florida international university
Department of
Electrical
2016 - 2017
Review
& Computer Engineering
17321_ENG_AR_Nov2017.indd 1
11/22/17 10:23 AM
Advisory Board
Khalid Barazanji, Ph.D. ACE Branch Chief, United States Army Aeromedical Research Lab Ryan Bobryk Account Manager, ANSYS Corp. Henry Chang Senior Staff in the Antenna Products Division, Northup Grumman Aerospace Systems Chris Day CEO, Chymera-Group, LLC Pamela Galban National Accounts Manager, Government Education – Verizon Wireless
Table of Contents 2
3
Bob Helsby Director of Business Development, ANSYS Corp.
4
Fred Martin Co-Founder and CEO, Sunrise Micro Devices, Inc.
5
Educational Enhancement
FIU debuts one of the first IoT
Marco Midon Electronics Engineer, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center David Minasi Senior Director and Fellow of the Technical Staff – Motorola Mobility LLC
Educational Enhancement
Energy cybersecurity track introduced
Vikram Kapoor, Ph.D. Courtesy Professor, University of Central Florida Peter Lego President, BrickMed
Research EPS Lab explores charging devices for autonomous vehicles
Bert Gyselinckx General Manager – Vice President, IMEC
Research NSF ‘INCLUDES’ grant targets underserved students in STEM
undergraduate degrees in the nation
6
Educational Enhancement CyberCorps® grants students chance to study, stress-free
Joey Ooi Director, Motorola Solutions Victor Oppleman President, Packet Forensics Jose Palma Grid Control Systems Manager, FPL Sal Pazhoor President & CEO, Naztec
7
Community Engagement Senior Design and Engineers on Wheels
8
Student Spotlight Students excel in computers and beyond
Christa Petros Industry Advisory Board (IAB) Chair VP Product Development, Sirius XM Radio Lorenzo Ponce de Leon Motorola Dan Noble Fellow
10
Faculty Research Interests
Professors in electrical & computer engineering work in a wide variety of areas
Marco Pravia, Ph.D. Chief Scientist, BAE Systems Technology Solutions Krishna Vedala CSO, CarePredict, Inc. Eliecer Viamontes Industry Advisory Board (IAB) Vice Chair General Manager, FPL, Boca Raton Operations Robert Villanueva ASTSAIC, U.S. Secret Service
12
New Faculty
Professor and new dean, John Volakis, joins the FIU community alongside new assistant professors, Elias Alwan and Shubhendu Bhardwaj
Wladimiro Villarroel, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Ohio State University James Wood NASA Chief Engineer, NASA Kennedy Space Center
17321_ENG_AR_Nov2017.indd 2
13 ECE Fast Facts Student breakdown, rankings, research, and more
11/22/17 10:23 AM
A Record Year The Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE) at Florida International University continues to lead transformation and innovation within the engineering community, both locally and nationwide. In 2016-2017, the department received more than $6 million in sponsored research contracts. It also graduated 268 students. New tracks in energy cybersecurity and pre-med studies serve to underscore the progress made within the department to educate well-rounded engineers. More information on the new tracks can be found on pages 4 and 6. ECE is the first in the nation to offer a bachelor’s degree in Internet of Things (IoT), placing FIU at the forefront of a technological shift as more devices become interconnected. This degree will be dedicated to training tomorrow’s IoT workforce in four major areas: hardware, software, wireless communication, and cybersecurity. Read more about the new degree on page 5. CyberCorps®, a new NSF-funded grant, will enable students to focus on their studies without having to simultaneously work to pay for their education. Read more about the CyberCorps® initiative, also on page 6. Over the course of the year, ECE increased research funding, doctoral degrees awarded, and the number of postdoctoral associates. The department also continues to grow with the addition of three new faculty members for fall, 2017. Join me in welcoming Professor John Volakis, an expert in RF antenna design and communications, as the new dean of the College of Engineering & Computing. The department also welcomes Elias Alwan and Shubhendu Bhardwaj, assistant professors, into the FIU community. Looking ahead, the department continues to strive to meet additional goals, including the construction of new spaces for researchers, postdocs, and students. ECE is also working hard to augment M.S. student enrollment, and increase the number of classes available online.
