ECE 2025 Magazine

2025 MAGAZINE

ECE

Contents 4 | With $2M in grants, engineers push toward a quantum computing future 6 | Expanding our impact with more ECE degree programs 8 | WISPER Center aims to advance security in an increasingly connected world 10 | ECE team wins first place in the inaugural AI-Hardware Design League 14 | Faculty Focus 20 | Amazing Alumni 26 | Student Spotlight The University of Arizona Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering P.O. Box 210104 Tucson, AZ 85721-0104 ece.engineering.arizona.edu Facebook: uarizonaece | Instagram: uazece | LinkedIn: uarizonaece 520.621.6193 | communications@ece.arizona.edu The 2025 ECE MAGAZINE is published by the University of Arizona Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering in the College of Engineering.

Produced by Susan Novosel and the College of Engineering Marketing and Communications team. Contributors: Karina Barrentine, David Hostetler, Rachel Mosteller, Alexandra Pere, Katy Smith, Brian Topping. Photography: Martha Lochert, Mitchell Masilun, Susan Novosel, Alexandra Pere, Julius Schlosburg, Katy Smith.

Some articles are edited for length. Visit ece.engineering.arizona.edu and engineering.arizona.edu for more news, photos and videos.

All contents ©2025 Arizona Board of Regents. All rights reserved.

The University of Arizona is an equal opportunity employer. We respectfully acknowledge the University of Arizona is on the land and territories of Indigenous peoples. Today, Arizona is home to 22 federally recognized tribes, with Tucson being home to the O’odham and the Yaqui. The University strives to build sustainable relationships with sovereign Native Nations and Indigenous communities through education offerings, partnerships, and community service.

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On the Cover: A Craig M. Berge Design Day participant tests a virtual reality headset.

Driving the next era of discovery

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“The department is advancing technology, shaping the future of industries and making a tangible contribution to society.”

Dear University of Arizona ECE community,

I proudly welcome you to the 2025 edition of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Magazine. Over the past year, our department continued to grow and redefine the boundaries of technology and education.

Expanding our legacy: ECE, CSE and SWE

Founded in 1910, ECE has constantly evolved alongside emerging technologies and workforce demands. Now, we take another historic step by integrating the Software Engineering (SWE) program into our department.

Combined with our renowned Electrical & Computer Engineering and Computer Science & Engineering (CSE) programs, this establishes the department as a unified academic powerhouse. ECE is poised to be a foundational institution in disciplines spanning engineering, sciences, business, medicine and beyond.

A growing faculty, a thriving community

The strength of our department lies in the brilliance, dedication and expertise of the faculty.

With 40 scholars – including four Regents/Distinguished Professors, 10 IEEE Fellows and 10 NSF CAREER Awardees – we set the standard in higher education.

Since 2022, we have built on that strength, welcoming 15 new faculty members, and we are actively recruiting for six more positions this year. As the ECE family grows, it brings diverse talent and a thriving culture that is helping shape the engineering leaders of tomorrow.

Pioneering research

Our faculty and students are at the forefront of artificial intelligence, biomedical technologies, computing and communication systems, cybersecurity, quantum information science and engineering, and other vital fields.

And with an annual research expenditure of $7.6 million, plus a number of revolutionary research centers, the department is advancing technology, shaping the future of industries and making a tangible contribution to society.

Looking ahead

As you explore this magazine, I encourage you to reflect on the extraordinary achievements of our faculty, students and alumni. Together, we are building a future that seamlessly blends hardware, software, and systems thinking, preparing our students to drive the next era of discovery.

Thank you for your continued support and engagement!

Warmest regards,

Michael Wu Department Head and Thomas R. Brown Leadership Chair

(From left) Christos Gagatsos, doctoral student Oskar Novak and Narayanan Rengaswamy are refining quantum sensors.

With $2M in grants, engineers push toward a quantum computing future Quantum computing is considered the next generation of information technology, with the potential to revolutionize an array of fields, including machine learning, drug development, data storage, agriculture and cybersecurity.

Utilizing the principles of quantum mechanics will allow researchers to quickly solve complex problems that are currently insurmountable by classical computers.

However, adoption of quantum technologies has been stymied

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by several factors, including high error rates. These mistakes occur because quantum systems are highly sensitive to external disturbances like temperature and sound. Effective error correction would protect highperformance data processing, but this area of research has had limited exploration, until now.

University of Arizona College of Engineering researchers CHRISTOS GAGATSOS and BANE VASIĆ received two grants from the federal government to pioneer novel areas in quantum information. Gagatsos

won $1.4 million from the U.S. Army Research Office to investigate the application of quantum error correction in magnetic field sensing, and Vasić won $600,000 from the National Science Foundation to stabilize quantum computing with error correction codes.

“The most exciting aspect of this work is that we are simultaneously developing new technology and advancing fundamental science,” said Christos Gagatsos, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering and optical sciences.

Quantum sensing may revolutionize magnetometry

Gagatsos is using error correction to improve the measurement capability of quantum magnetic field sensors, which could impact a host of fields.

“Several potential applications come to mind,” he said, “including navigation and geolocation, and medical imaging, which involves measuring magnetic fields produced by neural activity in the brain.”

Leading a multidisciplinary team in this relatively uncharted area of research, Gagatsos is joined by ECE assistant professor NARAYANAN RENGASWAMY.

Bayesian approach, rather than Fisherian, when building the sensors.

This means that their devices will incorporate prior information into the model instead of relying solely on the received data. According to Gagatsos, this shift in strategy will increase data processing.

Coding a quantum computer

With $600,000 from the NSF’s Division of Computing and Communication Foundations, Vasić and Raveendran, professors of ECE and mathematics, and their collaborators will delve into quantum low-density paritycheck (QLDPC) codes. These error correction codes harness principles of quantum physics to stabilize quantum

Qubits need to be stabilized to conduct large-scale computing, but these bits can be easily destroyed.

For example, qubits must be stored in a refrigerator at temperatures nearing absolute zero to protect them from environment.

Vasić, also the director of the university’s Error Correction Laboratory, explained that another way to stabilize these qubits is with entanglement. This fundamental phenomenon of quantum physics occurs when two particles – in this case qubits – become so deeply connected that they mimic state changes across distances.

“What technology in the past allowed is that only nearby qubits are entangled,” he said. “But now, new technology allows entanglement of qubits that are farther away, that are not local.”

“As someone trained to perform error correction in communications, data storage and quantum computing, the goals and challenges in quantum sensing are unique,” Rengaswamy said.

QLDPC codes show One of the project’s promise in entangling Bane Vasić brings his expertise in Nithin Raveendran is a member of researchers, XIAODONG qubits at farther distances low-density parity check (LDPC) error the Error Correction Laboratory.

YAN, assistant professor to conduct tasks, saving correction codes to quantum. of materials science and time, money and power engineering and ECE, will resources. Without these conduct physical experiments on the computers as they conduct tasks. quantum error correction codes, the team’s designs.

“There is no system now that uses these qubits at a distance would start in a Yan said they aim to build a quantum sensor array, which will be placed inside a probe that can be taken out in the field for real-world measurements.

The team will develop the device inside two on-campus cleanrooms and test beds.

In a break from typical methodology, the researchers intend to use a

QLDPC codes,” he said. “It will enable large-scale quantum computing.”

quantum state, or entanglement, and just disappear.

