By Betsy Hnath
Old Dominion University has named Gymama Slaughter director of its Frank Reidy Research Center for Bioelectrics.
Slaughter comes to ODU from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), where she was the director of the Bioelectronics Laboratory.
In a letter to the campus community, Old Dominion provost and vice president of academic affairs Augustine Agho praised Slaughter for her “academic contributions, particularly in the area of medical devices and sensors.”
“As director of the UMBC Bioelectronics Laboratory, she was responsible for strategic initiatives related to research, educational outreach and service and has received several grants aimed at developing cost-effective diagnostics tools for diabetes, cancer and neurological diseases,” Agho said. “She brings a wealth of research expertise and partnership experience to this important position.”
Slaughter has received regional and national grant awards in excess of $5 million for her research on how to use micro- and nanoscale technology to design and develop devices that diagnose and treat diseases.
She recently received a National Science Foundation (NSF) award to develop “a mobile smart glucose monitoring system.”
Slaughter is an associate editor of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) Sensors Journal and an IEEE senior member.
Agho also commended Slaughter’s leadership efforts outside the lab, including the development of UMBC’s first Rhodes Scholar.
“In addition to her extensive research experience, Slaughter brings with her an outstanding record in community engagement, having made significant contributions to the advancement of student success,” Agho said.
Slaughter is a recipient of the prestigious NSF CAREER Award, which recognizes junior faculty who exemplify the role of teacher-scholar through outstanding research, excellent education and the integration of education and research.
She began her academic career as an assistant professor at Virginia State University after earning a bachelor of science in chemistry, master’s in chemical engineering and doctorate in electrical and computer engineering from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Slaughter served as visiting scholar in the Office of Naval Research (ONR) Sabbatical Leave Program and as a senior fellow at the Naval Research Laboratory’s Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering (CBMSE).