florida international university
17321_ENG_AR_Nov2017.indd 1
2016-2017 Review
Shekhar Bhansali, Ph.D. Alcatel-Lucent Professor and Chair Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering
Electrical & Computer Engineering
The growth and accomplishments of the department would be unimaginable without the unwavering support and dedication that our faculty, staff, advisors, students, and alumni demonstrate on a daily basis across the university. I invite you to read about the accomplishments, work, and activities taking place within the department and hope that you too will come to understand the value of what we do here.
1
11/22/17 10:23 AM
Research
NSF ‘INCLUDES’ grant targets underserved students in STEM
Electrical & Computer Engineering
2016-2017 Review
During the summer of 2017, three FIU students were taken out of their element and placed at the University of Georgia, to collect research and engage in collaborative inquiry as part of a National Science
Foundation (NSF) sponsored program, known as INCLUDES (Inclusion across the Nation of Communities of Learners of Underrepresented Discoverers in Engineering and Science). The overarching goal for the INCLUDES grant is to promote leadership in science and engineering disciplines by effectively developing talent from various diverse groups in society.
by Cesia Bulnes
Through this initiative, the NSF hopes to develop new strategies for institutions around the nation to retain minority students within STEM. The schools chosen to participate in the INCLUDES project were FIU, the University of Georgia, Fort Valley State University, Savannah State University, and Clark Atlanta University. By strategically placing minority students in schools that contain a lower population of minorities, the program aims to understand and identify how these changes in environment affect student success in STEM.
The three FIU students that participated in a summer and fall semester at the University of Georgia are Sonia Hernandez, a student of Mexican descent; Austin Mesa, a Cuban-American student; and Jaleel Jolly, a student of Dominican and African American descent. They performed empirical observations and conducted surveys and interviews in order to supplement their research. FIU, in turn, will welcome one student from the University of Georgia. NSF hopes that the results of this program will further the understanding of the scientific community of diversity in STEM fields.
Sakhrat Khizroev featured in The Economist by Delanie Garcia
Sakhrat Khizroev’s work with nanotechnology approaches to brain stimulation was featured in The Economist, a publication that attracts at least 1.5 million readers a week. The article focused on the relationship between humans and technology, specifically discussing the possibilities for tighter integration of implants for the brain in order to treat neurological ailments. Khizroev’s research using magnetoelectric particles that interact with individual cells was highlighted, more directly in its application for an alternative approach that was less invasive than that of other researchers.
2
17321_ENG_AR_Nov2017.indd 2
florida international university
11/22/17 10:23 AM
EPS lab explores charging devices for autonomous vehicles by Delanie Garcia
I
Researchers in the lab are studying ways to implement wireless charging systems for electric cars that hold the potential to enable an automated charging process without the interaction of the driver. By using the electric car donated by FPL, in conjunction with their ongoing research, students in the lab, alongside Sarwat, have worked on innovative and creative ways to implement these systems into our everyday life.
The work undergone in the EPS Lab with electric vehicles and inductive power transfer helps underscore the work they do alongside FPL to find new and innovative ways to create renewable and efficient energy solutions.
florida international university
17321_ENG_AR_Nov2017.indd 3
2016-2017 Review
The technology transfers power from one object to another across a large air gap, offering high levels of efficiency and a wide range of possible applications. IPT technology has been implemented in the areas of material handling, biomedical implants, and transportation systems, with the possibility for much more. The technology offers autonomous and electric vehicles an efficient charging system by being placed underground. Therefore, it would not be affected by rain, snow, ice, dust, or dirt. Likewise, since it can handle cables both inside or outside, drivers won’t have to worry about finding a charger in the parking lots at their destination. Finally, by reducing the size and weight of the battery, the cost will then be reduced, as these are usually the most expensive parts of an electric vehicle.
