Dr. Amor A. Menezes » People

Amor A. Menezes is an Associate Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Florida, with affiliate appointments in Biomedical Engineering, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Genetics, and Chemical Engineering. He is a member of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Standing Committee on Advances and National Security Implications of Transdisciplinary Biotechnology. His research focuses on modeling and controlling biological processes for medical and space applications. His group develops feedback control systems for inflammation-mediated coagulation disorders; advances the theory of biomolecular positive dynamical systems; designs integrated space biomanufacturing systems; and genetically engineers microbes to reject extreme environments. As Principal Investigator of three multi-university experiments launched to the International Space Station, he established the viability of space microbial biomanufacturing. From 2017-2023, he was Science Principal Investigator of NASA’s Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space. Prof. Menezes’ research was recognized by the NSF CAREER award, the Synthetic Biology Leadership Excellence Accelerator Program, and the Emerging Leaders in Biosecurity Initiative. He has contributed to the Engineering Biology Research Consortium’s “Engineering Biology for Space Health Roadmap”, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy workshop on “Homesteading in Space”, and the National Intelligence Council Strategic Futures Group’s “Global Trends Report”. He is an Associate Editor of the IEEE Control Systems Society Technology Conference Editorial Board and the ASME Modeling, Estimation and Control Conference Editorial Board. He is a Senior Member of IEEE and a Member of AIAA, ASME, and ASGSR. Prof. Menezes received a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering from the University of Michigan, and completed postdoctoral training in aerospace engineering and bioengineering at the University of Michigan and the University of California, Berkeley, respectively.

Education

Postdoc, 2016, University of California, Berkeley;
Postdoc, 2011, University of Michigan;
Ph.D., 2010, University of Michigan;
M.S.E., 2006, University of Michigan;
B.A.Sc., 2005, University of Waterloo

Professional Memberships and Fellowships

American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Member
American Society for Gravitational and Space Research, Member
American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Member
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Senior Member

Teaching Interests

Modeling and Control of Biological Systems, Control of Linear and Nonlinear Systems, and Aircraft and Spacecraft Performance and Control.

Research Interests

Biological Control Systems, Biosecurity, Cellular Engineering, Nonlinear Control, Synthetic Biology, and Systems Biology.