John G. Webster

Biography

John G. Webster is Professor Emeritus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Engineering. He is one of the founding fathers of the field of biomedical engineering

Webster got his Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Cornell University in 1953. After that he worked as a research engineer at aviation companies, including Boeing Airplane Co. He also worked at IBM for two years before re-entering academia. In 1965, he got a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Rochester, where he continued his research and got a PhD in 1967. Soon after, he joined the University of Wisconsin-Madison as an Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering. In 1976, he became the Director of the Biomedical Engineering Center at the university. He also served as a professor of Computer Engineering. From 2001, he is Professor Emeritus of Biomedical Engineering as the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has supervised over 24 PhDs and over 67 Masters Theses.

Professor Webster’s research interest lies in medical instrumentation and he has published widely on bioinstrumentation. He also researches in bioelectrodes, biopotential amplifoers and interference and electromuscular incapacitation device – stun guns and Tasers. Currently he is involved in a research project on implantable intracranial pressure monitor. He is working closely with the Department of Neurological Surgery Professor Joshua Medow to develop a permanently implanted passive pressure sensor to measure intracranial pressure. He and his graduate students are also working on a miniature sternal skin-attached hot flash monitor to collect objective data on hot flashes that cause sleep disturbances.

Professor Webster had been the Associate Editor of IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering from 1979 to 1985. During those years he was also a member of the Administrative Committee of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. In 1988-89, he was Chairman of Fellows Committee of IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. In 2000, Professor Webster won the IEEE Third Millennium Medal and in 2001, he received the IEEE EMBS Career Achievement Award.