The department has experienced an unprecedented period of growth in research and graduate
education.
Since 2000, PhD enrollments have nearly quadrupled, and external funding for research
has grown by a factor of roughly eight.
Signals and Systems
Signals and systems research is concerned with the transmission, measurement, processing,
analysis, and interpretation of information bearing signals.
Areas include signal processing, image processing, computer communications, and wireless
and digital communications.
Signal processing; Medical imaging
Legged Locomotion ; Applied Control; Rehabilitation Robotics; Collaborative Robots; Learning-based Control
Vehicular Communications: inter-vehicle (VANETs, V2X) and intra-vehicle (CAN, Automotive Ethernet, LIN, FlexRay, MOST); Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS); Communication Networks and Systems; Wireless Communications; Network Security; Signal Processing
Statistical signal processing
Computer Engineering
Computer engineering focuses on the conception, analysis, design, integration, and
evaluation of embedded systems, computing networking, and high-assurance systems employing
modern microprocessor and microcontroller devices.
Other goals include improving the performance and reliability of existing devices,
as well as designing new systems around them.
Modeling and control of hybrid electric vehicles; EV-smart grid integration; Distributed monitoring and control; Battery control for HEV and energy storage systems; IC engine management systems; Sensor information fusion
VLSI information and multimedia processing; SoC design; Complex embedded electronic systems; Very Large Scale Intergradations (VLSI); Digital architectures; Computer engineering
Network Security; Hardware Security; Cyber-Physical System Security; Deep Learning
Electro Physics
Solid-state electronics research spans electromagnetic wave interactions with materials,
micro- and nanoscale electronic materials and devices, and the quantum behavior of
solids.
This research thrust explores applications coupling electromagnetic behavior, photonics,
electronics, VLSI design, quantum electronic physics, and sensing devices that interact
with the external world in complex, integrated microsystems.
An application currently under study is the development of a new transistor utilizing
the spin of an electron (so-called "spintronics"), requiring much less power and heat
dissipation, which would permit a much greater density of transistors for microprocessors.
Another application is the quantum theory of solids to predict how electromagnetic
fields interact with propellants and explosives, enhancing remote detection.
Neuromorphic Engineering/Computing; Energy-efficient Neuromorphic Electronic Circuit Design for Artificial Intelligence; Emerging Nanoscale Device Design; Spiking Neural Networks
Micro-electromechanical systems; Micromachining materials and process technologies; Inertial pressure; Nanoscaled technologies enabling nanoelectronic devices; Technologies for the monolithic integration of sensors and actuators with electronics
Metamaterials, metasurfaces, photonic crystals, plasmonics; Quantum optics; Quantum computing, communications, and cryptography; Optical imaging; Magneto-optics; Photovoltaics
Integrated optical devices; Electronic substrate manufacturing and design
Resonance phenomena in complex media: metasurfaces, metamaterials, and photonic crystals; Computational electromagnetic analysis; Electromagnetic cloaking; High-contrast materials integration for electronic and photonic systems; Materials and device characterization at microwaves
Power and Energy
Power and Energy emphasize power systems, with renewable energy and power electronics
as other major areas of interest.
Examples include protection, operation, and control of power systems; theory and use
of commercial packages for fault, power flow, and transient studies; and power-system
components—including transformers, rotating machines, and circuit breakers.
Smart Grid; Integration of Renewable Energy Systems; Power System Protection, Control, and Monitoring; Power Quality; Power Systems and Power Electronics; AC/DC Microgrids; High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) Electric Power Transmission Systems; Application of Signal Processing in Power Systems; Application of Artificial Intelligence, including Machine Learning, in Power Systems
Power; Energy; Factory automation; Robotics
Smart Grid; Power system protection; Computer simulation; Transients in electrical power systems; Nonlinear dynamics and chaos theory; Magnetic materials and saturation of transformers; Power quality; Renewable energy, wind energy, solar energy; Photovoltaics
Power Systems; Distributed Energy Resources; Optimization; Interconnected Critical Infrastructure Systems
Discipline: Power systems engineering; Power grid cybersecurity; Smart home and robotic technologies; Attack/defense combinatorics