QLDPC codes control how qubits – microscopic units of information – transmit their data in quantum computers to solve problems. These codes solve problems with fewer qubits than the more popular method of topological codes, while also protecting them from errors.

“Imagine a new internet, a new computer connected to internet and how much faster it will be. You can solve problems that would take thousands of years on a classic computer to solve.”

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Expanding our impact with more ECE degree programs The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering launched master’s and PhD programs in computer science and engineering in the fall of 2024. This coming fall, the software engineering program will integrate into the department.

“I am thrilled to welcome the faculty, staff and students from software engineering,” said MICHAEL WU, department head and the Thomas R. Brown Leadership Chair in ECE. “This transition represents a significant step forward. I look forward to building a strong future together.”

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Investing in computer science and engineering

ECE began offering computer science and engineering BS degrees in fall 2023 to meet industry demand.

Employers do not have qualified candidates to fill about 1 million computer science-related jobs, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“Offering graduate degrees is a major benefit for students and employers in every sector,” said Wu. “The department is also pleased to invest in the future by bringing

in new hires to join our already excellent faculty.”

The department hired five instructors in fall 2024 – JYOTIKRISHNA DASS, BO LIU, JESUS UBALDO QUEVEDO-TORRERO, HAN XU and HUANRUI YANG – who are experts in areas such as artificial intelligence, hardware design and natural language processing. The department is actively recruiting for six additional faculty members this fall to further strengthen its academic offerings.

Software engineering continues to evolve

Launched three years ago in the Department of Systems and Industrial Engineering, the Bachelor of Science in software engineering program has rapidly grown to serve hundreds of students on the main campus, online, and at the university’s Yuma campus. In addition to the main campus enrollment, online master’s and PhD programs were introduced at the start of the fall 2024 semester, as well as an accelerated master’s program in Yuma.

A driving force behind the software engineering program’s growth has been professor of practice SHARON ONEAL, a founding faculty member who led the program’s approval process with the University of Arizona and the Arizona Board of Regents.

Software engineering students take courses in a variety of engineering disciplines so they can collaborate and communicate with other types of engineers, according to ONeal.

“We integrate software knowledge with other engineering knowledge as well as teaching the entire engineering discipline,” ONeal said.

The program’s move to ECE gives students even more robust access to faculty and classmates with expertise related to software engineering, said Wu. The integration will help them apply coursework through hands-on projects throughout their studies.

“Being part of this interdisciplinary engineering college will allow software students to find applications in a wide variety of engineering domains,” he said.

By the numbers Top 30

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING Public Universities, 2024 U.S. News & World Report

Top 25%

ONLINE ENGINEERING GRADUATE PROGRAMS

Public Universities, 2024 U.S. News & World Report

4.5 of 5 stars

BEST GRADUATE SCHOOL PROGRAMS Money Magazine, 2024

40

CORE FACULTY

15

IEEE FELLOWS

10

NSF CAREER AWARDEES

ENROLLMENT Fall 2024

422

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS Main Campus, Online and Microcampus

243

GRADUATE STUDENTS Main Campus and Online

Top 20

U.S. PUBLIC RESEARCH INSTITUTION National Science Foundation, 2024

$7.6M

ANNUAL RESEARCH EXPENDITURES 2024

7

RESEARCH CENTERS

10

OPERATIONAL STARTUP COMPANIES

DEGREES AWARDED 2023 Fiscal Academic Year

92 BS 102 MS 9 PhD

22

U. S. PATENTS ISSUED 2022 - 2025

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WISPER Center aims to advance security in an increasingly connected world The University of Arizona partners with Virginia Tech, George Mason University and over 25 industry partners to pioneer 6G wireless communication research.

Wireless 5G communication has been connecting the world since 2019. But while that technology produced faster data rates, improved coverage and processing time, the industry is now looking to the next generation for more security.

MARWAN KRUNZ, Regents Professor, and MICHAEL WU, department head and Thomas R. Brown Leadership Chair of Electrical and Computer Engineering, received $750,000 from the National Science Foundation to establish the Center for Wireless Innovation towards Secure, Pervasive, Efficient, and Resilient Next G Networks – also known as WISPER – with Virginia Tech and George Mason University.

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Despite the center’s quiet title, Krunz and Wu expect WISPER to make a loud splash.

Center researchers will substantially improve 6G functionality by testing creative solutions in security with artificial intelligence, and higher frequencies to support the needs of today’s technology.

“We need to make sure we have the infrastructure to support emerging applications and technologies like virtual reality. At the same time, it’s got to be reliable and trusted,” said Wu, co-principal investigator on the project.

Funded by the NSF’s Industry University Research Cooperative Center program,

WISPER brings together academics, industry and government. Virginia Tech will act as the lead site the first two years, then the lead will transfer to the University of Arizona.

“I’m particularly excited about the energy that I see from industry in supporting the center. We already recruited 27 companies,” said Marwan Krunz, the project’s principal investigator.

An increasingly connected world

Wireless communication is in its fifth generation of technological advancement.

Most are familiar with 5G, which powers cell phone connection.

“The whole wireless telecommunications industry is looking into the subsequent generation of communication systems, which we term as 6G or sometimes Next G,” Krunz said. “There’s a demand for a research center that integrates the needs of many companies in the telecommunications sector.”

Center investigators will delve into areas ranging from AI and cybersecurity to energy and defense.

From the smallest scale, like mobile phones and laptops, to the largest such as cloud servers and wireless networks, AI will play a major role in automation and high-speed data collection, said Wu.

Cybercrime is surging. In 2023, there were more than 343 million victims of cybersecurity attacks. And 94% of organizations reported email security incidents in 2024. Sensitive data is under constant threat.

WISPER industry partners like Keysight Technologies are keen to see more research in this area.

The electronics and software company has collaborated with the College of Engineering for many years. Senior Vice President MARK PIERPOINT was Industry Advisory Board Chair of the Broadband Wireless Access and Applications Center (BWAC), another NSF center Krunz directs.

“Think about it like a pipe – if the pipe is wider, then you can allow more data to flow through more easily. When we move to the higher frequency, we have a bigger pipe and we will be able to support more data transmission in a faster way,” Wu said.

Regents Professor Marwan Krunz

Where academics and industry meet

“There are more mobile phones in the world than people, and wireless communications is connecting more critical systems than ever before. We are interested in helping meet that need safely,” Pierpoint said. “There are bad actors out there and we want to make sure the networks we are using are safe.”

“As we go into Next G, this complexity will need more security,” Krunz said.

While WISPER offers industry members the opportunity to fund exploration, Pierpoint added that it’s also an excellent opportunity for companies to find new talent. The center will be a pipeline that connects doctoral students to research funding and potential careers after graduation.

Two-thirds of the world’s population is connected online, according to the United Nations International Telecommunication Union. And with increased connectivity comes a greater risk for cyberattacks.

Mark Pierpoint

Senior Vice President, Keysight Technologies, Advisory Board Chair, Broadband Wireless Access and Applications Center

“We cannot develop the next generation wireless network without any involvement of AI,” Wu said. “It’s already happening in the fifth generation and it’s going to be pervasive in the next generation.”

While Wu’s work is focused on this area, he’s also looking forward to seeing proposals submitted to the center for research projects that will investigate higher-frequency networks.

“

“There are more mobile phones in the world than people, and wireless communications is connecting more critical systems than ever before”

“This is very important to a department like ECE,” Wu said. “The [center] engages a big number of companies. They support our PhDs and hire our students. It helps our identity and contributes to our department.”

