Transformative Leadership: Carey Smith G’91

Transformative Leadership: Carey Smith G’91

Carey Smith

Even when she was just starting out, Carey Smith G’91 knew management was the direction she wanted to take her career. Like many promising young engineers, she wanted to work at IBM and took a position as a systems engineer at their Owego, NY site right after she graduated from Ohio Northern University with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering.

IBM’s Owego site supported special operations, and she worked on avionics system engineering and software development. She would be involved with a system throughout its entire life cycle from design and development to integration and testing. That broad view of problem solving and mission effectiveness helped inspire a desire in her to lead.

“Engineering gives you a background,” says Smith. “The ability to ask questions. You have the technical background to ask the right questions.”

Smith decided to take advantage of a unique partnership between IBM and Syracuse University. Engineering and Computer Science faculty would travel to IBM’s campus twice a week and teach classes onsite for IBM employees who wanted to earn a master’s degree while they were working.

“It was a very good program and allowed me to move forward with my education while still working at IBM,” says Smith. “Syracuse is such a well-regarded university and the faculty were outstanding.”

Her first move into management was as a flight simulation engineering department manager at IBM. That led to managerial promotions at IBM and then leadership roles with Loral Corporation (acquired IBM Federal), Lockheed Martin (acquired Loral) and Honeywell. In 2016, she joined Parsons as president of the company’s Federal Business Unit. She was promoted to chief operating officer (COO) in 2018, president and COO in 2019, assumed the role of chief executive officer in 2021, and now serves as Parsons Corporation’s Chair, President, and CEO.

Her first three years as CEO of Parsons Corporation marked a significant chapter in the company’s evolution from a traditional engineering firm to an advanced technology leader in national security and critical infrastructure. Since assuming the role of CEO in 2021, Smith has steered the organization through substantial growth and transformation.

Under Smith’s leadership, Parsons embraced digital solutions and technology innovation. She has strategically focused the company on high-growth markets, high profit and enduring markets including space and missile defense, cyber and intelligence, critical infrastructure protection,  transportation, environmental remediation and urban development.  She also initiated internal research and development and acquired 14 technology-differentiated companies since 2017 to be an industry leader in applying innovation and technology across Parsons’ global infrastructure and national security portfolios. This forward-thinking approach has helped Parsons secure significant contracts and expand its market presence.

“I have tried to look at our customer’s emerging challenges and define solutions to meet their needs,” says Smith. “Not things that have been done before. We’re about starting with a clean piece of paper.”

Parsons unique position as a global leader in both national security and global infrastructure allows them to offer coordinated services that are in high demand.

“Utilities, water companies, transportation and health care have to be protected against cyber threats. We are a unique company that has the domain understanding for example of how a rail and transit system works coupled with the cyber capabilities to protect the domain,” says Smith.

Parsons has achieved remarkable business growth and financial performance in the past three years. The company’s strategic acquisitions have expanded its capabilities and market reach. This growth strategy has been balanced with organic expansion and internal innovation initiatives. Smith credits the company’s outstanding performance to the hard work and dedication of Parsons’ nearly 20,000 employees in 50 states and 20+ countries around the globe. Her leadership style combines strategic business acumen with a deep understanding of the importance of human capital in driving organizational success.

“I wanted to create a person first culture,” says Smith. “Our leadership supports employees.”

While Parsons is well positioned for the future, Smith is still prioritizing growth, innovation and emerging technologies. She believes her engineering background has been key to her success in navigating change while leading a global corporation. She encourages young engineers and computer scientists who are considering management roles to gain as much experience as they can on a company’s business side.

“You have to have strong technical acumen along with strong business acumen,” says Smith. “That’s the way I operate – with a focus on delivering results.”

While she took all her classes remotely, Smith is still proud of her connection to Syracuse University and the important role it played in her career journey.

“I’m always proud to be a Syracuse alum. It is a wonderful university.”

Engineering and Computer Science Graduate Students Compete in Software Development Challenge

Students working on a software development challenge

The Engineering and Computer Science (ECS) Graduate Student Challenge was held from February 7 to 9, 2025. Over 100 graduate students signed up in teams of three or four. Their goal was to build a software to help organize the ECS Research Day poster judging event. The challenge had 3 parts: (a) assigning judges to posters; (b) creating a secure WebApp for judges to enter scores; (c) finding a fair way to normalize the scores and rank the posters.

Fourteen teams submitted entries after working on the challenge for 48 hours. Then, in the next 24 hours they created a video that demonstrated their software product, showed how to run it, and explained the inner-workings of the code. The competition was curated and evaluated by faculty in ECS. After several days of judging running each of the codes, four sets of winners emerged.

Here are the ECS Graduate Student Challenge award winners.

“Best Web App for Research Day Poster Competition”  – Pranathi Nallala, Venkata Satya Sri Ram Giduthuri, Sai Vennela Gowreddy and Kamal Preetam Chittuluri

“Evaluators Favorite ECS Challenge Project Work” –  Roshni Rajmani Pal, Vinay Tiparadi, Narayan Anantha Krishnan and Chetanya Anil Rathi  

“Best Code for Poster-Ranking Using Judge Scores” – Shreya Kulkarni, Arpita Ashok Khot, Dhruvin Hasmukh Barot and Mathew Lobo

“Best Code for Research Day Poster-Judge Assignment” – Uddesh Shyam Kshirsagar, Shreyas Kumar, Shubham Melvin Felix and  Abhishek Umesh Gavali  

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Professor Chilukuri K. Mohan Receives Best Paper Award at International Conference on Bioinformatics and Computational Biology

Chilukuri K. Mohan

Chilukuri K. Mohan, professor in electrical engineering and computer science, and his Ph.D. student Youchuan Wang G’20 G’24 have received the Best Paper Award at the 17th Annual Conference on Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (BICOB). Established in 2009, BICOB is one of the most recognized conferences in the fields of bioinformatics and computational biology. The conference is committed to creating an engaging environment for scientists to connect, present and publish their research findings, methodologies and studies. 

BICOB-2025 took place in San Francisco, California from March 17-18 where Wang presented their paper, “Transitive Reduction and Cluster Normalization for Improved Gene Regulatory Network Inference.” Biological processes require complex sequences of expression of various genes, generating RNA and proteins and regulatory networks are sparse graphs that model which genes influence which other genes. Wang and Mohan’s research applies machine learning and computational methods to learn such models from available data. 

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Professor Reza Zafarani Receives Test of Time Award from the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)

reza zafarani

Reza Zafarani, associate professor in electrical engineering and computer science, has received the Test of Time Award from the Web Search and Data Mining (WSDM) Conference organized by the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). The award was presented at this year’s conference in Hanover, Germany.

WSDM publishes original, high-quality papers related to search and data mining on the web and the social web. It also hosts a highly selective conference that includes invited talks and peer-reviewed papers. The Test of Time Award recognizes published papers that have had a significant impact on the field of computing over an extended period of time.

Zafarani was awarded for the paper titled “Sarcasm Detection on Twitter: A Behavioral Modeling Approach” which discussed “detecting sarcasm automatically using textual data that users generate.” The key contribution of the paper is in integrating social science theories with machine learning techniques where the machine learning model incorporates social science findings across different disciplines such as linguistics, communication, philosophy and psychology.

The WSDM conference has provided the following statement in recognition of the contributions provided by this paper: “This landmark paper studies a fundamental and difficult problem in understanding web contents, with a general approach grounded in psychology. It is one of the most important works on sarcasm detection, a problem that is of great relevance in coping with today’s polarizing social media. In full generality and with evolving sophistication of user texts, the problem is still unsolved even with large language models. This WSDM 2015 paper will have lasting value, by guiding modern AI in understanding sarcasm.”

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Student Spotlight: Aicha Gory ’26 

Aicha Gory’s ’26 fascination with problem-solving made a career in computer science an ideal choice for her. With a strong background in STEM, she remained committed to her goals, even when faced with challenges as she navigated a new country during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these obstacles, her dedication to pursuing education fueled her resilience. 

“Coming from Senegal, adapting to a new environment and navigating remote learning while improving my English ability was intimidating, but it also taught me resilience and adaptability,” says Gory.  

After completing an online course at Syracuse University in the summer of 2021, Gory had an opportunity to visit the University’s campus, an experience that was crucial to her decision to attend the college.   

“I enjoyed the powerful sense of community and the faculty’s help during the online session, which gave me confidence that Syracuse is a place where I might succeed,” she says. “I wanted to attend a school with a strong engineering department, and Syracuse’s combination of academic brilliance and a welcoming environment made it the perfect choice for me.”  

Throughout her academic journey at the College of Engineering and Computer Science, Gory has had the opportunity to explore her passions through internships. As an operations analyst intern at a financial institution, she improved financial accuracy by managing and verifying over 100 daily deposit transactions, ensured regulatory compliance and reduced errors.  

She’s also been involved with the Research Exposure in Socially Relevant Computing (RESORC) program, where she attends research meetings, participates in technical research, soft skills-building sessions and collaborates with peers to brainstorm research topics.  

“I’m excited to apply what I’ve learned and contribute to impactful research. Also, I am in the steps of working on a project related to virtual reality with my professor from my VR class, which I am excited about. This opportunity will allow me to practice what I’ve learned in class and gain more experience.”  

In addition to her academics, Gory holds positions in many clubs including the Secretary for the Society of Women Engineers, the Conference Planning Chair for the National Society of Black Engineers and an Academic Excellence Workshop Facilitator. Gory is also a mentor in the Catalyst Scholars program, which supports first-generation college students.  

This role is perfect for her since she understands the struggles these students face and helps them adjust to college life as they navigate their academic journey. She also assists the admissions office with student panels, which allows her to “give back and help others who are in a similar position as a first-generation student.”  

When she’s not juggling various responsibilities, Gory enjoys cooking, spending time with loved ones, watching sunsets and playing Badminton. She seeks to become a data scientist in healthcare, finance, business, or technology.  

“Take time to care for yourself and enjoy the process of learning and growth. Remember, never compare yourself to others. We all have different paths, and the end goal is to simply keep moving forward and make it.”  

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Professor Moamer Hasanovic Awarded National Science Foundation (NSF) Grant for Quantum Workforce Development 

Mo Hasanovic

As quantum science advances, there is a growing demand for skilled professionals who can apply quantum technology and develop commercial products. To address this need, Moamer Hasanovic, assistant teaching professor in electrical engineering and computer science, has received a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to provide training, education, and career development for quantum technicians. This initiative supports Syracuse University’s mission to remain a leading research institution while expanding its quantum educational programs. 

Hasanovic previously developed a quantum curriculum, known as the EdQuantum Project, which provides quantum technicians—specialists who assist researchers in the lab—with the necessary skills required for the workforce. The curriculum consists of three courses in quantum technologies that combine theory and hands-on activities to raise awareness and build essential knowledge in quantum information science at a technician level.  

As part of ongoing efforts to raise awareness of quantum programs, Hasanovic has visited numerous community colleges to lead workshops and strengthen relationships with academic institutions such as Onondaga Community College, State University of New York Broome Community College, and Jefferson Community College, among other colleges regionally and nationally.  

While attending quantum conferences across the country, Hasanovic has gathered information from the industry to enhance his curriculum and has been working on establishing a laboratory at Syracuse University that will support local community colleges as well as the University’s undergraduate program. The NSF grant award will play a crucial role in advancing these initiatives. 

“We are very much ahead of the curve. There’s no one in the nation doing quantum at the community college level and we can lead these efforts. We’re expanding the program’s outreach, establishing collaborations to bring funding to the University and creating a quantum center,” says Hasanovic.  

Some partners that Professor Hasanovic is collaborating with include the Quantum Economic Development Consortium, Chicago Quantum Exchange, Duke Quantum Center, University of Chicago, Georgetown University, Colgate University, and the University of Queensland in Australia. He will also introduce quantum science into K-12 and undergraduate programs to provide a firm foundation for the emerging workforce.  

“We have to collaborate more. We don’t have to build labs across the nation that are costly. Nothing is impossible if we share the resources we have,” says Hasanovic. “I’m grateful for the NSF award and how it will impact the future of the quantum workforce.” 

Syracuse University and ANDRO Computational Solutions Awarded Navy Contract for AI Spectrum Research

Pramod Varshney and Biao Chen
Pramod Varshney and Biao Chen

Syracuse University, in collaboration with ANDRO Computational Solutions, LLC, Marconi-Rosenblatt AI Innovation Lab of Rome, has been awarded a Phase II Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) research contract by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) valued at approximately $2 million. This project focuses on pioneering research to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) deep learning technologies to enhance radio spectrum utilization in challenging conditions.

The project is led by Anu Jagannath, ANDRO Chief Scientist and Chief Research Officer, and Jithin Jagannath, ANDRO Chief Scientist and Chief Technology Officer (CTO). The lead project team at ANDRO also includes Senior Scientist Sabarish Krishna Moorthy, with support from Syracuse University professors Biao Chen and Pramod Varshney from the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Their expertise contributes valuable insights into advanced signal processing and distributed systems modeling for the project.

The collaboration between ANDRO and Syracuse University showcases the power of academic-industry partnerships in tackling complex challenges. This collaboration has persisted for over 30 years and has benefited over the years from support from the Center for Advanced Systems and Engineering (CASE) which is a NYSTAR-designated Center for Advanced Technology (CAT). Under the STTR contract, the team is well-prepared to provide innovative solutions for both military and commercial applications. This venture aims to transform the landscape of intelligent spectrum technologies for various spectrum intelligence use cases.

New Electromagnetic Absorber Research from Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Professor Younes Ra’di Published in the Nature Communications Journal

Absorbing layers have been fundamental to advancements in technologies like energy harvesting, stealth systems, and communication networks. These absorbers efficiently capture electromagnetic waves across broad frequency ranges, enabling the development of sustainable, self-powered devices such as remote sensors and internet of things (IoT) systems. In addition to energy applications, these layers are pivotal in stealth technology, where they minimize radar visibility and enhance the performance of aircraft and naval systems. They also play a crucial role in improving communication networks by reducing stray signals and mitigating electromagnetic interference, making them essential in our increasingly interconnected world.

Advancements in these technologies requires modules with greater functionality and broader bandwidths, all within smaller footprints, driving the demand for ultra-thin absorbing layers with significantly higher absorption bandwidths. However, a theoretical upper bound exists on the bandwidth-to-thickness ratio of metal-backed, passive, linear, and time-invariant absorbing layers. Absorbers developed to date, irrespective of their operational frequency range or material thickness, significantly underperform when compared to this upper bound, failing to exploit the full potential that passive, linear, and time-invariant systems can provide.

In a new research paper published in Nature Communications, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Professor Younes Ra’di and his research team introduced a new concept for designing ultra-thin absorbers that enables absorbing layers with a record-high bandwidth-to-thickness ratio, potentially several times greater than that of absorbers designed using conventional approaches. Absorbers designed based on this concept can achieve a bandwidth-to-thickness ratio arbitrarily close to the ultimate bound. Utilizing this concept, they designed and experimentally verified an absorber yielding a very high bandwidth-to-thickness ratio.

“Our findings have the potential to make significant contributions to various industries, including defense, energy harvesting, and advanced communication systems, by addressing critical challenges in electromagnetic absorption technology,” says Ra’di.

“It’s incredibly rewarding to see our work attracting international recognition, not only from the scientific community but also from key players across various industries. I am immensely proud of my team for their dedication and hard work, which have led to these groundbreaking results. Publishing in a prestigious journal like Nature Communications is a testament to their exceptional efforts and the importance of our research.”

Career Focused: Making the Most of the Engineering and Computer Science Signature Co-Op Program

As computer engineering student Alexander Segarra’25 looked at how he wanted to build his career, he decided it would be a good idea to consider a co-op position. While internships allow a student to have a part-time or summer experience at a company in their field, the College of Engineering and Computer Science’s signature co-op program gives a student an extended, full-time opportunity to experience working with a company on more advanced projects.

“Work experience is pretty important when you go out into the workforce,” says Segarra. “It is very valuable learning the work environment, especially if you want to go down a certain route.”

Working with the career services team in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, Segarra was accepted for a co-op position with Novelis, a global leader in aluminum products, at their Oswego location about 45 minutes north of Syracuse.

“The career services team was very helpful,” says Segarra. “They helped set everything up and had the right contacts. If you aren’t sure how to start, they are a great resource.”

Novelis is a premier partner with the College of Engineering and Computer Science’s Employer Partnership Program and the company’s engineers appreciate the chance to bring Syracuse University students in to work on meaningful projects.

“You actually give them a real project, something they can take to completion,” says Rick Fiumara, a principal engineer at Novelis. “The best way to find out if you like your field is to do a co-op.”

For Segarra, his co-op opportunity showed him how he can apply the skills he was learning in classes to real world situations.

“Some of the people don’t even know I’m a co-op, they see me as a real employee,” said Segarra.

“With co-ops, they have more time to grow. It gives us more time to develop an individual,” says Stephen Dahar, engineering manager for Novelis. “It gives us a good look at who you are and can in some situations lead to full time employment.”

Novelis liked what they saw of Segarra and Segarra liked what he saw in the company’s culture and flexibility. He was offered a full-time position and will go back to Novelis right after graduation.

“Once I start my full time job it will be like picking up where I left off,” says Segarra.

Distinguished Professor in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Pramod K. Varshney Receives Best Paper Award from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)

Pramod Varshney

Distinguished Professor in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Pramod K. Varshney has received the Best Paper Award from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) International Conference on Signal, Information, and Data Processing. The conference took place in Zhuhai, China on November 22-24, 2024.  

The award-winning paper focused on using copulas for change detection in heterogeneous remote sensing images. Copulas are a powerful tool used for modeling the dependence between multiple random variables. Over the past 15 years, Varshney’s research group has used copulas in various decision-making problems, including national security and defense and medical diagnoses, such as the early detection of Alzheimer’s disease.  

Varshney and his colleagues proposed using copulas to improve change detection using heterogeneous remote sensing images. Heterogeneous remote sensing involves analyzing multiple images captured by different sensors or satellites at various times to identify changes in geographic features. This method is commonly used for disaster monitoring and land-use management. Experiments with different types of remote sensing images showed that the copula-guided neural network was effective and helped users better understand changes in geography.  

“I co-authored the paper with two of my former visiting scholars who are professors at the famous Tsinghua University in China and my former doctoral student who is a faculty member at the University of Alabama at Birmingham,” says Varshney. “It is indeed a pleasure to maintain collaboration relationship with former members of my research group. The novel approach that combines copula theory with deep neural networks (DNNs) is quite novel and innovative. I am extremely happy that this work was deemed worthy of a Best Paper Award.”  

Get to Know Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Professor Moamer Hasanovic

Mo Hasanovic

Moamer Hasanovic brings broad teaching experiences across multiple areas of electrical engineering as a professor in the College of Engineering and Computer Science. Get to know him as he discusses his career path, research interests, and his role as a faculty member in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

Tell us about yourself and what brought you to Syracuse University.

With a diverse background in RF industrial expertise, quantum research, and teaching experience across multiple areas of electrical engineering, I am excited to bring my knowledge and innovative spirit to Syracuse University. My career has evolved from mentoring students as a lab technician to teaching electromagnetics and RF courses, conducting research, and managing grant-funded projects in photonics and quantum technology.

My work has resulted in several patents, demonstrating my ability to turn theoretical concepts into practical applications. Over two decades of academic experience at multiple institutions, both in the United States and abroad, I have mentored students in electronics, RF systems, optics, and quantum. In addition, my MBA and corporate experience allow me to bridge the academic and industrial worlds, promoting collaboration, internships, and innovation.  

Professor Hasanovic collaborating with partners at the quantum research lab at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia (2024).

What sparked your interest in teaching at Syracuse University?

I was attracted to Syracuse University by its dynamic faculty team, which blends the experience of established faculty with the fresh perspectives of new colleagues. The university is uniquely positioned to make significant contributions to research and workforce development in emerging fields such as quantum technologies and chip manufacturing. With my background in workforce development and training, I would like to leverage my professional connections to improve collaboration with academic and corporate partners in semiconductor chip fabrication, integrated photonics, and quantum. My expertise complements well with the institutional needs in these areas. As a proud Syracuse University alum, I also feel a deep sense of responsibility to give back to both the university and the local community, making my return to Syracuse especially meaningful.  

What are your research interests?

I have spent over twenty years in the RF industry, holding various roles focused on board-level RF component design and development across multiple organizations. Alongside my work in RF, my research interests extend into optics and photonics, with a recent emphasis on integrating RF technologies with photonics and quantum. Currently, I am leading an NSF-funded project EdQuantum (NSF DUE 2055061) to raise public awareness about the transformative impact of quantum technologies on our daily lives, aiming to make this complex field more accessible to a broader audience.

This is a global effort with the collaboration that involves partners from Australia that share common interests in quantum technologies. Drawing from my industrial background, I am deeply committed to workforce development, actively supporting both regional and national initiatives in photonics, quantum technologies, and semiconductors. My goal is to contribute to the best of my ability so that the next generation of professionals is well-prepared to support these emerging technologies. 

Professor Hasanovic visiting the Duke Quantum Center at Duke University in North Carolina (2022).

What are you most excited about in your role as a faculty member?  

I am most excited about the opportunity to work with young people and engage in the exchange of ideas on a wide range of topics in electrical engineering and beyond. I firmly believe that knowledge transfer is a two-way street; as much as I educate my students, I also learn a great deal from them. Hearing fresh perspectives and exploring different approaches to classroom concepts is incredibly rewarding, fostering an educational environment where everyone benefits. Additionally, the prospect of leveraging our collective strengths and collaborating with fellow faculty members is something I find truly inspirational, as it enhances both personal growth and the broader academic experience. 

What advice do you have for students?   

Be passionate about the field and career you are pursuing. Strive to live it fully, rather than merely viewing it as a job or work. Use your creativity, knowledge, and effort to make a meaningful impact on the lives of others and contribute positively to society. True rewards and the pursuit of happiness ultimately lie in this purpose-driven approach. 

What are some things you like to do for fun? 

I have a deep passion for travel and exploration of different cultures and cuisines. So far, I’ve visited over 50 countries across five continents. When I travel, I enjoy mingling with locals, learning about their daily routines, discovering the restaurants they visit, and participating in the activities that bring them joy. I also have a love for outdoor activities, with hiking being one of my favorite ways to connect with nature. Additionally, I’ve been playing the accordion since my teenage years, which has become a hobby that helps me unwind and relax. As a father of three teenagers, spending time with my family is the cornerstone of my life that gives me a deep sense of purpose. 

Professor Hasanovic at the Great Wall in China (2014)

Power Up: Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Graduate Student Nathalie Uwamahoro

Nathalie Uwamahoro

Power outages have various causes, with severe weather conditions such as storms, hurricanes, and heat waves frequently disrupting transmission lines. According to the American Public Power Association, wildlife interactions also contribute to power disruptions, accounting for 11% of U.S. outages between 2013 and 2017. However, not every outage is caused by external factors. Sometimes, outages can occur when power generation simply can’t meet electricity demand. 

“Depending on the time of day, such as morning work hours, the power consumption is lower so power generation should be adjusted to the power being consumed,” says Nathalie Uwamahoro, an electrical and computer engineering graduate student. “During rush hour in the evening, the power demand goes up so the power generation should be able to adjust quickly to meet that demand as well.” 

The need for flexibility within power grids has been an ongoing challenge in electrical systems, as the power grid is a complex network with many components. Uwamahoro is developing a new flexibility metric to determine a power grid’s capability to handle the uncertainties of renewable energy generation. She’s been collaborating with her advisor, Associate Professor Sara Eftekharnejad, in Smart Grid Research Lab, an interdisciplinary lab that seeks to ensure power grid reliability and sustainability.   

“If more transmission lines, transformers, or generation resources fail, power generation won’t be able to sustain the demand,” says Uwamahoro. “We want to create a simple, robust metric that can assess the capability of a power grid to maintain reliable electricity and support the power system.” 

The power grid flexibility metric will use machine learning and electrical engineering theories to function and Uwamahoro believes their work can contribute to new topics in power grid research. Their metric could also help states in the U.S. with issues concerning power generation and sustainability.  She was awarded the best graduate student paper award at the 2023 North American Power Symposium (NAPS) which was based on her research on cascading failure within power grid systems. This served as the foundation for the research on power grids she conducts today.  

“A failure in a single transmission line can spread through the entire system if protection devices fail to clear the faults, leading to cascading failures that can cause large-scale power outages, ranging from city-wide to national levels. We used machine learning methods to predict potential power grid failures.”

Uwamahoro was also selected to participate in the Summer Dissertation Fellowship 2024 for Ph.D. students. She was chosen to be among 32 Teaching Mentors who trained new teaching assistants. “The opportunity to use machine learning techniques in power system problems is amazing,” she says. “As an electrical and computer engineering Ph.D. candidate, I got the opportunity to study courses in computer engineering too. I look forward to publishing our research findings in the near future.” 

Syracuse University, Georgia Tech and MIT Startup Lamarr.AI Raise $1.1 Million in Pre-Seed Funding

Senem Velipasalar and research team

From the collaborative research efforts at Syracuse University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Georgia Institute of Technology comes sustainable building startup Lamarr.AI. The startup recently raised $1.1 million in pre-seed funding to commercialize its automated technology which will use drones, thermal imaging and machine learning techniques to inspect and analyze buildings. The startup aims to reduce building carbon emissions and lower maintenance and ownership costs.

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Professor Senem Velipasalar has been collaborating with former Syracuse University professor Tarek Rakha, who is now at Georgia Tech, as well as Norhan Bayomi and John E. Fernandez from MIT. Velipasalar has been working on autonomous thermal anomaly detection using machine learning on building envelopes, which include windows, doors, walls, and roofs. Thermal anomaly detection involves identifying and classifying temperature variations in different areas.

Led by Rakha, the team received a $1.8 million grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Energy in 2019 for their preliminary work on thermal anomaly detection. Lamarr.AI was then founded in 2021 to commercialize this technology, and Velipasalar has played a crucial role as the startup’s Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Rakha serves as the startup’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

Using AI to automate building analysis, Lamarr.AI has collaborated with several building owners and facilities managers, saving over $1 million in engineering and construction costs. Their AI technology identifies issues, such as deteriorated window seals and leaky roofs. It has also helped in effectively planning and scoping large building envelope retrofits, a process that improves a building’s energy efficiency.

The algorithms Lamarr.AI has developed contribute to transforming building energy audits by providing recommendations significantly faster, more affordably and more accurately than traditional manual audits. The startup filed two patents based on this technology, both of which are co-owned by Syracuse University, Georgia Tech and MIT.

“I am very excited and happy that commercialization of this technology will allow us to increase the visibility of Lamarr and Syracuse University both nationally and internationally and draw attention to not only the AI-related research being conducted at Syracuse University but also the commercialization of these developed technologies for the betterment of the society,” says Velipasalar.

The Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Hosts Annual Power Engineering Workshop  

The Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) hosted its electrical engineering workshop in collaboration with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Syracuse Section and the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) Central New York (CNY) Chapter on Friday, October 11th, 2024. The workshop covered various electrical engineering topics and aimed at power engineering professionals.  

The IEEE Syracuse Section has over 770 members and is part of the world’s largest professional engineering society. Its mission is to promote technological advancement in CNY through events, lectures, and business, as well as technological advancement in CNY through events, lectures, business, and educational development. NSPE CNY comprises engineering professionals from all disciplines and seeks to promote the ethical, competent, and lawful practice of engineering while providing career development, networking opportunities, and other benefits to students and professionals.  

The workshop is an annual event that was started 12 years ago. Originally envisioned by Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Professor Prasanta Ghosh, and William Maxwell, ’87 G’03, they have co-chaired the event since the beginning. Its mission is to serve the continuing education needs of New York State’s licensed professional engineers as well as licensed professional engineers in other states with a primary focus on power engineering. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the hybrid format has expanded its reach both locally and across the Northeast and benefits presenters who can’t physically attend the event.  

“Over previous years, there have been Ph.Ds. and senior practicing engineers from Canada, Saudi Arabia, India, and Australia. Although a small workshop, it is thrilling that every year, the best minds from around the U.S. and the world present to the professional engineering students. Typically, the workshop has 35 participants and continues to grow in number and breadth of attendance,” says Professor Ghosh.  

The workshop was presented by faculty from Syracuse University, Binghamton University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, State University of New York (SUNY) Upstate Medical University and industry professionals from General Electric (GE). The students, licensed professional engineers, earned six (6) Professional Development Hours (PDHs) toward the continuing education requirements of their engineering license.  

Professor Prasant Ghosh

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Graduate Student Spotlight: Siwei Zhang 

Siwei Zhang

In just one year, computer science Ph.D. student Siwei Zhang has made outstanding achievements in research. Advised by electrical engineering and computer science (EECS) professor Endadul Hoque, Zhang has been involved in multiple projects, presented research at conferences, and published a paper, contributing significantly to the cybersecurity research field. 

Joining the EECS master’s program in the fall of 2023, Zhang worked with Hoque on developing fuzzing methods. In cybersecurity, fuzzing is a security testing technique that uses an automated approach to find vulnerabilities and bugs in computer programs. “I’ve always had an interest in operating systems, and I find research interesting. In my spare time, I use new tools to find bugs in systems. Finding vulnerabilities in programs is the goal of my research.” 

Zhang presented his work on fuzzing methods in operating systems at the 2024 USENIX Conference. This prestigious conference brings together researchers and practitioners in the cybersecurity field, and Zhang’s research caught the attention of several attendees.  “People are interested in this area of research,” Zhang says. “It’s going to be the future.” 

As a Ph.D. student, Zhang has authored and published a paper that focuses on enhancing the security of smart homes. He presented the paper at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Secure Development (SecDev) 2024, a conference where academic and industry researchers present and discuss state-of-the-art techniques for developing secure computer systems.  

“As a first-year Ph.D. student, Siwei has made remarkable progress in academics and research, including leading multiple projects,” Hoque says. “He excels at system-level programming and quickly grasps complex problems. As a master’s student in my group, he developed an open-source gateway for large language models (LLMs)—advanced AI systems trained to understand and generate human language—which streamlines integration with both open and closed-source models. This tool has greatly supported our research. With his skills and enthusiasm, he shows strong potential to become a leading cybersecurity researcher, and I’m pleased to have him in our Ph.D. group.” 

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Graduate Students, Faculty, and Staff Celebrate Diversity in Computing and Technology at the Tapia Conference

Two electrical engineering and computer science (EECS) graduate students, Nathalie Uwamahoro (electrical engineering) and Polina Kozyreva (computer science) attended the prestigious 2024 CMD-IT/ACM Richard Tapia Celebration of Diversity in Computing Conference in San Diego, California. Known for its emphasis on diversity, inclusion, and collaboration in computing, the conference provided invaluable educational, professional, and networking opportunities for students and professionals alike.

The three-day event featured technical workshops, expert panels, and a robust career fair with major companies like Google, Microsoft, and IBM. For Uwamahoro and Kozyreva, the Tapia conference opened doors to new professional connections and deepened their understanding of key topics such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, next-generation computing, and robotics.

“Being at the booth and engaging with people interested in graduate school or research was a fantastic opportunity to learn about the diverse projects my peers are working on. This conference reaffirmed my passion for academia, and I’m eager to contribute to this vibrant community in the future,” says Kozyreva.

“Attending the Tapia conference for the first time was an unforgettable experience. It strengthened my commitment to inspiring students of African descent to pursue careers in technology,” Uwamahoro adds.

The conference also saw participation from the College of Engineering and Computer Science’s Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Academic Initiatives, Jae C. Oh and Recruitment Specialist, Michaela Karcher. They were involved in initiatives such as the LEAP Alliance, aimed at increasing diversity in EECS doctoral programs and strengthening the future faculty pipeline. ECS is a Cohort 3 member of the LEAP Alliance and Jae Oh and EECS professor Jason Pollack are LEAP Advocate Faculty. At the conference, LEAP Alliance Fellows and Faculty Advocates got together to share ideas about Broadening Participation in Computer Science Ph.D. programs.

EECS Professor Farzana Rahman is a long-time TPC member of the Tapia conference. Rahman spearheaded the EECS representation at the conference alongside Assistant Dean for Student Recruitment, Kathleen M. Joyce and her team, highlighting the department’s commitment to inclusive education, research, and faculty hiring.

Karcher also developed a list of potential graduate applicants interested in learning more about EECS programs. “This was my first computer science-focused conference, and it was eye-opening to see the many opportunities available,” she says.

The Tapia conference has strengthened Syracuse University’s presence in the computing world, with students returning to campus energized and committed to shaping the future of technology through inclusivity and innovation.

Electrical Engineering Student Profile: Ellie Parkes ’26

Ellie Parkes ’26 got a charge out of her internship with Dow, one of the world’s leading materials science companies. Parkes, an electrical engineering major  worked on projects to improve energy production at the company’s operations plant in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. “Electrical engineering is such a broad field, and this exposure to one of the career paths I could take has really helped me understand what my future looks like,” she says.

Admittedly, Parkes wasn’t familiar with Dow when a representative contacted her through Handshake about a hiring expo for electrical engineers, but she followed up. In interviews, she fielded both situational and technical questions, and when an offer came her way, she accepted and spent 12 weeks in Louisiana.

The company’s industrial complex generates, distributes and uses its own power, and was replacing old equipment, dating back as far as the ’50s, as part of a new multimillion-dollar grid, she says. “My major projects were looking for improvement opportunities at our lower voltage levels (mostly 2400V), such as making existing electrical setups more reliable.” Parkes was also involved with work on the new transformers. “There was definitely a lot of coordination that had to take place given how many things were going on at one time,” she says.

