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New Computer Chips That See Data Will Enable Energy-Efficient Supercomputers Drawing inspiration from how mammalian brains process sight, Prof. Wei Lu has found a way to mimic the functions of biological neural networks on a next-gen memristor chip. [Full Story] Neuromorphic Chips Offer Neural Networks That Actually Work Like the Brain Engineers at the University of Michigan are onto something rather more brainlike, however, with help from a peculiar electrical component known as a memristor. They've developed a new "sparse coding" algorithm that uses grids of memristors to approximate the pattern recognition abilities of mammalian brains. [Full Story] Alum Dennis Grimard Delivers Commencement Address at Vermont Tech Graduation Dennis Grimard (MSE PhD EE 1984 1990), a Barre, Vt., native, contributed greatly to the construction of U-M's Lurie Nanofabrication Facility, and now works as the associate director of MIT's nanofabrication lab, MIT.nano. During his address, Dennis choked up as he described his background. He came from a line of farmers, quarry workers and small-business owners who were "always willing to give more than they take," he said. [Full Story] Next-gen computing inspired by biology Inspired by how mammals see, a new memristor computer circuit prototype developed by Prof. Wei Lu has the potential to process complex data, such as images and video orders of magnitude faster and with much less power than todays most advanced systems. [Full Story] Lifelong Radiation Lab Researcher Valdis Liepa Retires Dr. Valdis V. Liepa, research scientist in ECE, retired from active faculty status on January 31, 2017. Dr. Liepa has been a member of the U-M family for his entire career, earning his BS , MS, and PhD in EE (1958, 1959, and 1966, respectively), and joining the Radiation Laboratory in 1968. [Full Story] Won Pyo Hong, President of Samsung SDS, Presented with Inaugural ECE Alumni Impact Award Dr. Won Pyo Hong (MSE PhD EE ), President of Samsung SDS, was presented the first annual ECE Alumni Impact Award. This honor, established in 2017, recognizes Dr. Hong for his pioneering work in the personal electronics industry, playing a key role in shaping our world. It is the highest recognition granted by ECE to its alumni. [Full Story] CSE Receives NCWIT Award for Recruiting and Retention Efforts of Women in Computing The Computer Science and Engineering Division has received a NCWIT Extension Services Transformation (NEXT) Award for excellence in promoting women in undergraduate computing. Sponsored by the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) and Google, the NEXT Awards honor academic departments that show significant positive outcomes in increasing womens meaningful participation in computing education. [Full Story] Brian Noble Named Chair of Computer Science and Engineering Influential educator and computer scientist Brian Noble has been selected as the new chair of the Computer Science and Engineering division of the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Michigan. [Full Story] U.S. Hospitals Not Immune to Crippling Cyber Attacks In this article, Prof. Kevin Fu comments on the vulnerabilities that exist in hospital and healthcare systems and devices. The recent strike by the ransomware program called WannaCry demonstrates that these shortcomings. [Full Story] Apple Just Acquired This Little-Known Artificial Intelligence Startup CSE Prof. Michael Cafarella is a co-founder of the startup Lattice Data, which builds on statistical inference and machine learning to solve problems using dark data. Apple has acquired Lattice, which recently emerged from stealth mode, for $200M. [Full Story] Apple acquires AI company Lattice Data, a specialist in unstructured dark data, for $200M CSE Prof. Michael Cafarella is a co-founder of the startup Lattice Data, which builds on statistical inference and machine learning to solve problems using dark data. Apple has acquired Lattice, which recently emerged from stealth mode, for $200M. [Full Story] Picting, not Writing, is the Literacy of Todays Youth This blog post by Thurnau Prof. Elliot Soloway and his collaborator Cathie Norris looks at the disconnect between existing instructional materials (90% text) and how K-12 students communicate and consume (90% image-based), with ramifications for educational practices. [Full Story] Babak Parviz One of 20 Alumni Honored with U-M Bicentennial Award The University of Michigan presented alumnus Babak Parviz (MSE PhD EE 97 01; also MS Physics 97) with a Bicentennial Alumni Award for his pioneering technological innovations that augment human potential and improve peoples lives. Babak is one of 20 alumni to earn this exclusive award, and one of 10 to accept it at the spring commencement ceremony. [Full Story] Sister cell profiling aims to shut down cancer metastasis In work that could improve understanding of how cancer spreads, a team of engineers and medical researchers at the University of Michigan including Prof. Euisik Yoon developed a new kind of microfluidic chip that can capture rare, aggressive cancer cells, grow them on the chip and release single cells on demand. [Full Story] Shai Revzen part of a new five-institution MURI focused on the control of dynamic systems Prof. Shai Revzen is a member of a five-institution team that will take advantage of recent advances in computation to exploit the promise of the Koopman Theory for modeling and control of dynamic systems. 