Research Interests:

• Embedded Systems
• Digital Design and Analysis
• Digital Signal Processing
• Biomedical Instrumentation
• Wearable Technology

My research interest lies at the intersection of medical electronics, embedded systems, and wearable technologies. I am driven by the pursuit of innovative solutions to advance healthcare through the integration of cutting-edge electronics. Specifically, my focus includes the design and development of embedded systems for medical applications, aiming to create efficient and reliable platforms for real-time health monitoring.

 Exploring the synergy between medical electronics and wearables, I am intrigued by the potential to enhance patient care and diagnostics. By leveraging embedded systems, I seek to optimize the performance of wearable devices, ensuring seamless integration into healthcare ecosystems. This includes the incorporation of sensors, signal processing techniques, and wireless communication to create intelligent wearables capable of providing actionable health insights.

Professional Associations

• Member, IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBS).
• Member, IEEE
• Member, Society of Women Engineering (SWE)
• Member, Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES)

Selected Publications

• Smith W.D., Thomas D.,  Najafi Z., Dupart E., “A Single-Use, In-Shoe Patient Compliance Monitor for Therapeutic Footwear”, IEEE EMB HI-POCT, Nov 21, 2019 
• Najafi, Z., Schwartz, BF., Chandy, AJ., Mahajan, AM., “A two-dimensional numerical study of peristaltic contractions in obstructed ureter flows” Journal of Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering, 21, 2017.
• Najafi, Z., Gautam, P., Schwartz, BF., Chandy, AJ., Mahajan, AM., “Three-Dimensional Numerical Simulations of Peristaltic Contractions in Obstructed Ureter Flows” Journal of Biomechanical Engineering, 138 (10), 2016.
• Najafi, Z., Tieu, T., Mahajan, A. and Schwartz, B., “Design of a new stone extraction device with force feedback” International Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, 20 (2), 2016.
• Najafi, Z., Tieu, T., Mahajan, A. and Schwartz, B., “Smart Kidney Stone Basket with Force feedback,” The Journal of Urology, Vol. 193, No. 4S, Supplement, pp 889-890, May 2015.
• Taki A., Najafi, Z., Roodaki A., Setarehdan S.K., Zoroofi R.A., Konig A., Navab N., “Automatic Segmentation of Calcified Plaques in Intravascular Ultrasound Images based on Vessel Artery Border Detection using a modified Deformable model,” International Journal of Computed Assisted Radiology and Surgery (Int JCARS), pp. 347-354, 2008.
• Najafi, Z., Tieu, T., Mahajan, A. and Schwartz, B., “Prevention of Ureteroscopy Complications: Design a "Smart Basket",” 2015 Midwest ASB (American Society of Biomechanics) Regional Meeting, pp. 35, Ohio, February 2015.
• Z. Najafi, A. Taki, S.K. Setarehdan, R. Zoroofi, N. Navab, “A new automatic border detection method for Lumen and Media-Adventitia boundaries in IVUS images,” Computer Assisted Radiology and Surgery (CARS2007) Conference, Germany, June 2007.
• A. Taki, Z. Najafi, A. Roodaki, S.K. Setarehdan, R.zoroofi, A. Konig, N. Navab,, “Automatic segmentation of calcified plaques and vessel borders in IVUS images,” Computer Assisted Radiology and Surgery (CARS2008) Conference, Barcelona, Spain, June 2008.
• Z. Najafi, R.Y., Elham, “A New Automated Method for Cell Nuclei Segmentation Based on Geometric Deformable Models,” IIET BioSysBio, London, March 2009.

About me

I pursued my academic journey with a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering at The University of Akron, Akron, OH, USA, from 2012 to 2015. Prior to that, I earned a Master's degree in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran, spanning the years 2005 to 2007. My foundational education in the field includes a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, which I obtained from the University of Tehran, Iran, between 2000 and 2005. This academic trajectory reflects my commitment to interdisciplinary studies, blending engineering and biomedical sciences to contribute to advancements in healthcare technologies.