Parkes stands in front of a transformer that was being renovated. It connects a gas turbine to a network of cables that eventually take power to the plant’s grid.

These experiences helped Parkes recognize the importance of communicating across disciplines. “Most of the people I worked with on a day-to-day basis were chemical and mechanical engineers who didn’t know much about electrical systems,” she says. “Being able to communicate high-level electrical concepts through images and metaphors has been a skill that helped me a lot through my time here.”

The most enjoyable part of the internship, Parkes says, was the variety of people she met and learned from. She forged friendships and says working with such a diverse group of people enhanced her teamwork and communication skills. Not only that, but she most likely never envisioned having a teammate who wrangled alligators on the weekends. “He offered to take my roommate and me with him when he went this summer,” she says, “but we both had to politely decline.”

Next summer, Parkes hopes to explore another electrical engineering field that interests her. “Many of the soft and technical skills I learned through working with a team will help me not only to get a job in the future,” she says, “but to also be successful in my field.”

Electrical Engineering Alumnus Abdullah Eroglu G’99, G’04 Named Dean of the College of Engineering at SUNY Polytechnic Institute

Abdallah Eroglu

The State University of New York’s Polytechnic Institute (SUNY POLY) has named Abdullah Eroglu G’99, G’04 as the dean of the College of Engineering. Eroglu earned his master’s and doctoral degrees in electrical engineering from the College of Engineering and Computer Science.

Eroglu comes to SUNY Poly from UMass Boston, where he was the department of engineering chair. In that role, Eroglu led the development of new academic programs, including online programs and certificates and initiated strategic industry partnerships. Since 2018, he has also served as an ABET program evaluator for engineering programs.

Before his academic career, Eroglu spent over eight years in the semiconductor industry as a lead senior radio frequency (RF) design engineer at MKS Instruments, ENI Products in Rochester. He also held positions as a faculty fellow in the fusion energy division of Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee and as a visiting scholar at the University of Gavle, Sweden.

Eroglu is a prolific researcher with more than 160 journal and conference papers, six books, and five patents. He has secured over $23 million in extramural funding as PI and co-PI from federal agencies, including the Department of Defense, Department of Energy, Department of Transportation, and National Science Foundation as well as from industry. His research expertise includes RF/microwave/THz circuit design, RF amplifiers and topologies, RF metrology, anisotropic and gyrotropic materials, and metamaterial devices and sensors. Eroglu serves on the editorial boards of several journals and has received numerous awards for his research accomplishments.

New Operations Research and System Analytics Master’s Degree Program Developed to Meet Industry’s Emerging Needs

Operations Research and System Analytics is a new master’s program developed to meet the industry’s emerging needs. With an emphasis on computer science and artificial intelligence, the program breaks away from traditional operations research programs and focuses on mathematical foundations to include concepts from machine learning, analytics and data science. These learning outcomes will provide students with skills to tackle problems in practice. 

Students in the program will apply operations research models and methods to identify and solve engineering problems, use mathematical programming for informed decisions, gain proficiency in scientific tools, perform data-driven analytics, and integrate different concepts to design and optimize systems for engineering practice. 

The program spans different departments across Syracuse University and offers a variety of electives that allow students to tailor their skills and interests. Students will also receive hands-on experience with a capstone project. The program is open to all students with an undergraduate degree in any STEM field. 

“There is a growing need in the industry for graduates with skills in decision-making, data-science, coding, machine learning and AI,” says Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Professor Natarajan Gautam. “We created this program to address that need by taking undergraduates with a quantitative background and educating them with the necessary skills to thrive in the emerging workplace.” 

Visit Operations Research and System Analytics for more information.

Steven Penn

Lab/ Center/ Institute affiliations: Syracuse University Center for Gravitational Wave Astronomy and Astrophysics.

Areas of Expertise:

  • Gravitational wave instrument science and astrophysics
  • Mirror coating thermal noise
  • Crystalline semiconductor mirror coatings
  • Physics of fused silica and optical materials
  • Nuclear physics

My research is gravitational wave (GW) detection and the emerging field of gravitational wave astronomy, specifically, maximizing the sensitivity of GW detectors so that we may “see” farther out into the universe.  The LIGO detector is a 4-km long interferometer with a differential arm length resolution < 10-19 m, or 10-4 of a proton diameter.  My primary work has been the development of LIGO’s “test mass” mirrors, whose motion indicates the passing GW.  These are the world’s most precise mirrors with the lowest optical and mechanical noise.   I led the research effort to develop the lowest noise glass that is used for the mirror substrates and suspensions.  I was a leader on the team that identified the significant noise contribution from mirror coating thermal noise and that developed the current mirror coatings. At present we have developed crystalline semiconductor mirror coatings, which promise a further 10x reduction in coating thermal noise.

Honors and Awards:

  • Special Breakthrough Prize in Physics for LIGO Scientific Collaboration, 2016
  • Princess of Asturias Award for Technical & Scientific Research for LSC, 2017
  • The Karl Taylor Compton Award for Overall Excellence, MIT 1992

Selected Publications:

Observation of gravitational waves from a binary black hole merger.

     Abbott, B. P., et al. (LIGO and Virgo Collaborations including S Penn)

     Phys. Rev. Lett. 116.6 (2016): 061102.    (Front cover article)

Substrate-transferred GaAs/AlGaAs crystalline coatings for gravitational-wave detectors

G. D. Cole, S. D. Penn, et al.

Appl. Phys. Lett, 122, 110502 (2023) doi: 10.1063/5.0140663

(Selected as a Highlight of the Year 2023 by Optics and Photonics News)

Mechanical Ringdown Studies of Large-Area Substrate-Transferred GaAs/AlGaAs Crystalline Coatings

S D Penn, M M Kinley-Hanlon, Ian A. O. MacMillan, et al.

Journal Opt. Soc. Am. B, 36, (2019) C15

Frequency and surface dependence of the mechanical loss in fused silica

Steven D Penn, et al.,  

Phys. Lett. A  352 No 1-2 (2006) 3-6

Gravitational Wave Detection and Coating Thermal Noise

S. Penn and D Ottaway, in Optical Coatings for Precision Measurements,

Ed. by G. Harry, T. Bodiya, R. deSalvo, 2010, Cambridge University Press

Mechanical Loss in Silica/Tantala Dielectric Mirror Coatings

S D Penn, Sheila Rowan, et al.,  

Class. Quantum Grav. 20 (2003) 2917-2928

Hong Martel

Areas of Expertise:

  • Mobile Apps, GUI Design, Client/Server Programming
  • Programming Languages (Java, C/C++, Swift, Kotlin, Dart, Scripting languages)
  • Object-Oriented Programming, Design Pattern
  • Data Structures, Relational Database, OpenLDAP, Active Directory
  • Software Architect, Specification, Design, Implementation and Test  

My wide breadth of software experience includes application analysis, system design, software implementation and testing, over 25 years’ experience in Java and C/C++ Client/Server programming, 8 years in native and cross-platform mobile applications. I love to work with young people, having mentored startup engineers as tech lead, and taught both undergraduate and graduate students as a teaching assistant and as an adjunct instructor at Syracuse university.  My training in mathematics, physics, computer engineering and management has been invaluable to my versatile problem-solving experience in both industrial and academia.

Honors and Awards:

Humboldt Research Fellowship, Syracuse University Fellow

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Graduate Student Pardha Sourya Nayani Receives IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society (AP-S) Fellowship Award

Pardha Sourya Nayani G’28, a Ph.D. student in electrical engineering and computer science (EECS), has received the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Antennas and Propagation Society (AP-S) Fellowship Award for his research on “Unleashing Bandwidth: Passive Highly Dispersive Matching Network Enabling Broadband Absorbers with Record-High Bandwidth-to-Thickness Ratio”.

The AP-S Fellowship Program aims to support graduate students and postdoctoral fellows worldwide interested in antenna analysis, design, development, and other research areas related to AP-S. Nayani joined EECS professor Younes Radi’s research group at the Radiation Laboratory of Syracuse University in the summer of 2023. “I am deeply honored to receive this award and look forward to making significant contributions in the field of electromagnetics and microwave engineering,” Nayani says.

“As a faculty member at Syracuse University and the prior institutions I have been involved with, I have had the opportunity to see and work with many talented students and researchers,” says Radi. “Rarely have I had the opportunity to work with a student as passionate, talented, and hardworking as Pardha. I am happy and proud that IEEE awarded him this prestigious Fellowship.”

Moamer (Mo) Hasanovic

Dr. Mo Hasanovic holds a Ph.D. in electrical engineering and an M.B.A. from Syracuse University, earned in 2005 and 2008, respectively. With over two decades of industry experience, Dr. Hasanovic has held key roles as a principal engineer in board-level RF component design and development across multiple organizations. His research interests and expertise lie in passive RF component design for commercial, military, and space markets, with a recent focus on integrating RF and photonics. He has authored or co-authored more than 30 conference and journal articles and three textbooks in electrical engineering. Dr. Hasanovic leads the NSF-funded EdQuantum project as principal investigator, aimed at developing a curriculum in quantum technologies. Additionally, he is a member of IEEE, Optica, SPIE, and ACES.

Honors and Awards:

  1. Research Scholarship Award, Austrian Exchange Service, 1996-1998.
  2. Fellowship Award, German Academic Exchange Service, 1997-1998.
  3. Innovation of the Year Award for the Robotics and Photonics Institute, 2014-2015.
  4. Susan H. Johnson Endowed Teaching Chair, Indian River State College, 2020-2022.
  5. LASER-TEC, Center for Laser, Photonics, and Fiber Optics Education (NSF DUE #1304628,1700352,2000166), NSF 18-571 Advanced Technological Education, 7/24-8/24; External Consultant, 9/2013-8/2023, $8,315,752.
  6. Developing Photonics Outreach Model in a Developing Country, SPIE Outreach Grant, 9/2019-7/2020; Principal Investigator, $5,000.
  7. Educational Visit to Laser-Photonics Companies and Vocational/Technical Schools in Germany (a supplement to LASER-TEC, NSF DUE #1700352), NSF 18-571 Advanced Technological Education, 9/2020-10/2020; External Consultant, $32,258.
  8. EdQuantum: Hybrid Curriculum for Upskilling Photonics Technicians in Advanced Optics and Quantum Research Enabled Technologies, (NSF DUE #2055061 Award), NSF 18-571 Advanced Technological Education, 6/2021 – 6/2024; Principal Investigator, $485,842.
  9. International Trip to Visit Quantum Australia (a supplement to NSF DUE #2055061), NSF 18-571 Advanced Technological Education, 7/2024-8/2024; Principal Investigator, $45,245.

Selected Publications:

  1. M. Hasanovic, J. Ayala and M. Kettner, “4-Way Microstrip Wilkinson Power Splitter at Frequencies of Millimeter Waves,” 2023 IEEE/MTT-S International Microwave Symposium – IMS 2023, San Diego, CA, USA, 2023, pp. 713-716, doi: 10.1109/IMS37964.2023.10188218.
  2. Mo Hasanovic, “Quantum education: how to teach a subject that nobody fully understands”, Proc. SPIE 12723, Seventeenth Conference on Education and Training in Optics and Photonics: ETOP 2023, 1272331 (28 June 2023); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2670468.
  3. Moamer Hasanovic, Chrysanthos Panayiotou, Donn Silberman, “Upskilling photonics technicians to meet challenges of the quantum 2.0 revolution,” Proc. SPIE 12213, Optics Education and Outreach VII, 122130E (3 October 2022); doi: 10.1117/12.2631617.
  4. Mo Hasanovic, Chrys Panayiotou, Donn Silberman, Paul Stimers, and Celia Merzbacher, “Quantum technician skills and competencies for the emerging Quantum 2.0 industry “, Opt. Eng. 61 (8), 081803 (April 9, 2022) https://doi.org/10.1117/1.OE.61.8.081803.
  5. Moamer Hasanovic, Chong Mei, Jay K. Lee, and Ercument Arvas, “Frequency-Domain Solution to Electromagnetic Scattering from Dispersive Chiroferrite Materials”, ACES Journal, Vol. 28, No. 7, July 2013, pp. 565-572.
  6. Chong Mei, Moamer Hasanovic, Jay K. Lee, and Ercument Arvas, “Comprehensive Solution to Scattering by Bianisotropic Objects of Arbitrary Shape”, Progress In Electromagnetics Research B (PIER-B), Vol. 42, 2012, pp. 335-362.
  7. Sandi Ibrahimpasic and Moamer Hasanovic, “Modeling and Simulation of Wilkinson Power Splitter in Suspended Stripline”, ACES Journal (Special Issue on ACES 2010 Conference), Vol. 25, No. 10, October 2010, pp. 888-893.
  8. Moamer Hasanovic, Chong Mei, Joseph R. Mautz, and Ercument Arvas, “Scattering from Three-Dimensional Inhomogeneous Chiral Bodies of Arbitrary Shape by the Method of Moments”, AP-55, no. 6, June 2007, pp. 1817-1825.

Jeremy Pierce

Areas of Expertise:

  • Philosophy of race
  • Metaphysics
  • Philosophy of religion
  • Social philosophy
  • Ethics

Most of my published work in philosophy has been on the topic of the nature of race and racial classification. I have also contributed chapters to several volumes on pop culture and philosophy. My teaching focus in ECS has been ethical issues in engineering, computer science, and science in general. I teach Syracuse University’s first-year seminar and sometimes teach classes for the philosophy department, including Ethics, Theories of Knowledge and Reality, Logic, and Human Nature. I also teach at Le Moyne College.

Honors and Awards:

  • Le Moyne College Outstanding Part-Time Faculty Member of the Year, April 2013
  • Syracuse University Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award, April 2003

Selected Publications:

Book: A Realist Metaphysics of Race: A Context-Sensitive, Short-Term Retentionist, Long-Term Revisionist Approach, Lexington/Rowman & Littlefield (December 2014)

Scholarly Article: – “Glasgow’s Anti-Realism: Experimental Philosophy and Thought Experiments,” Journal of Social Philosophy 44 No.2, Summer 2013, 146-168.

Popular Articles/Chapters:

— “Making the Inevitable Look Impossible and the Impossible Look Easy: Purpose, Fate, and Destiny in ‘Monday’ and ‘The Goldberg Variation’” in The X-Files and Philosophy, ed. Robert Arp (Open Court, 2017)

— “Disability in Westeros” in The Ultimate Game of Thrones and Philosophy, ed. Eric Silverman and Robert Arp (Open Court, 2016)

— “Being Vetinari: Personal Identity on the Discworld” in The Discworld and Philosophy, ed. Jacob Held (Open Court, 2016) — “Fate on the Discworld and Roundworld: A Conversation Between Death and Lu-Tze” in The Discworld and Philosophy, ed. Nicolas Michaud (Open Court, 2016)

— “The Golden Man” in Philip K. Dick and Philosophy, ed. D.E. Wittkower (Open Court, 2011)

— “It Doesn’t Matter What We Do: Whatever Happened Happened” in The Ultimate Lost and Philosophy, ed. Sharon Kaye (Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series, 2010)

— “Destiny in Harry Potter”, in The Ultimate Harry Potter and Philosophy: Hogwarts for Muggles, ed. Greg Bassham (Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series, 2010)

— “Mutants and the Metaphysics of Race”, in The X-Men and Philosophy: Astonishing Insight and Uncanny Argument in the X-Verse, ed. Rebecca Housel and J. Jeremy Wisnewski (Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series, 2009)

Self-Following Smart Carts

Trolley Trolls is a motorized cart designed to assist in carrying items, allowing users to have their hands free for other tasks. This original device was presented as a senior design capstone project at the College of Engineering and Computer Science’s Open House and was created by Ralph Lawrence Graham ‘24, Taylor Michael Madison ‘24, Alfonso Rivas ‘24, and Ernest Whitbeck ‘24. In this Q&A session, team members Graham and Madison discuss their project. 

How does your senior design capstone project work?   

Graham: Our project is a 3-tiered self-following motorized cart. The person using the cart wears a belt with a code on it. The code is then detected and that’s what triggers the cart to move. We used webcams attached to a Fusion 5 running image processing via Python that then feeds data to a PID controller system running on an Itsy Bitsy M4 chip to make the cart function.  

Madison: We also talked about having distance sensors on the lower half of the cart. It goes much slower in reverse than it does forwards. If you go forward, it will go forward but if you come toward it, it will go backward but not as fast.  

What inspired you to pursue this project?  

Madison: Our team member, Alfonso, originally had the idea of a suitcase that would follow you through an airport. Some faculty didn’t know how practical placing a bunch of batteries and cameras on a suitcase would be, especially considering security risks for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Federal Aviation Association (FAA).  

We decided to go with something more utility-based that we could use around campus and came to a cart that could be used for a lab or food.  

Are there other applications this motorized cart can have?  

Madison: It can be applied to maintenance, hospitals, grocery stores, and even restaurants. We see all these areas benefiting from something like our cart for hands-free tasks.  

How do you feel after completing your project?   

Graham: We achieved what we were intending. It took a lot of research and trying things out. It was a process, and it was amazing to see the result of it and how everything works. It helped develop our skills more and we look forward to doing more things in a professional environment. 

Madison: Even as a senior project that was supposed to be a showcase of what we’ve learned, we were learning continuously through this project. Continuously touching on other parts of engineering and developing skills we already have, it was great to put it all together.  

Ernest Whitbeck ‘24, Ralph Lawrence Graham ‘24, Alfonso Rivas ‘24, and Taylor Michael Madison ‘24

Gabriel Silva De Oliveira

Areas of Expertise:

  • Introductory Programming Instruction
  • Introductory Computer Science Education
  • Coding Struggle
  • Computer Science Education

I have spent my academic career studying Introductory Computer Science Education, and my PhD thesis covered how to understand and define coding struggle in CS2 programming courses. I have also previously taught CS1 and CS2 courses. Part of my teaching experience showed me how historically underrepresented populations are affected by a lack of Computer Science experience when taking introductory courses, and my goal is to create an environment where every student can be successful.

Selected Publications:

Gabriel Silva de Oliveira et al., 2024. Exploring Novice Programmers’ Testing Behavior: A First Step to Define Coding Struggle. In Proceedings of the 55th ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education V. 1 (SIGCSE 2024). Association for Computing Machinery, New York, NY, USA, 1251–1257. https://doi.org/10.1145/3626252.3630851

A Growing Quantum Community

Jason Pollack

Assistant professor in electrical engineering and computer science Jason Pollack envisions a promising future for quantum at Syracuse University. As the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS) undergoes significant growth with renovated lab spaces, new faculty members, and groundbreaking research, it marks a transformative period not only for the college but for quantum-related fields as well.    

“It’s exciting for me to be in a place where you can build a program and culture from the ground up,” Pollack says. “I’ve been telling my students that by the time they finish their grad school career, there will probably be three times as many people in quantum-related subjects as there are now. It’s very exciting that Syracuse University has put in all these resources.” 

Prior to being an assistant professor in ECS, Pollack attended the California Institute of Technology for graduate school and completed post-doctoral fellowships at the University of British Columbia and the University of Texas at Austin. He became interested in how underlying quantum physics can be seen in the world around us and switched from physics to computer science, collaborating frequently with mathematicians, engineers, scientists and experts within related fields.  

Pollack’s research focuses on the theory of quantum information. He aims to understand basic information and computational structures underlying quantum systems. He also collaborates with other faculty members studying quantum in ECS and across the university, particularly in discussing ideas such as random quantum walks in superconducting cavities and the design of metamaterials with exotic refractive index. This highlights the significant role theorists like Pollack play in quantum experiments.  

“Without theory, experimentalists wouldn’t know what theory to work on next. There’s always a whole set of possible things to do but then there’s the question of what to do next to increase my technical prowess or understanding. You have to take some steps to convert your results or what you’d like to understand about the world.”  

Pollack’s paper published in March 2024 discusses quantum thermodynamics and focuses on understanding the entanglement structure of quantum states. When two particles become entangled, their properties may remain correlated regardless of the distance. “The world is made up of atoms and molecules, but if you want to run a heat engine, you don’t have to manipulate individual gasoline molecules to run the engine. I want to understand what types of interaction a quantum system can have with an environment so I can treat it like a traditional, classical thermodynamic system. If I wait long enough, it becomes characterized by its temperature or energy.”  

Pollack also has research interests in quantum decoherence, which refers to the study of interactions between the environment and quantum systems (tiny particles like atoms and molecules.) His other research program is concerned with the physics seen by observers with only limited access to, or an imperfect ability to make measurements on, the quantum state.“Syracuse’s quantum community will be changing within a few years. The plan for ECS is to grow quantum faculty, and we’re going to be on the map. Students who want interdisciplinary work can certainly find it.”  

Pollack will be teaching graduate course CIS 700 “The Structure of Quantum States” where students will learn the features of quantum-mechanical systems. Starting next academic year, he will also be teaching an undergraduate course on quantum computing.

Syracuse University Leads Higher Education Consortium as Part of $40M Award to Advance Central New York’s Semiconductor Manufacturing Capabilities

A new $40 million award for the New York Semiconductor Manufacturing and Research Technology Innovation Corridor (NY SMART I-Corridor) was announced yesterday by U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer at a press conference in Syracuse hosted by INFICON. Syracuse University will lead the NY SMART I-Corridor’s Collaboration and Commercialization Center. (Photo courtesy of Onondaga County)
A new $40 million award for the New York Semiconductor Manufacturing and Research Technology Innovation Corridor (NY SMART I-Corridor) was announced yesterday by U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer at a press conference in Syracuse hosted by INFICON. Syracuse University will lead the NY SMART I-Corridor’s Collaboration and Commercialization Center. (Photo courtesy of Onondaga County)

Syracuse University will play a leading role in advancing Central New York’s semiconductor manufacturing capabilities thanks to $40 million in new funds made available to the Buffalo-Rochester-Syracuse region through the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s Regional Technology and Innovation Hub. The new award for the New York Semiconductor Manufacturing and Research Technology Innovation Corridor (NY SMART I-Corridor) was announced yesterday by U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer at a press conference in Syracuse hosted by INFICON. J. Michael Haynie, vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation, spoke at the event, and Duncan Brown, vice president for research, represented the University as principal investigator on Syracuse University’s component of the Tech Hub award.

“This is a monumental victory for the Buffalo-Rochester-Syracuse region as the first major Tech Hub award in the nation, bringing a whopping $40 million from my CHIPS and Science Law. With this major investment, the feds are shining a national spotlight, and confirming what I have long known, that America’s semiconductor future runs through the heart of Upstate NY along the I-90 corridor,” said Senator Schumer. “From the fields near Syracuse that will become Micron’s massive mega-fab to the cutting-edge research labs in Rochester and workers learning these manufacturing skills in Buffalo, this award helps connect the region to seize this once-in-a-generation opportunity and establish Upstate NY as the heart of America’s semiconductor industry. I created the Tech Hubs competition with Upstate NY in mind, and pulled out all the stops to win this award—first proposing this program in my Endless Frontier Act, then passing it into law as part of my CHIPS and Science Act, making the case to bring the region together, advocating at the highest levels and delivering the transformational investment to make today possible. It’s never been more clear: the heart of America’s semiconductor industry runs along the I-90 corridor in Upstate NY!”

Syracuse University will lead the NY SMART I-Corridor’s Collaboration and Commercialization Center (C3), which includes Cornell University, Rochester Institute of Technology, University of Rochester and University of Buffalo. C3 will administer millions of dollars in grants to allow small and medium-sized businesses to collaborate with the region’s universities, bring new ideas to market and accelerate growth of the semiconductor industry in the region.

“Syracuse University is proud to lead this higher education collaboration that will help drive innovation and establish the NY SMART I-Corridor as a world leading entrepreneurial incubator for the semiconductor industry,” says Chancellor Kent Syverud. “I am grateful for Senator Schumer’s steadfast advocacy. This substantial new grant builds on major investments the University is making. It will help create critical high-tech infrastructure and facilities, attract top semiconductor manufacturing researchers and faculty to the region, and develop unique experiential learning and internship opportunities for talented students.”

To support the NY SMART I-Corridor, the University is investing $10 million, which is matched by a $10 million investment from Onondaga County, to create a state-of-the-art advanced semiconductor manufacturing facility. The center is part of a more than $100 million investment in strategically transforming STEM and expanding the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS) at Syracuse University over the next five years.

“Together with our regional partners, and with the dedicated support of Senator Schumer, Syracuse University has a key role to play in the revitalization of Central New York,” says Haynie. “Today’s announcement is another exciting milestone in the realization of that goal, and we are gratified by the continuing opportunity to foster collaboration and innovation across the Tech Hub.”

As the NY SMART I-Corridor seeks to become the epicenter for American semiconductor commercialization efforts, C3 will integrate the region’s extensive assets into a single “point of entry” for small and medium-sized businesses, according to Brown.

“In our knowledge-driven society, university-led research and development is central to economic development. C3 will allow businesses of all sizes to partner with universities to develop, prototype and test new products,” Brown says. “Through these partnerships, the NY SMART I-Corridor will accelerate the transfer of ideas from lab to market.”

Modeled on New York State’s Centers for Advanced Technology, C3 will drive innovation in the I-Corridor’s semiconductor supply chain by establishing:

  • Innovation Asset/Expertise Engagement Network, an inventory of semiconductor relevant facilities and innovation expertise across the I-Corridor, accessible via a central online portal;
  • Knowledge/IP Collaboration Architecture, a new IP architecture for the region that incentivizes cross-collaboration between sectors and institutions and strengthens commercialization efforts in the I-Corridor; and
  • Formal Community of Practice, which will facilitate collaboration between businesses, researchers, investors and manufacturers in the region and sponsor programming and internships designed to benefit underrepresented communities.

The federal Tech Hub designation spans Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo and includes Ithaca, Auburn and Batavia. Key academic partners include Monroe Community College in Rochester, which will lead the hub’s workforce development efforts, and University at Buffalo, which will lead the effort to improve the region’s supply chain for semiconductors.

Schumer created the Regional Tech Hubs competition as part of the CHIPS and Science Bill, and said the three-region consortium beat out hundreds of applications and was one of only 31 regions across the U.S. chosen for the Tech Hub designation.

Yue Cao

Areas of Expertise:

  • Robotics 
  • Artificial Intelligence 

Yue Cao’s research centers on utilizing AI techniques to facilitate the automation and intelligence of robotic systems, particularly manipulators. His primary research goal is to advance task-oriented programming systems for manipulators. He focuses on developing approaches that integrate generative AI with classical robotics theory to achieve automatic task planning and planning-to-execution transition for manipulators. 

Honors and Awards: 

  • Magoon Excellence in Teaching Award, Purdue University, 2019 
  • Teaching Academy Graduate Teaching Award, Purdue University, 2023 

Selected Publications:  

Yue Cao and C. S. George Lee, “Behavior-Tree Embeddings for Robot Task-Level Knowledge,” IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems, 2022. 

Yue Cao and C. S. George Lee, “Robot Behavior-Tree-Based Task Generation with Large Language Models,” AAAI Spring Symposium Series, 2023. 

Yue Cao and C. S. George Lee, “Ground Manipulator Primitive Tasks to Executable Actions using Large Language Models,” AAAI Fall Symposium Series, 2023. 

Junzhe Zhang

Areas of Expertise 

  • Causal Inference
  • Reinforcement Learning
  • Fairness Analysis
  • Generative Models 

My research focuses on causal inference theory and its applications to artificial intelligence, reinforcement learning, and machine learning. I am particularly interested in understanding the principles of robust decision-making in the context of distribution shifts, including challenges of confounding bias, selection bias, and external validity, and using that understanding to develop more efficient, robust, and fair decision-making systems (i.e., agents). Here are a few questions I’ve been exploring: 

  • How do we evaluate the causal effects of interventions from biased data? How do we draw robust counterfactual claims in the presence of distribution shifts? 
  • How can robust off-policy learning methods be developed to evaluate candidate policies from biased data? How can we extrapolate informative knowledge from offline data to accelerate a future online learning process? 
  • How can ethical concepts such as fairness and discrimination be incorporated into AI decision systems? How can we audit these systems to detect potential discriminatory behaviors? 

Selected Publications:  

Partial Counterfactual Identification from Observational and Experimental Data 
Junzhe Zhang, Jin Tian, Elias Bareinboim. 
ICML-2022. In Proceedings of the 39th International Conference on Machine Learning. 

Causal Imitation Learning with Unobserved Confounders 
Junzhe Zhang, Daniel Kumor, Elias Bareinboim. 
NeurIPS-2020. In Proceedings of the 34th Annual Conference on Neural Information Processing Systems. 

Near-Optimal Reinforcement Learning in Dynamic Treatment Regimes 
Junzhe Zhang, Elias Bareinboim. 
NeurIPS-2019. In Proceedings of the 33rd Annual Conference on Neural Information Processing Systems. 

Fairness in Decision-Making — The Causal Explanation Formula 
Junzhe Zhang, Elias Bareinboim. 
AAAI-2018. In Proceedings of the 32nd AAAI Conference on Artificial Intelligence. 

Transfer Learning in Multi-Armed Bandits: A Causal Approach 
Junzhe Zhang, Elias Bareinboim. 
IJCAI-2017. In Proceedings of the 26th International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence. 

Rodrick Kuate Defo

Areas of Expertise: 

  • Quantum theory of solids 
  • Computational electronic structure methods 
  • Point defects in semiconductors 
  • Inverse design for large-scale photonic optimization

Kuate Defo’s research is focused on the theory underpinning the design of efficient devices for classical and quantum sensing, communication, and computation. His research achieves these aims through the development of ab-initio approaches to predict solid-state material properties; the determination of fundamental limits and efficient topology-optimization procedures to enhance light-matter interactions in nanophotonic devices; and the discovery and characterization of materials. He is particularly interested in the charge-state stability of point defects in wide band gap semiconductors for quantum sensing applications and in the dynamical process by which equilibrium of the Fermi level occurs in semiconductors. His program for research in nanophotonics uses computational and theoretical techniques to explore nanostructuring as a means of engineering materials with desirable figures of merit including large photonic bandgaps or significant Purcell enhancement.

Honors and Awards: 

  • Editors’ Suggestion, Physical Review B, 2023
  • US National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine’s Ford Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship, Oct. 2022 – 2023
  • Presidential Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, Princeton University, Sept. 2020 – Aug. 2022 (deferred to Jan. 2021 – Dec. 2022)
  • Commencement Marshal, Harvard University, May 2020
  • Institute for Applied Computational Science Student Scholarship, Harvard University, Sept. 2017 – Aug. 2018
  • Physics Graduate Prize Fellowship, Harvard University, Sept. 2014 – Aug. 2016

Selected Publications:  

A. Bahulikar, F. Wang, M. C. Gursoy, and R. Kuate Defo. “Solving the Inverse Band-Structure Problem for Photonic Crystals,” arXiv:2411.09165 [physics.optics]

R. Kuate Defo and S. L. Richardson, “Investigating the initialization and readout of relative populations of NV– and NV0 defects in diamond,” J. Appl. Phys. 135, 245702 (2024).

R. Kuate Defo, A. W. Rodriguez, and S. L. Richardson. “Charge-State Stability of Color Centers in Wide-Bandgap Semiconductors,” Phys. Rev. B 108, 235208 (2023).

R. Kuate Defo, A. W. Rodriguez, E. Kaxiras, S. L. Richardson, “Theoretical Investigation of Charge Transfer Between Two Defects in a Wide Band Gap Semiconductor,” Phys. Rev. B 107, 125305, (2023).

P. Chao, R. Kuate Defo, S. Molesky and A. W. Rodriguez, “Maximum Electromagnetic Local Density of States via Material Structuring,” Nanophotonics 12(3), 549–557 (2022).

R. Kuate Defo, X. Zhang, S. L. Richardson, and E. Kaxiras, “Theoretical Investigation of Charge Transfer between the NV− Center in Diamond and Substitutional N and P,” J. Appl. Phys. 130, 155102 (2021).

R. Kuate Defo, E. Kaxiras, and S. L. Richardson, “Calculating the Hyperfine Tensors for Group-IV Impurity-Vacancy Centers in Diamond Using Hybrid Density Functional Theory,” Phys. Rev. B 104, 075158, (2021).

R. Kuate Defo, H. Nguyen, M. J. H. Ku, and T. D. Rhone, “Methods to Accelerate High-Throughput Screening of Atomic Qubit Candidates in van der Waals Materials,” J. Appl. Phys. 129, 225105 (2021).

Electrical and Computer Engineering Students Develop Plastic Sorting Robot for Waste Management  

As engineering students Fundi Juriasi ‘24, Hanna Salem ‘24, Prince Sarquah ‘24 and Sukhleen Atwal ‘24 brainstormed ideas for their senior design project, they couldn’t seem to land on an idea they all agreed on. Sarquah’s interest lay in robotics, Juriasi was fascinated with face-tracking cameras, and Salem liked the idea of a Lego sorter that could assort the bright-colored blocks by color. Inspired by her passion for the environment, it wasn’t until Atwal combined their ideas that the group finally came to a project they all loved: a camera-tracking, plastic-sorting robot.  

Plastic pollution continues to be a significant environmental issue, with millions of plastic items entering our planet’s oceans every year and this is often due to improper waste disposal. The engineering group’s plastic sorting robot shows promise in enhancing current waste management methods by automating the sorting process. They believe that this technology could play a crucial role in reducing landfill waste, increasing recycling rates, and promoting more sustainable practices. 