Electrical & Computer Engineering
n 2014, Florida Power & Light (FPL) donated to researchers in the Energy, Power & Sustainability Lab (EPS), led by Associate Professor Arif Sarwat, an electric car that would aid in their ongoing research to improve on renewable, efficient, and safe energy solutions. Since then, the EPS team has made great strides with its growing research on Inductive Power Transfer (IPT) for Electric Vehicle Wireless Charging Systems.
3
11/22/17 10:23 AM
Educational Enhancement
NEW
ENERGY CYBERSECURITY track introduced
Electrical & Computer Engineering
2016-2017 Review
A new master’s track in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering aims to address issues in two key concepts: power and security. ECE professors have been working together to come up with a new electrical engineering master’s track to address the protection of energy infrastructure. The Energy Cybersecurity program will prepare students to not only understand the requirements that come with power systems, but to understand the security implications that exist. “The goal of this program is to train engineers on how to enable energy system equipments to handle cyber intrusions,” explained Osama Mohammed, leading professor in the master’s program. “Students have to take several courses that will help them infuse the knowledge in power systems with cyber knowledge as it relates to industry standards and how manufacturers are built.”
4
17321_ENG_AR_Nov2017.indd 4
The MSEE track in energy cybersecurity focuses on both the power and security aspects of the smart grid. It will allow candidates to understand how the power resource is built and monitored, as well as provide the right skill sets needed in order to respond to interactions between smart grid and security. “What would be more terrifying than power going off and not knowing why it’s off?” said Alexander PerezPons, electrical and computer engineering instructor. “We are so reliant on a few items in our life, power and now the internet, that if power goes down it really will create a state of panic.” The highly relevant and continually evolving curriculum will include courses in smart grid networking, network security, and malware analysis. This program will allow students to earn their specialized master’s degree in just 10 months.
florida international university
11/22/17 10:23 AM
INTERNET OF THINGS
FIU debuts one of the
first IoT
undergraduate degrees in the nation by Isabella Guzman
IoT refers to smart technologies that sense and transmit data wirelessly without the need for human-to-human or human-to-computer interactions. Practical areas of IoT vary from energy and transportation to healthcare and agriculture. Smart homes, wearables, smart grid, smart cities, and connected cars are just a few of the many IoT applications currently in the market. Over the next decade, IoT devices are expected to unlock $19 trillion in economic opportunity.
“Having a degree in IoT will empower FIU students by providing fundamental knowledge on future technologies.”
2016-2017 Review
“The future is more IoT devices so it is extremely important to understand and learn the skills tech industries need,” said Selcuk Uluagac, Electrical and Computer Engineering assistant professor who oversees the Cyber-Physical Security Systems Lab.
Electrical & Computer Engineering
S
mart watches, smart phones, many home security systems and autonomous vehicles: the internet allows them to communicate with each other, and together they create the Internet of Things (IoT). “By 2020, 4.5 billion jobs related to Internet of Things (IoT) will be available with over 50 billion smart devices in the market,” said Electrical and Computer Engineering Professor Kemal Akkaya, program coordinator behind the new IoT undergraduate degree. “This new dynamic area will prepare students for the workfield.”
Debuting in spring, 2018 under the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, the IoT bachelor’s degree will be one of the first undergraduate degrees of its kind in the nation. It will provide students the needed expertise in the areas of communications, cybersecurity, software, and hardware design to take a leadership role in developing and implementing IoT technologies.
—Selcuk Uluagac
florida international university
17321_ENG_AR_Nov2017.indd 5
5
11/22/17 10:23 AM
Educational Enhancement
CybeRrCORPS
®
grants students the chance to study, stress-free by Delanie Garcia
I
n January of 2017, the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering was approved for a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Department of Homeland Security that could provide up to two million dollars for undergraduate and graduate students to study without having to worry about the added stress of a job that may take time away from school.
