Tyler Ray, an associate professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, has been named one of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering’s (AIMBE) 2026 Emerging Leaders. The national honor recognizes rising innovators whose work is helping shape the future of medical and biological engineering (MBE).
Ray is one of only nine honorees selected this year, the second year AIMBE has offered the program. AIMBE created the program to highlight exceptional early- and mid-career professionals who are making important contributions to the field and to broaden voices in MBE. The group will be recognized at AIMBE’s annual event in Washington, D.C., in April 2026.
“I am deeply honored to join this cohort of Emerging Leaders. This recognition truly reflects the dedication of the students and researchers in my lab whose curiosity drives our technology,” Ray said. “I look forward to the mentorship and collaboration within the AIMBE community, which will be invaluable as we scale our work to tackle the next generation of challenges in health monitoring.”
Established in 1991, AIMBE represents the most accomplished individuals in the fields of MBE. AIMBE’s mission is to provide leadership and advocacy in MBE for the benefit of society. The goal of AIMBE’s Emerging Leaders program is to increase AIMBE’s engagement with exceptional professionals that are underrepresented in MBE, recognize outstanding rising leaders in MBE and serve as a pathway for leaders to AIMBE’s College of Fellows.
Ray’s research focuses on large scale healthcare challenges as well as scientific problems in advanced manufacturing for remote and rural environments. His group seeks to develop wearable sensors and soft, skin-like devices that collect and analyze sweat to offer real-time health information and help track hydration, diagnose certain diseases and support personalized wellness. His lab is also developing next generation advanced manufacturing technologies to address the urgent need for new materials and fabrication techniques essential in applications spanning health monitoring, batteries and quantum computing.