“Most plastics come with recyclable code, but the problem is, sometimes the code gets damaged, and it can’t be seen without advanced cameras,” Juriasi says. “We wanted to make our project more achievable, so we placed QR codes on objects to mimic how it can be implemented in the real world.”  

Their robot, ARMie, uses a camera to scan QR codes and identify the type of material based on the code. With instructions from the user interface, ARMie sorts each item into the appropriate bin for recyclable, non-recyclable, or further sorting. This innovative system streamlines the recycling process, enhancing its efficiency and accuracy.  

The hardware consists of the microcontroller board Arduino Uno, a robotic arm, servo motors, a PWM/servo driver, a camera, bins, and a power supply. The key technologies and software used for the project include the open-source code-writing software Arduino IDE, Python, graphical user interface (GUI), and QR codes. 

Despite the challenges that came with putting this ambitious project together such as mechanical durability and power supply balance, the students were able to present ARMie at the College of Engineering and Computer Science’s (ECS) Open House. “Overall, I would say this project was good. It has real-world applications and potential to impact sustainability,” says Salem.  

“By integrating technology with environmental sustainability, ARMie facilitates a smarter way to manage waste, offering a significant step forward in our recycling efforts,” says Juriasi.  

Electrical and Computer Engineering Students Develop Smart Cane for Vision Accessibility

New York City has over 12,000 miles of sidewalks, thousands of buses, and a huge transit system that can get you from one end of the city to the other. It’s perfect for pedestrians – but how accessible is it?  

Vision loss affects hundreds of New Yorkers, who may find it difficult to navigate sidewalks, crosswalks, and intersections. However, steps are being taken to address these accessibility issues. Along with recent federal court orders for NYC to install accessible pedestrian signals throughout the city, four electrical and computer engineering students are taking accessibility a step further with their navigational cane, Pear Vision+. 

“We knew we wanted to make something that was really practical and useful,” says Armani Isonguyo ‘25. “Traditional canes serve only as a physical extension of the user, providing information of any obstacles within 5 feet proximity. Our cane offers comprehensive navigational aid.” 

Created by Isonguyo, Alexander Segarra ‘24, Elliot Salas ‘24, and Isaish Fernandez ‘24, the engineering group’s smart cane can identify obstacles in a person’s way, which direction they’re facing the obstacle, and whether the objects are moving. It also provides feedback through audio descriptions via Bluetooth and vibrations, giving users a better understanding of their surroundings. 

“I love video games and Nintendo Switches and PlayStation 5s all incorporate vibration into gameplay,” Salas says. “The original idea was actually to put a PlayStation 5 motor in the cane for vibration, but we used a 5V haptic motor disk instead.”  

The smart cane is equipped with NVIDIA’s Jetson platform, which helps it identify objects in the surrounding environment. It also has a depth-sensing camera that can determine distances and create a three-dimensional view of the environment. This assists visually impaired individuals in identifying obstacles in real time and navigating their surroundings safely. The cane was also modeled using Shapr3D, a 3D modeling tool.  

“With the design, we didn’t focus too much on the length or thickness of the cane, based on previous inspirations in the real world,” says Segarra. “We focused more on the handle and the angle you would want to hold so it doesn’t break.” 

The students presented Pear Vision+ at the College of Engineering and Computer Science’s (ECS) Open House and also won the William Peil Award for the best electrical engineering and computer science senior design project. They see potential for their project to impact the lives of many.  

“I saw this project as one that was meaningful in advancing a certain industry and the world. I’m glad to be part of something that can be impactful,” says Segarra.  

“This project not only pushed the boundaries of what we can achieve with technology but also taught us the importance of engineering solutions that make a real difference in people’s lives. We are proud to contribute to a more accessible world,” says Isonguyo.  

Professor Shiu-Kai Chin Awarded Chancellor’s Medal

The College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS) is proud to announce Professor Shiu-Kai Chin as the recipient of the Chancellor’s Medal, the University’s highest honor. This award is presented to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to Syracuse University and the world. Chin’s research has greatly impacted the field of computer security and he remains a leading figure in trustworthy computer system research. He is currently the Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor for Teaching Excellence and professor of electrical engineering and computer science.

“It’s a huge privilege. I owe so much to this university and the wonderful people here,” says Chin. “I’m very pleased and proud to receive the Chancellor’s Medal. My obligation is to pay things forward.”

In 1969, when Chin was a high school junior attending camp, he visited Syracuse University’s campus for the first time. This trip would influence his decision to attend Syracuse for his undergraduate studies and pursue his interest in computer science and engineering, which were relatively new fields at the time. Syracuse University was one of the few research institutions that offered this curriculum, making it an easy choice for Chin to pursue his studies. He would graduate with a computer engineering degree in 1975.

Chin started his professional career at General Electric and planned to obtain a master’s degree. General Electric offered an advanced three-year engineering course which led to a master’s degree from Syracuse University upon completion, and after completing the course, Chin continued working at General Electric. However, he reconsidered after a colleague mentioned how enjoyable it was to work at Syracuse University.

“They told me they have fun at Syracuse every day. I had never associated fun and work in the same sentence,” says Chin. “I have no regrets working for General Electric. It was satisfying. The concept of work, while meaningful and important, also being fun, I’ve never had that thought.”

Chin would land a position with Syracuse University in 1986, bringing his expertise in computer security, systems assurance, and formal verification to his teaching. His research involves the use of mathematical logic for designing and verifying trustworthy computer systems. He also focuses on policy-based design and verification, with an emphasis on using computer-assisted reasoning and higher-order logic theorem provers.

Chin has received awards and honors, including the Provost Faculty Fellow, Chancellor’s Citation for Outstanding Contributions to the University’s Academic Programs and the Crouse Hinds Award for Excellence in Education. He has worked closely with Syracuse University’s Center for Information Systems Assurance and Trust, as well as the Institute for National Security and Counterterrorism. He has also written multiple publications on his research, worked with the Air Force’s trustworthy systems and hardware-based security and collaborated with JP Morgan Chase on transaction security.

When Chin reflects on his career at the University, he finds joy in conducting his research but also in seeing his students explore and discover on their own.

“I love the exuberant, optimistic energy and excitement that new students carry. It reminds me of when I was a student as well. It happens every year when a new batch of students come,” he says. “I also love it when students come back and want to meet with me and tell me what happened after they graduated. That’s what makes faculty life so remarkably satisfying.”

Though Chin is retiring from the University, he will continue research efforts with the government and corporations and has some active proposals that are under consideration with the Air Force. He also has a CRADA (Cooperative Research and Development Agreement) with NSA in mission assurance, cybersecurity and trustworthy AI in security, all of which he looks forward to completing.

“Syracuse was the first institution that made me feel at home. I never had to explain myself. The faculty in the college understood me. I’m very fortunate that Syracuse University took a chance on me.”

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Professor Farzana Rahman Receives Meredith Teaching Recognition Award

Farzana Rahman

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) Professor Farzana Rahman received a Meredith Teaching Recognition Award at the 2024 One University Awards. The award is sponsored by the Syracuse University Meredith Professors to recognize excellence in teaching and foster a culture of collegial mentoring among faculty members.

Rahman joined the College of Engineering and Computer Science in the spring of 2020. She has taught core courses in the across the EECS department. Central to her teaching approach is an active learning style, which pairs hands-on programming exercises with challenging projects that demand students to cultivate skills in problem-solving, debugging, and software engineering in general. She is dedicated to creating equitable education and learning experiences for all students.

In October 2023, Rahman was honored by the Technology Alliance of Central New York as the organization’s College Educator of the Year. She has also received a grant from Google to fund the development of an undergraduate student engagement workshop program, Research Exposure in Socially Relevant Computing.

“Farzana Rahman is an exemplary teacher,” says Professor Shiu-Kai Chin. “Our students are fortunate that they can learn fundamental concepts from her. She represents our profession and Syracuse University in an exemplary fashion.”

“We have seen Professor Rahman motivate students through her enthusiasm, high expectations, challenging, and well-structured course design,” says Interim Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department Chair Susan Older. “Despite her successes in the classroom, we are most appreciative of the reflection she maintains as she isolates student learning difficulties, designs activities to remedy these difficulties, and then self-evaluates how she can improve each course from semester to semester.”

“Professor Rahman has served as the ‘go-to’ professor for many women and underrepresented students who frequently seek her advice on resume building, internship/job interview preparation, research supervision, and the higher education admission process,” said Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Academic Initiatives Jae Oh.

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Professor Qinru Qiu Named Distinguished Professor  

Qinru Qiu

Electrical engineering and computer science (EECS) professor Qinru Qiu has been named a Distinguished Professor by the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS).   

Qiu previously received the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) SIGDA Distinguished Service Award and the National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award. She has also been a Distinguished Member of ACM since 2022 and was recognized as a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) in 2023. Qiu also serves as the EECS Graduate Program Director in ECS.  

Her current research focuses on improving the energy efficiency of computing, from runtime power and thermal management of computer systems, and energy harvesting real-time embedded systems, to her recent works in brain-inspired hardware and software for neuromorphic computing.  

“I am delighted to learn that Professor Qinru Qiu is being elevated to the rank of Distinguished Professor,” says EECS Distinguished Professor, Pramod Varshney. “Qinru is widely known for her seminal work on energy-efficient computing as well as neuromorphic computing. Her contributions to scholarship, education, and service at Syracuse University are exemplary.  She truly deserves this timely recognition.”  

“I am very excited and truly honored to receive this special award,” says Qiu. “I want to thank my colleagues for their support and trust. This is a new start for me, and I will continue performing my best.” 

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Professor Endadul Hoque Receives NSF CAREER Award to Research Context Sensitive Fuzzing for Networked Systems

Despite advances in cybersecurity, even the most protected networks are vulnerable to cyberattacks due to software bugs or security flaws. Though vulnerability detection methods such as fuzzing can detect bugs, these methods have some limitations. Endadul Hoque, assistant professor in electrical engineering and computer science, has made significant progress researching computer networks and systems security and is working to enhance network security by developing an innovative automated solution. 

Hoque has received a National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award to research context-sensitive fuzzing for networked systems. This grant supports early career faculty with their professional development and will build upon Hoque’s research on computer networks and systems security, program analysis, and software engineering.  

“Many big tech companies like Google and Microsoft have been investing in fuzzing techniques and have seen the importance of finding bugs in existing software,” Hoque says. “The National Institute of Standards in Technology (NIST) also endorses fuzzing as an automated technique for security testing. This project will push boundaries within the field and have an impact on cybersecurity.” 

Hoque’s project has three research goals. The first goal is to create a language that can encode complex structures of inputs that change depending on the context and develop algorithms that can quickly generate correct inputs based on this language. The second goal is to create techniques that can mutate these inputs without losing their context sensitivity, which is essential for the process of fuzzing.  The final goal is to create mechanisms that ensure the internal state of a protocol is accurately maintained. This will allow each fuzz input to be tested in a suitable state for the protocol being tested. 

“In this area of research, people tend to focus on strengthening the system by finding flaws in the existing system that we use in our day-to-day life,” Hoque says. “How can we find loopholes in real-world security-critical systems? This research award falls under that category to advance the limitations of existing methodologies.” 

As part of his project, Hoque plans to improve cybersecurity courses and hold K-12 workshops to promote cybersecurity awareness, integrating his research findings into these initiatives. The project will also encourage undergraduate and graduate students from historically marginalized communities to get involved with educational and research activities. 

Additionally, Hoque will form a team for cybersecurity competitions such as capture-the-flag (CTF) competitions, where participants search for hidden text strings in vulnerable websites or programs. These gamified competitions are also an effective way to improve cybersecurity education.  

“This project has the potential to significantly enhance the robustness of protocol implementations and cybersecurity education, benefiting society. I’m happy to have received this prestigious award.”  

Alex K. Jones Joins Syracuse University as the Klaus Schroder Endowed Professor for Engineering and Chair of the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department

The College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS) is proud to welcome Professor Alex K. Jones as the Klaus Schroder Endowed Professor for Engineering and the Chair of the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department (EECS). He joins Syracuse from the University of Pittsburgh where he had a 21-year career in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) with courtesy appointments in Computer Science (CS) and Physics and Astronomy. 

“I’m thrilled to join Syracuse University at this important time,” said Jones.  “The designation of Syracuse University as a core partner in a Regional Tech Hub for computer chips along with the establishment of the new Micron fabrication facility is a tremendous opportunity to become a national leader in the semiconductor space with direct access to opportunities through the CHIPS and Science Act.  I am also excited about the outstanding potential within the EECS Department in topics like artificial intelligence, sustainable energy, quantum science and information, and many others thanks to the talented faculty, students, and staff.  In partnership with ECS and Syracuse University, broadly, I think you will see great things from EECS in the coming years that will benefit our students, our city, our state and beyond.”

Jones’ research interests are broadly in the areas of computer architecture and compilers. He is best known for research and leadership advancing the field of sustainable computing.  His contributions are related to applying full lifecycle thinking to the study of environmental impacts and optimizations for computing systems including projections of environmental impacts, such as with servers in data centers.

Jones demonstrated that the critical environmental impacts from manufacturing these servers can meet or exceed those from the powering their operation in data centers.  This trend has started to be noted by industry over the last half decade.  More importantly, in handheld systems like mobile phones, 80% or more of the greenhouse gas emissions comes from manufacturing. 

Among his research contributions in this area, Jones’ work has demonstrated that leveraging existing silicon in novel ways, such as processing-in-memory, creates an opportunity to holistically reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  He has created a tool suite called GreenChip to help encourage the use of environmental-related metrics in the development of next generation computing systems. Jones has received a Carnegie Science Award, a Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation Faculty Fellowship, and was elevated to Fellow of the IEEE for his contributions to sustainable computing.

Jones has a significant background in academic leadership. He served as Pitt’s Director of Computer Engineering from 2011—2017, a joint program comprised of faculty from the CS and ECE departments.  He led the program to unprecedented growth and an increase in visibility and rankings nationally.  Jones’ philosophy combined better engagement between students and faculty in the program and a curriculum that included the newest developments in the field and aspects of the excellent research undertaken by computer engineering program faculty.  During his tenure as director, Computer Engineering at Pitt became a top 50 program nationally, where it remains today.

Following his tenure with Computer Engineering, Jones joined the NSF Space, High Performance, and Resilient Computing (SHREC) Center and served as Associate Director from 2018—2020.  He led a project team in memory reliability for high performance and space applications.  He demonstrated that off-the-shelf dynamic random access memory (DRAM) used in commodity computers had specific radiation properties such that 95—99% of the faults were from predictable locations.  He developed a technique that combined a fault repository and low-level error correction that could protect standard DRAM from radiation faults in space, avoiding the need to use radiation hardened devices that are expensive and trail the state of the art by several generations.

In August of 2020, Jones joined the National Science Foundation (NSF) as a program manager in the Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) directorate in the Computer and Network Systems (CNS) Division as part of the Computer Systems Research (CSR) cluster.  A significant accomplishment was his creation of the Design for Environmental Sustainability of Computing (DESC) program.  He was also the managing program director of the ATHENA AI Institute led by Duke University.  In his third year at the NSF, he was elevated to serve as cluster lead for CSR.  In his fourth year, he was appointed as the Deputy Division Director for the Electrical, Communications, and Cyber Systems (ECCS) Division, which is a member of the senior leadership team of the Engineering (ENG) Directorate.

While at NSF, Jones established a new personal research direction in quantum computing.  Attracting nearly three million dollars in funding from Foundation and Department of Defense grants with his physics colleague Michael Hatridge (Pitt/Yale) and the latter with Hatridge and Robert Schoelkopf (Yale) to develop modular computer architectures, Jones’ research demonstrates better target quantum gates and interconnection topologies that can be realized with high fidelity superconducting systems.  These approaches improve the size of quantum applications that can be solved in noisy quantum machines.

Jones received his Ph.D. from Northwestern University, where he was a Walter P. Murphy Fellow.  His first major paper at Northwestern on translating MATLAB applications into hardware descriptions went on to be a seminal work (top 25 paper of all time) in the IEEE Field Programmable and Custom Computing Machines (FCCM) Conference.  His Ph.D. work in compilation/high-level synthesis of C/C++ codes into hardware descriptions crystallized his interest in compilation and configurable computing.  This work informed some of his early work at Pitt in design automation of coarse-grain reconfigurable computing fabrics and radio frequency identification (RFID) devices.  Compilation remains a core focus of Jones’ research as applied to configurable architectures and most recently in terms of programming quantum systems (transpilation).

In his spare time, Jones is a freelance clarinetist.  In Pittsburgh he was the principal clarinetist of the Pittsburgh Philharmonic, where he has been a featured soloist, served briefly as its artistic director, and served as guest conductor. He also enjoys downhill skiing.

Computer Science Student Cheryl Olanga ’25 Receives Deloitte Foundation Scholarship

The National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) has selected computer science student Cheryl Olanga ‘25 as the recipient of the Deloitte Foundation Scholarship.  

The Deloitte Foundation is committed to investing in education and equity by supporting underrepresented students. Through grants that help students develop critical skills in business, accounting, and STEM, the foundation seeks to promote the success of students, educators, and schools by collaborating with academic institutions and nonprofit organizations to drive social impact. 

Olanga is currently the assistant treasurer for the Syracuse University NSBE chapter. The organization engages in community service and outreach with high school students, and members discuss their experiences, introduce students to STEM subjects, and help students with science projects. Olanga also works in the Office of Admissions in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, giving tours and talking with prospective and admitted students. She’s also a peer leader for the Office of Success Advising and a member of the Engineering Ambassadors.

Olanga is also researching the implications of AI on policing in Syracuse with the Lender Center for Social Justice. “For me, winning this scholarship is like receiving an affirmation that the future of underrepresented groups within the study and practice of engineering and computer science is bright.”

Engineering and Computer Science Alumni Establish Scholarship to Honor Professor C.Y. Roger Chen

Roger Chen

For nearly 37 years, Professor C.Y. Roger Chen has been a guide to many students on their academic and professional journey. Teaching electrical engineering and computer science courses at Syracuse University since 1988, Chen has continued to mentor several doctoral students who have gone on to have successful careers in big tech.  

Naresh Sehgal G’88, Ph.D.’94 is one of many former students whose career was shaped by Chen’s mentorship. As one of Chen’s first master’s students, the two developed a close bond that lasted beyond Sehgal’s time at Syracuse University. Now, after retiring from a 32-year career at Intel Corporation, Sehgal and other alumni are seeking to give back.  

“After leaving Syracuse in 1988, Chen agreed to continue being my Ph.D. advisor remotely before the advent of the internet, Skype, Zoom, or any online meetings. He’s extremely humble and flexible,” says Sehgal. “Along with my former Intel colleagues, Bill and Bharat, who also studied under Chen, we wanted to give something back to him and Syracuse University.” 

Sehgal, along with Bill Halpin ’88, G’95, Ph.D.’05, Bharat Krishna G’94, Ph.D.’05, Nagbhushan Veerapaneni G’87 and Uminder Singh G’91, Ph.D.’94 established the Dr. Roger Chen Scholarship to honor their professor and advisor for his unwavering guidance and support.  For five years, the scholarship will provide financial assistance of up to $10,000 per year to undergraduate students in the College of Engineering and Computer Science and will support students studying computer engineering, electrical engineering, or computer science.  

“Syracuse played a huge role in my success and that of my friends. Many of us were able to afford college through assistantships and scholarships,” says Halpin. “The investment by Professor Chen and Syracuse has led us to have fantastic careers and blessed lives. Recognizing him was something that we talked about for a long time.” 

The alumni hope this scholarship sets a precedent of appreciation for the college and its faculty who have played a vital role in shaping the careers of many students. They hope to inspire students to pursue their dreams by supporting them, just as Chen and the University once did for them. 

“During my master’s studies, Syracuse generously supported me through a teaching assistantship which was a big help,” says Sehgal. “We are glad to have attended this university and studied under Professor Chen. We’re forever grateful for his patience and encouragement.” 

“It was natural for us to want to help make college affordable for the next generation of students,” says Halpin. “We hope that this scholarship creates a virtuous cycle where more Alums donate today thereby creating the next generation of Alums who feel the same desire to donate.” 

If you would like to make a gift in honor of Dr. Roger Chen and pay it forward, please visit Dr. Roger Chen’s Scholarship Fund. Thank you! 

An Inside Look at Professor Pankaj Jha’s New Quantum Technology Lab 

Dr. Aswini Pattanayak
Dr. Aswini Pattanayak working in the quantum technology lab.

Two-dimensional (2D) materials are the thinnest nanomaterials known to exist. Being only about a single or few layers of atoms thick, these delicate sheets have found many applications in electronic devices, quantum optics, and photovoltaic technology.  Pankaj K. Jha, assistant professor in electrical engineering and computer science, is leading a quantum technology laboratory with members Aswini Pattanayak, Jagi Rout G’28, Amir Targholizadeh G’28, Theodore Todorov ’26, and Grisha Nikulin ’27 to understand emerging 2D materials and use their findings to develop transformative devices for applications in quantum information science.

Professor Pankaj Jha in his quantum technology lab
Professor Pankaj Jha working on a home-built confocal microscope to investigate the optical properties of 2D materials and heterostructures

Jha is developing single-photon detectors using iron-based superconductors that could work at higher temperatures. Currently, superconducting photodetectors require low temperatures to operate. Pattanayak, a post-doctoral scholar, is leading this project to understand photodetection in iron-chalcogenide-based superconductors and investigating the interaction between these superconductors with other 2D van der Waals (vdWs) materials, exploring unique quantum phenomena at their interfaces. 

“High-temperature single photon detectors will have both scientific and fundamental impact. Any application that requires sensitive photon detectors will benefit from these devices,” Jha says.   

Pattanayak is also mentoring Todorov, an undergraduate student, in light interferometry. Interferometers combine light to create an interference pattern that can be measured and analyzed. “Interferometry is the basis of optics because it allows you to analyze the classical and quantum optical properties of light,” Todorov says. “The resulting interference can allow one to understand properties of the laser such as path length, wavelength, and refractive index of the medium it has passed through.”  

“In this era of quantum exploration, the investigation of superconductors serves as the cornerstone for unlocking unparalleled frontiers in quantum technologies and devices,” says Pattanayak. 

Pankaj Jha and his Research Team
Professor Pankaj Jha, Theodore Todorov, Aswini Pattanayak, Amir Targholizadeh, and Jagi Rout (left to right)

Rout, a graduate student, is exploring heterostructures using nanofabrication techniques. Her research focuses on studying high-temperature superconductivity. In addition to working on single-photon detectors, Rout is developing Josephson junctions, devices made by placing thin, non-superconducting materials between two superconductors, and she’ll be using iron-chalcogenide-based superconductors.  

“The interplay among topology, magnetism, and superconductivity makes our material an intriguing platform to investigate the strange yet promising interactions in the subatomic realm,” says Rout.   

Rout is also mentoring Todorov and Nikulin in the exfoliation of 2D materials. Nikulin’s interest is Superconducting Qubit Architecture and Quantum Algorithms.  “Superconducting-based photon detection also has significant applications towards reducing quantum decoherence in quantum computation systems,” says Nikulin. 

Targholizadeh, a graduate student, is developing flat photonic devices based on metasurfaces capable of functioning at extremely low temperatures. He aims to address and solve some of the outstanding challenges that single photon detectors face, such as polarization sensitivity, and near-normal incidence requirements, among other issues. 

“Metasurfaces are recently introduced as a new paradigm for nanophotonic devices, and in our laboratory, we are working on conceiving, designing, fabricating, and testing these metasurface-based devices,” Targholizadeh says.  

Jagi Rout working on creating heterostructures with 2D materials with a fully motorized transferred setup.

In addition to research, Jha started a quantum information science and engineering seminar (QISE) at Syracuse University with support from an internal FCAR Grant. With speakers from academia, industry, and national labs, seminars are open to all and cover experimental and theoretical topics in QISE and adjacent research.

“The response to the QISE Seminar Series has been outstanding, with 60-70 % student audience participation,” Jha says. “I see a bright future for quantum science at the University.” 

Click here to learn more about the QISE Seminar

Theodore Todorov working with Aswini Pattanayak on building an interferometer to study the quantum properties of light.

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Professor Younes Radi Appointed as Senior Member and Associate Editor of IEEE

Younes Radi in his lab

Younes Radi, assistant professor in electrical engineering and computer science, has been recognized as a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) for his contributions to research in applied electromagnetics and microwave engineering. He has also been chosen as an Associate Editor for the IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation. 

The IEEE is a global organization devoted to advancing technology for humanity’s benefit. Senior Membership is awarded to members who have made a significant impact within their fields. Only 10% of the IEEE’s more than 400,000 members hold this grade, which requires extensive experience, professional maturity, and documented achievements of significance.  

Radi’s research focuses on the physics of fields and waves, with emphasis on tailoring electromagnetic wave-matter interaction. He has made significant scientific contributions on a broad range of topics in theoretical and applied electromagnetics, optics, and photonics, including artificial electronic and photonic materials, RF/microwave circuits, antennas, and propagation. His papers have been published in several high-impact journals including Nature Physics, Nature Communications, National Science Foundation, and IEEE family journals. 

In addition to his Senior Membership and becoming an Associate Editor at IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Radi has also been chosen by the University as one of the two faculty to compete in the 2024 Moore Inventor Fellows Program. These recent achievements reflect Radi’s focused efforts to re-establish Syracuse University as a renowned center of electromagnetics and microwave engineering research. 

Professor Younes Radi and his research group

“Syracuse University has a rich history in applied electromagnetics and microwave engineering and was one of the leading universities in the world in this field,” says Radi. “I’ve been to many places in Europe and the US and have never seen a city like Syracuse where you can find so many high-end companies in applied electromagnetics and microwave engineering. This creates a great platform to bridge the research in my team with the local industry.   

“I am extremely grateful to the department, college, and also the office of VPR for their amazing support in establishing a state-of-the-art RF and mm-Wave laboratory, which we have named ‘RadLab.’ This facility will pave the way for new collaborations with local industry and position Syracuse as a highly active hub for advanced research in applied electromagnetics and microwave engineering.” 

Syracuse University Online Information Technology Programs Move Up in U.S. News and World Report Rankings

Syracuse University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science and the School of Information Studies (iSchool) have been ranked 26th for Best Online Graduate Information Technology Programs by U.S. News & World Report for 2024.

Syracuse University moved up eight spots in the rankings from 2023.

In the rankings for Best Online Graduate Information Technology Programs for Veterans, Syracuse University was ranked 14th, an increase of one spot from 2023.

The full rankings, released earlier today, are available on the U.S. News & World Report website.

The College of Engineering and Computer Science offers online master’s degree programs in cybersecurity, computer science and computer engineering.

The iSchool offers M.S. degree programs in applied data science, information systems and library and information science online.

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Professor Wenliang (Kevin) Du Recognized as Fellow of the Association for Computing Machinery 

Wenliang (Kevin) Du, the Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor in electrical engineering and computer science, has been recognized as a Fellow of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) for his contributions to cybersecurity education and research.  

The ACM is the world’s largest society of computing professionals, and their member grade recognizes the top 1% of ACM members worldwide for their groundbreaking contributions to computing and information technology. All 2023 inductees have been well-established ACM members who were chosen by their peers.  

Du has been at Syracuse University since 2001 and his research focuses on computer and network security. He founded the SEED open-source project in 2002 and the cybersecurity lab exercises developed from this project are now being used by 1,100 institutes worldwide. Additionally, his self-published book, “Computer & Internet Security: A Hands-on Approach”, has been adopted by 280 institutes worldwide. His research papers have been cited 17,800 times, and he has won two Test-of-Time Awards. Du was also elevated to a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) in 2023.

“This very prestigious award means a lot to me, as it recognizes over 20 years’ of my work on cybersecurity education and research, especially my work on cybersecurity education,” says Du. “I was told by many friends not to spend too much time on the education part, as it won’t help my tenure case – I am glad that I didn’t listen to them. Now the global impact of my work on cybersecurity education is huge.”  

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Professor Qinru Qiu Recognized as IEEE Fellow

Qinru Qiu

Electrical engineering and computer science professor, Qinru Qiu, has been recognized as a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) for her impactful contributions to the modeling and optimization of energy-efficient computing systems.  

IEEE is a global organization that is committed to advancing technology for the betterment of humanity. With over 409,000 members in more than 160 countries, less than 0.1% of voting members are chosen for elevation to this member grade each year.  

Qiu’s research interest focuses on improving the energy efficiency of computing, from runtime power and thermal management of computer systems, and energy harvesting real-time embedded systems, to her recent works in brain-inspired hardware and software for neuromorphic computing.  The goal of her research is to provide machine intelligence to today’s computing platforms to achieve autonomous resource management with energy and thermal awareness and explore emerging computing paradigms.  

“Professor Qiu has been leading the research community to seek solutions for highly energy-efficient machine intelligence through adopting biologically inspired models and processing mechanisms,” says nominator Diana Marculescu. “Her ground-breaking research has enabled a completely new computing paradigm, which leverages the unique property of different types of spike coding to replace the numerical calculation with simple logic operations, resulting in significant energy reduction.” 

“I am excited and thankful for the recognition and truly grateful for all the support that I have received,” says Qiu. “I look forward to continuing my work in developing and promoting techniques to improve the energy efficiency of emerging computing systems.” 

Engineering and Computer Science Staff Spotlight – Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Get to know the incredible staff who keep electrical engineering and computer science running smoothly!

Shawn Knight

Name: Shawn Knight

Title: Assistant to the Department Chair

Tell us about your role at ECS:

I am the administrative assistant to the department chair and assist the director of academic operations with the daily administrative operations of the department and I also serve as the departmental search administrator for hiring faculty and staff.

What is your favorite part of working here at ECS?

Learning something new every day!

Rebecca Noble

Name: Rebecca Noble  

Title: Office Coordinator III 

Tell us about your role at ECS:

I started as a member of the EECS team in August 2011, working for ISR at 621 Skytop in conjunction with BMCE. In 2013, I moved into my current position where I mainly handle scheduling and enrollment issues for the EECS department which covers CSE, ELE, CIS, and Cyber programs as well as CPS classes for non-engineering majors.   

What is your favorite part of working here at ECS? 

My favorite part of working at SU is when we work convocation in May.  It is a real joy to see the students I’ve worked with through the years taking the next steps on their journey. A close second is walking through the Thornden Park Rose Garden (with tea in hand) in June. 

Sarah Collins

Name: Sarah Collins

Title: Director, Academic Operations

Tell us about your role at ECS:

Work with Chair and Program Directors to review, assess, design and implement administration policies and procedures. Assist Chair, Program Directors, faculty, staff and students with various needs and requests.

What is your favorite part of working here at ECS?

Being in a new role (since June) I have enjoyed the challenges that come with learning a new role and working with new people. I have learned a lot and continue to come across new things that I haven’t necessarily been involved with previously supporting my professional and personal growth.

Cynthia M. Bromka-Skafidas

Name: Cynthia Bromka-Skafidas

Title: Administrative Assistant II

Tell us about your role at ECS:

I work with our budget manager, Linda Lowe, in ordering supplies and other special orders, and make sure our Graduate Assistants, Fellows and hourly workers get paid in a timely manner.  I also assist with academic matters related to our graduate students.  I have been with EECS over 30 years.

What is your favorite part of working here at ECS?

Watching students present their projects at the end of the year and seeing their achievements.

Cynthia Salanger

Name: Cynthia Salanger

Title: Admin Specialist I

Tell us about your role at ECS:

Helping students from the time they arrive on campus until they are certified to graduate.

What is your favorite part of working here at ECS?

Helping students achieve their goal of graduating.

Smart Speakers, Smarter Protection

Whether you’re looking to try a new recipe, dimming the lights in your living room, or curious about the species of bacteria living inside your mouth, Amazon Alexa has got you covered. With a simple voice command, Alexa’s ability to perform various tasks or answer questions has made it widely popular, with over 40 million users in the United States alone. Despite the convenience smart speakers like Alexa offer, these devices have also raised some privacy concerns. 

Amazon has been known to collect data on users which includes their shopping habits, preferences, and even their location for personalized marketing. But that’s not all. When using waking words such as “Hey Alexa” to activate smart speakers, the audio of your voice command is also recorded and stored, becoming Amazon’s property. This means that Amazon owns your voice audio and can do whatever they want with it. 

“Big tech companies are using our personal information. We’re less like customers and more like their product,” says graduate student Brian Testa ’24. “I’ve always been sensitive to that. I don’t use a lot of technology at home for that reason.” 

Using voice data, companies like Amazon and Google have now developed technology that poses even more threats to privacy: AI and machine learning that can determine people’s emotional state or mood from their voice. This patented technology can even pick up on feelings from emotionally neutral phrases like “What’s the weather?” Since there are no laws in place to prevent this, there’s no protection against it. 

“In the US for the last five to 10 years, lots of researchers have been working on how they can use voice to infer emotions, mood or even mental health,” says assistant professor in electrical engineering and computer science, Asif Salekin. “In my own lab, we have previous works on tech that can infer mental disorders like depression, social anxiety, manic disorder, and even suicidal tendencies from one’s voice.” 

While this technology can be useful in certain circumstances, most users, if not all, have not consented to having their emotions detected by smart speakers. These privacy concerns led Testa, Professor Salekin, graduate students Harshit Sharma ’26 and Yi Xiao 26, and undergraduate student Avery Gump ’24 to begin researching ways to protect users’ privacy from smart speakers. 

“Consent is key,” Salekin says. “We’d still like to use smart speakers since they’re quite useful – I have them in my own home. This project was about finding a way to use these devices without giving companies the power to exploit us.” 