Electrical & Computer Engineering
2016-2017 Review
CyberCorps®, an NSF funded grant led by Assistant Professor Selcuk Uluagac at FIU, is one of 69 existing grants across the U.S., and is the only scholarship of its kind available in South Florida. The grant awards students with a full tuition scholarship, annual stipend for living expenses ($34,000 for graduate students and $22,500 for undergraduate students) and separate funds to reimburse books (up to $2,000), health insurance fees (up to $3,000), and professional development (including travel and professional certification up to $4,000). In return, the students devote themselves to their studies in cybersecurity, within the Cyber-Physical Systems Security Lab led by Uluagac, and agree to work for the government after they graduate. The jobs they may take on after graduation come in a number of fields, and job fairs are offered to the students so that they may find the program that best suits their interests. “The grant is a prestigious opportunity for students to be able to study without having to worry about finding a job to pay for those studies. It also gives them a chance to immerse themselves in cybersecurity,” said Uluagac. CyberCorps® began to take effect over the summer, allowing students to get a head start within the field of cybersecurity and Internet of Things (IoT). The NSF grant comes right on time alongside the newest IoT based bachelor’s degree, which debuts spring, 2018 and will provide an asset to students looking to expand their horizons in this new and innovating field.
6
17321_ENG_AR_Nov2017.indd 6
Pre-Med track available at ECE The Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering is now offering pre-med concentrations through the bachelor of science in electrical engineering and the bachelor of science in computer engineering. An engineering undergraduate degree can give students a competitive edge in their search for jobs in medicine, while also giving them the knowledge to excel in these areas as well. The problem-solving skills, as well as the engineering mindset gained throughout this career, can prove to be ideal for the medical field. This new educational track involves new courses and activities that will prepare electrical and computer engineering students for medical school. Candidates willing to pursue a career in medicine must complete a total of six extra courses along with their labs prior to graduation. Now, you don’t have to choose between pre-med and engineering, you can do both!
florida international university
11/22/17 10:23 AM
Community Engagement
Senior Design
Senior Design is a two-semester capstone project in which students have to plan, research, design, implement and showcase their work under the mentoring and advising from ECE faculty members and industry leaders. Hard work and commitment are required for this final presentation, but the results bring great satisfaction. “Witnessing the students complete this project is like watching them bloom, as if you put water on a flower,” said undergraduate program director, Herman Watson. The Senior Design projects must address and solve real-world engineering problems, so students have to implement the skills and knowledge learned during their undergraduate career while working collectively as a team and making sure to budget properly. Teams are encouraged to make collaborations with
other engineering departments to achieve great success in their work. Liger Zero OS is an ECE spring, 2017 Senior Design team, mentored by Instructor Alexander Perez-Pons, who created a moving vehicle with the collaboration of the Mechanical and Materials Engineering Department. The project was intended to focus on power electronics, creating a prototyped motor controller with technology similar to a wind turbine. “When different engineering department students get together for projects, great things happen,” said Perez-Pons. After presenting their project on Senior Design Day, the Liger Zero OS team competed in the Shell Ecomarathon Americas 2017 this past May, where they placed 17th nationally in prototype battery-electric among 330 competitors.
by Delanie Garcia
florida international university
17321_ENG_AR_Nov2017.indd 7
2016-2017 Review
Engineers on Wheels (EOW), a program jump-started in an effort to promote hands-on engagement in STEM for K-12 students, has proved to be a way for FIU students to reach out to the South Florida community and promote engagement in engineering sciences. The van was inaugurated in 2015 and continues to make an impact in students interested in STEM. EOW offers programs ranging from showcases about what the word ‘engineering’ truly means to projects that cover a broad range of topics, such as biomedical and electrical engineering. Andre Arguelles, recent graduate and past president of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), is one of the many students who has utilized the EOW program to reach out to K-12 students in South Florida. Specifically, he appreciates the way that it breaks down the barrier between students and researchers at the university and students in elementary through high school, who can then realize engineering is not as intimidating as they have been taught. “The program has inspired an entire generation of students to think of STEM educational paths and careers,” said Arguelles. “Students are highly encouraged to be a part of this initiative and become involved in a community of young thinkers interested in the world of engineering.”