The 27 industry partners who have already signed on to become center members will provide a yearly funding award of $50,000 each. The companies not only provide insight on research topics, but they also help support the center’s academic outreach.

“We intend this to be as inclusive as possible, and part of our outreach is to try to engage high schools and undergrads,” Krunz said. “There’s an educational component to these centers to increase awareness of wireless systems, especially the Next G.”

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ECE team wins first place in the inaugural AI-Hardware Design League Electrical and computer engineering student Sean Rice says his mentor William Rains was an excellent source of support during the competition. Rains, an undergraduate software engineering student, is part of a volunteer group of U of A students acting as mentors to the AI-HDL teams, providing AI training and online office hours.

College students around the world in the Artificial Intelligence Hardware Design League (AI-HDL) have been designing secure semiconductor chips for smart watches since October 2024.

The inaugural competition wrapped up March 27 with the best overall design winner, the University of Arizona team AI or Die, walking away with $5,000 and lasting industry connections.

“Everyone in the Center for Semiconductor Manufacturing is thrilled to see the first student finalists in the AI-HDL finish up their designs, and we’re impressed with what they have accomplished,” said KRISHNA MURALIDHARAN, incoming director for the U of A center and professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering.

The University of Arizona’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering organized the competition, which brought together students from community colleges, academic institutions worldwide, and industry leaders. Sponsors included the Center for Semiconductor Manufacturing, 10 / ECE.ENGINEERING.ARIZONA.EDU

Institute for Computation & DataEnabled Insight (ICDI), ECE, and chip design companies Arm and Nvidia.

“With the institute’s focus on growing Arizona’s economy and the development and deployment of novel computing technologies, the AI-HDL initiative aligns with our mission,” said BARNEY MACCABE, executive director of ICDI and professor in the College of Information Science.

“An introduction to skills and experience in the growing semiconductor industry are part of Arizona’s future.”

Integrating AI spurs ideas

The March 27 event celebrated the accomplishments of undergraduate and graduate competitors with a hybrid awards ceremony and a semiconductor career panel.

AI or Die leader SEAN RICE attributed the win to strong teamwork and AI tools such as generative pre-trained transformers, or GPTs. These large language models are used in widely

accessible AI tools such as ChatGPT. “It provides an extremely rich source of information really quickly,” the ECE junior told KGUN9 News. “You ask the AI ‘why might this not be working,’ and it’ll provide a suggestion.”

The help paid off for Rice and fellow ECE juniors JERALD OCAYA, JACOB GRUDINSCHI and SAM LOVAS. Not only did AI or Die win best overall design among the 11 teams that finished the competition, but also the team placed first in the undergraduate student category.

Teams ranged from three to five members and were evaluated on design security, energy usage, and area efficiency, and ranked within two academic levels: community college and undergraduate students, and graduate students.

Rice, who is researching quantum optics with associate professor of ECE and optical sciences BOULAT BASH, says the competition has opened doors to unexpected career paths.

“AI is super interesting, and semiconductor manufacturing is also surprisingly fascinating,” he said. “I’m kind of at a fork in the road, and doing well in this competition is piquing my interest in exploring this domain further.”

Lowering the barrier to highpaying jobs

SOHEIL SALEHI, founder of AI-HDL and assistant professor of ECE, said workforce development is key given that Arizona is attracting chip manufacturers such as Intel and the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company.

“There are so many job opportunities, but few candidates who would pursue those positions.”

Including students from community colleges and international universities, many of whom who had no background in semiconductors, helped raise awareness about career opportunities.

“The goal is to bring in students who think entry into this area has a high barrier and show them it doesn’t,” said Salehi, who has a joint appointment in the Department of Systems and Industrial Engineering.

In addition to the University of Arizona, students from Pima Community College and Pasadena City College competed. The competition’s virtual component broadened access for international teams, including students from the University of New South Wales Sydney in Australia, Hanoi University of Science and Technology and VNU University of Engineering and Technology in Vietnam, Digital University Kerala in India and Heidelberg University in Germany. Out of the 172 participants, roughly 72% started with no experience in hardware design and nearly 47% had no prior experience using generative AI tools.

“We are developing the next generation of talent in semiconductor design,” said Salehi, who plans to grow the competition over the next two years, including adding high school students to the mix.

Powerful partners

Partners and sponsors for AI-HDL are all in.

“We are huge supporters. We want to see this grow every year,” said STEPHEN OZOIGBO, head of government partnerships and ecosystems at Arm. “The current state of the industry is highly favored to self-directed learners,” he told students during the semiconductor career panel, “so get comfortable with the stuff that makes you uncomfortable and participate in forums like this.”

Also on the panel were ECE professor JANET ROVEDA and VIDYA MURALI, senior director of TAO computer toolkit at Nvidia. The panelists offered valuable insights into the semiconductor job market, highlighting the growing demand for engineers from diverse disciplines.

“Everyone can write code,” Murali said. “Anyone from any department can be involved, and it’s so democratized now.”

ECE faculty named 2025 Center for Semiconductor Manufacturing Fellows The Center for Semiconductor Manufacturing (CSM) recently announced its 2025 fellows. The cohort consists of faculty leaders in various fields who possess technical expertise relevant to the semiconductor industry. They work closely with partners across campus.

The CSM Fellows associated with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering include: ZAFER MUTLU,

assistant professor of materials science and engineering; JANET ROVEDA, professor of electrical and computer engineering; SOHEIL SALEHI, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering; WEIGANG WANG, professor of physics; XIAODONG YAN, assistant professor of materials science and engineering; and ROZHIN YASAEI, assistant professor in the College of Applied Science and Technology.

(From left) Stephen Ozoigbo, head of government partnerships and ecosystems at Arm, Soheil Salehi, ECE assistant professor and Janet Roveda, ECE professor

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ECE’s commitment to artificial intelligence is creating an environment for scientific breakthroughs and educational advancements. AI experts in the department are contributing to efforts including making cybersecurity safer and moving critical technologies closer to widespread adoption.

AI-focused faculty members, who instruct ECE students in a variety of courses, are also preparing a growing number of students to fill high-demand jobs. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts openings for AI engineers will increase by 23% by the end of the decade.

“Thanks to the expertise of our faculty, ECE is uniquely positioned to advance the transformational capabilities of AI while building a needed workforce,” said MICHAEL WU, department head and the Thomas R. Brown Leadership Chair

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in ECE.

Numerous AI standouts

The work of 18 tenured or tenuretrack faculty members in ECE demonstrates the breadth and importance of AI development.

AI foundations

The research efforts of three ECE faculty members who joined at the start of the 2024-2025 academic year, along with three seasoned faculty members with over a decade of experience, are focused on advancing foundational AI technologies.

Since 2015, Litton Industries John M. Leonis Distinguished Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering RAVI TANDON has raised the department’s profile in information theory, wireless communications, security and privacy and machine learning. His work improves data transmission efficiency and security in wireless networks, areas crucial for the advancement of AI-powered communication systems.

Assistant professor JYOTIKRISHNA DASS specializes in the intersection of machine learning, parallel computing and hardware design.

He develops algorithms and systems for edge computing, enabling real-time data processing in remote locations.

BO LIU brings expertise in AIdriven control systems and robotics gained from 10 years in industry and academia. The associate professor’s research centers on designing intelligent systems that can adapt to dynamic environments, further advancements in automation and smart technologies.