Led by Testa, the group conducted extensive research and developed a device that can be attached to a smart speaker or downloaded as software onto a laptop. This device emits a mild noise that only the smart speaker can hear and masks the emotional tone in your voice, providing a new level of privacy protection for concerned users.

“Through the use of a speech emotion recognition (SER) classifier, a smart speaker can analyze how people are feeling based on how they sound. We created a microphone device that listens for the wake word ‘Hey Alexa’”, Testa says. “When the smart speaker activates, our device activates too and begins to emit a noise that disrupts the smart speaker from detecting your emotions. However, only the smart speaker hears this noise.”  

Currently, their device masks your emotional state by presenting it as a completely different emotion. When you speak, the smart speaker may detect from your voice that you’re sad, angry, or frustrated when you’re not feeling any of these emotions. This unpredictability makes it difficult for smart speakers to accurately determine your true emotions or mood and also prevents machine learning from picking up on any patterns and mood correlations. The group hopes to improve the device’s functionality by making it mask your emotions as neutral rather than presenting them as a different emotion. 

“To create the mild noise our device emits, we utilized genetic programming to identify a combination of specific frequencies that disrupt the smart speaker from determining a person’s mood,” Salekin says. “Only the speaker hears this noise, but it can hear your speech commands clearly, so the utility of the smart speaker remains intact.”  

Though the sound is only detected by the smart speaker, the group wanted to see how loud it would be when the device is used. Testa played the sound in the lab when Professor Salekin was having a meeting and Salekin didn’t even realize it was playing, which showed that the noise wasn’t disruptive. Additionally, they also conducted a survey with others to see if the noise was loud enough to be disruptive. 

Testa, Salekin, Sharma, Xiao, and Gump are currently working on patent submissions, form factors, and speaking with companies about commercializing their device. What sets their patent apart from similar concepts is that while past technology focused on determining people’s moods or emotions, their technology is all about protecting them. This unique approach makes their device the first of its kind.

“It was a fun project,” Testa says. “This paper was published by me and as the first listed author, I’m excited about it. I’ve been working towards my Ph.D., and this is another step towards that goal.”  

“Working with the students in real-world applications and research with real results was exciting,” Salekin says. “This research has many components and the collaboration between us was great. We’re excited to see what the future for this tech holds.” 

Student Spotlight: Navigating the Financial Market with Adya Parida ’25  

Balancing academics, club meetings, and extracurriculars can be demanding for engineering students but make for impressive resumes that are likely to land them any internship they desire. However, having a strong resume doesn’t necessarily guarantee success at an internship. Though hard skills are crucial, computer science student Adya Parida discovered that it takes more than this to succeed in these roles. To make the most of your experience, Parida believes you’ve got to get in tune with the company culture and learn how to be a team player. 

“It’s something that I think a lot of college students may not know unless they work in a professional setting,” she says. “At the workplace, there are certain norms, and an internship is the best way to learn about that.” 

During the summer of 2023, Parida had her first corporate workplace experience as a technology intern at the Federal Reserve Bank. Before that, she conducted research projects on malware and anomaly detection in cybersecurity and also worked as a residential assistant on campus. Despite the differences between research projects and corporate work, Parida found the transition to be a refreshing change of pace and her expertise in data analytics and coding allowed her to seamlessly fit into her new role. 

She worked in the information security department and focused on analyzing data using machine learning algorithms and often collaborated with other departments, such as the tech group, to share her findings. The market group would then use this information to make informed decisions, which showcased the company’s collaborative culture and how interconnected each department was. 

At the Federal Reserve Bank, communication played a vital role in Parida’s experience. It was not only limited to the stand-up meetings with management, which involved assignments, updates, and check-ins. She also met with other interns for coffee chats or lunches and these interactions provided her with insights into how other departments functioned. Additionally, she was able to apply the workplace norms and professional etiquette she learned from Career Services, something she believes more college students should learn to grow in a professional setting. 
 
“Hard skills are important but so are soft skills like communicating effectively with team members. It also helps you ask good questions when you’re facing difficulties on a project,” Parida said. “The team was more than happy to answer questions and help.” 

By immersing herself into the workplace culture and getting to know the organization, the benefits the Federal Bank had to offer its interns and employees left a strong impression on Parida, especially the work-life balance. You weren’t expected to work more than 8 hours, which she says is unheard of in the finance industry. 
 
“I’ve had roommates who used to work in private banks and would leave home at 6 am and come back past 9 pm. Those work hours are crazy” she says. 

The company further prioritized the team’s well-being with a gym, basketball courts, and wellness center in the building to ensure the team was getting everything they needed and didn’t feel burnt out or stressed.  

“Despite the fact that the Federal Reserve Bank is on Wall Street, and it’s a cutthroat industry, it’s such a great place to work, especially since it’s a mission-driven organization,” Parida says. “They don’t look at you as a profit-making machine like other companies do.” 

The positive culture within the company was also reflected in the way leadership operated. Even interns had the opportunity to schedule appointments with management and executives, who were always willing to speak with them, despite their busy schedules. Parida was surprised to have the chance to speak with both the president and vice president of the company. Attending professional networking events for women and roundtable conferences further highlighted the company’s commitment to promoting inclusivity and creating a supportive environment for its employees. 

“I was able to schedule an appointment with the vice president and talked in her office for an hour. That’s something I feel isn’t common in other companies,” Parida says. “This was a learning experience for me that taught me internships and jobs are more than being confined to your cubicle or keeping to yourself. It’s about connection and networking and I’m incredibly grateful for the time I spent at the Federal Reserve.” 

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Professor Farzana Rahman Awarded as TACNY’s College Educator of the Year

Farzana Rahman

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) Professor Farzana Rahman was honored by the Technology Alliance of Central New York (TACNY) as the organization’s College Educator of the Year at the 23rd Celebration of Technology awards banquet in October 2023.

Rahman joined the College of Engineering and Computer Science in the spring of 2020. Since then, she has taught critical core gateway courses involving foundational knowledge of the computing discipline to all three majors of the EECS department. Central to her teaching approach is an active learning style, which pairs hands-on programming exercises with challenging projects that demand students to cultivate skills in problem-solving, debugging, and software engineering in general. She is dedicated to creating equitable education and learning experiences for all students by providing inclusive, educational opportunities that support women, genderqueer, non-binary, underrepresented and minority (URM) students.

As a diversity spokesperson of the department, Rahman spearheads various DEIA initiatives. One of her most impactful initiatives is Research Exposure on Socially Relevant Computing (RESORC), funded by Google Research, to increase both the exposure and visibility of undergraduate research at EECS. With more than 200 students participating in RESORC over the past 3 years, she has designed and facilitated multiple virtual workshops to help undergraduate students develop computing identity, research skills, practice teaching strategies, and explore research topics in the computing and engineering domains. The project formalizes best practices in research experiences to reach more students, particularly women from historically excluded groups and prepares them for graduate study.

Rahman’s research and mentoring initiatives have been supported by many funding agencies, including the National Science Foundation, Google, NCWIT, Google TensorFlow, and the American Association of Colleges and Universities to develop effective pedagogy in undergraduate computer science (CS) education. She’s won the NCWIT Extension Services (NCWIT ES-UP) award, ABI Systers PIO (Pass-It-On) award, Google ExploreCSR Award, and NCWIT educator award. She published numerous peer-reviewed articles in venues, including the Special Interest Group of the Association of Computing Machinery (ACM SIGCSE), IEEE RESPECT, and IEEE Frontiers in Engineering Education, the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) conference.

Her overarching research interests are:

  • To explore the impact of active learning pedagogy in undergraduate computing courses.
  • The effectiveness of online and inverted classrooms.
  • How different pedagogical practices can increase underrepresented student performance in computing courses.
  • How effective re-entry pathways can facilitate the transition of returning women in computing-based discipline.
  • Best practices in undergraduate research.

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Professor Bryan S. Kim Receives Funding for Rack Scale Computing Research

Bryan Kim

Bryan S. Kim, assistant professor in electrical engineering and computer science, has received funding from semiconductor company FADU to explore how CXL, a new open standard for connecting computer components, would transform data center applications.

With CXL, an entire rack of computers can be connected through the peripheral component interconnect express (PCIe) bus with shared memory coherency, rethinking how computers access and share data.

“CXL is still in its infancy with only limited publicly available hardware. After all, its specification is only a few years old” Kim explained. “Furthermore, how CXL and its hardware would affect software system design is completely unexplored.”

Kim’s collaborative project will investigate the fundamental technologies for building a software system with CXL memory, the designs for resilient and reliable CXL fabric, and the transformation of data center applications due to CXL.

“While there is a large research community interest in CXL, there are only a handful of research groups who have published in this area,” Kim said. “I am grateful to be at the leading front and continuing the success of this project.”

Dean J. Cole Smith Recognized as a Fellow by the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences

The Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS) announced that College of Engineering and Computer Science Dean J. Cole Smith will be part of the INFORMS Fellows Class of 2023.

INFORMS is the largest professional association for the decision and data sciences. It brings together academic and industry experts in operations research, analytics, management science, economics, behavioral science, statistics, artificial intelligence, data science, applied mathematics and other fields.

Smith was recognized for his “sustained leadership and service to INFORMS and the profession; impactful research in integer programming, network interdiction, and multilevel optimization; and for distinguished leadership in academia.”

“This is such a humbling honor to receive from an organization like INFORMS. The award recognizes students who’ve worked alongside me, mentors who guided my career, and leaders who provided me so many opportunities in research and administration,” said Smith.

“As we launch our own Master’s degree in Operations Research and System Analytics (OR/SA) at Syracuse, I encourage people to learn more about the INFORMS organization and the breadth of career opportunities afforded with an OR/SA degree.”

The new INFORMS Fellows will be honored during the organization’s annual meeting in Phoenix, Arizona from October 15th to 18th 2023.

Charting a Pathway to Renewable Energy

Ian Storrs, Brendan Murty and Ryan Mussaw
Ian Storrs, Brendan Murty and Ryan Mussaw

Imagine a city where streetlights and crosswalks no longer rely on electric grids for power. Instead, they draw their energy from the construction material that makes up several buildings and sidewalks: concrete. While it sounds far-fetched, three College of Engineering and Computer Science students, Ian Storrs, Brendan Murty, and Ryan Mussaw, are working to make this a reality. Through research and testing, their discoveries have the potential to be a new commercial technology that harnesses an overlooked source of energy and makes an impact on sustainability.   

Their invention, ConCurrent, relies on the principles of thermodynamics, a field of physics that involves energy, temperature, and heat. Concrete on its own can’t generate electricity. But heat can – and construction materials like concrete and asphalt can soak up a large percentage of the sun’s heat. With a huge amount of heat being absorbed into the concrete, the engineering trio discovered an ingenious way to transform this wasted energy into a power source by turning heat absorbed by concrete into electricity. This began their journey into the world of renewable energy research.   

Originally a pitch for Invent@SU, their prototypes were concrete blocks fused with a thermoelectric generator, which transforms heat absorbed by the block into electricity when one side of the block is hot, and the other side is cool. The temperature difference between each side is crucial to generating electricity—the greater the temperature difference, the more electricity can be generated. 

Brendan Murty, Matthew Brewster and Ian Storrs working on a prototype during Invent@SU
Brendan Murty, Matthew Brewster, and Ian Storrs working on a prototype during Invent@SU

“We were thinking our invention could power things in close proximity to roadways and illumination for sidewalks like embedded lights, kind of like what you’d see at movie theatres when you’re walking down the aisle,” Murty said.  

However, a single concrete block isn’t enough to generate power for crosswalks or streetlights, so they’ll need a considerable number of these devices to achieve this. These blocks have been helpful in exploring the concept of heat, concrete, and electricity and they’ve included other materials in their prototypes to amplify the temperature difference on each side of the block. 

“We included a copper plate on top to absorb heat and pull it down from the surface of the concrete,” Storrs said. “The aluminum plate pulls heat from the bottom to try to cool it. The sides are also wrapped in foam insulation to reduce heat escaping. And on the bottom, we have a heat pipe, a copper tube with fluid that’s good for moving heat.”  

While some may think ConCurrent is solar power with extra steps, there are some differences. Solar power relies on sunlight. ConCurrent relies on solar radiation or the heat absorbed from the sun’s radiation. This means even when the sun goes down, their invention can continue functioning since concrete absorbs and retains heat.  

“It’s a resource that hasn’t really been tapped in a real effective way. We have solar, which harnesses the sun’s energy but this specific realm hasn’t been focused on,” Murty said.  

The research aspect of the project was by far the most interesting part to the engineers. They would be able to continue research on ConCurrent when offered a position at the Industrial Assessment Center (IAC) at the start of fall 2022. At the assessment center, Storrs, Murty, and Mussaw assisted manufacturing companies in conserving energy by suggesting changes in lighting and other power sources. Funded by the assessment center, their work also helped them when it came to research and they spent the summer reading other academic papers and building different iterations of the design. 

“It’s a relatively small research area,” Storrs said.  “We did find other projects that were doing similar things like a solar collector, but those projects focus on asphalt road surfaces. They’re also different since they have pipes underneath roads that circulate water and air to collect heat.” 

ConCurrent’s function heavily relies on temperature difference, so the engineers have explored ways to reduce energy loss. They’ve considered filling the empty space of their thermoelectric generator with insulation materials and conducted experiments to test the effectiveness of covering pavement with absorbent black paint, as this could help increase solar radiation absorption. Their research has also allowed them to delve deeper into understanding heat absorption in asphalt pavements. Even with their many triumphs, however, the engineers did encounter some issues along the way.  
 

Ian Storrs and Brendan Murty working on an invention
Ian Storrs and Brendan Murty

“Since we’re a self-guided research team, we’ve had to narrow the scope and direction of our project as we did our literature review,” Storrs said. “This was initially overwhelming, but we were able to meet with the engineering librarian Jaun Denzer who was enormously helpful in pointing us in the right direction.” 

Despite being a self-guided group belonging to different programs within ECS, the engineering trio is far from a ragtag bunch – they’re a dream team. Whether it be Storrs’s mechanical engineering knowledge or Murty’s previous experience using modeling software in his aerospace engineering course, each member has contributed something noteworthy to the project to make it what it is today.  

Mussaw, who joined the group after Invent@SU, and his electrical engineering expertise also came in handy for ConCurrent’s electrical components, something the group initially struggled with during the competition. He discussed some things he desired to achieve with this invention.  

“We’re hoping to have multiple temperature sensors throughout the prototypes we’re using,” he explained. “We’re also hoping to pull weather data from Syracuse Airport so we can compare weather data from stations – there will be a lot of data analysis to paint a better picture of what’s going on.” 

Matthew Brewster, a civil engineering student who exited the group after Invent@SU, was credited with designing how their invention would look and even suggested using thermoelectric generators while ConCurrent was in its early stages of development.    

“One of the ideas I had initially suggested when brainstorming was developing some type of solar sidewalk where the solar cells could be laid out and pressed into wet concrete,” Storrs said. “Matthew suggested using thermo-electric generators, which I had never heard of before. We essentially just ran with it from then on.” 

What began as an Invent@SU pitch has now evolved into a research project where every member, current and former, has contributed to the project’s success. And though they didn’t place in the competition, their collective drive to make a positive impact on the environment has led to the creation of innovative solutions for renewable energy. With support from the ECS faculty and their experience at the assessment center, these engineers are paving the way for clean energy solutions and revolutionizing the way we consume power. 

New Look for the Junior Electrical Engineering Lab

The junior electrical engineering lab is the latest among several renovations taking place in the Center for Science and Technology and the lab’s layout has significantly improved teaching and interactions within the educational space.  

“It was a bit of a change when I first came back. They’ve transformed a pretty clunky environment into a usable space,” teaching assistant Kyle Maiorana said. “They also centralized a lot of the components and resources like lab instruments so you’re not running all over the lab to use them.”  

The lab was originally a long, narrow room, making it difficult to navigate and teach, but the newly renovated lab is more open, allowing for better mobility.  

“Before, we had half the students in one room, and half the students in another room. We were separated and I had to go back and forth. Now we’re all in the same room – it’s much nicer,” said Duane Marcy, associate teaching professor of electrical engineering and computer science. “It was really hard to teach in that space. Stand on one end of the room and students toward the back would have difficulty paying attention.”  

Professor Duane Marcy works with a student

According to Marcy, these renovations have been in the works for some time and he’s glad that they’ve finally been completed.  

“We actually proposed the renovations about 10 years ago. We’ve had different drawings and architects look at it. When Bruce Molino came to the college, he took the lead on this project and made it possible. The renovations have made a huge difference by encouraging active, exploratory learning which is crucial in lab environments.” 

“It invites a lot more collaboration,” Maiorana added. “With the amount of time I spent in the lab for the past couple of years, I’m a little bummed I graduated before I could use it. The renovations always happen right after you leave. It’s definitely a gift for the incoming students though. They have a lot of great space to use for their future projects.” 

Jason Pollack

Areas of Expertise:

-Quantum information

-Decoherence

-Thermalization

-Emergent spacetime and quantum gravity

My research is aimed at elucidating how, and in what circumstances, thermalization, gravitational dynamics, and classical observables can be derived from the more fundamental underlying features of a quantum theory. My research is motivated by cosmology and quantum gravity, but primarily uses tools from quantum information. One of my research programs focuses on understanding the entanglement structure of quantum states. A second research program is concerned with the physics seen by observers with only limited access to, or an imperfect ability to make measurements on, the quantum state.

Honors and Awards:

Member, Simons “It from Qubit” collaboration

Graduate Dean’s Award for Outstanding Community Service, Caltech, 2017

Chair, Caltech Graduate Student Council, 2015-6

Troesh Fellow in Physics, Caltech, 2014-5

Kusaka Memorial Prize in Physics, Princeton Physics Department, September 2011

Selected Publications:

S. Aaronson and J. Pollack, 2022, “Discrete Bulk Reconstruction,” JHEP, 2023, 37; arXiv:2210.15601.

C. Keeler, W. Munizzi, and J. Pollack, 2022, “An Entropic Lens on Stabilizer States,” Phys. Rev. A 106, 062418; arXiv:2204.07593.

J. Pollack, M. Rozali, J. Sully, and D. Wakeham, 2020, “Eigenstate Thermalization and Disorder Averaging in Gravity,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 125, 021601 (2020); arXiv:2002.02971.

O. Kabernik, J. Pollack, and A. Singh, 2019, “Quantum State Reduction: Generalized Bipartitions from Algebras of Observables,” Phys. Rev. A 101, 032303 (2020); arXiv:1909.12851.

A. Bartolotta, S.M. Carroll, S. Leichenauer, and J. Pollack, 2015, “The Bayesian Second Law of Thermodynamics,” Phys. Rev. E 94, 022102 (2016); arXiv:1508.02421.

K.K. Boddy, S.M. Carroll, and J. Pollack, 2014, “De Sitter Space Without Dynamical Quantum Fluctuations,” Found. Phys., 46, 702 (2016); arXiv:1405.0298.

Saman Priyantha Kumarawadu

Research Interests:

  • Artificial Intelligence and deep Learning
  • Internet-of-Things (IoT) applications and security
  • Data Mining
  • AI for Sustainability

My research interests broadly lie in the areas of artificial intelligence, machine, Internet-of-Things and Data Mining. Mainly, I focus on the application of deep learning and AI algorithms in developing new methodologies for real-time decision making to solve challenging real-world problems. Building deep learning-based software to make real world impact in the areas of health, agriculture, and education is one of the primary objectives of my research. I further extend my research to explore the impact of artificial intelligence in social, economic and cultural context, and the usage of machine learning to secure IoT infrastructures in various application domains such as smart homes, smart health, and smart wearables.

Selected Publications:

  1. Fathima Amira Azeer, and Priyantha Kumarawadu, Network Intrusion Detection System using Convolution Neural Networks, (2022) Proceedings of International Conference on Intelligent Application of Recent Innovation in Science & Technology (IARIST)
  2. Chameera De Silva and Priyantha Kumarawadu, Performance Analysis of Machine Learning Classification Algorithms in the Case of Heart Failure Prediction (2022) The 18th International Wireless Communications & Mobile Computing Conference
  3. Shadiya Mohammed Raly and Priyantha Kumarawadu (2022) Real-Time Burglar Recognition Based on Human Skeletal Data using OpenPose and Long-Short Term Memory Network. Asian Journal of Information Technology, 21(1), 1-5,
  4. Priyantha Kumarawadu, and Mohammed Izzath, (2022). Sinhala Sign Language Recognition using Leap Motion and Deep Learning. Journal of Artificial Intelligence and Capsule Networks, 4(1), 54-68.
  5. Avishka Jayasundara, Dimanthinie De Silva and Priyantha Kumarawadu, (2022) “Personality Prediction of Social Network Users using LSTM based Sentiment Analysis” Proceedings of 1st   IEEE International Conference on Smart Technologies and Systems for Next Generation Computing,
  6. Christina De Lile and Priyantha Kumarawadu, (2021) “A comprehensive Investigation Supporting Educational Development of Special Needs Students through Personification and Emotion AI”, Proceedings of   ACM 4th International Conference on Education Technology Management (ICETM)

Joseph J. Waclawski

Areas of Expertise:

  • Software Engineering Process
  • System/Software Modeling in SYSML/UML
  • Object Oriented Design and Development

I have been a Software Developer, Software Integrator, Systems Integrator, Lead Software Engineer, Software Project Manager and Software Functional Manager at various technology companies over the past 37 years, including General Electric, Lockheed Martin, and Sensis (now SAAB). My work at these companies spans the complete product life cycle. I started my career performing Systems/Hardware integration and test for one of the largest RADAR systems every developed, but have focused on Software Engineering for the past 30 years. I have been teaching at the College level for the past 23 years; 20 of these years at Syracuse University. I am a certified Lead Software Engineer and was previously a Software Manager at Lockheed Martin. I have earned my certification in Professional Scrum Product Owner I from scrum.org. While I have been primarily focused on industry, my real passion is teaching and mentoring our future generation of engineers.

Honors and Awards:

  • Lockheed Martin, RMS Certified Software Leader
  • General Electric, DMAIC and DFSS Green Belt
  • Lockheed Martin, Certified Cost Account Manager
  • scrum.org, Professional Scrum Product Owner I Certified
  • Patents:
    • 9841836 Control of non-destructive testing devices
    • 11403748 Method and system for articulation of a visual inspection device

International Experiences: Computer Science Study Abroad in London

Within weeks of arriving in London, computer science student Jovanni Mosca ’24 knew his semester abroad would be a life changing experience. He was living just outside central London, had traveled to multiple other countries in Europe and getting an up-close look at how global companies operate.

“We have a global major since we are creating software and technologies that spread around the world but we often don’t have knowledge of all the context that our work is going to be part of. So this is a valuable experience,” says Mosca.

A program uniquely designed for Syracuse University computer science students allows them to take courses they need in London and stay on track for a four year graduation. Kwaku Amofah-Boafo ’24 was thrilled to be taking his required classes mixed in with experiences across the United Kingdom.

“The best part of Study Abroad is interacting with the city,” says Amofah-Boafo. “Seeing that my major is computer science, visiting these places has given me the opportunity to see if I want to work abroad or work oversees in the future.”

Syracuse University’s London Center is based out of Faraday House in the West End. Students can take classes there and receive support from Syracuse University faculty and staff.

“I feel like Faraday House is your own little home space in London,” says Mosca. “Having the diverse faculty is cool. They are people of all different backgrounds who are either working in industry or teaching.”

“The classes are smaller, you interact more and I think that leads to better experiences in the classroom and the work you do,” says Amofah-Boafo.

The Syracuse Abroad computer science program is London is designed for the fall semester of a student’s junior year.

“Getting a chance to see what it is like to live here on a day to day basis and see people working has made me think about it in the future,” says Amofah-Boafo.

“It is an opportunity that will change your life, how you look at the world and it is invaluable,” said Mosca.

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Student Theodore Todorov Joins Young Research Fellowship

First-year aerospace engineering student, Theodore Todorov, has been selected as a CFSA-SOURCE Young Research Fellow at Syracuse University. For the next two years, he’ll work with assistant professor of electrical engineering and computer science, Pankaj K. Jha, and his team in the Quantum Technology Laboratory on classical and quantum optics projects.  

Quantum optics involves studying the nature of light and how it interacts with matter. For decades, researchers have used quantum optics to better understand quantum mechanics, the study of how atomic particles interact with each other. This research has led to numerous technological developments that have now become known as the quantum revolution, or Quantum 2.0, and with his team, Professor Jha has continued conducting research on quantum technology in his lab.  

Offered by Syracuse University’s Center for Fellowship and Scholarship and the Syracuse Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Engagement, the Young Research Fellows Program supports students passionate about research. With guidance from their faculty mentors, this fellowship gives students practical experience in early research and creative inquiry development. 

Some of Jha’s research focuses on novel materials that can be thinned down to a single layer of atoms and used to build extremely sensitive photodetectors that can detect light at the level of single photons. In the fellowship, Todorov’s projects will involve studying and characterizing these photodetectors and photon counting for space applications, including quantum communications, imaging distant objects, and extending the range of clear air turbulences.   

Todorov first discovered his passion for writing abstracts, collecting data, and drawing conclusions through a research course he took in high school. His fascination with telescopes, quantum optics and space exploration also piqued his interest in aerospace engineering, and following his arrival at Syracuse University, he desired to connect with other students and faculty who had similar interests – this made the fellowship program at Syracuse University more than ideal for him. 

“I’m happy to be a part of the Young Research Fellows Program and the community that this program wants to foster,” Todorov said.  

“Quantum optics and photonics for space applications is exciting research, and we are delighted to have Theodore join our team,” Jha added.  

The fellowship hasn’t stopped Todorov from pursuing other projects this summer. He’s currently working with Syracuse University’s Center of Excellence in Environmental Energy Systems on research, creating sensor boxes so the team can position them around campus and measure air quality.  

In the upcoming fall, he also plans to study the principles of classical and quantum optics and get trained in the Quantum Technology Laboratory in various experimental techniques and equipment, including lasers, single-photon detectors, and counters. He’ll focus on understanding and conducting classical and quantum interference experiments at the single photon level, analyzing the data, and writing a research paper by the end of the semester to present his work at a conference the following spring.  

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Professor Yuzhe Tang Receives Grant to Protect Ethereum Security

Yuzhe Tang

Yuzhe Tang, associate professor of electrical engineering and computer science in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, and his research team have been awarded a grant by the Ethereum Foundation for research to advance the Ethereum blockchain ecosystem. This grant will support Tang and his Ph.D. students in designing, developing, and evaluating the security hardening code to protect the Ethereum network stack.

Ethereum is a network made up of several communities and toolsets that allow users to communicate or make transactions with digital money. Since the network is decentralized, users are in complete control of their data and what’s being shared, so they don’t need to give up any personal information – all users need to access Ethereum is an internet connection.

Denial of service security is critically important to the Ethereum blockchain ecosystem, and the research will explore ways to protect the Ethereum network from cyberattacks, involving systematic vulnerability discovery using applied formal methods. As cyber criminals attack networks like Ethereum and security concerns grow, Tang believes this research could have a lasting impact on the current landscape of cybersecurity and blockchain platforms.

“With this grant, we can help solve some of the most critical problems in the real world. We expect to continue developing code merged into Ethereum codebase,” Tang says. “I am most excited about making real-world impacts out of the research works from my group.”

Researchers’ Artificial Intelligence-Based Speech Sound Therapy Software Wins $2.5M NIH Grant

Three Syracuse University researchers, supported by a recent $2.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health, are working to refine a clinically intuitive automated system that may improve treatment for speech sound disorders while alleviating the impact of a worldwide shortage of speech-language clinicians.

The project, “Intensive Speech Motor Chaining Treatment and Artificial Intelligence Integration for Residual Speech Sound Disorders,” is funded for five years. Jonathan Preston, associate professor of communication sciences and disorders, is principal investigator. Preston is the inventor of Speech Motor Chaining, a treatment approach for individuals with speech sound disorders. Co-principal investigators are Asif Salekin, assistant professor of electrical engineering and computer science, whose expertise is creating interpretable and fair human-centric artificial intelligence-based systems, and Nina Benway, a recent graduate of the communication sciences and disorders/speech-language pathology doctoral program.

Their system uses the evidence-based Speech Motor Chaining software, an extensive library of speech sounds and artificial intelligence to “think” and “hear” the way a speech-language clinician does.

The project focuses on the most effective scheduling of Speech Motor Chaining sessions for children with speech sound disorders and also examines whether artificial intelligence can enhance Speech Motor Chaining—a topic Benway explored in her dissertation. The work is a collaboration between Salekin’s Laboratory for Ubiquitous and Intelligent Sensing in the College of Engineering and Computer Science and Preston’s Speech Production Lab in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Clinical Need

In speech therapy, learners usually meet with a clinician one-on-one to practice speech sounds and receive feedback. If the artificial intelligence version of Speech Motor Chaining (“ChainingAI”) accurately replicates a clinician’s judgment, it could help learners get high-quality practice on their own between clinician sessions. That could help them achieve the intensity of practice that best helps overcome a speech disorder.

The software is meant to supplement, not replace, the work of speech clinicians. “We know that speech therapy works, but there’s a larger issue about whether learners are getting the intensity of services that best supports speech learning,” Benway says. “This project looks at whether AI-assisted speech therapy can increase the intensity of services through at-home practice between sessions with a human clinician. The speech clinician is still in charge, providing oversight, critical assessment and training the software on which sounds to say are correct or not; the software is simply a tool in the overall arc of clinician-led treatment.”

170,000 Sounds

A library of 170,000 correctly and incorrectly pronounced “r” sounds was used to train the system. The recorded sounds were made by 400-plus children over 10 years, collected by researchers at Syracuse, Montclair and New York Universities, and filed at the Speech Production Lab.

Benway wrote ChainingAI’s patent-pending speech analysis and machine learning operating code, which converts audio from speech sounds into recognizable numeric patterns. The system was taught to predict which patterns represent “correct” or “incorrect” speech. Predictions can be customized to individuals’ speech patterns.

During speech practice, the code works in real time with Preston’s Speech Motor Chaining website to sense, sort and interpret patterns in speech audio to “hear” whether a sound is made correctly. The software provides audio feedback (announcing “correct” or “not quite”), offers tongue-position reminders and tongue-shape animations to reinforce proper pronunciation, then selects the next practice word based on whether or not the child is ready to increase word difficulty.

Early Promise

The system shows greater potential than prior systems that have been developed to detect speech sound errors, according to the researchers.

Until now, Preston says, automated systems have not been accurate enough to provide much clinical value. This study overcomes issues that hindered previous efforts: Its example residual speech sound disorder audio dataset is larger; it more accurately recognizes incorrect sounds; and clinical trials are assessing therapeutic benefit.

“There has not been a clinical therapy system that has explicitly used AI machine learning to recognize correct and distorted “r” sounds for learners with residual speech sound disorders,” Preston says. “The data collected so far shows this system is performing well in relation to what a human clinician would say in the same circumstances and that learners are improving speech sounds after using ChainingAI.”

So Far, Just ‘R’

The experiment is currently focused on the “r” sound, the most common speech error persisting into adolescence and adulthood, and only on American English. Eventually, the researchers hope to expand software functionality to “s” and “z” sounds, different English dialects and other languages.

Ethical AI

The researchers have considered ethical aspects of AI throughout the initiative. “We’ve made sure that ethical oversight was built into this system to assure fairness in the assessments the software makes,” Salekin says. “In its learning process, the model has been taught to adjust for age and sex of clients to make sure it performs fairly regardless of those factors.” Future refinements will adjust for race and ethnicity.

The team is also assessing appropriate candidates for the therapy and whether different scheduling of therapy visits (such as a boot camp experience) might help learners progress more quickly than longer-term intermittent sessions.

Ultimately, the researchers hope the software provides sound-practice sessions that are effective, accessible and of sufficient intensity to allow ChainingAI to routinely supplement in-person clinician practice time. Once expanded to include “s” and “z” sounds, the system would address 90% of residual speech sound disorders and could benefit many thousands of the estimated six million Americans who are impacted by these disorders.

Written by Diane Stirling

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Professor Senem Velipasalar Awarded Patent for Room Occupancy Detection Platform

Remembering to turn the lights off when leaving a room is easy, but letting the furnace that you’re headed out isn’t as simple. About 37% of all energy used by commercial buildings and 40% of energy used in residences go toward heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC). The costs related to heating and cooling unoccupied spaces in homes and office buildings have been a challenge for decades.

Current occupancy sensors only detect movement, so they can’t tell if someone is stationary. They also have trouble distinguishing between people and large pets, and often require an external power source and data processing. When a room is occupied, not being able to detect occupancy can cause user discomfort. On the other hand, not reliably knowing when a room is empty adds up to massive amounts of unnecessary heating and cooling costs for spaces without any people in them.

A collaboration between Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Professors Senem Velipasalar and Pramod Varshney, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Professor Ed Bogucz, Professor Tarek Rakha from Georgia Tech and SRI International, a nonprofit research institute, has developed a new sensor platform, MicroCam, which addresses many of the limitations that current systems face. Their project received funding from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) and had to meet certain requirements. The platform had to be highly accurate, low-maintenance, affordable and easily self-commissioned for consumers while still providing more than 30% energy savings.

“It was important to us and ARPA-E that this platform be highly reliable, practical and inexpensive,” says Velipasalar. “This needed to be useful in real-world spaces, and it was designed to be battery-powered.”

