Fierce Electronics proudly announces the second group of four honorees in the inaugural 40 Under 40 awards program. These awards are timed with the 40th anniversary of Sensors Converge being held June 24-26 in Santa Clara, CA.
The Fierce Electronics 40 Under 40 recognizes individuals under 40 who are driving advancements in technology, pushing boundaries and shaping the future of electronics with their creativity, expertise and impact. Additional honorees will be named weekly in Fierce Electronics in no particular order.
The entire class will honored at Sensors Converge 2025, celebrating its 40th anniversary June 24-26 in Santa Clara, CA.
Sneha Sudhir Shetiya
Age 33
Staff Software Engineer
Torc Robotics
Sneha Sudhir Shetiya has led a career in automotive and technology and is currently a Specialist at Mercedes-Benz R&D North America where she excels in over-the-air system integration for ADAS with NVIDIA. Her prior roles included Senior Engineer at Qualcomm, where she advanced autonomous driving software for Snapdragon QDrive, and an internship at NVIDIA automating DRIVE OS projects. Starting at Mercedes-Benz R&D India, she rose from Graduate Trainee to Senior Product Design Engineer, specializing in ECUs and automation. With a Master’s in Electrical Engineering from NC State and certifications in machine learning and self-driving cars, Sneha has technical chops. An IEEE Senior Member, she mentors globally, speaks six languages, and has earned awards like "Above and Beyond the Call of Duty," making her a visionary leader in autonomous systems.
Jianing Zhao
Age 33
Senior MEMS Engineer
Omnitron Sensors
Jianing Zhao has conducted standout work in MEMS, sensors and optoelectronics. As a Senior MEMS Engineer at Omnitron Sensors, he has spearheaded development of electrostatic MEMS mirrors for LiDAR and optical switching, introducing innovative actuator designs that enhance precision and scalability. His PhD and MS research at the University of Illinois advanced non-reciprocity in MEMS and flexible electronics, yielding patents and MEMS device architectures. Zhao’s ability to translate cutting-edge science into practical, high-impact solutions bridges academia and industry effectively. His technical expertise, collaborative spirit, and visionary approach have driven significant advancements in sensing and microfabrication, positioning him as a leader shaping the future of MEMS technology.
Michael LaFramboise
Age 29
CEO and Founder
Aurelius Systems
Michael LaFramboise is an engineer and entrepreneur who has developed optical systems at Coherent, Inc. and has led development of several successful IoT products at Amazon. As founder and CEO of Aurelius Systems, he is developing laser-directed energy systems to protect the US and our allies from drone swarms. Michael raised $3M+ and has won several DIU, DARPA and NSIC awards for developing such technology at Aurelius Systems. He is on leave from his PhD from Columbia University in electrical engineering and computer science to run his company and holds an MBA and Master’s in Engineering from UC Berkeley and a Master’s in Engineering from University of Michigan with a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering from Case Western Reserve.
Kenta Iitani
Age 33
Lecturer and Researcher
Institute of Science Toyko and Waseda University
Dr. Kenta Iitani has performed pioneering work in wearable biosensing with hundreds of papers and presentations that have earned him 28 awards. His development of the Sniff-Cam, a gas-imaging system, changed the physiological assessment process for visualizing skin-emitted gases using enzyme-based optical measurements. This breakthrough revealed the ear canal as a prime site for detecting blood gases, leading to an earphone-style device that monitors metabolism via acetone levels. This painless, practical invention enhances early health detection and supports preventive medicine. His research and transformative technologies bridge science and real-world impact, qualifying him as a leader in advancing human health and longevity.