Assistant professor HUANRUI YANG focuses on the development of efficient and robust AI models, particularly for resourceconstrained environments – a critical area for mobile and embedded AI applications.

HAN XU specializes in trustworthy machine learning. The assistant

Experts in

artificial intelligence

propel innovation and education

professor is working to ensure the security and reliability of AI systems as they become increasingly integrated into various industries.

ABHIJIT MAHALANOBIS, associate professor, focuses on groundbreaking machine learning technologies in the area of computer vision including video and image processing for target detection and recognition, and computational imaging. He recently was elected as a fellow by the National Academy of Inventors in recognition for four decades of extensive contributions to the field.

AI-Enabled technologies

In addition to the core AI expertise contributing to AI foundations, many faculty members in the department are leveraging AI across various technological fields.

Secure communications: Regents Professor MARWAN KRUNZ and Thomas R. Brown Leadership

Chair MICHAEL WU established the Center for Wireless Innovation towards Secure, Pervasive, Efficient, and Resilient Next G Networks, or WISPER, where they develop AIenable technologies to ensure 6G wireless communication meets users’ needs. Associate professor BOULAT BASH incorporates AI and quantum computing to push beyond the current limits of communications and sensing with signals that are mathematically secure. Professors LOUKAS LAZOS and MING LI use AI and its specialized branch of machine learning – which enables machines to apply knowledge autonomously – to advance cybersecurity.

Health care: Associate and assistant professors respectively, ALI BILGIN and EUNG JOO LEE are advancing medical imaging capabilities.

Associate professor SIYANG CAO applies radar and machine learning to health care solutions. Professor JANET ROVEDA is director of the Center to Stream Healthcare in

Place and is advancing diagnostics and bioinstrumentation, plus wearable technologies. JERZY ROZENBLIT, the Raymond J. Oglethorpe Endowed Chair and an ECE University Distinguished Professor, develops AI-guided training methods and systems for minimally invasive surgery.

AI hardware and systems: TOSI ADEGBIJA, associate professor, specializes in computer architecture and neuromorphic AI, which uses hardware and software to mimic the human brain. Professor ALI AKOGLU and assistant professor HUANRUI YANG further embedded systems, integrating AI into small and mobile devices such as sensors and wearables.

SOHEIL SALEHI, assistant professor, develops microchips and other hardware that uses AI to achieve goals related to energy efficiency and security.

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FACULTY FOCUS

Michael Wu, who heads the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, is the inaugural Thomas R. Brown Leadership Chair.

Thomas R. Brown Leadership Chair boosts growth and expertise in electrical and computer engineering The head of the University of Arizona College of Engineering’s electrical and computer engineering department will have a dedicated endowment in perpetuity to serve its highest needs, thanks to the Thomas R. Brown Family Private Foundation. MICHAEL WU is the first holder of the Thomas R. Brown Leadership Chair in ECE. The Brown Foundations are the legacy of THOMAS R. BROWN and the Burr-Brown Corp., which he co-founded. U of A graduates contributed greatly

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to Burr-Brown’s success, said Brown family members, and the foundations support scholars and programs across campus.

“I’m grateful for the Brown family’s confidence in ECE to continue and exceed its record of excellence,” said DAVID W. HAHN, the Craig M. Berge Dean of the college. “They have made a moving tribute to Thomas R. Brown and provided resources to invest strategically as opportunities arise in education and research. The story of the man behind Burr-Brown will undoubtedly inspire those receiving support.”

An ECE milestone

Wu, who became ECE’s head in 2022, called the chair not only an honor for himself but a milestone for a department that is growing quickly and leading crucial efforts in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, among other fields.

“This endowment comes at a perfect time to support new initiatives,” said Wu, who joined the U of A from Old Dominion University, where he was the Batten Chair of Cybersecurity and director of the School of Cybersecurity.

ECE welcomed five faculty members at the start of the 2024-2025 academic year.

The department launched a BS program in computer science and engineering in 2023 and has since added graduate degree options. Wu and other faculty members have secured millions of dollars in research grantsfor online security and privacy, Next G communication, and emerging semiconductor technologies.

In fact, the funds will benefit machine learning education and research across campus, said Wu. For example, the department recently opened a lab focused on modern machine learning, a branch of AI that enables computer systems to learn from data and make decisions autonomously.

“We can upgrade lab equipment, hire student assistants, and offer the facility to researchers from Engineering and outside the college,” said Wu. “AI is a powerful tool for analyzing data, making predictions and navigating complicated situations. There’s strong potential for interdisciplinary work across fields, including humanities and arts.”

The endowment will also fund jobs for undergraduate and graduate student assistants working on faculty projects, including Wu’s research in privacy and safety. He has

published dozens of papers on securing sensitive data and defending against cyberattacks to AI models.

Additionally, Wu is planning a Thomas R. Brown Faculty Fellows program with three, three-year rotating faculty fellowships awarded to ECE researchers demonstrating excellence in strategic research areas.

“This is support for research and education spanning a wide spectrum of disciplines,” said Wu. To further support the College of Engineering, the foundation recently established a separate endowment for doctoral student support.

Endowments established more than 20 years ago in the college fund undergraduate scholarships and a chair in biomedical engineering, held

by JENNIFER BARTON, who is also an ECE professor.

Decades of success and connection

Brown, who died in 2002 at the age of 75, founded Burr-Brown Research Corp. with Page Burr in 1956. The Tucson company grew from a garage startup advancing transistor technology to the world’s largest supplier of high-performance analog semiconductors. Burr left the company after a few years, and Brown led the company until his retirement in 1998. Texas Instruments bought Burr-Brown in 2000.

“

“I’m grateful for the Brown family’s confidence in ECE to continue and exceed its record of excellence.”

David W. Hahn Craig M. Berge Dean College of Engineering

ECE dedicated a conference room to Brown in 2012. The room displays several graphic panels tracking the BurrBrown history by decade and illustrating company successes and key ties to the university.

In addition to College of Engineering support, the Brown Foundations have established endowed chairs, fellowships and scholarships in the College of Science, the Eller College of Management and the Wyant College of Optical Sciences.

“The Browns have always understood how supporting both students and faculty builds a strong university ecosystem,” said JP ROCZNIAK, president and CEO of the University of Arizona Foundation and vice president of development and chief development officer for the U of A. “This chair will accelerate strategic 21stcentury learning and research in AI and cybersecurity. We are deeply grateful.”

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FACULTY FOCUS

Five new faculty members join ECE

The University of Arizona Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering added five new instructors for the 2024-2025 academic year.

The instructors are joining at a time of growth and progress for the college, said KATHLEEN MELDE, associate dean of faculty affairs. Enrollment and research expenditures are increasing, and important initiatives are beginning and continuing.

“We selected this new faculty class to engage and mentor a growing number of students, advance research in diverse engineering disciplines, and support crucial efforts,” said Melde. “I’m delighted this group of insightful and inspiring hires is joining the college.”

JYOTIKRISHNA DASS

Jyotikrishna Dass, ECE assistant professor, holds a PhD from Texas A&M University. He joined the college from Rice University, where he was a research scientist and postdoctoral scholar. Dass has co-authored more than 10 publications and one patent. He integrates machine learning, parallel computing and hardware design to develop algorithms and systems for edge computing, enabling devices in remote locations to process data and perform actions in real time.

Dass, who is dedicated to imparting knowledge, breaking down barriers, and bringing about societal change, has found a welcoming environment in the UA College of Engineering.