The MicroCam is equipped with multi-modal sensors that can process motion, audio and video data. The camera can operate under daylight, low light or even no light conditions and it can be powered for more than a year on just three AA batteries – all the sensor processing is done inside one small unit.

“We do not use cloud computing, everything is captured and processed on this platform,” says Velipasalar. “You are not transferring or saving data, so it alleviates privacy concerns.”

While the MicroCam can detect occupancy, it does not share potentially private information.

“It senses your presence but only sends a 0 or 1 signal to the HVAC system,” says Velipasalar. “That binary occupancy result is the only data shared with the lead platform.”

Industrial and Interactive Design Professor Don Carr and his students worked with Velipasalar and Bogucz to design a prototype case for the MicroCam.

“Eventually we want a peel and stick and ideally you want to install one per room,” says Velipasalar. “If you have one of these in each room, you could monitor the entire space.”

Velipasalar was granted a patent in March 2023 titled “Low Power and Privacy Preserving Sensor Platform for Occupancy Detection.” It is the sixth patent she has been awarded over her career.

“This was a challenging project. We had to meet low cost and high accuracy requirements but it has incredible potential,” says Velipasalar.

The platform may have additional uses in the future including smart home integration and security monitoring. Velipasalar also sees possibilities for the MicroCam to provide activity monitoring and fall detection for families and nursing homes.

Spring 2023 Engineering and Computer Science Academic Department Awards

Unique View of Carnegie Library

The College of Engineering and Computer Science is proud to announce the students who received awards at the end of the 2022-2023 academic year from their academic department.

Biomedical and Chemical Engineering

The Bioengineering Founders Award

Grace Haas

Karen M. Hiiemae Outstanding Achievement Award in Bioengineering

Gabriel Khan

Oren Nagasako Award 

Megan Perlman

Outstanding Achievement Award in Chemical Engineering

Adam Klinger

The Allen J. Barduhn Award

Jacob Shellhamer

Outstanding Graduate Student in Biomedical Engineering

Tackla Winston

Outstanding Graduate Student in Chemical Engineering

Robson Schuraca

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Outstanding Achievement Award in Environmental Engineering

Benjamin Cavarra

K.L. Lui Memorial Award

Aymeric Destrée

The John Burch McMorran ’22 Award

Adam Landry

Outstanding Graduate Student in Civil & Environmental Engineering

Joseph Wasswa

Dr. James A. Mandel Prize for Achievement in Civil and Environmental Engineering

Haben Legesse

Samuel P. Clemence Prize for Outstanding Senior Design

Nagdalina Baez

Masson Bruening

Benjamin Cavarra

Kate Kemnitz

Adam Landry

Civil & Environmental Engineering Faculty Awards

Kate Kemnitz

Paige Yamane

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

The Warren Semon Prize

Ryan M. May

Outstanding Achievement Award in Computer & Information Science

Matthew J. Cufari

Outstanding Achievement Award in Computer Engineering

Kyle D. Maiorana

The Outstanding Achievement Award in Electrical Engineering

Jared W. Welch

Outstanding Graduate Student in Computer Engineering

Sihao Ren

Outstanding Graduate Student in Computer Science

Sai Saran Macha

Outstanding Graduate Student in Electrical Engineering

Nicholas S. Connolly

The IEEE Computer Engineering Award

Mehak Jetly

The IEEE Electrical Engineering Award

Jemma Mallia

IEEE PES Scholarship

Jemma Mallia

Outstanding Graduate Student in Cybersecurity

Kyungrok Won

William Peil Awards

Kyle Maiorana

Julia Pepin

Wyatt G. Bush

Samsondeen Batula

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Outstanding Aerospace Engineering Academic Achievement Awards    

Anthony Tricarico

Christian Fitzgerald

Award for Excellence by Aerospace Engineering Senior

Evan Moore

Award for Achievement by Aerospace Engineering Senior

Madeline Phelan

The Richard Heimburg Achievement Award in Aerospace

Zachary Stahl

Charles Libove Memorial Award for Outstanding Aerospace Senior

Melissa Yeung

Award for Excellence by Aerospace Engineering Junior

Sydney Jud

Zachary Haas

Awards for Achievement by Aerospace Engineering Juniors

Isaac Lehigh

Cody VanNostrand

Benjamin Gerard

Ross Evan-Iwanowski Memorial Award

John Michinko

Ellen H. Honnold Memorial Scholarship

William Saueressig

Awards for Excellence by Aerospace Engineering Sophomores

Jonathan Martin

Parker McMillan

Awards for Achievement by Aerospace Engineering Sophomores

Alexander Donato

Kathryn Smith

Kin-Nee Tong Award

Maximillian Lipinski

Awards for Achievement by Aerospace Engineering First Year Students

Quinn Young

Zachary Munkacsy

Jason Reid

Joshua Varkey

William Peil Inventor’s Award

Christian Fitzgerald

Madeline Phelan

Katherine Braun

Outstanding Mechanical Engineering Academic Achievement Award

Joshua Arndt

Award for Achievement by Mechanical Engineering Senior

Nathaniel Slabaugh

Jay Wyner Award for Excellence in Mechanical Engineering

Luyen Duong

Bernard Wood Creative Achievement Award in Mechanical Engineering 

Arnaud Buard

Jesse E. Rood Memorial Scholarship

Eric Silfies

Karl Carnevale Memorial Scholarships

Zachary Shuler

Awards for Achievement by Mechanical Engineering Juniors

Honorata Lubecka

Alexander Callo

Hugh C. Dugan Memorial Scholarships

Joseph Capra

Bei Luo

Award for Excellence by Mechanical Engineering Sophomore

Chloe Marie Britton Naime

Awards for Achievement by Mechanical Engineering Sophomores

Nathaniel Paradis

Jeffrey Bernstein

Aidan Bergman

James Melitski

Kin-Nee Tong Memorial Scholarship

Brinley Bruening

Kin-Nee Tong Award

Madeline Scott

Awards for Achievement by Mechanical Engineering First Year Students

Jennifer Mason

Gavin Johnson

William Peil Inventor Awards

Justin Kohan

Connor Norton

Melissa Jane Hiller

Kaelyn Rooney

Renee Allison

Louis N. DeMartini Award for Outstanding Research

Eric Silfies

Outstanding Graduate Student in Engineering Management

Ethan Tracey

Outstanding Achievement Award in Graduate Study

Camila Alexandra Humala Noriega

Outstanding Faculty Award

Professor Shalabh Maroo

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Award for Teaching Excellence

Professor Alexander Deyhim

Career Focused: Engineering and Computer Science Class of 2022 Reporting High Placement Rate

A crowd of engineering and computer science graduates sitting in chairs

The starting salaries for graduates receiving a Bachelor of Science degree from the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS) has grown steadily for the last six years.

The average starting salary for the class of 2022 was $76,679. A total increase of $17,000 since 2016.

The placement rate for the class of 2022 was 93%. More than half of all graduates have started their careers and 33% are pursuing an advanced degree.

The ECS Career Services team provides students with support to reach their professional goals. They help students build their network with connections to industry leaders and alumni through information sessions, company tabling, career fairs, on-campus interviewing and more. Additional support through workshops, seminars, and drop-in advising ensures students have access to development opportunities that give them an edge in today’s job market.

Class of 2022 Top 25 Employers

  • Applied Materials
  • Boston Scientific
  • Brainlab
  • Bristol Myers Squibb
  • Burns & McDonnell
  • Carrier
  • Deloitte
  • General Dynamics, Electric Boat
  • IBM
  • Kimley-Horn
  • L3Harris Technologies
  • Lockheed Martin
  • Meta
  • Morningstar, Inc.
  • National Grid Pfizer, Inc.
  • Pratt & Whitney, a Raytheon Technologies Company (RTX)
  • Qualcomm
  • SRC, Inc
  • The Boeing Company
  • The Walt Disney Company
  • Turner Construction Company
  • Weston & Sampson
  • Whiting-Turner Contracting Company
  • WSP

Class of 2022 Graduate Schools

  • Boston University
  • Brown University
  • Clarkson University
  • Columbia University
  • Cornell University
  • Duke University
  • Georgia Institute of Technology
  • Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
  • Northwestern University
  • Princeton University
  • SUNY Binghamton
  • SUNY Stony Brook
  • Syracuse University
  • University North Carolina, Wilmington
  • University of Maryland, College Park
  • University of Michigan
  • University of Minnesota
  • University of Southern California

Data reflects information on 281 of 312 undergraduate degree recipients in 2022, representing a 90% knowledge rate.

Life Lessons: Nick Donofrio G’71, H’11 Shares Insights From a Career in Business and Technology

Upon publication of his autobiography “If Nothing Changes, Nothing Changes: The Nick Donofrio Story,” former executive vice president of innovation and technology at IBM and Syracuse University Life Trustee Nick Donofrio, G’71, H’11 came to campus to share insights and learnings from his six decades in business and technology. During a conversation at the Schine Student Center with current computer science student Maya Lee ’24, Donofrio discussed leadership, emerging technologies and the importance of diversity and inclusion.

“I learned early on that if you want to be an innovator, you should enable everyone to be their best,” said Donofrio. “I am all about bringing opportunity to talent.”

After the conversation, Donofrio signed copies of his book for the Syracuse University faculty, staff and students in attendance. In his book, Donofrio covers the development and launch of key technological advances from IBM and shares strategies on leadership and collaboration. Each chapter of the book is framed with important moments and lessons from Donofrio’s childhood with his mother and father.

“I want all of you to be leaders,” said Donofrio. “Have a view of the horizon and have the courage of your conviction to move towards it.”

Donofrio earned a master’s degree in 1971 from Syracuse University while working for IBM and taking classes as part of an extension program in the Hudson Valley. He has been a strong supporter of Syracuse University ever since he graduated. His philanthropy has supported the highly successful Donofrio Scholars and Ambassador Scholars programs that strengthen the College’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in every aspect of a student’s experience. Donofrio was awarded with Syracuse University’s highest alumni honor, the George Arents Award in 2005 and received an honorary doctoral degree in 2011.

National Science Board Awards Electrical Engineering Alumnus Betty Lise Anderson ’78 with Public Service Award

The National Science Board (NSB) honored Betty Lise Anderson ‘78, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Ohio State University with its 2022 Public Service Award. The award honors exemplary service in promoting public understanding of science and engineering.

“Dr. Anderson exemplifies what this award is all about” said Maureen Condic, Chair of NSB’s Subcommittee on Honorary Awards. “Not only is she helping shape the next great minds of our STEM enterprise at the university level, she also enlists those minds to help cultivate and motivate young minds at a fundamental level. Her work exemplifies the priorities put forward in NSB’s Vision 2030 to expand STEM opportunities to all Americans.  She’s invaluable.”

Dr. Anderson has led a program – free to participants – that has reached 35,000 students at over 100 different schools, libraries, after-school programs, and scout troops. The program  delivers hands-on engineering activities to K-12 students throughout central Ohio and beyond.  Graduate and undergraduate students, as well as over 600 volunteers operate the program, which hosts an average three events each week. Many volunteers are still students, while others are alumni who want to stay involved or who want to bring the program into their own communities.

She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering at Syracuse University and a Master of Science from the University of Vermont where she also obtained her Doctor of Philosophy in Materials Science and Electrical Engineering. Her technical area is photonics, or the physical science of light waves.

Dr. Anderson’s achievements include: Fellow of the Society for Photo-Instrumentation Engineers, senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and the Optical Society of America. She is also co-author of “Fundamentals of Semiconductor Devices.”

Fall 2022 Engineering and Computer Science Dean’s List

SU Campus
The Einhorn Family Walk stretches out in front of the Hall of Languages on a autumn day.

In recognition of superior scholarship, the following students have been entered on the Engineering & Computer Science Dean’s List for Fall 2022.

To be eligible for Dean’s List recognition, the minimum semester grade point average must be 3.40 or higher, must have earned a minimum of 12 graded credits and must have no missing or incomplete grades.

Aerospace Engineering

Dean Nasri Abdel-Aziz

Allyson Almeida

Brady Joseph Arruda

Jonah Oliver Blanchard

Richard L Bruschi

Mathew Carpio

Curtis James Cline

Bryan Collins

Thomas James Condon

Paolo Pio Coppola

Michael Alexander Donato

Justin Ryan Esposito

Mark Gannon Ezaki

Benjamin David Faasse

Christian Scott Fitzgerald

Darren Finn Forschino

Victoria Elizabeth Forsyth

Zachary Ryan Freyman

John M Gauthier

Benjamin Daniel Gerard

Alexandre J Gill

Zachary William Haas

David Leo Hadley

Benjamin Matthew Hassett

Ryan Benjamin Hirsch

Aidan Hoff

Jiaji Hu

Paula Cristina Ibelings

Nicholas John Jacobs

Joseph Manuel Javier

Sydney F Jud

Harrison Kayton

Myat Min Khant

Trevor Anthony Knight

Thalia Patience Lee

Isaac Alan Lehigh

Emma Lee Levenson

Dante Alexander Liotta

Maximillian Lipinski

Nathaniel Fox Lipset

Jacob Eric Long

Ava Katherine Lough

Powers Craig Lynch

Brendan Michael Marquis

Elsa Adrianna Martin

Jonathan Henry Martin

William Armstrong Martin

Jason W McElhinney

Parker Byrne McMillan

John P Michinko

Kendra Teresa Miller

Evan Gregory Moore

Zachary Thomas Munkacsy

Brendan Pierce Murty

Tatiyyanah Queen-Asia Hope Nelums

Madeline G Phelan

Logan D Prye

Kazi Golam Rafee

Jason Patrick Reid

Nicholas Christopher Richard

Andrew Douglas Rockafellow

William J Saueressig

Winston James Schaumloffel

Zachari Whitaker Sekyi-Williams

Garrett Clifton Sickmon

Gregory C Slodysko Jr

Kathryn Amber Smith

Zachary Michael Stahl

Jaime S Sued Jr

Yiyuan Sun

Marco Svolinsky

Rory Lloyd Taylor

Richard A Tedeschi

Carter Alexander Thompson

Theodore Todorov

Anthony Robert Tricarico

Sasha Valitutti

Sarah Grace Vallejo

Cody Joseph VanNostrand

Joshua John Varkey

Toby Thomas Webber

Mason Alexander Weber

Owen James Weisenberger

Ethan H Weiss

Kana Li Wong

Cameron M Woodbury

Melissa Yeung

Bioengineering

Anthony Drew Acierto

Jason Bae

Mathieu Kenji Barthelemy

Paige Bencivenga

Zeynep Sue Cakmak

Evan A Campbell

Jade Ashlee Carter

Ryan Sean Clarke

Dominic Thomas Clinch

Lukas Cook

Shane A Corridore

Samirah Lamoni Crawford

Beatriz De Melo Palma Fernandes

Michael James Dreyer

Catherine Jean Durkin

Sophie Faith Grady

Grace Haas

Lauren Elizabeth Hamilton

Brenna Henderson

Maxima Camryn Zahra Herbert

James T Hrdy

Madeline Jones

Gabriel Khan

Olivia Lynne Kmito

Jakub Aleksander Kochanowski

Emily Labour

Quinn Patrick Langdon

Sara Anne Leonardo

Isabelle S Lewis

Joshua Edwin Nana Limjuico

Alejandra Eugenia Lopez

Ethan L Masters

Aelish McGivney

Caitlin R Mehl

Sadie Shaula Meyer

Katherine Grace Monroe

Aizhan Moore

Hannah V Murphy

Jonathan Ngo

Kerrin Anne O’Grady

Luiza Awuor Owuor

Alyssa Pape

Mia Dian Paynton

Megan Perlman

Ayanna Riley Peterson

Michael Steven Presunka

Lillian Kilmer Rhuda

Ruben Rojas Betanzos

Isabella M Rosales

Amira Salihovic

Alyssa Shelburne

Bridget Yong Sides

Katherine Anne Southard

Justin N Stock

Elizabeth Tarami Su

Danny Vu

Carly J Ward

Nathaniel Wellington

Haven M Wittmann

Lauren Margaret Woodford

Rui Xie

Yougang Xue

Ahlam Zokari

Julian Marcus Smucker Zorn

Samantha Yvonne Zysk

Chemical Engineering

James William Bailey

Elizabeth R Carchia

Alex Michael Castagliuolo

Olivia R Conlin

Dennis Dao

Emily C Fittante

Edward Coleman Fluker

Mia Angela Goldberg

Hannah Grossman

Avery Gunderson

Christopher Max Hansen

Lucas Joseph Heffler

Aiden A Jacobs

Natalia Jarmain

Hope Irene Johnson

Sonia Julius

Emma Grace Klein

Adam J Klinger

Eden Tess Leavitt

Gabe Lipsitz

Annika Daphne Meyers

Cole Parker Nordby

Erin Marie Odonnell

Eli Irvin Paster

Isabella Noelani Perkins

Riley Madison Schmerber

Jacob Matthew Shellhamer

Jason Tan

Maria Jose Velez

Seojun Yu

Jackson Richard Yuen

Civil Engineering

Juan Pablo Arosemena Graziadei

Henry C Bievenue

Leila Christine Boughton

Masson Bruening

Zoya Bukhari

Alexander Burrows

Daniel Thomas Caraceni

Isabel Cardoso

Olivia Carmella Cross

Aymeric Pierre Alexis Robert Destree

Brendan Dwyer

Marlee Ann Ecton

Xuanjie Fan

Jacob C Hotchkin

Kristen Caroline Huddleston

Julia Ann Johnson-Milstein

Rhitwik Karmakar

Rachel Katz

Jakob Lamond Keller

Kate Astrid Kemnitz

Alexander Gregory Klee

Adam Paul Landry

Evangelia Birget Larson

Haben Legesse

Emma Marie Liptrap

Emilija Alise Lizins

Lucas James Meiers

Sumit Harshad Mistry

Trevor Robert Napoli

Abigail Micah Neitch

Justin Wayne Pettit

Maxwell Robert Pozar

Benjamin Joseph Putrino

Kaylin Janet Richards

Lesley S Rojas

Keisha Zefanya Rorimpandey

Anthony K Schnaufer

Aaron Presley Shinn

Samuel Paul Smith

Caitlin Jane Spillane

Alex Gabriel Torres

Jose Artuto Venegas

Zhou Wang

Christian E Ward

Sarah Wong

Paige H Yamane

Garrett J Zito

Computer Engineering

Adekunle J Akinshola

Chikeluba K Anierobi

Jackson Thomas Bradley

Ryan Joseph Brennan

Samanta S Correa

Wenhan Cui

Nathan James Czarnecki

Lyn El Sayed Kassem

Melvin Ruben Escobar Gonzalez

Elizabeth A Fatade

Gabriel Akinloluwa Babatunde Fatade

Ralph Lawrence Graham

Alexander Joseph Hai

Aidan Robert Harrington

Ashton Jeter Hernandez

Kasey Jackson

Cedrik Jethro Jean-Baptiste

Benjamin N Johnson

Jessica K Lat

Tyler Alexander Lavaway

Matthew B Leight

Jiaxiong Li

Joseph Anderson Lodato

Kyle Maiorana

Aksel James Malatak

Jacob Stephen Masrouri

Isabel M Melo

Pierce Austin Neubert

Jayden Ahamefula Okorougo

Jose L Olivera

Adedeji Nathaniel Oyefeso

Ellie Grace Parkes

Alexander C Perez

Jessica A Reslan

Anel Rizvic

Kevin Robertson

Brian Rodriguez

Samuel M Rosenthal

Mia Elizabeth Russo

Jared Anthony Santiago

Alexander Segarra

Thomas John Vitarelli

Declan Wavle

Manling Yu

Computer Science

Bamidele Benjamin Adeyemo

Aaron Alakkadan

Sajjad Abdullah Albadri

Joseph Algerio

Anas Abdallah Hussein Alkhashroom

Brianna Danielle Anthony

Ian Edward Asbury

Fiona Asungedib Azumah

Garret W Babick

Giovanna Elizabeth Barsalona

Niloy Basak

Sophia Anne Basile

Samantha E Bastien

Maxwell Robert Beam

Anas Ahmed Benhamida

Duncan Anthony Benitz

Luke S Bonenberger

Joshua Jordan Boucher

Brian Michael Bourne

Amanda Leigh Bowdren

Spencer H Bradkin

Nathan Thor Brekke

Bryan Bladimir Bueno Reyes

Kelly Jane Burke

Andy Daniel Cai

Jonathan David Callahan

Benjamin Elliott Canfield

Andrew Miles Champagne Jr

Lawrence Chen

Daniel Chmielewski

Nicholas Chopliani

Season Chowdhury

Noah John Cirks

Rahnaya T Clarke

Ta’Nasia Zhara Coleman

Miguel Angel Cruz Flores

Matthew John Cufari

Lucas John Czarnecki

Ryan Matthew Czirr

Akosua Danso

Philippe Alexandre Daubert

Nicholas Davis

Aidan Christopher DeGooyer

Julian Joseph Delucia

Christian Despecci

Lucille Jennifer Disalvo

Russell Carl Doucet

Annica Claudia Dubert

Theodor Dan Dumitru

Christopher Edmonds

Curtis Ryan Edwards Jr

Braimah Bolade Eleshin Jr.

Ryan Siebe Elsinga

Neha Eregodu Laxminarayana

Evan J Espina

Spencer Evans-Cole

Matthew J Faiola

Bennett Ferrari

Francisco Emiliano Franco Leon

Ruihong Gao

Kelly Jane Geiwitz

Aren Sevag Gharibian

Brianna S Gillfillian

Justin Gluska

Meagan Anessa Gonzalez

John Martin Gorman

Aicha Gory

Nolan Pasquale Groothuis

Avery T Gump

Jessica Gabriela Gutierrez

Alexander Peter-Anthony Haas

Talal Hakki

Ashley Marie Hamilton

Jillian Elizabeth Handrahan

Liam Gordon Hannah

Alisha Hassan

Karen Herrera

Richard Ho

Isaiah J Hollensworth-Wooten

Laurel Howell

Noah Thomas Howell

Jacob Howlett

Helou Huang

Xuanye Huang

Eda Imer

Chengyi Jiang

Tianyiming Jing

Frederick Jackson Jones

Alan Jos

Lauren Keona Kaaiakamanu

Brunon Donovan Kaminski

Xiaoya Kang

Matthew Keenan

Nicolas Walter Ketterer

Ekaterina Kladova

Joshua Jayvant Zachary Koshy

Matthew Peter Kovalcik

Polina Kozyreva

Vivien E Latt

Maya J’Nai Lee

Jack M Lefebvre

Andy Li

Modi Li

Yuxuan Li

Daniel Lim

Joshua Lim

Alicia Lin

Sandy Lin

Jing Liu

Joshua Zhou Liu

Yuyuan Liu

Cayden Thomas Lombard

Yiheng Lu

Sophia Luo

Runzhi Ma

Shizhan Ma

Gavin Thomas Macisaac

Mihir Ulhas Mahale

Juliette Eloise Mangon

Ryan M May

Anthony Louis Mazzacane

Philip Anthony Moceri

Thomas J Montfort

Jovanni Nicholas Mosca

Ryan Murphy

Krutartha Nagesh

Christopher Scott Nemeth Jr

Jillienne Judith Ness

Arianna Kassandra Nguyen

John Viet P Nguyen

Joshua Nielson

Olivia O’Hanlon

Cheryl Hadasa Olanga

Adya Aditi Parida

Brian Joseph Pellegrino

John Arthur Peters

Amlan Pradhan

Alexander Lawrence Reid

Boyu Ren

Eric Rodriguez

Andrew Frank Scerbo

Jonathan Lee Schwenk

Sean J Shin

Chad Thom Smith

Megan C Snow

Anthony Logan Solt

Townsend Garner Southard Pantano

Samuel Thomas Stowers

Kevin Sullivan

Nicholas P Sweet

Melissa Li Tang

Andrew Jeffrey Tedesco

Eduardo Torres-Garcia

Winston Tsui

Matthew Alistair Twigg

Zimuzo Somadi Udedibia

Robert Anthony Valliciergo

Kevin Anthony Verdeschi

Christopher Mark Vinciguerra

Guozheng Wang

Zijian Wang

Jacob Wansor

Robert Ward

Samantha Maureen Weir

Ryan Thomas Welch

Daniel Z Whelan

Lauren Rae Wilson

Sarah Grace Wlodkoski

Brian Matthew Wong

Hassan Wouliyou

Zongxiu Wu

Tianyi Xiang

Yujie Xu

Jishuo Yang

Naomi Lum Yokoo

Mingyan Zhang

Rixiang Zhang

Ruihao Zhang

Weiwei Zhang

Junjie Zheng

Mochen Zhou

Yiming Zhou

Yitao Zhou

Yi Zhu

Engineering Undeclared

Hunter Bertucci-Bissonnette

Gulliver Finn Brower

Fernando De Oliveira Poli

Brady Utah Denaburg

Nicholas James Harten

Kevin Paul Leger

Juwei Lin

Jacob E Manhardt

Kathleen Rose Meleski

William Matthias Morgan

Nicholas Edward Napalit

Alexander Romanofsky

Santiago Jose Sanabria

Rylee Marie Smith

Sebastian Enrique Velez

Iving Yang

Electrical Engineering

Alston Herve Abobi

Yohaan Matthew Abraham

Minghao Ai

Saul Batista Filpo

Tianle Bu

Kevin E Buciak

Wyatt Glenn Bush

Yushang Cai

Leshui Chen

Mingfu Chen

Ellison How-Sheen Chiang

Brian Sylwester Chudzik

Timothy Nehemias De Leon De La Rosa

Kevin James Donnelly

Henry C Duisberg

Anthony John Giovannini

Davis   Hood

Xingtai Huang

Myles Hudson

Hayden Huy Le

Davis James Lipetzky

Jemma Mallia

Liam Fuller Marcato

Ryan   Mussaw

Zixun Nian Nian

Gabriel Brian Noble

Jayson V Okhman

Julia Pepin

Savion Vernon Pollard

Gilberto E Ruiz

Gabriel E Ruoff

Harrison James Skilling

Jenna Mei Stapleton

Jared William Welch

Sierra Lauren Yang

Environmental Engineering

Jack Arnstein

Mark Bauerschmidt

Maren Behnke

Jasper Matthew Blake

David Michael Brodsky

Benjamin R Cavarra

Hollygrace Chamberlain

Ananya P Chandra

Emma Lauren Cloud

Emma Crandall

William Robert Croteau

Eleanor Elizabeth Gettens

Elisabeth Haggerty

Brady E Hartnett

Naomi Rebecca Imhoff

Muhammad Atekul Islam

Emma Charlotte Kaputa

Morgan Jean Kingdeski

Hunter Cordes Kline

Samuel Robert Livingston

Henry David Long

Molly M Matheson

Trygve Owen Moler

Connor Joseph Moulton

Matthew Edward Nosalek

Michael Joseph O’Connor

Liesel Marie Odden

Brinda Hetal Parikh

Ella Hope Phipps

Oliver D Raycroft

Audrey Elizabeth Recko

Marisol Allegra Russo

Mary H Schieman

Noah Michael Sherman

Evelyn Junting Tang

Gabriella Terry

Husna Myaza Tunje

Jacob M Tyler

Andrew Michael Vanderwege

Madeline Rose My Vo

Emily Jean Vogel

Sydney Elizabeth Youngs

Qiuyu Zhou

Reilly Zink

Mechanical Engineering

Arfeen Armaghan

Joshua Carl Arndt

Rachael O Beresford

Aidan Paul Bergman

Jeffrey Trent Bernstein

Chloe Marie Britton Naime

Renee Allison Brogley

Brinley   Bruening

Alexander Joseph Callo

Joseph Timothy Capra

Massimo Casciaro

Robin Amelia Cesario

Jun   Chen

Kaifeng Chen

Giancarlo D’Amore

Joanna Eilleen Delacruz

Colby John Doane

Troy Bradley Drummond

Luyen Duong

Gabriel Emilio Rangel Purnhagen

Andrew J Esposito

Griffin Thomas Estes

Thomas John Fabiano

Luke Samuel Fink

Elan Fullmer

Cameron Joseph Galloway

Xumeng   Ge

Charles James Germosen

Samuel Ryan Getman

Derrick Edward Goll

James Brady Goodreau

Laura Pandora Graziosi

Daniel Robert Greene

Alec Michael Grogan

Jack T Hassett

Meagan Emily Hernandez

Melissa Jane Hiller

Elliott J Holdosh

Yue Hu

Jeffrey Huang

Jiayuan Huang

Gavin Johnson

Dong Myeong Kang

Macauley J Kastner

Teagan L Kilian

Cherry Kim

Justin Kohan

Savannah Mae Kreppein

Jasmine Anne Lin

Honorata Lubecka

Bei Luo

Matthew Macfarlane

Ryan Patrek Martineau

Jennifer Alana Mason

Ian Walter McCollom

Michael J McElroy

Kalhaku D McLester

Ryan A Melick

James Patrick Melitski

Andrew Charles Moreno

Wiley Robert Moslow

Beau M Norris

Michael John Palmer

Nathaniel Ryan Paradis

Patrick Limsuksrikul Phanichyakarn

Emma Tiffany Platten

Regina Ann Reisig

Kaelyn R Rooney

Jeremy Vinton Rosh

Teagan Isabella Marie Rowland

Michael Patrick Rzasa

Sidarth Umrith Sarathy

Madeline Celia Scott

Zachary Ryan Shuler

Eric Silfies

Dionysios Skaltsas

Nathaniel Paul Slabaugh

Daniel Michael Stich

Ian Storrs

Kittapas Tulananda

Evan R Tulsky

Alexandra Rose Vaida

Griffin Riley Vollers

Nicholas Eric Waller

Xu Wang

Michael David Wehrle

Taj Asim Whitney

Thomas Chandler Williams

Michael Wong

Zhihan Zhou

Electrical Engineering Student Selected as an IEEE Power and Energy Society Scholarship Recipient

Electrical engineering student Jemma Mallia ’23 was selected as a 2022 IEEE Power and Energy Society Scholarship Plus Initiative recipient.

Mallia, vice president of the IEEE student branch, was chosen to receive the competitive scholarship by industry and academic representatives. The committee recognized Mallia for obtaining the knowledge and skills necessary to make an impact across the power and energy industry.

She was presented with the award by Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Professor Jay K. Lee, Student Activities Chair of the IEEE Syracuse Section. Mallia was recommended for the scholarship by Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Professor Sara Eftekharnejad. The research Mallia has done with Eftekharnejad’s research group was highlighted in her application.

“I am honored to be selected for this award knowing how many students are recommended for it,” said Mallia. “I’m very grateful for the support IEEE Power and Energy Society is showing for students and for supporting research related to integrating renewable energy into the power grid.”


This program includes a financial stipend along with complimentary one-year membership in IEEE and in the Power & Energy Society. 

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Faculty Attain Prestigious IEEE Fellow Recognition

Electrical engineering and computer science faculty members Wenliang (Kevin) Du and Vir Phoha have been recognized as Fellows of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) for 2023, a high professional honor conferred on less than 0.1% of the organization’s membership annually.

IEEE is the world’s largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity. It has 409,000 members in more than 160 countries who are engineers, scientists and allied professionals whose technical interests are rooted in electrical and computer sciences, engineering and related disciplines.

The Fellow designation is the IEEE’s highest level of membership, attained through nomination by peers and approval by the IEEE Board of Directors.

Du is being recognized for contributions to cybersecurity education and research. Phoha is being honored for his work developing attack-averse active authentication in computing systems using behavioral patterns.

Du’s research focuses on system security for web, mobile, smartphone/tablet and Android operating systems. He has also developed improved access control for mobile systems. In the area of computer security education, work that he began in 2002 to develop hands-on labs for student computer security education, is now used by more than 1000 universities and colleges in more than 80 countries.

This year, he also received the IEEE Region 1 Technological Innovation (Academic) Award. Du also recently was named principal investigator for a National Science Foundation grant of $399,000, “Building and Internet Emulator for Cybersecurity Education.”

Phoha’s research in systems security involves studying malignant systems, active authentication, machine learning, decision trees and statistical and evolutionary methods. He looks at large-time series data streams and static data sets and anomalies and optimization of computer networks to build defensive and offensive cyber-based systems.

Phoha was named a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors in 2020 and a Fellow of the American Association for Advancement of Science in 2018. He has achieved 13 patents for inventions in machine learning, biometrics, user identification and authentication, data decision-making and cybersecurity attacks. He is currently an associate editor of IEEE Transactions on Computational Social Systems and two other journals.

Du and Phoha were nominated for Fellow status by Distinguished Professor Pramod Varshney, of the department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, who was himself recognized an IEEE Fellow in 1997.

Two other professors of electrical engineering and computer science at Syracuse University, Biao Chen (2015) and Jian Tang (2019), have also been named IEEE Fellows.

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Professor Qinru Qiu Named as a Distinguished Member of the Association for Computing Machinery

Qinru Qiu Portrait

Electrical engineering and computer science Professor Qinru Qiu has been named a Distinguished Member of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), the world’s largest and most prestigious association of computing professionals.

Qiu was selected by her peers for her outstanding scientific contributions to computing. The ACM Distinguished Member program recognizes up to 10 percent of ACM worldwide membership based on professional experience and significant achievements in the computing field. To be nominated, a candidate must have at least 15 years of professional experience in the computing field, five years of professional ACM membership in the last 10 years and must have achieved a significant level of accomplishment or made a significant impact in the field of computing, computer science, or information technology. A Distinguished Member is expected to have served as a mentor and role model by guiding technical career development and contributing to the field beyond the norm.