2017 ISCA Influential Paper Award for Groundbreaking Research in Power-efficient Computing For their groundbreaking research in power-efficient computing, faculty and former students of the department received the 2017 ACM SIGARCH and IEEE-CS TCCA ISCA Influential Paper Award. The researchers developed a method to intelligently put parts of a computer's memory into a low power mode to save energy. Since 2002, the technique has been adopted by major chip manufacturers, and has continued to be exploited in subsequent research by the authors themselves. [Full Story] Wellman and Rajan on the Ethics of Automated Trading In this audio interview at Algocracy and the Transhumanist Project, Prof. Michael Wellman and Business Administration Prof. Uday Rajan comment on the ethics of autonomous trading agents on financial markets. The discussion encompasses algorithmic trading, high frequency trading, market manipulation, the AI control problem, and more. [Full Story] U-M Optics Researchers Sponsor Optics and Photonics Industry Snapshot Professionals and researchers from across Michigan's optics industry gathered for the Optics and Photonics Industry Snapshot on March 27, celebrating both the Optical Society of America's 100th anniversary and the Ann Arbor chapter's 50th. The event was sponsored in part by the Optical Society at the University of Michigan (OSUM), advised by research scientist John Nees. Prof. Aghapi Mordovanakis (BME) was also part of the planning of the event. [Full Story] Thomas B. A. Senior Named Fellow of International Union of Radio Science Professor Emeritus Thomas B. Senior, known internationally for his work in scattering and electromagnetics, has been named a fellow of the International Union of Radio Science. The URSI coordinates international exchange and study of all aspects of electromagnetic fields and waves, and fellowship is by invitation only. [Full Story] Hundreds of popular Android apps have open ports, making them prime targets for hacking This article reports on the work done by CSE researchers Yunhan Jack Jia, Qi Alfred Chen, Yikai Lin, Chao Kong, and Prof. Z. Morley Mao in characterizing a widespread vulnerability in popular Android apps. [Full Story] Rackham Student Spotlight: Elizabeth Dreyer Liz is a Rackham Merit Fellow and has always been intentional about her status as a first generation college student, wanting to find whatever ways to increase her chance for success as much as possible. Liz examines magneto-electric scattering, shining high-powered lasers and controlling input light to focus on the scattered light and determine whats happening to the material, particularly exploring what makes one material better than another. [Full Story] Students in EECS 556 Win Prizes for Improving Image Processing Techniques for Camera Motion Blur and Facial Recognition Two teams earned prizes in the graduate level course, EECS 556: Image Processing, thanks to the sponsorship of KLA-Tencor. The course, taught this past term by Prof. Boklye Kim (Radiology, EECS), covers topics in the theory of multidimensional signal analysis and processing with applications in optical, computerized tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance images. [Full Story] Open Ports Create Backdoors in Millions of Smartphones This article reports on work by CSE researchers who have characterized a widespread vulnerability in the software that runs on mobile devices which could allow attackers to steal contact information, security credentials, photos, and other sensitive data by using open ports to create backdoors. [Full Story] Hacking with Sound Waves CSE researchers have demonstrated a new way of using sound to interfere with devices containing accelerometers, such as smartphones and self-driving cars. This presents a new avenue for hackers to use in compromising devices to steal information or disrupt communication. [Full Story] An Obscure Flaw Creates Backdoors in Millions of Smartphones CSE researchers have characterized a widespread vulnerability in the software that runs on mobile devices which could allow attackers to steal contact information, security credentials, photos, and other sensitive data, and also to install malware and to perform malicious code execution which could be used in large-scale attacks. [Full Story] Gopal Nataraj Earns Best Paper Award for Improving MRI Gopal