“From the moment I embarked on my PhD journey, I held a vision to inspire the next generation of thinkers, doers and innovators,” said Dass, who also is captivated by the diverse Sonoran Desert ecosystem, especially the prospect of snow and skiing.

BO LIU

ECE associate professor Bo Liu holds a PhD from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He has worked at Amazon Research, Auburn University and Philips Research. Liu is a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence and an associate editor of Machine Learning Journal. He has co-authored over 25 journal papers, 20 conference papers and one patent application.

The university’s reputation for student quality and research appealed to Liu, along with opportunities to collaborate in areas such as robotics and autonomous driving. Liu also plans to advance his research in decisionmaking, neural-symbolic and agent-centric AI, and computational neuroscience.

He appreciates Tucson for its beautiful sunsets, local food and attractions, such as the Pima Air and Space Museum.

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JESUS UBALDO QUEVEDO-TORRERO

Jesus Ubaldo Quevedo-Torrero joined the ECE department from the University of North Texas. A professor of practice, he holds a PhD from the University of Houston. Previously, Quevedo-Torrero was chair and associate professor of computer science at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.

Quevedo-Torrero feels at home in an environment similar to Culiacán, Mexico, where he grew up and appreciates that the university partners with companies in the region to overcome some of the most difficult engineering challenges.

“The ECE faculty has been very welcoming and accommodating, and I just feel at home, appreciated, energized and excited to work for the UA,” said Quevedo-Torrero.

HAN XU

ECE assistant professor Han Xu earned a PhD from Michigan State University and is co-author of 16 publications researching trustworthy and robust artificial intelligence, including data and copyright protection.

His work focuses on developing methods to protect AI and ensure its safe and reliable operation.

“I focus on AI trustworthiness due to its potential for counterintuitive mistakes and misuse by malicious users,” Xu said.

HUANRUI YANG

Huanrui Yang joined the ECE department from the University of California, Berkeley, where he was a postdoctoral scholar. He holds a PhD from Duke University and is the co-author of approximately 30 publications, with a research focus on efficient deep learning for computer vision, speech recognition and natural language processing.

The assistant professor has found a friendly and supportive academic environment at the university.

“I would love to collaborate with other faculty members to bring codesigned solutions of AI algorithms, systems and hardware to make AI usable for the general public,” Yang said.

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FACULTY FOCUS 2024 Women of Impact Awards honors Janet Roveda

JERZY ROZENBLIT, the Raymond J. Oglethorpe Endowed Chair and University Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, who was department head when Roveda joined the faculty in 2003.

Faculty Innovation Ambassadors program appoints Hao Xin

Engineering faculty are counted among the University of Arizona Women of Impact award winners for the third year in a row. The 2024 list breaks a record with four college awardees, one of whom was ECE professor JANET ROVEDA. “This award motivates me to do better and work harder to build our community as the top in the nation,” said Roveda, director of the lead site for the Center to Stream Healthcare in Place and a joint professor in biomedical engineering, ECE and nursing.

Tech Launch Arizona, the UA office that supports inventions stemming from university research, launched the Faculty Innovation Ambassadors program in 2024 to increase commercialization activity. ECE professor HAO XIN will serve as program ambassador by providing information about inventions, licensing and startups for their colleagues and students. TLA has planned a series of fall events to introduce the ambassadors to their college communities.

Roveda is committed to increasing diversity in STEM fields, said Xin is an expert in high-frequency her nominators. Her outreach technologies. He has published activities and mentorship span from over 340 papers and has 20 issued elementary school to graduate patents. He is an IEEE fellow and a students. Remarkably compassionate distinguished lecturer of the IEEE and humble, she is the ideal role Antennas and Propagation Society. model for students and junior faculty, In 2017, Xin co-founded the startup said her nominators.

Lunewave Inc. to commercialize a “She’s always ready to step in and help without being asked,” said 18 / ECE.ENGINEERING.ARIZONA.EDU

3D-printed Luneburg lens antenna for automotive radar sensors. The company has raised approximately

$20 million and has won several awards, including the Arizona Governor’s Innovator of the Year Award in 2020.

College names Ravi Tandon Craig M. Berge Faculty Fellow

The family of mechanical engineering alum Craig M. Berge made a memorial gift to foster a vision for the College of Engineering to lead the way in solving challenges through engineering.

Since 2017, the Berges’ gift has funded the College of Engineering’s four-year design program and an endowed chair for the dean. DAVID W. HAHN, the Craig M. Berge Dean, created a fellowship in 2020 to support selected faculty in education and research efforts.

Craig M. Berge Faculty Fellows are named to three-year terms and receive $8,000 per year. Six faculty members became fellows when the 2024 fiscal year began, including RAVI TANDON. Tandon, the Litton Industries John M. Leonis Distinguished Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, will succeed the inaugural class of Craig M. Berge Faculty Fellows.

National Academy of Inventors elects Abhijit Mahalanobis to 2024 Class of Fellows The National Academy of Inventors elected ABHIJIT MAHALANOBIS, associate professor of ECE, to its 2024 Class of Fellows, citing his spirit of innovation and dedication to advancing technology.

“I’m very honored, and astonished, to be recognized, given the number of people working in this field and their contributions,” he said.

In his four-decade career, Abhijit Mahalanobis (left) advises doctoral student Natnael Daba. Working with students is rewarding for Mahalanobis has made extensive Mahalanobis, who spent much of his career in industry. contributions to an area of computer “It’s truly inspiring to see Abhijit’s Mahalanobis has joined a group vision called correlation pattern work receive this level of whose careers are celebrated with recognition. This sophisticated acknowledgment,” said MICHAEL honors and distinctions such as the type of artificial intelligence allows WU, ECE department head and Nobel Prize, U.S. National Medal computers to analyze vast amounts the Thomas R. Brown Leadership of Technology and Innovation and of visual data and is applied Chair. “This prestigious honor is National Medal of Science. to diverse fields, from medical a testament to his remarkable diagnosis to defense. achievements.”

University recognizes Hal Tharp as top undergraduate instructor Associate professor and associate department head of ECE HAL THARP received the Gerald J. Swanson Prize for Teaching Excellence from the University of Arizona, celebrating him for excellence in undergraduate teaching.

Nominators called Tharp a “consistent and significant leader in ECE academic programs,” often teaching courses for other professors who are on emergency leave, showing other faculty how to use technology and creating effective teaching materials.

ECE alum CINTHYA TANG, who

“Beyond the confines of the classroom, professor Tharp has been instrumental in shaping my leadership skills,” said Tang, who graduated in 2017 and is a software project engineer at Honeywell. “His ability to remember intricate details about his students, coupled with his thoughtful and engaging teaching style, left an indelible mark on me.”

contributed to Tharp’s nomination, credited Tharp for engaging with his students to develop their skills outside of engineering.

“I am honored to receive this award, but mostly I feel a sense of gratitude – gratitude toward those who nominated me, those who I have learned from, and the students who have helped me learn how to improve as an instructor,” Tharp said.

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AMAZING ALUMNI

ECE distinguished alumni

The ECE department recognized two distinguished alumni during its October 2024 Homecoming event: SUSAN GRAY (EE BS/ 1996), president and CEO of Tucson Electric Power, UniSource Energy Services and UNS Energy Corporation; and MARIAPPAN S. NADAR (ECE MS/1990, ECE PhD/1995), senior director of research at Siemens Healthineers.