 “This is an important and well deserved honor for Dr. Qiu,” said Engineering and Computer Science Dean J. Cole Smith. “Throughout her career she has been an innovator in the field of green computing, and I have been fortunate to learn about some of her contributions in brain-inspired neuromorphic computing techniques. In addition to her brilliant scholarly innovations, the College of Engineering and Computer Science has also benefited from her very significant leadership and instruction efforts. Dr. Qiu is thoughtful and reliable in every component of her job, and we are thrilled to see her honored by the ACM.”

Marjory Baruch

Degrees:

  • May 1992 M.S. in Computer Science, Syracuse University
  • May 1979 Ph.D. in Mathematics, University of Pennsylvania
  • May 1975 M.A. in Mathematics, University of Pennsylvania
  • June 1972 B.A. in Mathematics, University of Chicago

Micron Technologies Announces Plans to Invest $100 Billion to Build a Semiconductor Fabrication Facility Near Syracuse

In a historic announcement for the Syracuse area, Micron Technology has committed an investment of up to $100 billion to build the largest semiconductor fabrication facility in the United States in Clay, NY.

The facility will create up to 9,000 jobs at four semiconductor fabrication plants on a 1,300 acre site just north of Syracuse and support up to 40,000 additional jobs in local supply chain and construction industries.

“It is hard to dream up an event that is more impactful for the Syracuse area, Syracuse University and the College of Engineering and Computer Science. To say that this investment will transform the region is a dramatic understatement,” said College of Engineering and Computer Science Dean J. Cole Smith.

“The electrical engineering and computer science department’s historical strength in chip design will lead to cutting edge research and educational collaborations between Syracuse University and Micron,” said Edelstein Professor for Broadening Participation and electrical engineering and computer science department chair Jae C. Oh. “We see incredible potential on research involving telecommunications, supercomputing, cloud storage systems, neuromorphic computing, microwave photonics, and quantum microwave communication and sensing.”

The site could eventually include four 600,000 square foot cleanrooms – the size of approximately 40 football fields. Site preparation work will start in 2023 with construction beginning in 2024.

“A semiconductor chip is the brain of almost everything that we use in everyday life, from washers and dryers to cars and cellphones. To fabricate a chip, we use photolithographic technology to ‘print’ circuits onto silicon wafers. The ‘printing’ has very high resolution, such that the size of an object (e.g., a transistor or a piece of wire) on the chip is only 1/10,000 of a hair and a typical chip may have billions of transistors,” said electrical engineering and computer science professor Qinru Qiu. “The semiconductor manufacturing process needs to be carried out in an extremely clean environment with no dust, and it takes many complicated steps.”

As part of the project, Syracuse University will partner with Micron on research, education, and workforce development needs that stem from this investment.

“Micron will need engineering and computer science talent, especially in the fields electrical and computer engineering, mechanical engineering, and chemical engineering,” says Smith. “But the opportunities will extend to every area of this College, and to many other programs outside the College at Syracuse University.”

“We are prepared to play an essential role in educating electrical and computer engineers capable of making an impact in the chip design and fabrication industry.  Micron’s commitment to research and development provides an exciting new opportunity for our students at all levels,” said electrical engineering and computer engineering undergraduate program director Jennifer Graham.

The facility will make dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) chips as part of Micron’s plan to significantly increase DRAM production.

“DRAM is such a central component in modern computing, so much so that it is called ‘main’ memory. When we think of computers, we first associate them with the verb compute, but compute is meaningless if the computed values are not stored in memory,” said electrical engineering and computer science professor Bryan Kim. “DRAM is that very component that stores the program’s data. Today’s data-intensive applications such as artificial intelligence and machine learning consume a tremendous amount of data and produce large models to capture hidden details in the data, all of which are stored in DRAM. Advances in DRAM technology will continue to enable next-generation computing systems and applications.”

Micron plans to use 100% renewable energy at the new facility and to use green infrastructure and sustainable building attributes for the construction of the New York fab to attain Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold status. Micron is also aiming to achieve a 42% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from operations by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050.

Syracuse University Research Team Receives Grant to Advance the Ethereum Blockchain Ecosystem

Yuzhe Tang

Electrical engineering and computer science Professor Yuzhe Tang and his research team received a grant from the non-profit Ethereum Foundation for research to advance the Ethereum blockchain ecosystem.

The grant is part of the peer to peer (P2P) network grants from the Ethereum Foundation’s recent Academic Grants Round.

A blockchain network is an open-membership peer-to-peer network that stores the information of crypto-asset ownership. Thus, the security and availability of the blockchain network are essential to maintaining asset safety. For instance, if the blockchain network is down, crypto-asset owners cannot withdraw their assets, and traders cannot trade.

Tang’s proposed research aims to secure Ethereum’s P2P network against existing and emerging attacks. Ethereum is the second largest blockchain after Bitcoin and holds assets worth more than $190 billion as of August 2022. His research will involve systematic vulnerability discovery, online attack detection, and mitigation tailored to leading Ethereum client software. Tang’s research will result in automatic software tools and retrofittable mitigation subsystems. In addition, he and his team are interested in collaborating with the Ethereum developer community to integrate the software artifacts for Ethereum clients.

Four Engineering and Computer Science Faculty Receive NSF CAREER Awards in the 2021-2022 Academic Year

Sara Eftekharnejad, Ferdinando Fioretto, Zhao Qin and Teng Zeng

College of Engineering and Computer Science Professors Sara Eftekharnejad, Ferdinando Fioretto, Zhao Qin and Teng Zeng received CAREER awards from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development program during the 2021-22 academic year.

The highly competitive NSF Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) program supports early-career faculty who have the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education and to lead advances in the mission of their department or organization. Activities pursued by early-career faculty should build a firm foundation for a lifetime of leadership in integrating education and research.

Eftekharnejad and Fioretto are members of the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Qin and Zeng teach in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Eftekharnejad’s project, “Modeling and Quantification of the Interdependent Power Grid Uncertainties,” examines how conditions impact the U.S. electric power grid and looks at developing better methods of predicting grid disruptions. She is using statistical modeling of power grid failures to help predict power outages within rapid timeframes. Another focus is modeling power-generation uncertainties from various types of energy supplies, including those that are weather dependent. She and her team are working on using system measurements of grid status and condition uncertainties to find a dynamic model that adjusts in real time to help predict power outages before they occur.

In his project, “End-to-End Constrained Optimization Learning,” Fioretto is researching new models for solving computer optimization problems by accelerating data-driven learning. In that effort, he and his research team are approximating near-real-time integration of constrained optimization principles into machine learning algorithms. Optimized algorithms can improve an array of computer-based processes used in industrial applications that affect everyday life, such as meeting electricity demands efficiently, matching organ donors with receivers, scheduling flights and finding a nearby driver at a ride-sharing service.

Qin’s project, “Multiscale Mechanics of Mycelium for Lightweight, Strong and Sustainable Composites” seeks to reveal the fundamental principles that govern the multiscale mechanics of mycelium-based composites and integrate research into an educational program. Mycelium, produced during mushroom growth as the main body of fungi, plays an essential role in altering soil chemistry and mechanics, enabling a suitable living environment for different plant species.

Inland lakes in the northeastern United States have shown inconsistent trends of browning, a shift toward darker water color. Many of these lakes also receive inputs of organic contaminants originating from human activities within the lake watersheds. For “Impacts of Lake Browning on the Photochemical Fate of Organic Micropollutants,” Zeng is studying the sunlight-driven transformation of organic contaminants in the context of browning. The project is a collaboration with a volunteer lake monitoring and education program. He plans to develop new data and knowledge that will support development of adaptative lake monitoring programs and water treatment practices.

A total of nine Syracuse University faculty members received CAREER awards during the 2021-22 academic year. This is the largest number of the prestigious NSF awards earned in a single year.

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Professor Gurdip Singh Appointed as a Divisional Dean at George Mason University

Electrical engineering and computer science professor Gurdip Singh has been appointed divisional dean of the School of Computing at George Mason University. The School of Computing, together with the Volgenau School of Engineering, comprise Mason’s College of Engineering and Computing.

Singh has been on leave from Syracuse University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS) since March of 2020, serving as division director for the Computer and Information Sciences and Engineering (CISE) Directorate with the National Science Foundation (NSF). As division director, he oversees 27 program officers, 12 administrative staff, and a budget of $240 million. Singh will complete his service with the NSF through the fall semester and will join George Mason on a full-time basis in January 2023.

Prior to serving as CISE division director, Singh served as associate dean for research and graduate programs in ECS, where he strengthened multidisciplinary research in several areas such as unmanned aerial systems, smart cities and energy. He put a specific focus on mentoring early career faculty and led ECS’s effort in the Syracuse University cluster-hire initiative where ECS’s multidisciplinary focus resulted in many faculty positions. Singh also led the formation of graduate professional development program, expansion of recruitment efforts for ECS graduate programs and development of mechanisms to provide timely recruitment data and projections to ECS departments.

Dacheng Ren currently serves as Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Programs in ECS.

“Dr. Singh provided foundations that we have grown to rapidly expand our research in the past two years,” said Ren. “This is a great opportunity for him and all of us at the College of Engineering and Computer Science know he will be very successful.”

Interdisciplinary team of Engineering and Computer Science Students Wins 2022 Invent@SU Competition

When searching a burning building for people who may be trapped inside, smoke and debris can cause firefighters to work in zero visibility conditions. They are attached to ropes but it is easy for them to become disoriented. This makes it difficult to navigate their way back to safety.

Environmental engineering student Oliver Raycroft ’25 heard about the problem from a firefighter during his first year at the College of Engineering and Computer Science and started thinking about ideas.

“I thought the problem was interesting and there was a clear need,” said Raycroft. “I wanted to help and find a solution.”

At the beginning of the six week Invent@SU program, Raycroft presented the problem to his teammates biomedical engineering student Alejandra Lopez ’22 and computer science student Adya Parida ’25. Both were interested in seeing if they could use their science and engineering skills to design a practical solution that would help firefighters orient themselves during rescue operations.

“If we could solve this problem, we could save the lives of firefighters and billions in damages,” said Parida.

During Invent@SU, student teams design, prototype and pitch new inventions with help from engineering and communications faculty. Each student receives a $2200 stipend and teams have a $1000 budget for prototyping materials. Teams spend six weeks developing their ideas during summer session one and each week a panel of Syracuse University alumni and friends evaluate the progress of their five-minute pitches.

“It was a combination of experimentation and feedback. This program taught me skills I can apply anywhere,” said Parida.

“I got better and better at presenting and communicating what we were working on,” said Lopez.

Raycroft, Lopez and Parida developed an initial prototype that would attach to rescue ropes and indicate directionality to firefighters who were working in zero-visibility. As they considered adjustments and materials for their next version, the team brought the initial prototype to the Oswego Fire Department to get their feedback and input.

“The fact firefighters liked it so much made it worth it,” said Parida.

On the final Thursday of the program, all seven teams in Invent@SU pitched their inventions to a panel of alumni judges. Raycroft, Lopez and Parida’s team named “Scale Sense” took first place and a $1500 prize.

Second place went to team “Wonder Walker” who designed a mobility assistance device for children with special needs.

Third place went to team “Silogix” – who designed a device to provide farmers with a way to prevent dangerous grain blockages in silos.

“It was a ride, it was fun, challenging and rewarding,” said Parida.

Several Invent@SU teams plan to work with the Blackstone Launchpad in Bird Library to explore business plans and patents.

Invent@SU was made possible by program sponsors Syracuse University Trustee Bill Allyn G’59 and Janet “Penny” Jones Allyn ’60 and Michael Lazar G’65. The 2022 team sponsors were Matthew Lyons ’86, Haden Land G’91 and Cathy Jo Land and Ralph Folz ’90. For more information on the program, visit invent.syr.edu.

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Professor Receives Award for Outstanding Research in Privacy Enhancing Technologies

Ferdinando Fioretto

Electrical engineering and computer science Professor Ferdinando Fioretto and his research team received the 2022 Caspar Bowden PET Award for Outstanding Research in Privacy Enhancing Technologies for  their paper “Decision Making with Differential Privacy under the Fairness Lens.”  The award was presented at the annual Proceedings on Privacy Enhancing Technologies Symposium.

The Caspar Bowden PET award is presented annually to researchers whose work makes an outstanding contribution to the theory, design, implementation, or deployment of privacy enhancing technology. The judges said Fioretto’s team received the award for advancing the understanding of differential privacy and fairness trade-offs in decision making, providing a theoretical framework and exploring a highly relevant practical problem.

“I am honored for our work to receive this prestigious award which recognizes influential research in privacy-enhancing technologies, especially for a project that means so much to me and my group,” said Fioretto.

The awarded paper was published in the International Joint Conference of Artificial Intelligence (IJCAI) in 2021. It looks at the role of a privacy-enhancing technology (called differential privacy) in the context of Census data release for decision tasks with profound societal benefits. Some of these benefits may be the allocation of funds and resources, the distribution of therapeutics, or the assignment of congressional seats. Fioretto’s research team showed that differential privacy may induce or exacerbate biases and unfairness in many classes of decision processes and proposed a theoretical framework to audit and bound these fairness impacts.

“I am very honored and humbled to receive this prestigious award. This is one of my favorite projects and it involved a lot of hard work. Our results suggest that the US government might need to consider ethical consequences when applying differential privacy techniques to protect our privacy,” said doctoral student Cuong Tran, who was one of the authors of the paper. “I am also grateful to my advisor, collaborators, friends and staff from the electrical engineering and computer science department for helping us push this work into fruition.” 

One of the main contributions of their work was to examine the roots of the induced unfairness as well as proposing guidelines to mitigate the negative fairness effects of the decision problems studied.

“I am also happy to see that the analysis proposed in our work has inspired a line of follow-up works in the field of privacy-preserving machine learning to understand why private machine learning algorithms may induce or exacerbate disparate impacts,” said Fioretto. “We are continuing our efforts in this area and are currently working with policy-makers to better understand when and how our solutions may be adopted. I am very excited to see how this direction evolves and look forward to the efforts that our community will make to build better tools to address these fairness issues in privacy-preserving processes.”

Spring 2022 Engineering and Computer Science Dean’s List

Syracuse University Campus

In recognition of superior scholarship, the following students have been entered on the Engineering & Computer Science Dean’s List for Spring 2022.

To be eligible for Dean’s List recognition, the minimum semester grade point average must be 3.40 or higher, must have earned a minimum of 12 graded credits and must have no missing or incomplete grades.

Aerospace Engineering

Allyson Almeida

Brady Arruda

Curtis Cline

Bryan Collins

Nicholas Crane

Brian Cronin

Christopher Doherty

Michael Donato

Sean Edelman

Nadia Elsaeidy

Benjamin Faasse

Christian Fitzgerald

Victoria Forsyth

Benjamin Gerard

Alexandre Gill

Jacob Gomez

Zachary Haas

David Hadley

Alyssa Henley

Aidan Hoff

Paula Ibelings

Nicholas Jacobs

Joseph Javier

Sydney Jud

Benjamin Kane

Harrison Kayton

Trevor Knight

Isaac Lehigh

Stephen Leung

Emma Levenson

Maximillian Lipinski

Jacob Long

Powers Lynch

Brendan Marquis

Noah Martel

Elsa Martin

Jonathan Martin

Maxwell Martin

William Martin

Jason McElhinney

Mariana McManus

Parker McMillan

Alexander Metcalf

Romeo Michelson

John Michinko

Kendra Miller

Evan Moore

Matthew Murino

Mark Namatsaliuk

Tatiyyanah Nelums

Randall Osborn

David Pham

Madeline Phelan

Logan Prye

Matthew Qualters

Mykhaylo Rafalskyy

Samantha Riedel

Brandon Riley

Tracey Rochette

Alyssa Rote

Daniela Ruano-Pinos

Gregory Ruef

Michael Saksa

William Saueressig

Fred Schaffer

Winston Schaumloffel

Justine John Serdoncillo

Kanya Shah

Vraj Shah

Prabha Singh

Gregory Slodysko Jr

Zachary Stahl

Christopher Stawarski

Ethan Stocum

Yiyuan Sun

Marco Svolinsky

Tiffany Tang

Anthony Tricarico

Cody VanNostrand

Diego Villegas

Mason Weber

Timothy Wiley

Kana Wong

Cameron Woodbury

Melissa Yeung

Bioengineering

Anthony Acierto

Ashraf Alnatour

Bianca Andrada

Jason Bae

Eric Benaroch

Colby Black

Anna Brunson

Zeynep Cakmak

Britnie Carpentier

Lukas Cook

Tessa Decicco

Mia-Marie Fields

Tessa Galipeau

Jennifer Gonzalez

Skyla Gordon

Jenna Grutzmacher

Grace Haas

Lauren Hamilton

Victoria Hathaway

Brenna Henderson

Madeline Jones

Gabriel Khan

Jakub Kochanowski

Emily Labour

Quinn Langdon

Sara Leonardo

Isabelle Lewis

Alejandra Lopez

Ethan Masters

Aidan McCarthy

Aelish McGivney

Ian McHugh

Caitlin Mehl

Lindy Melegari

Katherine Monroe

Hannah Murphy

Alexander Musselman

Jonathan Ngo

Mark Nicola

Nicole Nielsen

Kerrin O’Grady

Mia Paynton

Megan Perlman

Connor Preston

Michael Presunka

Mark Ransbottom

Lillian Rhuda

Isabella Rosales

Brandon Salazar

Amira Salihovic

Juliana Sepulveda

Bridget Sides

Katherine Southard

Justin Stock

Elizabeth Su

Kimberly Tlayaca

Zhuoqi Tong

Danny Vu

Nathaniel Wellington

Maximillian Wilderman

Haven Wittmann

Lauren Woodford

Rui Xie

Julian Zorn

Samantha Zysk

Chemical Engineering

Daud Abdullayev

Paige Adebo

Lilly Basgall

Sandy Cao

Karley Chambers

Dennis Dao

Gabriela Duarte Saadia

Samantha Esparza

Emily Fittante

Edward Fluker

Mia Goldberg

Brent Gosselin

Avery Gunderson

Christopher Hansen

Oduduabasi Isaiah

Aiden Jacobs

Natalia Jarmain

Hope Johnson

Sonia Julius

Sayf Karim

Laxmi Khatiwada

Adam Klinger

Simran Dharmendra Lakhani

Caroline Leduc

Steven M Axelsen

Haonan Ma

Rawia F A M Marafi

Annika Meyers

Erin Odonnell

Sean O’Toole

Eli Paster

Fabiana Perez

Isabella Perkins

Nora Prosak

Riley Schmerber

Jacob Shellhamer

Jason Tan

Elizabeth Wall

Murphy Waters

Jackson Yuen

Civil Engineering

Shalom Acheampong

Juan Pablo Arosemena Graziadei

Maxwell Bell

Lucas Bellandi

Henry Bievenue

Ryan Bourdeau

Shalamar Brown

Alycia Bruce

Masson Bruening

Brett Carney

Vanessa Chica

Alejandro Correa

Aymeric Destree

Brendan Dwyer

Jack Dwyer

Marlee Ecton

Maraea Garcia

Matthew Hauser

Julia Johnson-Milstein

Joshua Kaufman

Kate Kemnitz

Alexander Klee

Adam Landry

Evangelia Larson

Abigail Laschalt

Haben Legesse

Emma Liptrap

Emilija Lizins

John Mazza

Jessica McGowan

Lucas Meiers

Sumit Mistry

Salma Mohamed

Amira Mouline

Trevor Napoli

Marissa Nicole

Jenifer Pena

Joseph Penta

Brian Perez

Justin Pettit

John Pham

Maxwell Pozar

Gabriel Prepetit

Anthony Privitera

Benjamin Putrino

Kaylin Richards

Cassie Saracino

Ethan Schulz

Aaron Shinn

Caitlin Spillane

Erin Splaine

Jose Venegas

Christian Viola

Christian Ward

Angelina Wong

Isabelle Wong

Paige Yamane

Charles Zeitoune

Garrett Zito

Computer Engineering

Adekunle Akinshola

Chikeluba Anierobi

Graciela Avila

Jackson Bradley

Collin Chamberlain

Dynasty Chance

Ibrahima Diallo

Lyn El Sayed Kassem

Melvin Escobar Gonzalez

Xavier Evans

Elizabeth Fatade

Delaney Glassford

Aidan Harrington

Ethan Hensley

Kasey Jackson

Mehak Jetly

Virkin Jimenez

Fundi Juriasi

Bikash Khatiwoda

Jessica Lat

Tyler Lavaway

Matthew Leight

Jiaxiong Li

Kyle Maiorana

Aksel Malatak

Jacob Masrouri

Jas Moreno

Benjamin Murray

Pierce Neubert

Jose Olivera

Jessica Reslan

Anel Rizvic

Samuel Rosenthal

Hongyi Ruan

Mia Russo

Hanna Salem

Alexander Segarra

Ryan Wolff

Renjie Xu

Andy Zheng

Computer Science

Aaron Alakkadan

Sajjad Albadri

Huda Ali

Christian Alves-Patterson

Garret Babick

Julia Barucky

Samantha Bastien

Anas Benhamida

Luke Bonenberger

Joshua Boucher

Brian Bourne

Ella Brink

Brandon Brushwyler

Bryan Bueno Reyes

Bryce Cable

Liam Calnan

Omar Camara

Megan Campbell

Benjamin Canfield

Jackie Chen

Lawrence Chen

Siyu Chen

Yixing Chen

Daniel Chmielewski

Season Chowdhury

Konstantinos Chrysoulas

Bram Corregan

Miguel Cruz Flores

Matthew Cufari

Ryan Czirr

Salvatore DeDona

Aidan DeGooyer

Alpha Diallo

Lucille Disalvo

Christopher Edmonds

Georges Elizee

Yassin Elsharafi

Ryan Elsinga

Matthew Faiola

Xueyan Feng

Bennett Ferrari

Lucas Fox

Mason Freer

Ruihong Gao

Brianna Gillfillian

Justin Gluska

John Gorman

Alexander Haas

Athanasios Hadjidimoulas

Talal Hakki

Ashley Hamilton

Jillian Handrahan

Liam Hannah

Nicholas Hoffis

Laurel Howell

Jacob Howlett

Xuanye Huang

Chengyi Jiang

Tianyiming Jing

Frederick Jones

Michael Jones

Alan Jos

Xiaoya Kang

Aarya Kaphley

Henry Katchuba

Matthew Keenan

Ekaterina Kladova

Polina Kozyreva

Gaeun Lee

Janet Lee

Justin Lee

Andy Li

Jiashu Li

Rick Li

Yuxuan Li

Daniel Lim

Haochen Lin

Sandy Lin

Zekai Lin

Huangjin Liu

Jiaming Liu

Joshua Liu

Yiheng Lu

Runzhi Ma

Gavin Macisaac

Andrew Markarian

Konnor Mascara

Kanoa Matton

Ryan May

Anthony Mazzacane

Matthew McDaniels

Noah Mechnig-Giordano

Jose Mendoza

Philip Moceri

Thomas Montfort

Jacob Morrison

Jovanni Mosca

Ryan Murphy

Zoe Neale

Christopher Nemeth Jr

Jillienne Ness

Arianna Nguyen

Cheryl Olanga

Carlyn O’Leary

Marissa Orsley

Daniel Pae

William Palin

Xiaofeng Pan

Michael Panighetti

Adya Aditi Parida

Brian Pellegrino

Carlo Pisacane

Daniel Pomerantz

Fiona Powers Beggs

Cheng Qiu

Shane Race

Christopher Rhodes

Eric Rodriguez

Sadikshya Sanjel

Jack Schmidt

William Seeley

Huahao Shang

Nolan Shepherd

Chad Smith

Jeremy Stabile

Kevin Sullivan

Cheng Yu Sung

Nicholas Sweet

Rae Tasker

Dylan Teare

Emmanuel Teferra

Jonathan Thomas

Eduardo Torres-Garcia

Brendan Treloar

Winston Tsui

Randy Vargas

Kevin Verdeschi

Kritika Verma

Bermalyn Maricel Vicente

Christopher Vinciguerra

Ruobing Wang

Xinyi Wang

Zijian Wang

Robert Ward

Jack Willis

Nolan Willis

Brian Wong

Ethan Wong

Tianyi Xiang

Zhuoyi Xiong

Yujie Xu

Jishuo Yang

Yongcan Yang

Stella Yaunches

Elin Yaworski

Yulun Zeng

Liaotianbao Zhang

Mingyan Zhang

Ruihao Zhang

Weiwei Zhang

Junjie Zheng

Liuyu Zhou

Xinqian Zhou

Yitao Zhou

Joseph Zoll

Engineering Undeclared

Luke Lybarger

Kathleen Meleski

James Peden

Emily Schiessl

Electrical Engineering

Minghao Ai

Mohammed Aljohani

Tianle Bu

Kevin Buciak

Wyatt Bush

Yushang Cai

Arianna Cameron

Leshui Chen

Nicholas Connolly

Kevin Donnelly

Henry Duisberg

Randy Galicia

Jose Ginorio

Jemma Mallia

Tyler Marston

Ryan Mussaw

Zixun Nian Nian

Jayson Okhman

Dylan Palmer

Julia Pepin

Matthew Piciocchi

Savion Pollard

Gilberto Ruiz

Gabriel Ruoff

Luis Santin

Jenna Stapleton

Jared Welch

Environmental Engineering

Elexis Jean Bishop

David Brodsky

Benjamin Cavarra

Ananya Chandra

Bessie Chen

Emma Crandall

Eric Fitzgerald

Eleanor Gettens

Allyson Greenberg

Brady Hartnett

Christopher Harvey

Joshua Higgins

Nicholas Kohl

Audrey Liebhaber

Samuel Livingston

Henry Long

Molly Matheson

Matthew Nosalek

Andrew O’Gorman

Ella Phipps

Scott Potter

Joshua Prygon

Oliver Raycroft

Mary Schieman

Noah Sherman

Husna Tunje

Jacob Tyler

Andrew Vanderwege

Maria Antonia Villegas Botero

Emily Vogel

Anna Wojcik

Qiuyu Zhou

Reilly Zink

Mechanical Engineering

Owyn Adams

Richard Andrews

Joshua Arndt

Timothy Arnold

Charles Ball

Erin Beaudoin

Aidan Bergman

Jeffrey Bernstein

Chloe Britton Naime

Brinley Bruening

Arnaud Buard

Alexander Callo

Joseph Capra

Graham Chapman

Talina Chipantiza

Artur Chuvik

Caroline D’Addio

Peter Daniels

Ryan Dileo

Madeline Doyle

Luyen Duong

Griffin Estes

Thomas Fabiano

Charles Germosen

Samuel Getman

Kara Gorman

Laura Graziosi

Jiayuan Huang

Vian Vishal Jain

Jagger Kachmaryk

Finnian Kery

Teagan Kilian

Justin Kohan

Deanna Koppenjan

Trevor Kroells

Harrison Liberto

Cameron Lotfi

Honorata Lubecka

Bei Luo

Lauren Mack

Kalhaku McLester

James Melitski

Leilah Miller

Pablo Morales

Nicholas Papaleo

Nathaniel Paradis

Corey Phung

Nicholas Piano

Scott Reyes

Aidan Riederich

Jasmine Rodriguez

Jeremy Rosh

Nitish Satpute

Justin Sauve

Eric Silfies

Dionysios Skaltsas

Nathaniel Slabaugh

Samuel Slaiby

Ian Storrs

Matthew Swanson

Ethan Tracey

Evan Tulsky

Alexandra Vaida

Nicholas Valentin

Griffin Vollers

Michael Wehrle

Taj Whitney

Michael Wong

Systems & Information Science

Connor Gurnham

Stacy Kim

Younes Ra’di

Degrees:

Sc.D., Aalto University, 2015

Research Interests:

  • Theoretical and Applied Electromagnetics
  • RF and Microwave Engineering
  • Antennas and Propagation
  • Electromagnetics of Artificial Materials and Surfaces  

Current Research:

His research is mainly focused on engineering fields and waves, with emphasis on tailoring electromagnetic wave-matter interactions. In this context, he has made several scientific contributions on a broad range of topics in theoretical and applied electromagnetics and optics, including engineered RF/microwave materials, antennas and propagation, functional metasurfaces, plasmonics, and nanophotonics. Working with three leading research groups in the field of engineering light-matter interaction, he has successfully put forward fundamentally new concepts and ideas to go beyond the limitations of conventional designs and have investigated theoretically, numerically, and experimentally innovative aspects of wave interaction with engineered structures.

Pankaj K. Jha

Degrees:

Ph. D., Physics, Texas A&M University

Masters of Science (5-Year Integrated), Physics, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (IITK)

Areas of Expertise:

  • Quantum information science
  • Quantum sensing and metrology
  • Quantum nano- and meta-photonics
  • Bio-inspired materials
  • Bio-nano ​interfaces
  • Machine learning

Jha’s research focuses on developing quantum hardware using two-dimensional materials and heterostructures, III-V semiconductors, nanostructures, soft-materials, metamaterials, and hybrid combination of these materials. His research seeks to understand fundamental characteristics of these systems through combined experimental, theoretical, and computational studies and use those findings to gain control and induce novel optical, electrical, thermal, and mechanical responses in them. These responses, in turn, are leveraged to develop transformative devices and technologies for quantum information science, quantum sensing and metrology, nanophotonics, optoelectronics, and space exploration applications. Thus, his interdisciplinary research crosses the conventional scientific boundaries to merge applied physics with electrical engineering, materials science, and mechanical engineering.

Honors and Awards:

  • Tingye Li Innovation Prize for Early Career Professionals (Finalist): 2016.
  • American Physical Society, Travel Grant: 2011.
  • Herman F. Heep and Minnie Belle Heep Foundation Graduate Fellowship: 2010.
  • Robert A. Welch Foundation Graduate Fellowship: 2009-2012.

Selected Publications:

  • P. K. Jha*, H. Akbari*, Y. Kim*, S. Biswas, and H. A. Atwater, “Nanoscale axial position and orientation measurement of hexagonal boron nitride quantum emitters using a tunable nanophotonic environment,” Nanotechnology 33, 015001 (2022).
  • L. Kim*, S. Kim*, P. K. Jha, V. W. Brar, and H. A. Atwater, “Mid-Infrared radiative emission from bright hot plasmons in graphene,” Nat. Mater. 20, 805 (2021).
  • H. Ramezani, P. K. Jha, Y. Wang, and X. Zhang, “Nonreciprocal Localization of Photons,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 120, 043901(2018).
  • P. K. Jha, M. Mrejen, J. Kim, C. Wu, Y. Wang, Y. V. Rostovtsev, and X. Zhang, “Coherence-Driven Topological Transition in Quantum Metamaterials,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 116, 165502 (2016).
  • P. K. Jha*, X. Ni*, C. Wu, Y. Wang, and X. Zhang, “Metasurface-Enabled Remote Quantum Interference,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 115, 025501 (2015).
  • K. E. Dorfman, P. K. Jha, D. V. Voronine, P. Genevet, F. Capasso, and M. O. Scully, “Quantum-Coherence- Enhanced Surface Plasmon Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 111, 043601 (2013).

Kirthiga Reddy G’95 Announced as 2022 College of Engineering and Computer Science Convocation Keynote Speaker

Kirthiga Reddy G’95 has many firsts to her credit. She was the first female investing partner at SoftBank Vision Fund, the first employee for Facebook in India & their Managing Director for Facebook India & South Asia. She is currently the president of Athena Technology II SPAC and a founding investment partner for f7 Ventures. She is on the Board of WeWork and Pear Therapeutics. Reddy received a master’s degree in Computer Engineering in 1995 and the College of Engineering and Computer Science is proud to announce she will be the keynote speaker at the College’s 2022 Convocation on May 14th.

Reddy brings over twenty years of experience leading technology-driven transformations. She is driven by the mantra “When businesses succeed, livelihoods flourish.”

Athena Technology II is an all-women-led SPAC (Special Purpose Acquisition Company) which brings talent and transaction experience to enable access to equity capital markets. The f7 Seed Fund’s mission is “Bold Women Investing in Bold Ventures.” Previously, Reddy was the Investment Partner at SoftBank Investment Advisers, manager of the $100B+ SoftBank Vision Fund where she led a portfolio of $5 Billion-plus. Her focus was fast evolving sectors like quantum computing, additive manufacturing, enterprise, health tech, gaming and crypto. She served on the investment committee of Softbank’s Emerge Program, a global accelerator to provide funding, tools and networks for top companies led by underrepresented founders.

Prior to SBIA, she was the Managing Director of Facebook India and South Asia for over six years, starting as their first employee in India. She started one of the global operations offices that now serves over 3.5B people. She grew the India business to several $100Ms of annual revenue and got investment buy-in for the vision of $1B. Her subsequent experiences at Facebook focused on emerging and high-growth markets including Mexico, Brazil, Indonesia, South Africa and the Middle East.

Reddy is a passionate supporter of Syracuse University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science. She has been an active member of the Dean’s Leadership Council since 2018 and is a member of SU’s Hill Society, a dedicated network of leadership annual donors who share a common goal of supporting Syracuse University’s highest priorities.

The newly established Kirthiga Reddy Graduate Scholarship Fund provides financial assistance to ECS graduate students.

She holds an MBA from Stanford University, where she graduated with highest honors as an Arjay Miller Scholar and has served as Chair of the Stanford Business School Management Board. She acquired her B.E. in Computer Science and Engineering from Marathwada University, India. She has been recognized as Fortune India’s “Most Powerful Women” and as Fast Company’s “Most Creative People in Business” among other recognitions. Her upcoming book, The Opportunity Engine, is about building high-growth, sustainable businesses.

