Engineers are improving the health of patients with tools and technology that monitor and measure health parameters in innovative ways. Wearable devices are at the cutting edge of this research, giving caregivers and health care professionals the means to track ailments in unprecedented ways in real time and help patients in remote locations.

The American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering has recognized Janet Roveda, professor of electrical and computer engineering and biomedical engineering, as one of the nation’s top contributors to these efforts.

Roveda was elected to the 2024 AIMBE College of Fellows. The institute specifically cited Roveda for her work on sleep apnea diagnosis, real-time wearable sensor-based stress management, and time-resolved fluorescence bioinstrumentation, as well as leadership in translational research.

AIMBE fellows have won some of the most prized awards in science. Among their numbers are three Nobel Prize laureates and 22 winners of the Presidential National Medal of Science or the Presidential National Medal Technology and Innovation. Hundreds have been inducted into the nation’s most prestigious national academies for scientific achievement.

“I’m honored to join AIMBE as a fellow,” said Roveda. “This recognition is especially meaningful because I was nominated and elected by peers I respect highly, and I have joined the esteemed company of colleagues who are improving the health of millions.”

An Inspiration to Others

“AIMBE Fellows represent the top 2% of the medical and biological engineering community and are selected through a rigorous nomination and election process. We are immensely proud of Dr. Janet Roveda's achievement in being elected as a 2024 AIMBE fellow,” said Michael Wu, department head and professor of electrical and computer engineering.

In her current work, Roveda researches algorithms to assess sleep stages and create an improved vital sign predictive model for potential use in intensive care units. She is also part of a trio of researchers who have invented a light detection and ranging tool that uses machine learning to help those with visual impairments to map a 3D space with the help of haptic and audio prompts. A patent for the invention is pending.

“Her dedication to advancing medical and biological engineering exemplifies the spirit of excellence within our department. Dr. Roveda’s recognition is a testament to her outstanding contributions and serves as an inspiration to all members of our department,” said Wu. “We congratulate Janet on this well-deserved honor and look forward to witnessing her continued success in the field.”

Roveda is also the director of the UA’s Center to Stream Healthcare in Place, an initiative that funds research nationally to speed the implementation of wearable and other technological tools to improve health outcomes for patients at home or who cannot access medical facilities easily. 

This is far from the first time Roveda has been noted for her research. She received the 2017 da Vinci Fellowship from the UA College of Engineering for multidisciplinary research projects that garnered millions of dollars in funding to the University of Arizona. She has also won the NSF CAREER award and the Presidential Early Achievement Award for Science and Engineering. 

Roveda earned bachelor's and master's degrees in computer science from the East China Institute of Technology and Institute of Computing Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, respectively, and master's and doctoral degrees in electrical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. She worked at Intel and Silicon Perspective/Cadence Design Group before joining the college in 2003.