetics.
Watch here: bit.ly/3IBviN4
Case Western Reserve University researchers receive $9.9 million to test touch-enabled prosthetic hands
Revolutionary technology could transform how amputees experience artificial limbs through restored sense of touch.
www.wkyc.com
September 26, 2025 at 3:14 PM
CWRU researchers, led by Emily Graczyk with Dustin Tyler, received a $9.9M grant to launch a clinical trial of sensory-enabled prosthetic hands. The iSens system restores touch, aiming to transform independence for people with limb loss. case.edu/news/new-cli...

#Neuroprosthetics #Haptics #CWRU
New clinical trial to test sensory prostheses for people with upper-limb loss | CWRU Newsroom | Case Western Reserve University
$9.9 million grant awarded to Case Western Reserve University researchers for neuroprostheses that restore sense of touch
case.edu
September 5, 2025 at 2:08 PM
This summer, Dr. Emily Graczyk’s lab welcomed intern Lily Kuhlman, a rising Magnificat senior. With a passion for math, science, and creativity, Lily explored the world of somatosensory neural engineering and human perception.
Read more: humanfusions.org/graczyk-lab-...

#BiomedicalEngineering
Graczyk Lab Hosts Local High School Student for the Summer – Human Fusions Institute
A member of the engineering and chemistry clubs at Magnificat High School in Rocky River, Lily Kuhlman was drawn to the field of engineering because it combines her math and science skills with her creative side. She has spent the past five years volunteering with Youth Challenge, a program that helps youth with disabilities participate in adaptive sports. Many of the youth she worked with had prosthetic devices, so she decided to reach out to Assistant Professor Emily Graczyk’s lab about interning at the Human Fusions Institute, where she spent the summer.
humanfusions.org
August 25, 2025 at 3:00 PM
This summer, HFI welcomed four high school interns. From coding and sensors to circuit boards and biomedical applications, they explored engineering firsthand and contributed to projects advancing human-centered tech.
Read more: bit.ly/4ltccWJ
#STEMEducation
August 21, 2025 at 3:00 PM
We’re thrilled to welcome engineer Mahanthesh Ramchandra to HFI! With expertise in haptics, robotics, and VR, he’s advancing bimanual robot systems to make human-robot interaction feel seamless and natural.
Read more: bit.ly/4mg594Z
#Haptics #HumanRobotInteraction
August 19, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Our Summer 2025 Open House welcomed collaborators and community to explore HFI’s latest work. Faculty shared project updates, students presented posters, and 13 tech demos showcased advances in human interfaces, haptic sensing, robotics, virtual training, and more.
#HumanCenteredTech #STEMResearch
August 18, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Congrats to Veronica Santos and team on a powerful #AIforGood 2025 demo! Live from Switzerland, they showed how haptics can help robots feel and connect. Thanks to UCLA, CSU, CWRU, Afference, XRtistry & all who made it happen! #Haptics #HumanRobotInteraction #NeuralInterface #HFI
July 23, 2025 at 5:02 PM
The Bionic Breast Project has begun! HFI’s Emily Graczyk and UChicago’s Stacy Lindau led the first implant of a device that may restore touch & reduce pain after mastectomy. A milestone in sensory neuroprosthetics.
humanfusions.org/first-bionic...
#Neuroprosthetics #BreastCancerRecovery #HFI
July 15, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Congratulations to Andrew Chen on an extraordinary undergraduate journey! His dedication was recognized with the Senior Award for Research Potential, celebrating his promise as a researcher. Read more: humanfusions.org/andrew-chen-...
#HumanFusions #SaPHaRI #CWRU
July 1, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Noah Medrano's year has been marked by exceptional leadership, service, and research. His commitment to user-centered design and equity-driven research reflects a broader goal: to create technology that supports the mental health of vulnerable communities. humanfusions.org/noah-medrano...
June 27, 2025 at 6:49 PM
From winning the Italian Book Prize to pursuing cutting-edge work in human-robot interaction, CWRU student Mauricio Negrón exemplifies how engineering and the humanities can come together to create real impact. Read more: humanfusions.org/mauricio-neg...
#HumanCenteredTech #HumanFusions
June 26, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Take a look behind the scenes! The Human Fusions team came together on-camera to share their innovative approach to human-tech systems. Keep an eye out for the result. 🎥

Thank you Kayaan Media for capturing our story with creativity.