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Professor Sara Eftekharnejad Receives National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award

For a network that powers the country, the United States electric grid is increasingly fragile. Millions of people, households and industries rely on the grid’s ability to balance the supply and demand for energy but extreme weather events and challenges predicting renewable energy generation levels have put significant pressure on it. Grid failures like the one that happened in Texas in 2021 can affect millions of people.

“The only way to prevent cascading outages is to better predict them,” said electrical engineering and computer science Professor Sara Eftekharnejad. “If we can predict the most probable grid failures then mitigative actions could be taken to prevent those failures .”

Eftekharnejad received an NSF CAREER Award to research the impacts of the uncertainties within the electric power grid and develop enhanced methods to predict disruptions. Her research will focus on two main areas –

  1. Statistical modeling for power grid failures that are often caused by severe weather and interconnectivity issues.
  2. Modeling the generation uncertainties, particularly as more power is generated by renewables that depend on weather conditions like wind and solar.

The two are separate issues but can also come together to cause significant problems.

“Generation and outages are interdependent. If there is an unforeseen shortage of renewable power generation, that could potentially lead to outages. Similarly, severe outages could disconnect the distributed renewable generation resources from the grid” said Eftekharnejad. “If the grid operators are aware of the impending failures considering these uncertainties, they can take actions that prevent large-scale blackouts.”

To better predict power generation uncertainties and outages across the more than 7,000 power plants and 2.7 million miles of power lines that make up the United States power grid, Eftekharnejad and her research team will develop statistical predictive models.

“When outages cascade, it can affect millions of people. We are trying to develop better methods to estimate the probabilities of outages considering the uncertainties of the available generation resources,” said Eftekharnejad. “We are going to find a way to quantify the uncertainties using large-scale data and machine learning methods.”

Using historical or synthetic data, they will develop statistical models for outage predictions over hundreds of power lines.

“We are looking for a dynamic model that can adjust in real time. The model would learn from the system measurements and adjust itself to better capture the existing uncertainties,” said Eftekharnejad. “Once we know how to model outages and predict them – now we have a way to quickly predict outages in seconds.”

Eftekharnejad and her team also want to develop better forecast models for wind and solar power generation.

“If we can better predict the day-ahead generation uncertainties, we can better plan for those uncertainties and ensure adequate reserves are available,” said Eftekharnejad.

In addition to preventing large-scale blackouts, Eftekharnejad says better modeling of the grid uncertainties could also have significant economic benefits.

“Reducing disruptions is better for the electric utilities and customers. More reliable power could reduce costs for both,” said Eftekharnejad.

“Receiving an NSF CAREER award is an important accomplishment and recognition for new faculty. The awards support pre-tenure early-career assistant professors,” said Jae Oh, the David G. Edelstein Professor for Broadening Participation and chair of the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. “The EECS department has been regularly producing CAREER awardees in recent years, and we expect this trend to continue in many future years.”

“Dr. Eftekharnejad’s research reveals the power of algorithms in modern society. We obviously cannot afford to rely on nonrenewable resources exclusively for power, nor can we always imagine what power demands and failure events will happen in the future,” said J. Cole Smith, Dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science. “Her research will ultimately serve to make our power grid more effective in normal operations, more reliable in times of disruptions, and more efficient in using renewable energy sources. This kind of research is just so vital to addressing modern challenges to our national security and quality of life, and the College is excited to see what she and her team of students will produce with this prestigious award.”

Life Trustee Nick Donofrio G’71, H’11 Receives 2022 International Peace Honors Award

Nicholas “Nick” Donofrio G’71, H’11, a Syracuse University Life Trustee, was one of the distinguished award recipients at the 2022 International Peace Honors on February 27th. The International Peace Honors celebrates the most outstanding global leaders and change-agents of our time who make philanthropy and humanitarian service a hallmark of their lives, to advance humanity and our planet.

Donofrio spent 44 years at IBM, working his way up to become executive vice president of innovation and technology. He has dedicated much of his life to providing and expanding opportunity in STEM fields to students from underrepresented groups. Donofrio has also served as the board chairman for the non-profit PeaceTech Lab since it was founded by the United States Institute of Peace in 2014, he was appointed by the U.S. Department of Education to serve on the Commission on the Future of Higher Education and by the National Academy of Engineering for their Committee on Racial Justice and Equity.

“Nick’s commitment to making STEM fields more diverse and inclusive exemplifies the leadership he has shown throughout his career,” says Chancellor Kent Syverud. “His tireless efforts have provided pathways to countless individuals pursuing careers in STEM. I congratulate Nick on this tremendous recognition. Our community is proud and fortunate to have him as an active part of our Syracuse University family.”

He founded the Donofrio Scholars program at the College of Engineering and Computer Science that evolved into the ECS Ambassadors program. His recent gift to the Forever Orange Campaign helps support and grow holistic diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives that touch on every aspect of the College, including recruiting and retaining diverse students, faculty and staff, strengthening a culture of equity and inclusion, ensuring student access to internships and co-ops, academic support, career mentoring, and professional societies.

“Nick is one of the most extraordinary people I’ve had the chance to meet,” said College of Engineering and Computer Science Dean J. Cole Smith. “Before you meet Nick, you know him for his elite professional success and recognition. After you get to know him, you see a man with a rare and profound dedication to helping humanity. We have long known of Nick’s sustained impact on students and his profession at Syracuse University, and I am so gratified to see him recognized worldwide with this prestigious honor.”

In an article published in 2021 by the National Academy of Engineering, Donofrio wrote that “innovation doesn’t just ‘happen.’ It is enabled by environments and organizations that foster open, collaborative, inclusive, multidisciplinary thinking and working. Time and again, I have been reminded that the more open and inclusive the team, the more successful it is—because nobody knows in advance which team member is going to supply a critical piece of the value puzzle.”

As a 2022 International Peace Honoree, Donofrio joins prestigious actor, director and social activist Forest Whitaker, MasterCard chairman Ajay Banga; internet phenomenon and “Humans of New York” creator Brandon Stanton and Advanced Micro Devices president & CEO Dr. Lisa Su.

Electrical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering Alumni Profile: Grace Lanni ’88

Grace Lanni

Great ideas often disappear into a chasm that exists between inception and execution. To help bridge that gap, Grace Lanni ’88 has an innate ability to communicate with an array of stakeholders, help entrepreneurs find clarity in their ideas, and turn them into solutions that help people. Her fluency in a diverse set of subjects and ability to adapt was apparent from the start of her time as a student at Syracuse University.

Lanni entered college on a full Airforce ROTC scholarship and chose electrical engineering and biomedical engineering as part of a dual degree, along with a minor in music. Lanni found Syracuse University provided her with opportunities and resources to pursue her differing interests.

“The professors were very entrepreneurial, and I leaned into that. I was able to work with a physician at Upstate Medical Center as a lab assistant and I had other internship activities so I could apply the stuff I was learning,” said Lanni. “I also got to join the jazz band and be part of a community of musicians.”

After graduating, Lanni accepted a position where she quickly learned she was uniquely effective at communicating between two key departments.

“I would sit with the engineers in the morning and then spend the afternoon with the marketing people to explain what it was the engineers were building, and how to sell and implement the products,” said Lanni.

Lanni admits she had more fun spending time with the marketing team, and it opened her eyes to a side of business she had never experienced. This was the first of several significant shifts Lanni used to chart her career. In her next job, Lanni got a taste for selling. Then she moved to California where she took a position at a small networking hardware company and helped them grow to 35 employees within a year. The next move was to Austin, Texas and into software sales at a startup, but suddenly her momentum was stopped. After two months of being in the role, Lanni arrived at the office to find the doors chained shut. The company had gone out of business. Lanni had moved to Austin with her kids, she didn’t know many people, and did not have a job. After briefly considering retreating back to California, Lanni made some calls to colleagues and started looking for projects. Six months later she had her own company.

At the time, companies were just beginning to move servers off site to colocation centers, but the software they needed to manage the new server set up didn’t exist. Recognizing a sound opportunity, Lanni drafted a proposal and became one of only two women to score million-dollar money from a tier one venture capital firm that year. This was Lanni’s first time working with a venture group, and she says although it came with new challenges, the experience made her want to help women entrepreneurs.

“I really didn’t have any experience in the venture community. I had some support, some mentorship, but nothing like today,” said Lanni. “One of the things I love to do is support other women who want to go into the venture community and that is why. I didn’t have the support. I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t know how to manage the money. Those are skills I learned.”

Lanni broke away to work on a new startup in collaboration with Dell engineers to develop and sell an early version of the tablet PC. Lanni booked the first order, signed up the first partner and the first distributor, and after seven years she decided it was time for another move. Healthtech allowed Lanni to enjoy bioengineering and entrepreneurship, but by 2016, she went all-in on digital marketing. Lanni went to her team and asked what they thought she should focus on, and they said, “you’re a personal branding expert.” In response, Lanni launched a new business called All About That Brand to focus on helping entrepreneurs tell their stories to attract their ideal customers.

Lanni is a pioneer in the branding influencer space. All About That Brand helped bring personal brand influence into the spotlight and it took off. The platform includes an award-winning podcast, an award-winning book, and it positioned Lanni as an influencer in marketing, personal branding, and customer experience. In February of 2020, Lanni was searching for a new opportunity to innovate, and her reputation led to an invitation to appear on the cyberbullying episode of “4 Days to Save the World,” a reality show that challenges groups of entrepreneurs to develop solutions for global social problems.

The eruption of COVID-19 nearly derailed any further participation with the show because Lanni needed to focus on managing disruption facing All About That Brand. When she notified the showrunners that she wanted to step away, they countered by asking Lanni to stay on board in a new role, associate producer. It may sound like a strange role for an engineer, but both engineering and producing require a similar way of thinking.

“You have a problem in front of you almost every hour of every day. It is 24 hours of problem solving to the emergency room level,” said Lanni.

Her engineering mindset made Lanni a natural fit and within six months she became the executive producer in charge of 4 teams responsible for recruiting show-ready entrepreneurs, sponsorships, and financing to bring the show to set.

“With all my business expertise, I was able to weigh in and work directly with the studio owner and creator. It was a wonderful, wild experience for 18 months,” said Lanni. “It was like going back to college. I loved college. I learned so many new things.”

While talking with entrepreneurs around the world for the show, Lanni would often hear about the causes that mattered most to them and why. Those conversations got her thinking about how to stand out in the increasingly crowded brand space and blend her complimentary roles as a branding influencer and executive producer with her passion for helping entrepreneurs.

“When you’re talking with really smart entrepreneurs about how to save the world, it’s pretty fun. I decided I wanted to be in the conversations about cause. I wanted to help my clients identify and lean into their cause,” said Lanni.

Cause branding became Lanni’s new lane, and her latest enterprise is called Giving Out Loud. It is a media program that focuses on helping entrepreneurs select a cause that aligns with their brand and helping them demonstrate care for that cause.

“If you’re in business and you want to interact with younger generations, figure out what matters to you and talk about it,” said Lanni. “Be in that conversation because that is where things are headed.”

In the simplest terms, Lanni is an entrepreneur who wants to help other entrepreneurs at every level. Including aspiring entrepreneurs at Syracuse University.

“I am a fan of the entrepreneurship focus at Syracuse University. I love being a judge for Invent@SU and being a mentor,” said Lanni. “Have a great time and realize it is a journey. What you’re studying today is more about the people in the room than what is on the page. Really celebrate those relationships.”

2022 Engineering and Computer Science Research Day Awards

2022 Research Day

We are happy to announce the winners from the 2022 Engineering and Computer Science Research Day held on March 25th, 2022.

Poster Competition

1st Place: Elizabeth Oguntade, PhD student in Bioengineering.

On-Demand Activation of Functional Protein Surface Patterns with Tunable Topography
Suitable for Biomedical Applications. Advisor: Dr. James Henderson

2nd Place: Natalie Petryk, MS student in Bioengineering.

Synthesis of Shape Memory Polymer Foams with Off-the-Shelf Components for Improved
Commercialization. Advisor: Dr. Mary Beth Monroe

3rd Place: Alexander Hartwell, PhD student in Mechanical and Aerospace
Engineering.

Introduction of a Multilayered Cathode for Improved Internal
Cathode Tubular Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Performance. Advisor: Dr. Jeongmin Ahn
Honorable Mention: Saif Khalil Elsayed, MS student in Civil Engineering.
Modeling Self-Folding Hybrid SU-8 Skin for 3D Biosensing Microstructures.
Advisor: Dr. Zhao Qin


Oral Presentation Competition


Communication and Security Session

1st Place: Kai Li, PhD student in Electrical/Computer Engineering. Detect and
Mitigate Vulnerabilities in Ethereum Transaction Pool. Advisor: Dr. Yuzhe Tang

2nd Place: Xinyi Zhou, PhD student in Computer/Information Science. “This is
Fake! Shared it by Mistake”: Assessing the Intent of Fake News Spreaders. Advisor:
Dr. Reza Zafarani


Health and Well-being Session


1st Place: Yousr Dhaouadi, PhD student in Chemical Engineering. Forming
Bacterial Persisters with Light. Advisor: Dr. Dacheng Ren


2nd Place: Henry Beaman, PhD student in Bioengineering. Gas-Blown Super
Porous Hydrogels with Rapid Gelling and High Cell Viability for Cell Encapsulation.
Advisor: Dr. Mary Beth Monroe


Energy, Environment & Smart Materials Session

1st Place: Durgesh Ranjan, PhD student in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.
Porous nanochannel wicks based solar vapor generation device. Advisor: Dr.
Shalabh Maroo


2nd Place: Alexander Johnson, PhD student in Civil Engineering. Estimating Dry
Deposition of Atmospheric Particles by Rain Washoff from Urban Surfaces.
Advisor: Dr. Cliff Davidson


Sensors, Robotics & Smart Systems Session

1st Place: Lin Zhang, PhD student in Computer/Information Science. Adaptive
Sensor Attack Detection for Cyber-Physical Systems. Advisor: Dr. Fanxin Kong

2nd Place: Zixin Jiang, PhD student in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering,
Short-term occupancy prediction driven intelligent HVAC control. Advisor: Dr. Bing
Dong

Collaborative Partnership Between Syracuse University and Leading Research Universities Receives Presidential Award

Students walking to and from Carnegie Library in early spring

The GEM Consortium, a collaborative partnership between leading research universities and industry to help underrepresented students earn masters and doctoral degrees in STEM fields, received the 2021 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring.

Syracuse University has been a member of the GEM Consortium for almost 30 years. In the past 5 years, GEM Fellowships have been awarded to graduate students in the School of Architecture, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Engineering and Computer Science as well as the School of Information Studies. The number of GEM Fellowship applications from SU students is now in the top 10 among GEM member universities. Civil and environmental engineering Professor Dawit Negussey is the current Syracuse University representative on the GEM Consortium.

“The award recognizes the contributions of the GEM Consortium in providing a scalable path to STEM careers in academia and industry for underrepresented students,” said Negussey.

“I’m grateful for all of Professor Negussey’s efforts to grow our graduate education pipeline for underrepresented graduate students at Syracuse University,” said Peter Vanable, dean of the Graduate School. “To go from relatively little activity with the GEM Consortium to being a top 10 contributor of GEM applicants is a clear marker of our commitment to increasing the diversity of our graduate student population.”

Over the past 45 years, more than 4000 GEM Fellows have earned MS and PhD degrees in STEM fields. At present, the GEM consortium membership consists of 129 private and public national universities and 61 major corporations and research laboratories.

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Professor Pramod K. Varshney Selected to Receive 2021 IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society Pioneer Award

Pramod Varshney Portrait
Pramod Varshney Portrait

Pramod Varshney, Distinguished Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, has been selected to receive the 2021 IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society (AESS) Pioneer Award. The AESS Pioneer award has been given annually since 1949 and is one of the most notable awards in the electronics and aerospace systems field. The award recognizes contributions significant to bringing into being systems that are still in existence today. The contributions for which the award is bestowed are to have been made at least 20 years prior to the year of the award.

The 2021 award will recognize Varshney’s contributions to signal processing and information fusion enabling advanced aerospace and electronic systems.

He will receive the award at 2022 IEEE Radar Conference in New York City in March.

“Professor Varshney has been a trailblazer in the field of complex information processing who has made innumerable contributions over the course of his career.  The Pioneer Award fittingly recognizes that some of his inventions paved the way for today’s rapidly evolving technologies,” said Ramesh Raina, Interim Vice President for Research.

Varshney was also selected to receive the prestigious 2021 Claude Shannon-Harry Nyquist Technical Achievement Award from the IEEE Signal Processing Society for outstanding contributions in the fields of distributed inference and data fusion.

“Within a few months, Dr. Varshney won two prestigious awards from two different IEEE societies. Such an achievement is completely unheard of. He won the 2021 Shannon-Nyquist Technical Achievement Award from the IEEE Signal Processing Society and the 2021 IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society (AESS) Pioneer Award. The EECS department is incredibly proud of the achievements and recognitions that he truly deserves,” said Jae C. Oh Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department Chair and David G. Edelstein Professor for Broadening Participation.

Fall 2021 Engineering and Computer Science Dean’s List

SU Campus
The Einhorn Family Walk stretches out in front of the Hall of Languages on a autumn day.

In recognition of superior scholarship, the following students have been entered on the Engineering & Computer Science Dean’s List for Fall 2021.

To be eligible for Dean’s List recognition, the minimum semester grade point average must be 3.40 or higher, must have earned a minimum of 12 graded credits and must have no missing or incomplete grades.

Aerospace Engineering 

Lucy Genevieve Adams

Allyson Almeida

Brady Joseph Arruda

Richard L Bruschi

Curtis James Cline

Bryan Collins

Nicholas Daniel Crane

Brian James Cronin

Christopher John Doherty

Michael Alexander Donato

Benjamin David Faasse

Kassidy Fields

Christian Scott Fitzgerald

Victoria Elizabeth Forsyth

Benjamin Daniel Gerard

Alexandre J Gill

Zachary William Haas

Alyssa Henley

Aidan Hoff

Matthew James Holmes

Paula Cristina Ibelings

Nicholas John Jacobs

Sydney F Jud

Hunter John Adam Knarr

Trevor Anthony Knight

Eleanor Jane Lawler

Isaac Alan Lehigh

Emma Lee Levenson

Maximillian Lipinski

Jacob Eric Long

Powers Craig Lynch

Brendan Michael Marquis

Noah Martel

Elsa Adrianna Martin

Jonathan Henry Martin

Maxwell Joseph Martin

William Armstrong Martin

Jason W McElhinney

Mariana C McManus

Parker Byrne McMillan

Alexander Timothy Metcalf

Romeo Michelson

John P Michinko

Kendra Teresa Miller

Evan Gregory Moore

Brendan Pierce Murty

Mark Namatsaliuk

Tatiyyanah Queen-Asia Hope Nelums

Jarod I Okamura

David Dang Pham

Logan D Prye

Nicholas Christopher Richard

Brandon Walker Riley

Tracey Josephine Rochette

Daniela Maria Ruano-Pinos

Michael Chandler Saksa

William J Saueressig

Fred Evan Schaffer

William Arthur Sennett

Justine John A Serdoncillo

Kanya Kiresh Shah

Vraj Shah

Prabha Singh

Gregory C Slodysko Jr

Zachary Michael Stahl

Ethan J Stocum

Jaime S Sued Jr

Yiyuan Sun

Marco Svolinsky

Richard A Tedeschi

Anthony R Tricarico

Cody Joseph VanNostrand

Diego Roman Villegas

Mason Alexander Weber

Kana Li Wong

Cameron M Woodbury

Melissa Yeung

Bioengineering 

Anthony Drew Acierto

Ashraf Tariq Alnatour

Bianca Louise Andrada

Jason Bae

Anna Mae Brunson

Britnie Jean Carpentier

Lukas Cook

Tessa Riley Decicco

Mia-Marie Fields

Katherine Ann Gardner

Jennifer Gonzalez

Skyla Gordon

Benjamin Michael Grainger

Jenna Grutzmacher

Grace Haas

Lauren Elizabeth Hamilton

Victoria Li Rui Hathaway

Brenna Henderson

Avinash Jagroo

Madeline Jones

Gabriel Khan

Olivia Lynne Kmito

Emily Elizabeth Labour

Quinn Patrick Langdon

Sara Anne Leonardo

Alejandra Eugenia Lopez

Ethan L Masters

Aidan Theresa McCarthy

Aelish McGivney

Ian G McHugh

Lindy M Melegari

Katherine Grace Monroe

Hannah V Murphy

Alexander Patrick Musselman

Mark Nicola

Nicole E Nielsen

Kerrin Anne O’Grady

Mia Dian Paynton

Megan Perlman

Connor Preston

Michael Steven Presunka

Gavin David Richards

Mia Elizabeth Russo

Amira Salihovic

Juliana Sepulveda

Bridget Yong Sides

Katherine Anne Southard

Justin N Stock

Elizabeth Tarami Su

Zhuoqi Tong

Rochan Jitendra Urankar

Hasan Usmanov

Edgardo Velazquez

Danny Vu

Carly J Ward

Nathaniel D Wellington

Maximillian Meier Wilderman

Lauren Margaret Woodford

Rui Xie

Julian Marcus Smucker Zorn

Samantha Yvonne Zysk

Chemical Engineering 

Adriana M Archilla

Athena Andrea Basdekis

Brigitte A Belanger

Sandy Ynhu Cao

Trinity Joy Coates

Dennis Dao

Gabriela Duarte Saadia

Sophia Elizabeth Figueroa

Emily C Fittante

Edward Coleman Fluker

Mia Angela Goldberg

Brent Tadao Gosselin

Avery Gunderson

Christopher Max Hansen

Aiden A Jacobs

Natalia Jarmain

Hope Irene Johnson

Sonia Julius

Sayf Karim

Laxmi Khatiwada

Adam J Klinger

Simran Dharmendra Lakhani

Caroline J Leduc

Rawia F A M Marafi

Angela L Martinez

Sydney Rae Nowicki

Erin Marie Odonnell

Sean O’toole

Eli Irvin Paster

Daniel J Pelkey

Fabiana Nohelia Perez

Nora Swan Prosak

Ryan Gordon Ryersen

Riley Madison Schmerber

Jacob Matthew Shellhamer

Jason Tan

Elizabeth M Wall

Tyrese J Whyte

Jackson Richard Yuen

Civil Engineering 

Shalom Acheampong

Cassie Agren

Nicole Ayora

Maxwell Bell

Christian Balingit Bianco

Henry C Bievenue

Ryan Bourdeau

Matthew Emmet Brewster

Alycia Joline Bruce

Masson Bruening

David Coghiel

Alejandro E Correa

Aymeric P Destree

Kelly Diaz Rojas

Jack Dwyer

Marlee Ann Ecton

Stephen Goffredo

Elliane Reut Greenberg

Julia Ann Johnson-Milstein

Joshua Michael Kaufman

Jakob Lamond Keller

Kate Astrid Kemnitz

Alexander Gregory Klee

Adam Paul Landry

Evangelia Birget Larson

Abigail G Laschalt

Daniel Leyva

Emma Marie Liptrap

Emilija Alise Lizins

Erick Lojano-Quispe

William Ma

John M Mazza

Jessica M McGowan

Lucas James Meiers

Sumit Harshad Mistry

Amira Mouline

Mazin F Moya

Trevor Robert Napoli

Marissa R Nicole

Maxwell Robert Pozar

Kaylin Janet Richards

Alexander David Ruppe

Cassie Elizabeth Saracino

Yazbeck Thomas Sarkees

Juha Wesley Schraden

Aaron Presley Shinn

Caitlin Jane Spillane

Jose Arturo Venegas

Christian Viola

Angelina Maggie Wong

Isabelle Wong

Sarah Wong

Paige H Yamane

Sifei Zhu

Computer Engineering 

Adekunle J Akinshola

Chikeluba K Anierobi

Graciela Gicel Avila

Mergim Azemi

Kyle J Betten

Jackson Thomas Bradley

Carlon Brown

Dynasty Da’Nasia Chance

Kongxin Chen

Ibrahima Diallo

Lyn El Sayed Kassem

Melvin Ruben Escobar Gonzalez

Xavier Evans

Elizabeth A Fatade

Aidan Robert Harrington

Ethan Hensley

Kasey Jackson

Mehak Jetly

Virkin Jimenez

Benjamin N Johnson

Fundi Juriasi

Robert Nicholas Kashian

Bikash Khatiwoda

Jessica K Lat

Tyler Alexander Lavaway

Matthew B Leight

Jiaxiong Li

Nicholas Kent Magari

Kyle Maiorana

Aksel James Malatak

Jacob Stephen Masrouri

Isabel M Melo

Benjamin Hudson Murray

Pierce Austin Neubert

Jose L Olivera

Derrick Nana Yaw Osei Owusu

Alexander C Perez

Anthony Patrick Riello

Alfonso E Rivas

Daniel Rose

Samuel M Rosenthal

Hongyi Ruan

Zachary Joseph Starr

Declan Wavle

Ryan Wolff

Renjie Xu

Andy Zheng

Computer Science 

Aashutosh Acharya

Aaron Alakkadan

Labeeb Alam

Sajjad Abdullah Albadri

Huda A Ali

Anas Abdallah Hussein Alkhashroom

Joseph M Balascio

Simon C Barley

Giovanna Elizabeth Barsalona

Samantha E Bastien

Maxwell Robert Beam

Emma Bellai

Anas Ahmed Benhamida

Joshua Jordan Boucher

Brian Michael Bourne

Amanda Leigh Bowdren

Ella Maria Brink

Bryan Bladimir Bueno Reyes

Christopher Manuel Calderon Suarez

Liam M Calnan

Megan J Campbell

Chih-Chia Chen

Hong Yang Chen

Jackie Chen

Lawrence Chen

Runzhou Chen

Wenyu Chen

Yixing Chen

Yuhao Chen

Oscar Chi

Daniel Chmielewski

Season Chowdhury

Konstantinos Chrysoulas

Melissa Chu

Miguel Angel Cruz Flores

Matthew Cufari

Ryan Matthew Czirr

Salvatore DeDona

Aidan Christopher DeGooyer

Alpha Oumar Diallo

Lucille Jennifer Disalvo

Ting Dong

Christopher Edmonds

Yassin Mahmoud Elsharafi

Ryan Siebe Elsinga

Jair Espinoza

Xueyan Feng

Nathan B Fenske

Bennett Ferrari

Lucas Kuebler Fox

Mason Roy Freer

Evan Garvey

Grant Thomas Gifford

Brianna S Gillfillian

Justin Gluska

John Martin Gorman

Dayong Gu

Alexander Peter-Anthony Haas

Athanasios Hadjidimoulas

Ashley Marie Hamilton

Jillian Elizabeth Handrahan

Liam Gordon Hannah

Cameron Hoechst

Laurel Howell

Jacob Howlett

Jason Huang

Xuanye Huang

Yanju Huang

Chengyi Jiang

Tianyiming Jing

Frederick Jackson Jones

Michael Wesley Jones

Alan Jos

Lauren Keona Kaaiakamanu

Aarya Tara Kaphley

Maxwell Albert Kaufman

Matthew Keenan

Ekaterina Kladova

Joshua Jayvant Zachary Koshy

Krutartha Nagesh

Rami Lionel Kuttab

Janet Jihoo Lee

Maya J’Nai Lee

Jiashu Li

Ruowen Li

Yuxuan Li

Daniel Lim

Chengda Lin

Haochen Lin

Sandy Lin

Erxi Liu

Jiaming Liu

Joshua Zhou Liu

Junzhang Liu

Yuyuan Liu

Cayden Thomas Lombard

Kevin A Lopez

Yiheng Lu

Michael Fitzgerald Lupton Jr

Runzhi Ma

Hunter O’Neal Malley

Andrew Thomas Markarian

Kanoa Matton

Ryan M May

Anthony Louis Mazzacane

Matthew McDaniels

Noah Mechnig-Giordano

Philip Anthony Moceri

Thomas J Montfort

Aaron Masoud Moradi

Jovanni Nicholas Mosca

Chenxi Mu

Andi Muhaxheri

Zoe Anne Neale

Christopher Scott Nemeth Jr

Jillienne Judith Ness

Arianna Kassandra Nguyen

Carlyn M O’Leary

Marissa Lynn Orsley

Daniel Pae

Xiaofeng Pan

Michael J Panighetti

Adya Aditi Parida

Zizheng Pei

Brian Joseph Pellegrino

Carlo Francesco Pisacane

Daniel Pomerantz

Fiona Colleen Powers Beggs

Cheng Qiu

Shane Michael Race

Raasin Amin Rahman

Alexis Hope Ratigan

Christopher Rhodes

Robert R Robinson

Eric Rodriguez

Sadikshya Sanjel

Jonathan Lee Schwenk

Huahao Shang

Andrew Shao

Nolan Lee Shepherd

Chad Thom Smith

Anthony Logan Solt

Dongzhao Song

Yijie Song

Hayden Christopher Spelbring

Jeremy P Stabile

Kevin Sullivan

Nicholas P Sweet

Louanges Essohana Marlene Takou-Ayaoh

Jonathan Richard Constantine Templeton

Jonathan Ezra Thomas

Eduardo Torres-Garcia

Winston Tsui

Randy C Vargas

Kevin Anthony Verdeschi

Kritika Verma

Christopher Mark Vinciguerra

Lihan Wang

Ruobing Wang

Xinyi Wang

Zijian  Wang

Robert Ward

Jack Andrew Willis

Sarah Grace Wlodkoski

Ethan Wong

Zongxiu Wu

Zhuoyi Xiong

Yujie Xu

Jishuo Yang

Yisheng Yang

Yongcan Yang

Stella R Yaunches

Yulun Zeng

Liaotianbao Zhang

Mingyan Zhang

Rixiang Zhang

Ruihao Zhang

Weiwei Zhang

Zhiyuan Zhang

Haoyu Zhao

Jinchao Zhao

Junjie Zheng

Xiao Lin Zheng

Liuyu Zhou

Xinqian Zhou

Yitao Zhou

Yixuan Zhou

Joseph Patrick Zoll

Engineering Undeclared 

Sydney M Baylor

Thomas John Fabiano

Charles James Germosen

Alexander Joseph Hai

Juwei Lin

Luke Benjamin Lybarger

Kathleen Rose Meleski

Annika Daphne Meyers

James Peden

Justin Wayne Pettit

Emily Mae Schiessl

Abdullah Swati

Haoran Wang

Electrical Engineering 

Minghao Ai

Mohammed A Aljohani

Tianle Bu

Kevin E Buciak

Wyatt Glenn Bush

Vincent Alec Camarena

Arianna Maxine Cameron

Leshui Chen

Nicholas Shawn Connolly

Kevin James Donnelly

Henry C Duisberg

Randy Galicia

John Charles Garcia

Justin P Geary

Christopher Gill

Jose Ignacio Ginorio

Joseph Charles Jannello

Michael Matthew Kelly

Dong Kyu Kim

Yiwei Ling

Jemma Mallia

Liam Fuller Marcato

Tyler Sean Marston

Angel Antonio Medina

Lukas Allen Morris

Zixun Nian Nian

Jayson V Okhman

Dylan Palmer

Julia Pepin

Matthew Piciocchi

Francisco Rodriguez

Gilberto E Ruiz

Gabriel E Ruoff

Kayla Ann Saladyga

Jenna Mei Stapleton

Connor Christopher Sumner

Jared William Welch

Environmental Engineering

Tyler James Allison

David Michael Brodsky

Benjamin R Cavarra

Ananya P Chandra

Emma Crandall

Elizabeth Bryant Cultra

Eric James Fitzgerald

Eleanor Elizabeth Gettens

Brady E Hartnett

Christopher Harvey

Nicholas Colin Axel Kohl

Henry David Long

Molly M Matheson

Salma Valles Mohamed

Matthew Edward Nosalek

Liesel Marie Odden

Hennecys Darlene Perez Castro

Ella Hope Phipps

Scott M Potter

Yongfang Qi

Jasmine Victoria Rodriguez

Mary H Schieman

Hayley Shay Scott

Jacob M Tyler

Andrew Michael Vanderwege

Maria Antonia Villegas Botero

Emily Jean Vogel

Anna Wojcik

Savannah Marie Wujastyk

Qiuyu Zhou

Reilly Zink

Mechanical Engineering 

Owyn Phillip Adams

Joshua Carl Arndt

Timothy G Arnold

Charles D Ball

Arthur Barros

Michael James Battin Jr

Erin Beaudoin

Rachael O Beresford

Aidan Paul Bergman

Jeffrey Trent Bernstein

Chloe Marie Britton Naime

Brinley Bruening

Arnaud Buard

Alexander Joseph Callo

Joseph Timothy Capra

Jun Chen

Artur Chuvik

Cooper P Crone

Anthony Cruz

Peter M Daniels

Ryan Russell Dileo

Madeline Doyle

Luyen Duong

Andrew J Esposito

Luke Samuel Fink

Nicholas Andrew Frank

Elan Fullmer

Samuel Ryan Getman

Kara Ai Chun Gorman

Jiayuan Huang

Vian Vishal Jain

Jagger Kachmaryk

Dong Myeong Kang

Jeremy C Kang

Macauley J Kastner

Finnian James Kery

Teagan L Kilian

Cherry Kim

Carl Winston Rice Kjellberg

Justin Kohan

Deanna Summer Koppenjan

Savannah Mae Kreppein

Trevor D Kroells

Nathan Lemoine

Honorata Lubecka

Bei Luo

Lauren Mack

Ryan Patrek Martineau

Michael J McElroy

Ryan A Melick

James Patrick Melitski

Leilah Miller

Wiley Robert Moslow

Beau M Norris

Daniel Panchenko

Nicholas Joseph Papaleo

Nathaniel Ryan Paradis

Tanner Josiah Peck

Corey A Phung

Nicholas Patrick Piano

Alexander Richard

Aidan Riederich

Collin Roche

Jeremy Vinton Rosh

Jeffrey Ryu

Nitish Sachin Satpute

Justin Sauve

Shane Michael Sefransky

William Kaspar Sherfey

Zachary Ryan Shuler

Eric Silfies

Nathaniel Slabaugh

Samuel Theodore Slaiby

Ian Storrs

Matthew K Swanson

Ethan William Tracey

Evan R Tulsky

Alexandra Rose Vaida

Nicholas Valentin

Griffin Riley Vollers

Xu Wang

Michael David Wehrle

Justin H Westhuis

Taj Asim Whitney

Michael Wong

Systems & Information Science

Connor W Gurnham

Stacy Kim

Akshay Ram

Zachary Tyler Williams

Syracuse University Ranked #24 for Best Online Graduate Information Technology Programs by U.S. News and World Report for 2022

Syracuse University’s School of Information Studies (iSchool) and the College of Engineering and Computer Science have been recognized as No. 13 in the rankings for Best Online Graduate Information Technology Programs for Veterans and have been ranked No. 24 for Best Online Graduate Information Technology Programs by U.S. News & World Report for 2022.

