Joshua R. Windmiller
Joshua R. Windmiller is a technology innovator and entrepreneur specializing in medical devices and diagnostics. As Head of New Analytes and Sensing Platforms at Dexcom, he leads teams developing next-generation wearable sensing technologies. He previously co-founded Biolinq, where he invented the company’s unique microneedle array-based sensing technology.
In an exclusive conversation with Semiconductor Review, Windmiller shared insights from his professional journey, his work building sensing platforms, and how his focus has evolved toward developing technologies that enable people to take better control of their health.
Foundations that Shaped Purpose and Impact
I have always been taken by the idea that technology should serve a larger purpose. From an early age of five, I was drawn to science and engineering not just as technical disciplines, but as tools to create meaningful, real-world impact. That led to my education in electrical engineering and my early career in the semiconductor industry, where I developed a strong foundation in building reliable, scalable technologies.
As I progressed into advanced research, particularly in nonlinear fiber-optic communications, I began to question whether incremental technical improvements alone were enough. I became increasingly interested in healthcare, an area where sensing, data, and engineering could directly influence outcomes, improve decision-making, and ultimately enhance quality of life for patients.
Turning Research into Reality
That curiosity led me into doctoral and postdoctoral research sponsored by the Office of Naval Research, which focused on autonomous sensing systems for traumatic injuries. The work centered on detecting injuries quickly and enabling intervention within a critical window, particularly in high-risk environments. Through this research, my work initiated in developing blood-based biomarker sensing and diagnostic approaches that were traditionally confined to centralized clinical settings.
I began exploring less invasive and more decentralized alternatives, including integrating sensors into textiles, onto the skin, and into micro-needle arrays capable of accessing biological data with minimal disruption. At the same time, I grew increasingly frustrated seeing promising innovations remain limited to academic publications rather than reaching patients.
That realization pushed me toward entrepreneurship. I founded Electrozyme and later Biolinq, with a focus on translating sensing technologies into practical platforms. At Biolinq, we combined MEMS-based micro-needle arrays with advanced electrochemical sensors, electronics, and algorithms. The company scaled rapidly, raised significant capital, and ultimately achieved FDA clearance for the world’s first microarray-based continuous glucose monitor.
Advancing Sensing Into New Frontiers
A little over four years ago, I joined Dexcom as the company began expanding its mission beyond diabetes. Today, I lead teams developing foundational sensing platforms that support broader health outcomes.
Of the myriad of opportunities in the healthcare sensing field today, one area that particularly excites me is oral health. The mouth is an information-rich but demanding sensing environment, yet advances in miniaturized, biocompatible technologies now allow electrochemical, optical, mechanical, imaging, and microfluidic sensors to be embedded directly into oral appliances, home-based tests, and dental workflows. These platforms enable earlier disease detection through salivary biomarkers and imaging. They also support ongoing management with smart toothbrushes, wear-time monitoring, and saliva-based tracking, helping shift care from reactive treatment to continuous, preventive care. Realizing this potential depends on overcoming challenges related to accuracy, sensor drift, fouling, power and miniaturization.
From my experience, successful healthcare innovation requires a clear understanding of patient needs, clinical workflows, regulatory constraints, and what can realistically scale. My advice to others in this space is simple, start with the problem you are trying to solve, design for adoption from the outset, and ensure the technology fits flawlessly into the real world.
That principle continues to guide my work as we build the next generation of health-sensing platforms.