#HumanFusions #TechInnovation #NeuroTechnology #Research
May 29, 2025 at 5:00 PM
We gathered to celebrate Igor Spetic, whose 12 years of commitment to research participation provided the foundation for the prosthetics program and the Human Fusions Institute.

This is just the beginning for advanced sensory technology and all its applications.

#Prosthetics #TechInnovation
May 28, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Curious about VR or Robotics? You may be eligible for a paid study with @HumanFusions! Earn up to $50 while exploring a novel human-in-the-loop system. See if you’re eligible here: redcap.link/hfi-hitl-scr...
#ResearchStudy #TechInnovation
Express Your Interest Today!
May 22, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Jonah Mudge, a member of Emily Graczyk's lab, is being celebrated for his success and leadership as a graduate TA at CWRU. The course instructor shared that "students appreciate [Mudge's] careful and methodical approach to problem solving.” Read the full story: humanfusions.org/jonah-mudge-...
April 30, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Human Fusions researcher Alexis E. Block is featured in The Daily today. Her SaPHaRI Lab designs, builds, and programs robots for unique and exciting social and physical interactions with humans.

Read more about it in The Daily: thedaily.case.edu/the-rise-of-...
The rise of robotics: CWRU projects helping shape our future
From R2-D2 to Optimus Prime, Wall-E to The Iron Giant, robots have long captured our collective imaginations. In today’s world, their influence is far less limited to fictional settings; robotics are an essential driver behind next-generation products, medical innovations, educational advances and more. Established in 2010 by the U.S. House of Representatives, National Robotics Week highlights this growing importance and emphasizes the field’s ability to inspire technology education. Researchers across Case Western Reserve University—including at the cutting-edge Human Fusions Institute—demonstrate […]
thedaily.case.edu
April 11, 2025 at 3:57 PM
We're proud to celebrate Andrew Chen, recipient of an Ohio Space Grant Consortium Fellowship, which will support his continued work in the SaPHaRI (Social and Physical Human-Robot Interaction) Lab as he begins his masters thesis research.
Full story: bit.ly/3XRCb1g
#robotic#roboticss#fellowshipI#HFI
April 7, 2025 at 3:40 PM
We're proud to announce that Sedona Cady has defended her Ph.D. thesis! Read more about her journey to restore function and sensation to individuals with upper limb loss here: humanfusions.org/sedona-cady-...
April 4, 2025 at 4:31 PM
The SaPHaRI Lab had a strong presence at this year’s Human-Robot Interaction Conference. From first papers to global presentations, the team brought research, insight, and dedication.

Learn more: humanfusions.org/saphari-lab-members-presen...#HumanFusions #HRI2025 #SaPHaRI
March 25, 2025 at 4:31 PM
The Human Fusions Institute is hiring a full-time Network Engineer to work on NeuroReality—a platform enabling real-time sensory communication between humans and machines.

Salary: $65,779–$83,210

More: bit.ly/4alBli8

#HumanFu#HumanFusionse#EngineeringJob
March 21, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Meet Noah Medrano, featured in The Daily‘s Spartan Showcase! As an undergrad researcher in @HumanFusions’ SaPHaRI Lab, he leads the Affect-Sensing Wearables project, developing devices that detect and respond to emotions. #HumanFusions #SaPHaRILab

Read more: https://bit.ly/4hIDLKb
Spartan Showcase: Noah Medrano
Touring Case Western Reserve University’s campus as a prospective student, Noah Medrano could think of nothing but the future. Student organizations, co-ops, research opportunities, study abroad experiences—the endless possibilities intrigued Medrano and sold him on CWRU. He immersed himself in the university’s experiential opportunities from the get-go. He got a jumpstart on the college experience with the university’s Emerging Scholars Program, a summer bridge opportunity, and participated in Líderes Avanzando, a culturally aware program to help Latine students’ transition to […]
thedaily.case.edu
February 4, 2025 at 4:07 PM