The full rankings, released earlier today, are available on the U.S. News & World Report website.

The College of Engineering and Computer Science offers online master’s degree programs in cybersecurity, computer science and computer engineering.

The iSchool offers M.S. degree programs in applied data science, information management and library and information science online.

Distinguished Professor Pramod K. Varshney Selected to Receive 2021 Shannon-Nyquist Technical Achievement Award from the IEEE Signal Processing Society

Electrical engineering and computer science Distinguished Professor Pramod K. Varshney has been chosen to receive the prestigious 2021 Claude Shannon – Harry Nyquist Technical Achievement Award from the IEEE Signal Processing Society for outstanding contributions in the fields of distributed inference, and data fusion.

The Claude Shannon – Harry Nyquist Technical Achievement Award was established by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) to honor those who have made outstanding technical contributions to theory and/or practice in technical areas within the scope of the society, as demonstrated by publications, patents, or recognized impact on the field. There are over 400,000 IEEE members in over 160 countries and this award is annually given to one or two individuals.

“I am truly honored to receive this prestigious award. It is a testament to the outstanding research performed by my students, post docs and collaborators in Syracuse and around the globe,” said Varshney.

“I am extremely happy about Professor Varshney receiving this well-deserved prestigious award,” said Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) Department Chair Jae C. Oh.  “He continues to excel in the field of data fusion and distributed inference. He is a world-renowned researcher whom our EECS department is so proud of. It is no surprise that he receives this prestigious award bearing the names of the giants such as Claude Shannon and Harry Nyquist, the names recognized by every electrical engineer in the world.”

“The Shannon-Nyquist Award is one of the most notable awards in the signal processing field and a world-renowned leader like Pramod is very deserving of it,” said Engineering and Computer Science Dean J. Cole Smith.

Natarajan Gautam

Areas of Expertise:

  • Stochastic modeling, control, and optimization
  • Data science: predictive and prescriptive analytics
  • Logistics and scheduling
  • Energy management
  • Queues and networks

Dr. Gautam’s research is on efficiently-operating systems with dynamics and uncertainty. He uses data-driven methods complemented by stochastic models for optimal design, performance analysis, and control of such systems. He has applied this work in computer systems, data centers, wireless and wireline networks, microgrids with renewable energy sources, smart manufacturing, and transportation. His methodologies are grounded in applied probability, data science, and optimization.

Honors and Awards:

  • US Patent Number 11720850 awarded to “Rohit Malshe, Liron David Yedidsion, Abhilasha Prakash Katariya, Dipal Patel Gupta, Jin Ye, Natarajan Gautam (2023) Dynamic package selection algorithm for delivery”.
  • Amazon Scholar, Amazon Corporate LLC, May 2019-present.
  • Fellow, IISE (Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers, formerly IIE), May 2017.
  • Outstanding Young Industrial Engineer Award (education category), by IIE, May 2006.

Selected Publications:

  • Gautam, N. and Geunes, J.P. (2023) Analysis of Real-Time Order Fulfillment Policies: When to Dispatch a Batch? INFORMS Service Science, https://doi.org/10.1287/serv.2022.0042
  • Xu, J., Hou, I.-H. and Gautam, N. (2022) Age of information for single buffer systems with vacation server, IEEE-Trans. on Network Science and Engineering, Vol. 9, No. 3, 1198 – 1214.
  • Xu, J. and Gautam, N. (2021) Peak Age of Information in Priority Queueing Systems, IEEE Transactions on Information Theory, Vol. 67, No. 1, 373-390.
  • Ejaz, I., Alvarado, M., Gautam, N., Gebraeel, N. and Lawley, M. (2019) Condition-Based Maintenance for Queues with Degrading Servers, IEEE Transactions on Automation Science and Engineering, Vol. 16, No. 4.
  • Kwon, S., Ntaimo, L. and Gautam, N. (2019) Demand Response in Data Centers: Integration of Server Provisioning and Power Procurement, IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid, Vol. 51, No. 4.
  • Xu, J., Tran, H., Gautam, N. and Bukkapatnam, S. (2019) Joint Production and Maintenance Operations in Smart Custom-Manufacturing Systems, IISE Transactions, Vol. 51, No. 4, 406-421.
  • Kwon, S., Ntaimo, L. and Gautam, N. (2017) Optimal Day-Ahead Power Procurement with Renewable Energy and Demand Response, IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, Vol. 32, No. 5, 3924-3933.
  • Hsu, Y., Abedini, N., Gautam, N., Sprintson, A. and Shakkottai, S.  (2015) Opportunities for Network Coding: To Wait or Not to Wait, IEEE Transactions on Networking, Vol. 23, No. 6, 1876 – 1889.
  • Mohapatra, A., Gautam, N., Sprintson, A. and Shakkottai, S. (2014) Optimal Network Coding Decisions in Delay-sensitive Wireless Transmission, IEEE Transactions on Communications, Vol. 62, No. 8, 2965-2976.
  • Ko, Y.-M. and Gautam, N. (2013) Critically loaded multi-server queues with abandonments, retrials, and time-varying parameters, INFORMS Journal on Computing, Vol. 25, No. 2, 285-301.
  • Gautam, N. (2012) Analysis of Queues: Methods and Applications, 802 pages, CRC Press (Taylor and Francis), Boca Raton, FL.

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Professor Kevin Du Receives “Test of Time” Award from the Computer Security Applications Conference

Electrical engineering and computer science Professor Kevin Du was awarded the Test of Time award at the 2021 Annual Computer Security Applications Conference (ACSAC) for his paper “Privacy-Preserving Cooperative Statistical Analysis” that was originally published in 2001.

“This paper provided a new way to conduct joint computation while protecting data privacy. There were a lot of follow-ups on this approach,” said Du. “Many young researchers told me that they ‘grew up’ reading my papers in this field.”

This is the second time Du has won a Test of Time award. He previously won one in 2013 at the ACM Conference on Computer and Communications Security for a paper titled “A Pairwise Pre-Distribution Scheme for Wireless Sensor Networks” he published with Professor Jing Deng, Professor Yunghsiang S. Han and Distinguished Professor Pramod Varshney in 2003.

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Alumni Spotlight – Niket Kothari G’02

In his current role as a partner engineering manager at Microsoft, Niket Kothari G’02 is responsible for the design, provisioning, and operations of the company’s worldwide regional and data center networks. Since starting at Microsoft in 2014, Kothari helped transform the business by leveraging the power of automation to build and manage infrastructure at scale. He currently manages a team of network engineers, software engineers and data scientists around the world.

“We worked to identify key metrics, build software systems, and deliver efficiencies in operational excellence for the hyperscale network infrastructure,” said Kothari. “We were also able to enable new cloud offerings and multiple other initiatives that reduced the overall network cost of goods sold.”

Prior to his current role, Kothari spent 7 years at Google, and 5 years at 2 different start-up companies focused on building infrastructure to support software-as-a-service offerings to international customers. During his professional tenure, Kothari has worked across different functional areas related to large scale infrastructure, with experience in content delivery network rollout, long-term network planning, infrastructure acquisition, and building networks across the globe.

“I’m passionate about solving complex technical problems along with building and mentoring high performing teams with diverse skills and backgrounds,” said Kothari. “I’m actively involved in helping recruit the next set of talent for Microsoft.”

Syracuse University and the faculty at the College of Engineering and Computer Science played a key role in helping Kothari build the strong technical foundation that he has leveraged through his professional career.

“I came to the United States to earn my degree in 2000 and Syracuse University is what I now consider my home,” said Kothari.

He met his wife Bhumika Kothari G’02 while he was at Syracuse University.

“We spent many hours working together on assignments in the lab, while also competing for the on-campus jobs and assistantship opportunities at the University,” said Kothari.

He and his wife hope their two daughters will follow in their parents footsteps and attend Syracuse University.

“If they are successful with managing its cold winters,” said Kothari with a laugh.

Lights, Camera…Cybersecurity!

Electrical engineering and computer science professor Kevin Du wanted to up the production value of the cybersecurity instruction videos he has been posting to YouTube and decided to construct a studio inside his lab space.

“I used to have one in home at my basement but that one has a problem because my family just walked around,” said Du. “So I decided I’m just going to build one in the corner of the lab.”

Introducing the Inaugural Patrick P. Lee Scholars in the College of Engineering and Computer Science

Lee Scholars

Syracuse University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science is honored to announce our inaugural Patrick P. Lee Scholars. The Lee Foundation’s largest scholarship program supports students at institutions of higher learning who are pursuing careers in engineering and other technical fields.

Joli Cacciatore is a fourth year Civil Engineering student from Niagara Falls, NY. Since arriving at SU she has been part of the ECS Ambassador Scholars program which conducts outreach to local middle schools to foster interest in STEM and provide positive educational role models. She is a member of the SU student chapters of the National Society of Professional Engineers, the Society of Women Engineers, and the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Stacy Kim is a fourth year Systems Information Science major from Staten Island, NY. She has several leadership positions in campus organizations including Vice President of the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers and Community Service Chair for Kappa Theta Pi through which she conducted outreach to local high schools to help with the transition to online learning. Since 2019 she has worked for the Barnes Center in health promotion for her fellow students and during the pandemic has been helping administer and process COVID tests on campus.

Aymeric Destrée is a third year Civil Engineering major from San Marcos, CA. He is a member of the Ambassador Scholars program and enjoys working with children in the Syracuse public school system to introduce engineering concepts and problem solving skills through fun after school activities. He plans a career in public infrastructure and is particularly interested in transportation and urban design.

Olivia Kmito is a third year Bioengineering student from Bridgewater MA. She is a student athlete on the SU Gymnastics team and a member of the Alpha Xi Delta sorority and the Society of Women Engineers. She has a long term commitment to the March of Dimes organization inspired by a personal connection to their work. Following in the footsteps of her father, an SU engineering alum, she believes an engineer must value “integrity, leadership, and service” and most of all take seriously the trust that their colleagues, their clients, and the public place in them and their work.

Reza Zafarani

Degree:

  • Ph.D., Arizona State University

Research Interests:

  • Big Data Analytics
  • Data Mining / Web Mining / Social Media Mining
  • Social Network Analysis / Social Computing
  • Large-Scale Information Networks
  • Behavior Analysis

Current Research:

My research lies in the intersection of data mining, machine learning, social sciences, and theory. A common pattern in my research is to collect and analyze large scale data to glean actionable patterns. I often employ theories from social sciences, psychology, or anthropology, in addition to developing and using advanced mathematical, statistical, and machine learning machinery to prove the validity of such patterns.

Courses Taught:

  • Data Mining
  • Social Media Mining

Selected Publications:

Reza Zafarani and Huan Liu, Evaluation without Ground Truth in Social Media Research, Communications of the ACM, June 2015

Reza Zafarani, Mohammad Ali Abbasi, and Huan Liu, Social Media Mining: An Introduction, Cambridge University Press, 2014

Edmund S. Yu

Degree:

  • Ph.D. in Computer Science, Syracuse University

Research Interests:

  • Text Mining
  • Social Networks
  • Social Media Mining
  • Information Retrieval
  • Multi-Agent Systems

Current Research:

Current research involves the development of algorithms for measuring the emotional contents in tweets, contained not only in words, but also in emoticons, punctuation marks and hashtags; for event prediction based on social media data; and for extending sentiment analysis to multiple languages. Current research also involves continuing work on building autonomous agent-based information gathering system for decision support.

Courses Taught:

  • Social Media Mining
  • Software Specification and Design
  • Software Implementation
  • Principles of Software Engineering
  • Web Systems

Recent Publications:

A. Panasyuk, E.S. Yu & K. Merhrotra, “Controversial Topic Discovery on Members of Congress with Twitter,” Complex Adaptive Systems, 2014.

M. Rahman, Qinyun Zhu, & E.S Yu, “TRECT: A Hashtag Recommendation System for Twitter,” 2nd International Workshop on Recommender Systems meet Big Data & Semantic Technologies, 2013.

E.S. Yu, “Social Media Marketing and Mining,” Social Media Strategies Seminar, Panama City, Panama, January 17, 2013.

E.S Yu, “From Knowledge Exchange to Knowledge Discovery,” Capstone Conference, Chicago, July 14, 2010.

Li Wang

Degrees:

  • BA of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Central South University, China
  • MS of Computer Science, Louisiana Tech University

Research Interests:

  • AI
  • Biometrics
  • Big Data
  • System & Web Security

Courses Taught:

  • CSE 581 Introduction to Database Management System
  • CIS 342 Introduction to System Programming
  • CIS 223 Statistical Reasoning & Practice
  • CPS 196 Introduction to Programming
  • CPS 181 Introduction to Computing

Selected Publications

  • “Game Theory based Cyber-Insurance to Cover Potential Loss from Mobile Malware Exploitation” Li Wang, S. SITHARAMA IYENGAR, AMITH K. BELMAN, PAWEŁ ŚNIATAŁA, VIR PHOHA, CHANGSHENG WAN ACM Digit. Threat.: Res. Pract., Vol. 2, No. 2, Article 9, Publication Date: April 2021
  • “Authentication by Mapping Keystrokes to Music: The Melody of Typing” Amith K. Belman, Tirthankar Paul, Li Wang, S. S. Iyengar, Pawel Sniatala, Zhanpeng Jin Conference: 2020 International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Signal Processing (AISP) Publication Date: January 2020 
  • “A Very Large Dataset for Typing, Gait and Swipe of the Same Person on Desktop, Tablet and Phone” 
  • Amith K. Belman, Li Wang, S. S. Iyengar, Pawel Sniatala, Robert Wright, Robert Dora, Jacob Baldwin, Zhanpeng Jin, Vir V. Phoha arXiv.org:1912.02736 Publication Date: 19 December 2019 
  • “A Survey on Gait Recognition” Changsheng Wan, Li Wang, Vir V. Phoha ACM Computing Surveys Volume 51Issue 5Article No.: 89pp 1–35 Publication Date: 29 August 2018 

Pramod K. Varshney

Degree(s):

  • Ph. D. (Illinois) 1976

Areas of Expertise:

  • Distributed sensor networks and data fusion
  • Statistical inference
  • Wireless communications
  • Signal processing
  • Machine learning
  • Human-machine teaming

My research addresses fundamental questions in statistics-based signal processing, data/information fusion, sensor data processing, data analytics, machine learning and AI. My research has been generously funded for over four decades by Department of Defense, NSF, ARPA-E, EPA and many companies. Starting in the early 1980s, I have pioneered the area of data/information fusion and inference in sensor networks. While a lot of my work has been inspired by Department of Defense applications, I have also applied my research results to a wide variety of non-defense applications including IoT and health-related applications. For example, I have worked on imaging for breast cancer detection, and methods for more accurate Alzheimer disease detection. My current research includes detection and tracking, secure inference in distributed sensing systems, human-machine teaming for inference, and information fusion.

Honors and Awards:

  • ASEE Dow Outstanding Young Faculty Award, 1981
  • IEEE Fellow 1997
  • Third Millennium Medal IEEE 2000
  • President International Society of Information Fusion 2001.
  • Judith A. Resnik Award IEEE 2012
  • Doctor of Engineering honoris causa, Drexel University, 2014
  • Distinguished Alumni Award, ECE Department, Univ. of Illinois, 2015
  • Yaakov Bar-Shalom Award for a Lifetime of Excellence in Information Fusion, 2018
  • Claude Shannon-Harry Nyquist Technical Achievement Award, IEEE Signal Proc. Society, 2021
  • Pioneer Award, IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Society, 2021
  • Chancellor’s Citation for Lifetime Achievement, Syracuse University, 2023

Selected Publications:

Books

  • P.K. Varshney, Distributed Detection and Data Fusion, Springer-Verlag, 1997.
  • G.L. Foresti, C. S. Regazzoni, and P. K. Varshney (eds.), Multisensor Surveillance Systems: The Fusion Perspective, Kluwer Academic Press, 2003.
  • K. Varshney and M. K. Arora (eds.), Advanced Image Processing Techniques for Remotely Sensed Hyperspectral Data, Springer Verlag, 2004.
  • A. Vempaty, B. Kailkhura and P. K. Varshney, Secure Networked Inference with Unreliable Data Sources,  Springer 2018

Selected Recent Papers

  • Li C., Wang Z., Wang X., and Varshney, P.K, “COMIC: An unsupervised change detection method for heterogeneous remote sensing images based on copula mixtures and Cycle-Consistent Adversarial Networks”, Elsevier Information Fusion, 2023
  • Dwivedi AK, Chaudhari S, Varshney N and Varshney, P. K., “Performance Analysis of LEO Satellite-Based IoT Networks in the Presence of Interference”, IEEE Internet of Things Journal, 2023
  • Li, C., Li, G., Wang, X. and Varshney, P.K., “A Copula-Based Method for Change Detection with Multi-sensor Optical Remote Sensing Images”, IEEE Trans. on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, September, 2023
  • Joseph, G., Zhong, C., Gursoy, M.C., Velipasalar, S. and Varshney, P.K., “Scalable and decentralized algorithms for anomaly detection via learning-based controlled sensing”, IEEE Trans. on Signal and Information Processing over Networks., Early Access, 2023
  • Zhang, G., Yi, W., Varshney, P.K., and Kong, L., “Direct Target Localization With Quantized Measurements in Noncoherent Distributed MIMO Radar Systems”, IEEE Trans. on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, pp. , Apr, 2023
  • Quan, C., Sriranga, N., Yang, H., Han, Y.S., Geng, B., and Varshney, P.K., “Efficient Ordered-Transmission Based Distributed Detection under Data Falsification Attacks”, IEEE Signal Process Letters, pp. 145 – 149, Feb, 2023
  • Hakansson, V.W., Venkategowda, N.K.D., Werner, S., and Varshney, P.K., “Optimal Scheduling of Multiple Spatiotemporally Dependent Observations for Remote Estimation Using Age of Information”, IEEE Internet of Things Journal, pp. 20308 – 20321, Oct, 2022
  • Sun, J., Yi, W., Varshney, P.K., and Kong, L., “Resource Scheduling for Multi-Target Tracking in Multi-Radar Systems With Imperfect Detection”, IEEE Trans. Signal Process, pp. 3878 – 3893, Jul, 2022
  • Lu, R., Chen, B., Sun, J., Chen, W., Wang, P., Chen, Y., Liu, H., and Varshney, P. K., “Heterogeneity-Aware Recurrent Neural Network for Hyperspectral and Multispectral Image Fusion”, IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Signal Processing, pp. 649 – 665, Jun, 2022
  • Li, Q., Kailkhura, B., Goldhahn, R., Ray, P., and Varshney, P. K., “Robust Decentralized Learning Using ADMM With Unreliable Agents”, IEEE Trans. Signal Process, pp. 2743 – 2757, June, 2022
  • Trezza, A., Bucci, D. J., and Varshney, P. K., “Multi-Sensor Joint Adaptive Birth Sampler for Labeled Random Finite Set Tracking”, IEEE Trans. Signal Process, pp. 1010 – 1025, Feb, 2022
  • Yuan, Y., Yi, W., and Varshney, P. K., “Exponential Mixture Density based Approximation to Posterior Cramér-Rao Lower Bound for Distributed Target Tracking”, IEEE Trans. Signal Process, pp. 862 – 877, Feb, 2022
  • Chen, Q., Geng, B., Han, Y., and Varshney, P. K., “Enhanced Audit Bit Based Distributed Bayesian Detection in the Presence of Strategic Attacks”, IEEE Trans. on Signal and Information Process. over Networks, pp. 49 – 62, Jan, 2022
  • Bulusu, S., Khanduri, P., Kafle, S., Sharma, P., and Varshney, P. K., “Byzantine Resilient Non-Convex SCSG With Distributed Batch Gradient Computations”, IEEE Trans. on Signal and Information Process. over Networks ., pp. 754 – 766, Nov, 2021
  • Cheng, X., Khanduri, P., Chen, B., and Varshney, P. K., “Joint Collaboration and Compression Design for Distributed Sequential Estimation in a Wireless Sensor Network”, IEEE Trans. Signal Process, pp. 5448 – 5462, Sept, 2021
  • Geng, B., Cheng, X., Brahma, S., Kellen, D., and Varshney, P. K., “Collaborative Human Decision Making with Heterogeneous Agents”, IEEE Trans. on Computational Social Systems., pp. 469 – 479, Jul, 2021
  • Li, C., Li, G., and Varshney, P. K., “Communication-Efficient Federated Learning Based on Compressed Sensing”, IEEE Internet of Things Journal., pp. 15531 – 15541, Apr, 2021
  • Geng, B., Li, Q., and Varshney, P. K., “Utility Theory Based Optimal Resource Consumption For Inference In IoT Systems”, IEEE Internet of Things Journal., pp. 12279 – 12288, Mar, 2021
  • Ciuonzo, D., Rossi, P.S., and Varshney, P. K., “Distributed Detection in Wireless Sensor Networks Under Multiplicative Fading via Generalized Score Tests”, IEEE Internet of Things Journal., pp. 9059 – 9071, Feb, 2021
  • Joseph, G., Nettasinghe , B., Krishnamurthy, V., and Varshney, P. K., “Controllability of Network Opinion in Erdos-Renyi Graphs Using Sparse Control Inputs”, SIAM Journal on Control and Optimization., pp. 2321-2345, Jan, 2021
  • Joseph, G. and Varshney, P. K., “Measurement Bounds for Compressed Sensing in Sensor Networks With Missing Data”, IEEE Trans. Signal Process., pp. 905-916, Jan, 2021

Senem Velipasalar

Degrees:

  • Ph. D., Electrical Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 2007
  • M.A., Electrical Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 2004
  • M.S., Electrical Sciences and Computer Engineering, Brown University, Providence, RI, 2001
  • B.S., Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Bogazici University, Istanbul, Turkey, 1999

Lab/ Center/ Institute affiliations:

Director of the Smart Vision Systems Laboratory (http://www.vision.syr.edu/)

Faculty Affiliate, Aging Studies Institute

Areas of Expertise:

  • Machine Learning
  • Computer Vision
  • Wireless Smart Camera Networks
  • Mobile camera applications
  • Signal Processing

Prof. Velipasalar’s primary areas of research are machine learning and computer vision. More specifically, her research has focused on human activity classification and fall detection from egocentric cameras, and applications of machine learning to (i) thermal anomaly detection from UAV-mounted infrared cameras, (ii) driver behavior analysis from in-vehicle mounted cameras, (iii) 3D object detection, (iv) person detection from video data, (v) analysis of functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) data, (vi) dynamic multi-channel access, and (vii) defense against adversarial jamming attacks.

Honors/Awards:

  • NSF CAREER Award, 2011.
  • 2021 IEEE Region 1 Technological Innovation (Academic) Award.
  • 2021 IAAI Deployed Application Award for our paper titled “Preclinical Stage Alzheimer’s Disease Detection Using Magnetic Resonance Image Scans”.
  • Top 25 most downloaded IEEE Sensors Journal paper in the months of January-September 2017, and June 2018.
  • Graduate School All-University Doctoral Prize, received by my former Ph.D. student Burak Kakillioglu, 2022.
  • Graduate School All-University Doctoral Prize, received by my former Ph.D. student Natalie Sommer, 2021.
  • Graduate School All-University Doctoral Prize, received by my former Ph.D. student Yantao Lu, 2020.
  • 2017 IEEE Green Communications & Computing Technical Committee Best Journal Paper Award for our paper titled “Analysis of Energy Efficiency in Fading Channels under QoS Constraints”.
  • 2nd place Poster Award at the 17th Annual SyracuseCoE Symposium Student Poster Competition for our work titled “Heat Mapping Drones”, October 2017.
  • 2014 Excellence in Graduate Education Faculty Recognition Award.
  • Graduate School All University Doctoral Prize, received by my former Ph.D. student Akhan Almagambetov, 2014.
  • Nunan Research Day Poster Competition EECS Departmental Winner Award, received by Danushka Bandara (co-advised by Dr.Hirshfield), 2014.
  • Intelligent Transportation Society (ITS) of NY Best ITS Student Essay Award, received by my former Ph.D. student Akhan Almagambetov, based on our research on vehicle taillight tracking and alert signal detection, May 2013.
  • The college-wide award for “Applicability of Research to Business and Industry”, received by my former Ph.D. student Akhan Almagambetov, Nunan Lecture and Research Day, April 2013.
  • Third place paper award at the ACM/IEEE International Conference on Distributed Smart Cameras for the paper titled “Energy-efficient Feedback Tracking on Embedded Smart Cameras by Hardware-level Optimization“, 2011
  • EPSCoR First Award, 2009
  • Layman Award as PI, 2007
  • Layman Award as Co-PI, 2009
  • Best Student Paper Award at the IEEE International Conference on Multimedia & Expo (ICME) for the paper titled “Design and Verification of Communication Protocols for Peer-to-Peer Multimedia Systems,” 2006
  • IBM Patent Application Award, 2005
  • Travel Grant, Office of Graduate Affairs, Princeton University, 2005
  • Graduate Fellowship, Princeton University, 2002
  • Graduate Fellowship, Brown University, 1999

Selected Publications:

(Please visit https://ecs.syr.edu/faculty/velipasalar/ for a complete list)

  • J. Chen, B. Kakillioglu and S. Velipasalar, “Background-Aware 3D Point Cloud Segmentation with Dynamic Point Feature Aggregation,” IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, vol. 60, April 2022.
  • F. Altay and S. Velipasalar, “The Use of Thermal Cameras for Pedestrian Detection,” IEEE Sensors Journal, vol. 22, issue:12, 11489 – 11498, May 2022.
  • Y. Chu, D. Mitra, K. Cetin, N. Lajnef, F. Altay, S. Velipasalar, “Development and Testing of a Performance Evaluation Methodology to Assess the Reliability of Occupancy Sensor Systems in Residential Buildings,” Energy and Buildings, vol. 268, pp. 112148, 2022.
  • J. Wang, T. Grant, S. Velipasalar, B. Geng and L. Hirshfield, “Taking a Deeper Look at the Brain: Predicting Visual Perceptual and Working Memory Load from High-Density fNIRS Data,” IEEE Journal of Biomedical and Health Informatics, vol. 26, issue:5, pp. 2308-2319, December 2021.
  • J. Wang, W. Chai, A. Venkatachalapathy, K. L. Tan, A. Haghighat, S. Velipasalar, Y. Adu-Gyamfi, A. Sharma, “A Survey on Driver Behavior Analysis from In-Vehicle Cameras,” accepted to appear in the IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems, early access version available, November 2021.
  • F. Wang; C. Zhong, M. Cenk Gursoy, S. Velipasalar, “Resilient Dynamic Channel Access via Robust Deep Reinforcement Learning,” IEEE Access Journal, vol. 9 , pp. 163188 – 163203, December 2021.
  • N. M. Sommer, B. Kakillioglu, T. Grant, S. Velipasalar and L. Hirshfield, “Classification of fNIRS Finger Tapping Data with Multi-Labeling and Deep Learning,” IEEE Sensors Journal, vol. 21, issue: 21, pp. 24558-24559, doi: 10.1109/JSEN.2021.3115405, Nov. 2021.
  • Y. Zheng, Y. Lu, and S. Velipasalar, “An Effective Adversarial Attack on Person Re-identification in Video Surveillance via Dispersion Reduction,” IEEE Access Journal, vol. 8, pp. 183891 – 183902, Sept. 2020.
  • N. Sommer, S. Velipasalar, L. Hirshfield, Y. Lu and B. Kakillioglu, “Simultaneous and Spatiotemporal Detection of Different Levels of Activity in Multidimensional Data,” IEEE Access Journal, vol. 8, pp. 118205 – 118218, June 2020.
  • D. Bandara, T. Grant, L. Hirshfield and S. Velipasalar, “Identification of Potential Task Shedding Events Using Brain Activity Data,” Augmented Human Research, 5. 10.1007/s41133-020-00034-y, 2020.
  • M. Cornacchia and S. Velipasalar, “Autonomous Selective Parts-Based Tracking,” IEEE Transactions on Image Processing, vol. 29, pp. 4349-4361, January 2020.
  • B. Kakillioglu, A. Ren, Y. Wang and S. Velipasalar, “3D Capsule Networks for Object Classification with Weight Pruning,” IEEE Access Journal, pp. 27393-27405, Febr. 2020.
  • C. Zhong, M. Cenk Gursoy and S. Velipasalar, “Deep Reinforcement Learning-Based Edge Cashing in Wireless Networks,” IEEE Transactions on Cognitive Communications and Networking, vol. 6 , issue 1, pp. 48-61, March 2020.
  • Y. Hu, Y. Li, M. C. Gursoy, S. Velipasalar, and A. Schmeink, “Throughput Analysis of Low-Latency IoT Systems with QoS Constraints and Finite Blocklength Codes,” IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology, vol. 69, issue 3, pp. 3093-3104, March 2020.
  • C. Zhong, Z. Lu, M. Cenk Gursoy and S. Velipasalar, “A Deep Actor-Critic Reinforcement Learning Framework for Dynamic Multichannel Access,” IEEE Transactions on Cognitive Communications and Networking, vol. 5, issue 4, pp. 1125-1139, Dec. 2019.
  • Y. Lu and S. Velipasalar, “Autonomous Human Activity Classification from Wearable Multi-Modal Sensors,” IEEE Sensors Journal, vol. 19, issue: 23, pp. 11403-11412, Dec. 2019.
  • D. Qiao, M. Cenk Gursoy and S. Velipasalar, “Throughput-Delay Tradeoffs with Finite Blocklength Coding over Multiple Coherence Blocks,” IEEE Transactions on Communications, pp. 5892 – 5904, volume: 67 , Issue: 8 , Aug. 2019.
  • D. Bandara, L. Hirshfield and S. Velipasalar, “Classification of Affect Using Deep Learning on Brain Blood Flow Data,” Journal of Near Infrared Spectroscopy, 27(3), pp. 206-219, doi: 10.1177/0967033519837986, April 2019.
  • C. Ye, M. Cenk Gursoy and S. Velipasalar, “Power Control for Wireless VBR Video Streaming: From Optimization to Reinforcement Learning,” IEEE Transactions on Communications, pp. 5629 – 5644, volume: 67 , Issue: 8 , Aug. 2019.
  • M. Cornacchia, B. Kakillioglu, Y. Zheng and S. Velipasalar, “Deep Learning Based Obstacle Detection and Classification with Portable Uncalibrated Patterned Light,” IEEE Sensors Journal, vol. 18, issue: 20, pp. 8416-8425, Oct 2018.
  • Y. Lu and S. Velipasalar, “Autonomous Footstep Counting and Traveled Distance Calculation by Mobile Devices Incorporating Camera and Accelerometer Data,” IEEE Sensors Journal, vol. 17, issue: 21, pp. 7157-7166, Nov. 2017.
  • K. Ozcan, S. Velipasalar and P. Varshney, “Autonomous Fall Detection with Wearable Cameras by using Relative Entropy Distance Measure,” IEEE Transactions on Human-Machine Systems, vol. 47, issue: 1, pp. 31-39, Febr. 2017.
  • M. Cornacchia, K. Ozcan, Y. Zheng and S. Velipasalar, “A Survey on Activity Detection and Classification Using Wearable Sensors,” IEEE Sensors Journal, vol. 17, issue: 2, pp. 386-403, Jan. 2017. Top 25 most downloaded IEEE Sensors Journal paper for nine consecutive months in 2017, and in June 2018 .
  • F. Erden, S. Velipasalar, A. Z. Alkar, A. Enis Cetin, “Sensors in Assisted Living: A Survey of Signal and Image Processing Methods ,” IEEE Signal Processing Magazine, volume:33, issue:2, pp. 36-44, March 2016.
  • K. Ozcan and S. Velipasalar, “Wearable Camera- and Accelerometer-based Fall Detection on Portable Devices ,” IEEE Embedded Systems Letters, volume: 8, issue: 1, pp. 6-9, March 2016.