A device including a NEMS/MEMS machine(s) and associated electrical circuitry. The circuitry includes at least one transistor, preferably JFET, that is used to: (i) actuate the NEMS/MEMS machine; and/or (ii) receive feedback from the operation of the NEMS/MEMS machine The transistor (e.g., the JFET) and the NEMS/MEMS machine are monolithically integrated for enhanced signal transduction and signal processing. Monolithic integration is preferred to hybrid integration (e.g., integration using wire bonds, flip chip contact bonds or the like) due to reduce parasitics and mismatches. In one embodiment, the JFET is integrated directly into a MEMS machine, that is in the form of a SOI MEMS cantilever, to form an extra-tight integration between sensing and electronic integration. When a cantilever connected to the JFET is electrostatically actuated; its motion directly affects the current in the JFET through monolithically integrated conduction paths (e.g., traces, vias, etc.) In one embodiment, devices according to the present invention were realized in 2?m thick SOI cross-wire beams, with a MoSi2 contact metallization for stress minimization and ohmic contact. In this embodiment, the pull-in voltage for the MEMS cantilever was 21V and the pinch-off voltage of the JFET was -19V.