Susan Gray

evidenced by the inspiring alumni at the event. After hearing their stories, I left feeling even more proud of what my education helped me achieve. Programs such as this give me great hope that future graduates will have the support they need to achieve their own aspirations.

She was named vice president of energy delivery in 2015 and was promoted to chief operating officer in 2019. She was named president in 2020 and became CEO in 2021.

What makes the University of Arizona a special place?

Gray, who began her career as an engineering student in 1994 at TEP, established herself as a collaborative, inclusive leader who inspires a culture of safety, recognition and transparency through a values-driven approach.

Gray leads the company’s efforts to advance community economic development as the board chair of Sun Corridor Inc., as well as sitting on boards for the Southern Arizona Leadership Council and the College of Engineering and Eller College of Management. She also collaborates with utility peers through service on boards for the Edison Electric Institute and Western Energy Institute.

She brings her industry experience and leadership acumen to the board for Central Hudson Gas & Electric.

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Committed to community, Susan is a longtime member of the board of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Tucson, a charity that is close to her heart for its work to help break the cycle of poverty by providing children with a safe, nurturing and learning environment.

What did it mean to you to win the ECE Distinguished Alumni award?

I am incredibly honored to be recognized with this award alongside pioneering researcher Mariappan Nadar.

The ECE program has provided a foundation for many graduates to build successful and fulfilling careers, as

The university is the heartbeat of our community for many reasons. For me, it’s where I met my husband and made lifelong friends.

The university brought me to Tucson and helped me secure an internship at TEP, which was the catalyst that launched my career in this community that I love. The best part is that now my children are U of A students, so we get to share that Wildcat tradition!

How do you define career success?

Su c c e s s i s n ot a n i n di v i du al s p or t . F or m e, i t’s o n l y p os s i bl e i f e v e r y o n e i s t h r i v i n g , bo t h a t wo rk an d a t h om e. I c a n on l y be s u c c e s s f u l a s a l eader i f o u r

(From left) Michael Wu, department head, Susan Gray, President and CEO, Tucson Electric Power, UniSource Energy Services, and UNS Energy Corporation and award nominator Hal Tharp, associate department head and associate professor.

t eams at w ork are t h r iving a nd prod ucing stro ng o u tc om es for our cus t o me r s a nd ou r com m unitie s .

I believe culture is foundational in helping any organization reach that level of success. That’s why I’m committed to creating an environment that allows employees to bring their best to their work every day.

What about the ECE field motivates you to keep learning and/or mentor and guide others?

Lives literally depend on reliable power. It is critical that our communities have access to safe, reliable, affordable energy, which is why I’m so proud to be leading my company through a dynamic time of transformation in our industry. It’s very challenging, but we can meet this challenge through continuous learning and innovative problem solving, as well as by mentoring and coaching the next generation of leaders.

I have made plenty of mistakes in my career, and it was

through others’ investment in my growth that I was able to learn from those setbacks and come back better. I always try to pay it forward and do the same for others.

- ECE distinguished alumni continued on page 22 -

Scan the QR code for more ECE 2024 Homecoming photos

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AMAZING ALUMNI - ECE distinguished alumni continued from page 21 -

Mariappan Nadar

Following Mariappan’s graduate studies, in 1995 he joined Siemens Corporate Research, Inc. as a post-doctoral researcher in the Imaging and Visualization Department. In 2015, he was promoted to the role of senior director of research in medical imaging technologies, leading a team of research scientists working on medical imaging projects spanning multiple modalities.

Since 2024, Mariappan has been the vice president of research in the AI Center, Digital Technology and Innovation, Siemens Healthineers. Over the years, his research focus has been in neuroimaging based on MRI, CT scans, compressed sensing for MRI, magnetic resonance fingerprinting, AI/machine learning in medical imaging and medical image reconstruction.

Mariappan is recognized for leading the research and productization efforts of compressed sensing for magnetic resonance imaging.

He was part of the winning team for the 2013-2014 ISMRM Sub-Nyquist Reconstruction Challenge. His team was responsible for delivering the compressed sensing product

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into Siemens Healthineers MR scanners, making Siemens Healthineers the first vendor to offer compressed sensing as a product. For the Compressed Sensing Cardiac Cine product, the team won the 2017 R&D100 award (one of the 100 most technologically significant new products of the year in software/ service) and 2017 Gold Award R&D 100 Special Recognition, Market Disruptor-Products.

research and productization of Deep Resolve, a portfolio of AI-based MR reconstruction algorithms available in Siemens Healthineers MR scanners. The Deep Resolve product won the EuroMinnies 2023 awards in the Best New Radiology Software category.

Deep Resolve also won the 2023 R&D100 award and 2023 Gold Award R&D 100 Special Recognition, Green Tech.

What did it mean to you to win the ECE Distinguished Alumni award?

In 2017, while a senior director of research, he received the prestigious Siemens Inventor of the Year Award for his contributions to the research on compressed sensing in magnetic resonance imaging, the highest award given to a Siemens employee.

Mariappan is also recognized for his pioneering work on AI-based reconstruction for magnetic resonance imaging in Siemens Healthineers. His team was responsible for the

The period in my educational life at the department was the most formative one in terms of building the required foundations in the ECE field and embarking on graduate research. I experienced numerous ups and downs with challenges along the research journey. Successfully completing the PhD program was a proud moment for me and my parents, who encouraged me every step of the way, making numerous personal sacrifices. Hence, it was a pleasant surprise and a great honor to hear that the ECE department selected me for the ECE Distinguished Alumni Award.

I owe my research career and career placement to the exceptional education, research training and support provided to me by the ECE department and its exceptional faculty, especially my dissertation adviser, professor BOBBY R. HUNT

(From left) Ali Bilgin, professor, and award nominator, Mariappan S. Nadar, senior director of research, Siemens Healthineers and Michael Wu, department head

and dissertation committee members. This is a great honor that I will cherish for the rest of my life. My parents would certainly be very proud.

What makes the University of Arizona a special place?

The university, especially the ECE department (my major) and the Wyant College of Optical Sciences Center (my minor) provides a very fertile environment and resources for advanced graduate learning and conducting advanced research. The faculty are very well-recognized and wellpublished in their respective fields. In addition to academic and research excellence, the student athletics, especially the college basketball games, provide much required timeouts from graduate studies and research.

How do you define career success?

The definition of career success is highly individualized. A successful career, personally, must satisfy multiple criteria.

A career where I enjoy every aspect of my daily work, where I am constantly being challenged to innovate, where I am constantly learning new topics in the fields of science and engineering, and where my and my team’s contributions are impacting society. Continual learning and inspiring my team to continually learn – and seeing it translate to success in a job – brings me immense pleasure and satisfaction.

What about the ECE field motivates you to keep learning and/or mentor and guide others?

AI is making a huge impact on every aspect of human society. It is interesting to note that the core foundations upon which modern-day AI are built rely heavily on principles covered in traditional ECE undergraduate and graduate coursework. It includes, but is not limited to, linear algebra, digital/statistical signal processing, control theory, and statistical pattern recognition.

An ECE graduate has the necessary foundations to embark on a successful career in AI and potentially make significant contributions in this field. This core foundation is a good springboard for advanced and personal continual learning.