Electrical & Computer Engineering
Engineers on Wheels
7
11/22/17 10:23 AM
Student Spotlight by Alison Loases
by Millie Acebal
As a boy growing up in Canada, Robin Mayrand often found himself daydreaming of deep space exploration. Upon his arrival to the U.S., Mayrand
An innovative idea presented at StartUP FIU, led Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE) student Adrian Mederos to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. IBM chose Mederos to complete
Electrical & Computer Engineering
2016-2017 Review
consistently worked to be among the highest achievers at school, only to find himself excluded from scholarships and academic opportunities as a result of his immigrant status. He refused to let the situation discourage him. Eventually, he enrolled at FIU, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in 2017. Here, he developed a love for research, under the guidance of Assistant Professor Ou Bai and Instructor Alexander Perez-Pons. Mayrand represented FIU at the 28th annual Hispanic Engineer National Achievement Awards Conference (HENAAC). At the event’s hackathon, he competed in an advanced game of “Capture the Flag.” The competition was attack-oriented and required participants to race to decrypt images and codes. Teamed up with complete strangers and given minimal instruction, Mayrand put aside his nerves, and emerged as a natural leader despite his lack of experience. This was no surprise to those who know him because, as Perez-Pons stated, Mayrand is the kind of student who “always goes above and beyond, trying to get the most out of every experience.” Mayrand is now a proud alumnus of FIU. The idea of developing technology capable of adapting to specific human needs and emotions seems farfetched to most, but to him, it is a necessary step in the development of our technology-driven society. Mayrand hopes to one day apply his research to the development of a manufactured exoskeleton that would facilitate space exploration and make the colonization of other planets a real possibility. The insatiable curiosity that characterized him as a child has grown stronger over time, and will likely lead him to groundbreaking discoveries that could shape the course of human events.
8
17321_ENG_AR_Nov2017.indd 8
the IBM Centralite IoT Device Project along with Valeria Siegrist, an undergraduate student studying entrepreneurship.
With only a box provided by Centralite that held water, motion, door, and relay sensors, the students were able to set a system that quickly scans social media and relays data during a disaster. “Valeria and I know that social media is being used for crises and emergencies,” said Mederos. “If we mine the data, we can better respond during an emergency, and that’s the solution we were trying to propose.” IBM met with the students and local government officials to highlight their project, and demonstrate its potential for the Miami-Dade County community. In Miami-Dade, the technology could be used for emergencies such as flooding. If there was a riot, the fear could be picked up on social media, and the system could respond by increasing the security in the home, and, for example, lock doors automatically. “The way technology is evolving, we need to react fast so that we don’t have major damages in times of emergencies,” explained Mederos. “The more interconnected we are, the better we can react. It’s only logical to increase our ability to react to these situations.”
florida international university
11/22/17 10:23 AM
Graduate Student Achievement by Alison Loases
At one point in Michelle Pierre’s life, even a bachelor’s degree seemed impossible to achieve. Today, against all odds, she is a successful third-year Ph.D. student in the materials engineering track at FIU. She pursued her education tirelessly because she wanted more for herself and she wanted to be an inspiration for her daughters. Pierre’s undergraduate studies were focused on chemistry. During this time, she volunteered at the WellStar Kennestone Regional Medical Center in Georgia, where several of her family members were receiving care for diabetes. She designed a sensor theoretically capable of diagnosing diabetes before onset, which earned her an NSF-GRFP grant and sparked her interest in engineering. The grant funds her graduate studies and research, where she is currently working on developing a more conductive thread that can be used as sensors in bandages and gauze. Her research has an even more significant impact on the medical treatment of diabetic patients, who typically have issues with circulation. Lack of blood flow not only makes it possible for patients to be unaware of minor wounds, but also slows down the healing process. If these wounds are not addressed in time, the effects can be as serious as amputation, leaving a patient with an expected lifespan of up to five more years.