Nataraj, a doctoral student in ECE, earned a Best Student Paper award at the IEEE International Symposium on Biomedical Imaging for his paper "Dictionary-Free MRI Parameter Estimation Via Kernel Ridge Regression." Gopal is working to improve the sensitivity of MRIs to specific disorders as well as improving doctors' ability to distinguish closely-related disorders. [Full Story] Student teams earn prizes for analog-digital converter circuit designs in EECS 511 Students in the graduate level course, Integrated Analog/Digital Interface Circuits (EECS 511), taught by Prof. Michael Flynn, competed for cash prizes while presenting their final design projects thanks to the support of Analog Devices, Inc. Two winning projects and teams were determined by an expert panel at Analog Devices. [Full Story] Prof. Andy Yagle Retires After a 32-Year Career in Signal and Image Processing Prof. Andy Yagle will retire in May after 32 years at the University of Michigan distinguished by his dedication to teaching as well as contributions to research in the area of signal and image processing. A nearly lifelong Ann Arbor resident, Andy is as Maize and Blue as they come. [Full Story] Heath Hofmann Recognized for Excellence in Teaching with the Jon R. and Beverly S. Holt Award from the College of Engineering Prof. Heath Hofmann was honored to receive the Jon R. and Beverly S. Holt Award for Excellence in Teaching. This award, previously limited to faculty in other departments, was opened up to the entire College of Engineering faculty for the first time. Prof. Hofmann specializes in power electronics and electromechanical energy conversion. [Full Story] Award-Winning Graduate Student Instructors & Instructional Aides To celebrate the contributions of our graduate and undergraduate instructors, the department selects the best of the best, based on student evaluations, and celebrates them at a special awards ceremony. This event occurred Wednesday, April 26, 2017, when 14 students were recognized for their skill, passion, and care for the students they were charged to assist during the past academic year. [Full Story] EECS 280 Becomes Third Largest Course at U-M With almost 1000 students enrolled, EECS 280: Programming and Introductory Data Structures, is a core CS class that has grown in popularity. Course enrollment has increased by almost 200 students in just one year, making it the third largest course for the winter 2017 semester at U-M, and the largest course in the College of Engineering. [Full Story] Mary Lou Dorf Named U-M Collegiate Lecturer Dr. Mary Lou Dorf has been selected for distinction through the U-M Collegiate Lecturer Program. She has made notable contributions to instruction through her reimagining of EECS 183, Elementary Programming Concepts, and has also been involved in a years-long program to expand the reach of the computer science program offered through the College of LSA. [Full Story] Behzad Yektakhahi Earns Paper Award for Research in Seeing Through Walls ECE PhD student Behzad Yektakhah earned an honorable mention in the 2017 IEEE Antennas and Propagaation Society Student Paper Competition for his paper, "All Directions Through the Wall Imaging Using Omnidirectional Bi-static FMCW Transceivers." [Full Story] Parag Deotare Voted HKN Professor of the Year for ECE Prof. Parag Deotare was named the 2016-2017 HKN Professor of the Year in ECE by the Beta-Epsilon chapter of Eta Kappa Nu (HKN), the national honor society for electrical and computer engineers. [Full Story] James Juett Voted HKN Professor of the Year for CSE EECS students voted, and Dr. James Juett was named the 2016-2017 HKN Professor of the Year in CSE by the Beta-Epsilon chapter of Eta Kappa Nu (HKN), the national honor society for electrical and computer engineers. [Full Story] Mary Lou Dorf Selected for Provost's Teaching Innovation Prize Dr. Mary Lou Dorf has been selected as a recipient of the 2017 Provost's Teaching Innovation Prize, which recognizes faculty who have made use of innovation to improve student learning. She has been recognized for her work in reimagining EECS 183, Elementary Programming Concepts. [Full Story] Tony England receives Susan B. Anthony Campus Award University of Michigan-Dearborns Commission for Women honored College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS) Dean Tony England during the organizations annual Susan B. Anthony Awards Dinner on April 4. England received the Susan B. Anthony Campus Award in recognition of his longstanding commitment to the advancement of women and girls in the fields of science and engineering. [Full Story] MICDE Grant Funds Renewable Power Research Prof. Johanna Mathieu is working on one of four projects in computational science that earned a Michigan Institute for Computational Discovery and Engineering Catalyst Grant, an award of $75,000. Mathieu is participating in a project titled "Computational Energy Systems," which