Further, this facilitates the mentoring and guidance of junior scientists and engineers in the team to embark on their own exciting journey of AI. 2025 MAGAZINE \ 23

AMAZING ALUMNI

A decade of service

Electrical engineering alum wins Distinguished Citizen Award

Christopher Stemple (left) accepts the college’s 2019 Outstanding Young Alumni Volunteer Award from David Hahn, Craig M. Berge Dean.

Stanley Stachowiak, at left, poses with fellow alumni award winners at the 2024 Engineers Breakfast.

The Distinguished Citizen Award recognizes individuals who demonstrate extraordinary service to the public. At the College of Engineering’s 2024 Homecoming ceremony, the award was presented to STANLEY STACHOWIAK, who earned his degree in electrical engineering in 1984.

Stachowiak retired from Cirrus Logic following a career that began with six years in the United States Air Force before earning his degree and included a 21year stint with Burr-Brown and a senior manager role for Texas Instruments.

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“My engineering degree absolutely changed my life. The opportunities it afforded me, the great projects I worked on, the wonderful places I traveled to, and the smart people I was able to collaborate with made for a rewarding and successful career,” he said.

Stachowiak and his spouse, Jodi, give to the college and the U of A. He is also an active community volunteer.

“I am so privileged to be recognized. Helping others has been tremendously rewarding,” Stachowiak said.

CHRISTOPHER STEMPLE is an unusually well-rounded alum, having earned a BS in electrical and computer engineering in 2010, an MS in biomedical engineering and engineering management the following year, and an Eller College of Management MBA in 2019. Stemple has been involved with the Interdisciplinary Capstone program for a decade, first at Texas Instruments and now at Raytheon, an RTX Business, where he is senior manager of electrical engineering.

What sponsor representative roles have you served?

I first started supporting as a Craig M. Berge Design Day judge and have judged projects ever since. At Texas Instruments and Raytheon, I have helped support the corporate sponsorship of up to five different projects at a time.

I have had the opportunity to work on both sides of the sponsorship coin – internally to identify mentors and help develop project ideas, as well as with student teams to showcase the projects and help them find the right fit.

At each Design Day, Seeing the pride and sense of accomplishment on every student’s face is among the most rewarding moments.

I have had the chance to check in on some previous projects and was excited to see that students from Team 23037 had several wins in the competitive BattleBots arena with their senior design creation, and that Team 24045’s basketballshooting robot had inspired this year’s golf-putting robot project!

Both are sponsored by Raytheon.

Did your student experience in the capstone program prepare you for your career and continued studies?

Absolutely – my capstone experience was my first real opportunity to work collaboratively with fellow students from other disciplines outside of electrical.

It emphasized the importance of teamwork and being able to look at a project through someone else’s lens. That exposure to the teaming experience has been core to nearly every role I’ve held since, whether it’s been professional, academic or even volunteer.

I vividly recall that my own senior capstone project wasn’t fully

working until one day shortly before Design Day at about 4 a.m., and the relief that came along with being able to say: “It works!”

Would you recommend the sponsor experience to other companies and alumni?

I would definitely recommend the sponsor experience for any company, large or small. It is an opportunity to get long-term exposure to engineering talent to help your organization meet its hiring needs. Sponsorship is also a great way to get real engineering development work done and help projects come to fruition that may not otherwise have seen the light of day due to a lack of internal resources.

Alum sponsors clean hydrogen capstone project First-time Interdisciplinary Capstone sponsors Arzon Solar and SEC Energy are moving toward a breakthrough in making hydrogen a renewable, safe and portable energy source. And Team 25020 is contributing to their progress.

The team is designing and building a small prototype of a system that will use solar power to generate and store hydrogen, then convert it into electricity – aiming to produce a daily total around 7% of what the average Tucson customer uses. Students will also create a detailed plan that would scale the project to generate up to 80 times the energy output.

Arzon Solar, a concentrated solar photovoltaic technology company,

Team 25020 members (from left) Lauren Goodrich, Utah Bryant, Luke Lange, Abdulwahab Mohammad Al-Qenaei, Daniel Kaitel and Christian Alcaraz use equipment owned by sponsor Arzon Solar at the Solar Zone at UA Tech Park. Member Eli Jacobson is not pictured.

gave the team access to its solar generation equipment at the Solar Zone at UA Tech Park to create and test its system. When its founder and chief technology officer, VAHAN GARBOUSHIAN, was a University of Arizona ECE student, he knew his involvement wouldn’t end with graduation.

“I always thought, ‘I will be back to start a business or somehow contribute to the university,’” he said.

This capstone project is an early step for Arzon Solar and SEC to explore the commercial possibilities for clean hydrogen.

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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Student leaders appreciate classmates, professors and curiosity Two electrical and computer engineering students, one undergraduate and one graduate, share insights into their journeys with education and peer leadership. Learn about their inspirations, surprises and career plans.

Briana Curley What are your career plans after graduating?

I am majoring in electrical and computer engineering. My career plans are undecided, but I am interested in pursuing further education to learn more about signal processing, communications and information theory.

What made you choose the University of Arizona?

I grew up in Tucson, so I was already familiar with what the University of Arizona offers, including a great engineering program and a beautiful campus.

What moved you to take on an IEEE leadership role?

During my first year, the IEEE leadership gave me valuable career guidance and academic support. Taking on a leadership role seemed like the perfect opportunity to give back and bring career advice, new technical skills, and a sense of community to my peers, as well as to inspire other women to pursue careers and leadership roles they are passionate about.

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What have you learned in your time in ECE that you believe will stay with you a long time?

I learned to appreciate connections between disciplines and how everyone approaches problems differently. Being exposed to diverse backgrounds has made me a better learner and thinker. I also learned to not get discouraged over mistakes or bad test scores. If the learning itself is rewarding to you, no matter what, you were meant to be here!

Is there someone in the department who inspires you?

Associate professor ALI BILGIN inspires me. His humor and enthusiasm are infectious, as are his patience and support for students. He taught me to give myself and others more grace in the learning process and to embrace the challenge of mastering complex topics. He pushes his students while still reminding us to “go easy” on ourselves, as he puts it.

Rohan Bali What are your career plans after graduating?

After completing my PhD, I aspire to become a professor and lead my own research group, contributing to advancements in my field while mentoring the next generation of engineers and scientists.

What made you choose the University of Arizona?

My decision was driven by both academic and personal factors. Academically, I was drawn to the university’s active role in quantum research – a field that deeply interests me. Conversations with several alumni, who had nothing but glowing reviews about the ECE department and its professors, further solidified my choice. On a personal note, my wife and I visited Tucson and immediately fell in love with the city. We were captivated by its stunning landscapes, diverse community, vibrant food scene, and the pleasant, mostly sunny weather.

What has surprised you about graduate school?

Having spent years in industry, I expected that university research would mirror the cutting-edge technologies we already know. However, I quickly realized that academia, especially in ECE, is not merely an extension of industrial research. Instead of focusing solely on improving existing technologies, the work here is about fundamentally reimagining them. This shift in perspective has been one of the most surprising and inspiring aspects of my graduate school experience.

What moved you to take on a leadership role within ECE’s Graduate Student Association?

The ECE department offers a clear sense of mutual support and collaboration, creating an atmosphere that’s rare to find. This inspired me to found the Graduate Student Association (GSA) in ECE, where I serve as president. My goal with the GSA is to further nurture this community by creating more opportunities for students to connect, share insights, and learn from one another. Additionally, with the rapid growth of Arizona’s engineering industry, I see the GSA as a vital platform for showcasing our graduate community’s talent, naturally paving the way for engaging partnerships and opportunities that benefit everyone involved.

