Thomas Heldt has been named the W. M. Keck Career Development Professor in Biomedical Engineering at MIT. Thomas is currently the Hermann L. F. von Helmholtz Career Development Professor and will assume the new chair effective July 1.
Heldt’s research interests focus on signal processing, mathematical modeling, and model identification to support real-time clinical decision making, monitoring of disease progression, and titration of therapy, primarily in neurocritical and neonatal critical care. In particular, Heldt is interested in developing a mechanistic understanding of physiologic systems, and in formulating appropriately chosen computational physiologic models for improved patient care. His research is conducted in close collaboration with colleagues at MIT and clinicians from Boston-area hospitals.
On his appointment Heldt said, “I am deeply appreciative of being named to the W.M. Keck Career Development Chair in Biomedical Engineering. It is a great recognition for the students and staff in my group and the dedication of our clinical collaborators to help us advance the care of patients in neurocritical care, neonatal critical care, and emergency care.”
"Thomas’s work has the potential to transform how physicians monitor intracranial pressure. We are thrilled that his multi-disciplinary work is being recognized through the W.M. Keck Career Development Professorship in Biomedical Engineering,” said Anantha Chandrakasan, the Vannevar Bush Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and head of the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.
Arup Chakraborty, director of the Institute for Medical Engineering and Science (IMES), commented: “Thomas’ work is transforming non-invasive health monitoring technologies. This is fitting recognition of his tremendous accomplishments at this relatively early stage of his career.”
Heldt joined the MIT faculty in 2013 as the Hermann L.F. von Helmholtz Career Development Professor in the Institute for Medical Engineering and Science and as assistant professor of electrical and biomedical engineering with the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Additionally, Heldt is a principal investigator with MIT’s Research Laboratory of Electronics (RLE).
Heldt began his studies of physics and medicine at Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz in Germany. Heldt received MS and MPhil degrees in physics from Yale University and a PhD in medical physics from Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology in 2004. He completed his postdoctoral training with the Laboratory for Electromagnetic and Electronic Systems at MIT before he co-founded and co-directed (with George Verghese) the Computational Physiology and Clinical Inference Group at RLE.