will develop new algorithms for the U.S. electrical power grid that integrate renewable energy sources. [Full Story] Courage to Resist: The High-Stakes Adventures of J. Alex Halderman This story by Randy Milgrom at the UM College of Engineering profiles Prof. J. Alex Halderman and his work in the area of Digital Democracy. [Full Story] Why India Needs A Paper Trail For Free And Fair Elections This article in the Indian edition of the Huffington Post, references the work that Prof. J. Alex Halderman and his collaborators did in 2010 to demonstrate vulnerabilities in India's "tamper-proof" electronic voting machines. [Full Story] Jack Kosaian Selected for NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Recent graduate Jack Kosaian (BSE CS 16) has been awarded a prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellowship to continue his studies in computer science and engineering. He currently works with Professor Mosharaf Chowdhury on developing systems to mitigate load imbalance for data-intensive systems (EC-Cache, OSDI16), and to reduce communication overhead in performing analytics over geographically distributed datasets. [Full Story] Vishal Giare Named Air, Missile Defense Mission Area Lead at Johns Hopkins APL ECE alum Vishal Giare (MS EE:S 97), formerly a program area manager at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, has been appointed as APLs mission area executive for air and missile defense. He now leads the laboratorys efforts to develop ballistic missile defense and anti-air warfare systems for U.S. forces and allies, APL said Thursday. [Full Story] Need a job? How about engineering a driverless car? As Michigan accelerates toward leadership in the emerging driverless car technology, industry experts say its workforce needs to catch up. Gov. Rick Snyder signed legislation in December allowing the public to buy and use fully self-driving cars when they are available. Jessy Grizzle, the director of Michigan Robotics, said the problem of finding talent in self-driving cars lies in the lack of integrated capability to develop the industry. But that is also where the solution lies. [Full Story] EE Sophomore Takes on W8UM Amateur Radio Club Leadership The W8UM Amateur Radio Club welcomed new leadership for the 2017-2018 shool year. Kit Ng (N9KIT), a Chicago native, will serve as president. Kit is pursuing a degree in Electrical Engineering, and obtained his first amateur ham radio license in 2014. [Full Story] Open Ports Act As Security Wormholes Into Mobile Devices Computer science and engineering researchers at the University of Michigan have for the first time characterized a widespread vulnerability in the software that runs on mobile devices which could allow attackers to steal contact information, security credentials, photos, and other sensitive data, and also to install malware and to perform malicious code execution which could be used in large-scale attacks. [Full Story] Andrew Quinn Selected for NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Graduate student Andrew Quinn has been awarded a prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellowship to continue his studies in computer science and engineering at the University of Michigan. Andrew's research creates cluster-scale systems that allow developers to quickly understand and debug programs. [Full Story] ECE Alumnus Kevin Johnson Receives IEEE-USA Award for Distinguished Public Service that is Expected to Help Tech Employees Kevin Johnson (BSE EE) received the IEEE-USA Award for Distinguished Public Service "For sustained leadership in furthering reform of noncompete agreements in employment contracts." Kevin is working along with the New England Venture Capital Association on legislation to help employees and the Massachusetts economy by banning noncompete agreements. He says that these agreements reduce Massachusetts employee job mobility and income. [Full Story] 2016-17 Undergraduate Student Awards Students, parents, and faculty gathered on Friday, March 24, 2017 to celebrate the achievements of EECS students who earned a special award for academic achievement, research, service, or entrepreneurial activities. Khalil Najafi, Chair for Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Peter Chen, Interim Chair for Computer Science and Engineering, presented the awards. [Full Story] ECE Alumni in Academia ECE alumni are educating the next generation of innovators all around the world! Check out many of our active alumni in academia. Please contact us to let us know of any we are missing! [Full Story] Nowruz Celebration 1396: Persian New Year Festival Over 200 students and faculty celebrated Nowruz, the Persian New Year, on March 21 with traditional food, calligraphy, and musical performances. This is the first ECE Nowruz celebration, and it's part of ECE's growing tradition of recognizing the cultural events of its diverse student body. [Full Story] | ||||
