Assistant Professor
Mechanical Engineering
332A Randolph Hall
540-231-9311
540-231-9100
behkam@vt.edu
| Education | Research | Experience |
Education
| Ph.D | Mechanical Engineering | Carnegie Mellon University | 2008 |
| M.S. | Mechanical Engineering | Carnegie Mellon University | 2003 |
| B.S. | Mechanical Engineering | Sharif University of Technology | 1999 |
Research
- Cells as Machines
- Design, modeling, and fabrication of bio-hybrid (biotic/abiotic) micro/nano systems
- Biomimetic micro-robotics
- Biophysics of microbial motility and adhesion
- Miniature medical devices for minimally invasive interventions
Teaching Activities
-
ME 3404: Fluid MECHANICS
Comprehensive first course in basic and applied fluid mechanics. Fluid properties, statics, kinematics, and dynamics, Euler's and Bernoulli's equations, Hydrodynamics, Dimensional analysis and similitude. Real fluids, laminar and turbulent flows. Boundary layer model and approximate analysis. Pre: 2124, MATH 2214. (3H,3C)
Experience
| Assistant Professor | Dept. of Mechanical Engineering Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA |
Aug. 2008 - Present |
| Post Doctoral Scholar | NanoRobotics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering |
Jan. 2008-Aug. 2008 |
| Research Engineer | Iran Center of Industrial Research and Development Tehran, Iran |
May 1999-July 2000 |
Honors
Publications
Book Chapter:
- B. Behkam, M. Sitti, “Bacteria Integrated Swimming Micro-robots,” in M. Lungarella, et al., (eds.), 50 Years of AI, Festschrift, Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence,4850:154-163 (2007).
Journal Publications:
- B. Behkam, M. Sitti, “Effect of Quantity and Configuration of Attached Bacteria on Bacterial Propulsion of Micro-Beads,” Applied Physics Letters, 93: 223901- 223903 (2008). Selected for the December 1, 2008 issue of Virtual Journal of Biological Physics Research.
- B. Behkam, M. Sitti, “Bacterial Flagella-Based Propulsion and On/Off Motion Control of Microscale Objects,” Applied Physics Letters, 90: 023902-023904 (2007). Selected for the January 29, 2007 issue of Virtual Journal of Nanoscale Science & Technology and January 15, 2007 issue of Virtual Journal of Biological Physics Research.
- B. Behkam, M. Sitti, “Design Methodology for Biomimetic Propulsion of Miniature Swimming Robots,” ASME Journal of Dynamic Systems Measurement and Control, 128 (1): 36‑43 (2006).
Peer-Reviewed Conference Publications
- B. Behkam, A. S. Nain, C. H. Amon, and M. Sitti, “Design and Numerical Modeling of an On-Board Chemical Release Module for Motion Control of Bacteria-Propelled Swimming Micro-robots,” Proceedings of the ASME International Mechanical Engineering Conference and Exposition, IMECE2008-68032, 2008.
- B. Behkam, and M. Sitti, “Bacterial Propulsion of Chemically Patterned Micro-Cylinders,” Proceedings of the IEEE-RAS-EMBC International Conference on Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronic, pp. 753-757 (2008).