17321_ENG_AR_Nov2017.indd 9
Boeing CarePredict, Inc. Chrysler DOCOMO Innovations Florida Power & Light General Electric Johnson & Johnson Lockheed Martin Lutron Electronics NASA National Security Agency Naval Air Systems Command – Aircraft Division (NAVAIR) NAVSEA Ryder SMC Corp. State Farm Tesla Motors Ultimate Software
2016-2017 Review
florida international university
Throughout their time at FIU, students in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering participate in hands-on projects and learn the value of collaboration. Coupled with their classroom training, such experiences provide a solid foundation on which to build successful careers. Our alumni go on to work at leading companies throughout the country and abroad. Here is a selected list of organizations that hire our graduates:
Electrical & Computer Engineering
Her efforts are also focused on the next generation of academics. Pierre works with Miami PREP, a summer STEM program at FIU geared towards teaching middle school students about engineering, and showing kids from underrepresented minorities that they, too, can succeed in the field. Pierre’s long term postgraduation goal is to become a professor at a community college, because she feels it is necessary to support students who don’t believe they can amount to much. “I want to work with the kids who have been exposed but need the push, because I think we can get them there. If I can do it, anyone can do it.”
Employment of Graduates
9
11/22/17 10:23 AM
Faculty Research Interests Malek Adjouadi, Ph.D.
Brain research with neuroscience applications and assistive technology research with a focus on visual impairment and motor disability.
Kemal Akkaya, Ph.D.
Network security, network attacks, key management, privacy-preserving protocols, Internet of Things and cyber-physical systems security.
Elias Alwan, Ph.D.
Antennas, RF system, millimeter-wave, secure 5G communication systems Antennas and radio frequency (RF) systems with particular focus on ultra-wideband (UWB) communication systems.
Wilmer Arellano, Ph.D.
Electronic Design, Vehicular Ad hoc networks (VANETs), VANET simulations, Traffic Assignment, Insect Inspired Algorithms.
Jean Andrian, Ph.D.
Cybersecurity Application of category theory on cyber resiliency.
Ou Bai, Ph.D.
Control Engineering Cyber-physical systems with human-in-the-loop. Sensors and real-time sensor signal processing and recognition; smart and connected health research on in-home exercise/rehabilitation monitoring.
Armando Barreto, Ph.D.
Digital Signal & Image Processing Processing of digitized data in one, two or more dimensions. Application to human-computer interaction, affective computing, assistive technologies and biosignal manipulation.
Shekhar Bhansali, Ph.D.
Application of micro/nanotechnology and engineering to address challenges in the area of biomedical sensors.
Shubhendu Bhardwaj, Ph.D.
Sub-mm-wave, terahertz antennas, modeling-methods and their characterization. Computational multiphysical/multiscale electromagnetism, metasurfaces, electronics bandgap structure and slow-wave structures.
Amaury Cabellero, Ph.D.
Electrical communication, control systems and construction management.
Mercedes Cabrerizo, Ph.D.
Electrical & Computer Engineering
2016-2017 Review
Signal and image processing applied to neurosciences focusing on Alzheimer’s, Epilepsy, Parkinson’s, Schizophrenia and ADD/ADHD neurological disorders and in using the integration of the Transcanial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) for therapeutic effects.
Irene Calizo, Ph.D.
Nanoelectronic materials and devices.
Hai Deng, Ph.D.
Networking Communication and Signal Processing Radar signal processing, MIMO radar and radar networks, spectrum sharing between radar wireless systems, biomedical signal processing.
Stavros Georgakopoulos, Ph.D.
Origami antennas, reconfigurable antennas, wireless power transfer, wearable antennas, RFID.
Ahmed Ibrahim, Ph.D.
