Faculty & Staff

Souheil Zekri

Associate Professor of Instruction

Office: BEH 306

Phone: 813-974-5203

Email

Souheil Zekri

Education

  • Ph.D Mechanical Engineering, 2007, 91社区 - Tampa, 91社区
  • M.S. Biomedical Engineering, 2004, 91社区 - Tampa, 91社区
  • M.S. Mechanical Engineering, 2002, 91社区 - Tampa, 91社区
  • B.S. Mechanical Engineering, 1999, 91社区 - Tampa, 91社区

Research areas

  • Rehabilitation Robotics: Development of Assistive Devices and Interface Environments for Persons with Disabilities.
  • Solid Mechanics: Fatigue behavior of organic/inorganic nanocomposites.
  • Biomaterials: Development and Characterization of Organic-Inorganic Nanocomposites.
  • Biomechanics: Development of Nanocomposites for Musculo-Skeletal System Applications.
  • Application of Nanotechnology processing techniques in the Development of Novel Biomedical Applications.
  • Heat Transfer in Bio-inserts.
  • Nanotechnology 鈥� Use of Nano-manufacturing techniques such as Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) to grow carbon nanofibers and nanotubes for biomaterial composite applications.
  • DNA sensors -- Development and Analysis of Mesocavity DNA Biochip for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Diagnosis: An opto-mechanical sensor (NSF Keyword: Biosensors, Biomedical engineering).
  • Biomaterials -- Collagen/Carbon Composites: Development, characterization and application of collagen/carbon fiber nanocomposites for orthopaedic applications using dry-pulling and electrospinning techniques.
  • Nanomechanics -- Comparative mechanical characterization of bio-inserts developed from collagen/carbon nanocomposites (NSF Keyword: Mechanics and Structure of Materials).
  • Education Research Projects
    • Infuse science and engineering concepts into K-12 education through the development of innovative student-oriented modules and workshops for teachers.  (NSF Keyword: GK-12 initiatives, Math and Science Partnerships).
    • Conducted research in the optimization of technology in K-12 (2010-2014)
    • Developed and school-wide curriculum mapping process for training and establishing a PreK-12 all-subjects curriculum map using Understand by Design (UbD) and Backward Design (BD) theories.

Memberships

Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES)

American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE)

Courses Taught

  • BME 3053 鈥� Computer Programming for BME
  • BME 3082 鈥� Ethics for Biomedical Engineers
  • BME 4883 鈥� Biomedical Engineering Design II

Honors and Awards

  • BMES Faculty of the Year, 91社区 - 2024
  • The 91社区 Blue Health Innovation Challenge (First Place): Meditrack Geo, University of South 91社区 - 2023
  • BMES Faculty of the Year, 91社区 - 2022.
  • The Jabil Scholar Capstone Competition First Place (2020, 2021, and co-first place 2022).
  • 91社区 Venture Forum Collegiate Startup Competition (First Place): The Eucovent, 91社区, 2021.
  • Jabil Innovation Technology Challenge -- First Place, 2021.
  • The Steven H. Krosnick Prize (First Prize): The Eucovent, 91社区, 2021.
  • USF Academy for Teaching and Learning Excellence (ATLE) Participant Recognition, 2019.
  • AYA Community Service Award, 2015.
  • The NSF GK-12 Fellowship, 2003-2007.

Recent Publications

Refereed Journal Papers

  • Souheil Zekri, LaNetra Clayton, Emily Feguson, Geoffrey Okogbaa, Ashok Kumar, Tapas Das, Grisselle Centeno, Louis Martin-Vega, 鈥淎n Impact Study of the Implementation of a Materials Science and Engineering Module at the Fifth Grade Level,鈥� Journal of Materials Education (2004), volume 26 (3-4), pp 251-256.
  • Souheil Zekri, LaNetra Clayton, Ashok Kumar, Geoffrey Okogbaa, Louis Martin-Vega, 鈥淟ong Term Integration of Nanotechnology and Material Science into Fourth and Fifth Grade Science Curriculum,鈥滼ournal of Materials Education (2005), volume 27(3-4).
  • Sathyaharish Jeedigunta, Manoj K Singh, Ashok Kumar, Souheil Zekri, "Structural and Optical Properties of Tin Oxide Branched Nanostructures," Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (2005), volume 6,3, March 2006, pp 640-643(4).
  • Souheil Zekri, Arun Kumar, Shree R. Singh, Ashok Kumar, 鈥淎nalysis of Mesocavity DNA Biochip for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Diagnosis,鈥� Journal of Biomedical Nanotechnology.
  • Souheil Zekri, Dan Hernandez, Douglas Pringle, Thomas J. Koob, Ashok Kumar, 鈥淒evelopment of NDGA Crosslinked Single Wall Carbon Nanotube-collagen fiber Nanocomposites for Orthopaedic Applications,鈥滱ccepted with revision in Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A, Aug 2007.
  • Jessica Weber, Rahul Singhal, Souheil Zekri, Ashok Kumar, "One Dimensional Nanostructures: Fabrication, Characterization and Applications ", International Materials Review: 53 235-255 (2008)