GREG AUNER:
 
GREG AUNER




 
 
 
 
 
Professor in the departments of electrical and computer and biomedical engineering at Wayne State University (WSU) in Detroit. Auner is the director of the smart sensors and integrated microsystems program. His primary research focus involves the R&D of biomedical microsystems and BioMEMS systems. Auner formed a consortium within the smart sensors program involving the Karmanos Cancer Institute for an ultrasonic breast cancer detection system and Children’s Hospital of Michigan for robotic surgery and real-time surgical diagnostics. He holds more than 20 issued and pending patents for chemical, biomedical, and environmental sensors and microsystems. His findings have been included in more than 180 research publications. Auner has received several teaching, research, and educational awards. He received both the Everyday Hero Award from the RARE Foundation and the WSU Safety Award in 2006. Auner earned his bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD degrees from WSU.


WHERE BORN: "Detroit."

MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSONS: "My parents; the mentors I had while doing research in the physics department; and a number of others during pre-graduate work in which I learned critical thinking. I was hands-on at Wayne County General Hospital, and the doctors there were influential. Also, the professors in my graduate career."

LAST BOOK READ: "The Little Book of Time by Klaus Mainzer, and before that, a book on the art of Escher."

WORDS THAT DESCRIBE ME: "Curious, very; clever; highly motivated."

WHERE MY FIELD/INDUSTRY IS HEADED: "We do micro- and nanotechnology mainly for biomedical, so it’s the introduction of very advanced science and technology into the medical field where everything from diagnostics to drug delivery to implantable devices require synergy of techniques and fabrication. It’s the interface of nanotechnology into microsystems to help create new devices and new diagnostics for therapy and medicine."

FAVORITE TECHNOLOGICAL GADGET: "I just got an iPhone. That’s my newest favorite. Some of my favorites are things we’ve made in the lab, such as biosensor systems."

FAVORITE PLACE: "Travel-wise, St. Petersburg, Russia, and Rio de Janeiro. Inside the United States, I love Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, and my heart is always in Detroit."

FAVORITE HOBBY: "Reading. I like to read a lot. And some sports, from biking to swimming and hiking."

FAVORITE FOOD: "Mediterranean."

MY HIDDEN TALENT: "Art and photography."

HOW I WANT TO BE REMEMBERED: "As someone who has contributed to bettering people’s lives. The technology we work in has significant capabilities that can make a major impact. I would like that technology to make an impact."

Grant Thornton Website At the annual awards reception in April 2009, one Leader & Innovator from the previous 12 months will be selected as the Grant Thornton Leader & Innovator of the Year.