Wireless Communications and Networking Designs the next generation of cellular communications and networks with emphasis on millimeter wave, vehicular communications, flying drones, and optical networks. Provides new understanding for neurological disorders (e.g. Autism) through communication-theoretic lens, along with potential treatment approaches.
Sakhrat Khizroev, Ph.D.
Nanomagnetic/Spintronic Devices for Medicine and Next-generation Information Processing Exploit the physics of spintronic and nanomagnetic devices to enable next-generation information processing and medical applications.
Grover Larkins, Ph.D.
R&D of cryogenic communications systems intended for space-based applications.
10
17321_ENG_AR_Nov2017.indd 10
florida international university
11/22/17 10:23 AM
Osama Mohammed, Ph.D.
Solving the smart grid operation and its communication for the utility industry and customer-based systems.
Nezih Pala, Ph.D.
Integrated Nanotechnology, Biotechnology, Communications Plasmonics for sensing, nanostructures for biosensing, THZ devices and technologies, Visible Light Communication (VLC).
Alexander Perez-Pons, Ph.D.
Cybersecurity, IoT, Networking and Embedded Systems Machine learning cybersecurity systems to detect malware and network traffic utilizing behavioral factors, focus on Software-Defined Networks, IoT and Operating System instrumentation.
Gang Quan, Ph.D.
Embedded Systems/Computer Architecture and Microprocessor Design Real-time systems, embedded system design, power/thermal aware computing, advanced computer architecture, reconfigurable computing, cloud computing.
Gustavo Roig, Ph.D.
Engineering Education Human potential development.
Arif Sarwat, Ph.D.
Power + Energy, Data Analytics, Cybersecurity Communications Principal Investigator of a $7.65M research initiative with FPL/NextEra Energy entitled “Energy Power Reliability And Analytic Center (EPRAC)”, which conducts high-end studies on the effect of high penetration PV integration into the Smart Grid’s reliability, power quality and other aspects.
Atoussa Tehrani, Ph.D.
Computer architecture, embedded systems hardware and software design, data communications and computer networks.
Selcuk Uluagac, Ph.D.
Cybersecurity, Security of Internet of Things, Security of Cyber-Physical Systems Security and privacy of Internet of Things (IoT) and Cyber-Physical Systems with an emphasis on their practical and applied aspects. Some projects include fingerprinting IoT devices and applications and building privacy-aware multifactor authentication mechanisms. Graduate and undergraduate education.
Yuri Vlasov, Ph.D.
Experimental research in solid state physics, nanotechnology, MEMS and sensors.
John Volakis, Ph.D.
Electromagnets and Microwave Engineering Wireless communications, wearable textile antennas and electronics, antenna and arrays, ultra-wideband RF beamforming techniques, RF materials and metamaterials, EMI/EMC, multi-physics engineering, bioelectromagnetics, mm-wave front ends for GB communications, ThZ, radar scattering, RF systems integration. Embedded systems, C ++ and STL, ARM, wxWidgets, biomedical sensors, applications and systems.
Wujie Wen, Ph.D.
Computer Architecture + Microprocessor Design Hardware acceleration for machine learning system. Emerging non-volatile memory system design.
2016-2017 Review
Herman Watson, Ph.D.
Electrical & Computer Engineering
Frank Urban, Ph.D.
Kang Yen, Ph.D.
Control Systems and Cyber-Physical Systems Faults detection of sensors and actuators in cyber-physical systems. Robust system control. florida international university
17321_ENG_AR_Nov2017.indd 11
11
11/22/17 10:23 AM
New Faculty John L. Volakis, Ph.D.
John L. Volakis is a Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and was recently appointed the Dean of the College of Engineering & Computing at FIU. He is an IEEE and ACES Fellow. Prior to coming to FIU, he was the Roy and Lois Chope Chair in Engineering at The Ohio State University and a Professor in the Electrical & Computer Engineering Department (2003-2017). He also served as the director of The Ohio State University’s ElectroScience Laboratory for 14 years. His career spans two years at Boeing, 19 years on the faculty at the University of Michigan and 15 years at The Ohio State University. At Michigan, Volakis served as the director of the Radiation Laboratory at University of Michigan (1998-2000). He has 35 years of experience and his research covers wireless communications, wearable textile antennas and electronics, antenna and arrays, ultra-wideband RF beamforming techniques, RF materials and metamaterials, EMI/EMC, multi-physics engineering, bioelectromagnetics, mm-wave front ends for GB communications, THz, radar scattering, RF systems integration, propagation, design optimization, and computational methods. His publications include eight widely used books, 400 journal papers and nearly 800 conference papers. He mentored nearly 90 doctoral students with 37 of them having won awards at international conferences.
Shubhendu Bhardwaj, Ph.D.
Electrical & Computer Engineering
2016-2017 Review
Shubhendu Bhardwaj is the department’s newest Assistant Professor, joining us from The Ohio State University. His research is focused on developing highly efficient and cost-effective components for terahertz and sub-mm-wave wireless radio. Specifically, he has developed antenna systems and measurement methods that have allowed fast wireless radio systems at these frequencies. Furthermore, his research will also push the boundaries of terahertz imaging systems, which are useful for security and medical imaging. As for everyday applications, this research will allow people to transmit larger video, audio files in a fraction of the time this requires today. Bhardwaj is pleased to be joining the faculty at FIU’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering because of the college’s growing multidisciplinary research and unprecedented research potential due to a diversity of undergraduate and graduate students.
12
17321_ENG_AR_Nov2017.indd 12
Elias Alwan, Ph.D.
One of two latest additions to the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering faculty, Elias Alwan is leading visionary research in the areas of antennas and radio frequency (RF) systems with focus on ultra-wideband (UWB) communication systems including UWB arrays, reduced hardware and power efficient communication back-ends, and millimeter-wave technologies for 5G applications. In short, he is working to “create new methods to reduce the size, cost, and power requirement of cell phone receivers.” This research is geared towards encompassing many devices with one small, handheld device. As such, it has a wide array of applications ranging from complex devices such as those employed by the military to commonplace devices like cell phones. Making cell phone receivers smaller and more powerefficient will pave the way for potential innovations in the tech industry by allowing the development of thinner phones with more memory and special, user-friendly features. His work plays a pivotal role in our daily lives by improving the devices we can’t live without. Alwan is excited to work alongside FIU’s renowned faculty in an environment that fosters innovation and ground-breaking research; he looks forward to unlocking the great potential found at this university as it continues to grow and improve.
florida international university
11/22/17 10:23 AM
ECE Fast Facts DEGREES AWARDED
RANKINGS
11
19
#
Electrical
Computer
Engineering
Engineering
B.S. M.S. Ph.D.
187 71 14
#
Total: 272
B.S. Degrees Awarded in the Nation Ranked by the American Society for Engineering Education
STUDENT POPULATION
48
# Within the department during Fall 2016
Total: 1,013
RESEARCH AWARDS
U.S. News & World Report
FACULTY
9
Professors
8
Associate Professors
8
Assistant Professors
6
Teaching Faculty
Total: 31
• Cybersecurity • Communications • Energy • Signal Processing • VLSI Design • NanoMedicine • Nanotechnology • Embedded Systems • Internet of Things (IoT) • Smart Infrastructure • BioMEMS • Human Cyber Physical Systems
florida international university
17321_ENG_AR_Nov2017.indd 13
2016-2017 Review
RESEARCH THRUST AREAS
Electrical & Computer Engineering
$6,416,383 ECE is ranked second in the entire university for awards received
Best Online Graduate Engineering
13
11/22/17 10:23 AM
ece.fiu.edu
17321_ENG_AR_Nov2017.indd 14
17321-ENG-11-7-2017
Florida International University 10555 W Flagler Street Miami, FL 33174 Phone: 305-348-2807
11/22/17 10:23 AM