What have you learned in your time in ECE that you believe will stay with you a long time?

One key lesson I’ve learned is that it’s perfectly fine not to have all the answers immediately. Staying curious, asking questions, and continuously learning – even when the path forward isn’t crystal clear – truly drives growth. I work closely with mentors, like my adviser BOULAT BASH. His brilliance, hard work and tenacity are evident in his approach to research; this guidance has reinforced the idea that embracing uncertainty and seeking diverse perspectives can lead to innovative solutions. This mindset of persistent inquiry and resilience is something that will stay with me long into my career.

Is there someone in the department who inspires you?

I find RABIUL HOSSAIN and ROKEYA MUKTI, PhD colleagues in the ECE department who moved from Bangladesh with their preschool-aged daughter, incredibly inspiring. As dedicated parents living far from home, they’ve managed to balance the demands of family life with the challenges of graduate school. Their ability to excel in both their academic pursuits and personal lives is a powerful reminder that success in graduate school isn’t solely about research and coursework, but also about navigating life’s multifaceted challenges with determination. Their example motivates me to seek a similar balance in my own journey.

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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT College of Engineering honors fall 2024 outstanding students and teaching assistants Students in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering won awards at the College of Engineering’s fall 2024 outstanding student luncheon.

Faculty from all departments nominated 11 undergraduate seniors, six graduate seniors and six teaching assistants for awards that recognized their efforts to go above and beyond in their studies and research.

professors made short speeches.

Each student who was honored received a framed award and a university gift bag to commemorate their academic career. Nominating

ECE’s JACK WEEKS was honored as the department’s outstanding senior and was recognized as an outstanding teaching assistant.

“Many of you will move into careers and find technical success, but I bet many of you will also move up to become leaders, managers, CEOs and presidents. And that is what engineering is all about – teaching you to think, analyze and solve problems,” DAVID W. HAHN, the Craig M. Berge Dean of the college, told the students.

(From left) David W. Hahn, Craig M. Berge Dean of the college, Jack Weeks and Hal Tharp, associate department head and associate professor.

(From left) Soheil Salehi, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, Yu-Zheng Lin, and David W. Hahn, Craig M. Berge Dean of the college.

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Experiences drive a desire to serve

More than 600 undergraduate scholarships were awarded in the U of A College of Engineering this year.

The college celebrates donors and students alike at the annual scholarship reception held in the Student Union Memorial Center ballroom.

One undergraduate scholarship recipient was ECE student OMAR CORONA RAMOS, who spoke at the reception. Ramos served in the U.S. Army as a radio and satellite systems operator for four years before joining Paradigm Labs as an information technology manager during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“These experiences have not only reinforced my passion for technology but also my desire to contribute to the betterment of my community,” he said.

Ramos will graduate with his bachelor’s in May and said awards, including the da Vinci Scholarship and the Gene E. and Marylyn Schumann Tobey Scholarship, helped him realize his potential.

“As I reflect on my journey, I am reminded that none of this would have been possible without the sacrifices of my parents and the support of donors like you.”

Ramos will pursue a doctoral degree in physics. He plans to advance wireless communication technology and quantum computing research.

Engineering Design Center offers hands-on opportunities for students TYLER WILSON is an ECE major who also spends time at the EDC. He is the student leader for Engineering Interdisciplinary Capstone Team 25048, which is creating a golfing robot capable of reliably getting the ball in the cup with no more than two putts from anywhere on the green.

Students and faculty revive breakout hackathon Student organizers, with the backing of the Division of Undergraduate Education – as well as support from the College of Engineering, additional university units and local industry partners — hosted Hack Arizona March 22-23.

The division’s goal was to provide continuity and institutional backing while keeping Hack Arizona a studentrun event, said GREG HEILEMAN, vice provost for undergraduate education and a professor of ECE. “We wanted to create a backbone for this to operate around and give students the support they need,” said Heileman.

ECE major BRIANA CURLEY was part of the student administration team. Aside from working to coordinate mentors and judges, she also helped run the actual event.

No word yet if the robot can help those of us who are less athletically inclined cheat at mini golf.

When ECE major SEVEN GILBERT is not in the classroom, he is a design technician at the Engineering Design Center (EDC), where he wears many hats over the course of a day.

When he’s not busy working on their project, Tyler is also a tinkerer. He built the unicycle he’s riding!

“On the daily you will find me leading authorizations for equipment, running workshops, helping students with their projects, telling students to put safety glasses on and playing music on the speakers,” he said.

Gilbert loves the hands-on experiences and opportunities the ECD offers students.

“I’m so excited to see the event come to life and hope it is a fun and rewarding experience for all,” Curley said.

“We can know all of the equations that govern a system, but nothing beats seeing how all of those things come together when building physical models.”

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INDUSTRIAL ADVISORY BOARD

Brad Burres

Senior Distinguished Engineer, DGX Cloud Nvidia

Kyle Chong

Senior Manager, Test Engineering SiTime

Anne E. Cortez

Chief Operating Officer Conspec International

Michael Jackson

Corporate Vice President and General Manager System Design and Analysis Group Cadence Design Systems

Dave Milne

Senior Chief Engineer, Control Systems Honeywell Aerospace

Anthony Mulligan CEO Hydronalix

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Stephen Phillips

Director and Professor School of Electrical, Computer & Energy Engineering Arizona State University

Mark Pierpoint

Senior Vice President (retired) Strategic Innovation & Partnerships Keysight Technologies

Richard Reinhart

Chief, System Architectures & Analytical Studies Branch Glenn Research Center, NASA

Richard B. Scholes

Signal Processing Chief Technologist Raytheon Missile Systems

Robert Semelsberger

Vice President Emeritus, Rincon Research Corp.

Chair, University of Arizona, Applied Research Corporation

Raja Suresh

Director, Research & Development General Dynamics Mission Systems

IAB profile: Michael Jackson Corporate Vice President and General Manager of the System Design and Analysis Group

Cadence Design Systems How has your connection with the ECE department evolved over the years?

I graduated with a BS in electrical engineering in 1984. Now, as an advisory board member, I provide feedback and help influence the direction of the department.

system design automation.

At Synopsys, I led the development of areas including logic synthesis, place and route and test.

At Cadence, I directed the development of digital IC signoff, printed circuit board design, advanced package design and multi physics analysis.

How has your ECE education influenced your career path, and what key lessons from your time My experiences at the U of A at the University of Arizona have set my entire career in motion helped you succeed in industry? and influenced everything that My ECE education has been instrumental in defining my career. My coursework at the U of A emphasized integrated circuit design. Around the time of my graduation from the U of A, I became interested in the use of computers to aid in the design of integrated circuits.

I went to graduate school at UC Berkeley and got my PhD in electrical engineering and computer science in 1990. I specialized in electronic design automation, specifically the placement and routing of integrated circuits. This led to my first job after graduate school at Motorola Semiconductor, which later led to opportunities at Synopsys and Cadence in electronic design and

followed. I’m especially proud of the fact that my work in electronic design automation has enabled a tremendous amount of IC design and electronic product design over the past 35 years around the globe.

In terms of key lessons, I would encourage people to work hard and play hard and to pursue careers in electrical engineering and adjacent fields like computer science because there are tremendous opportunities to make a difference in the world with an education in these fields.

What advice would you give to current ECE and CSE students looking to make an impact in the industry, and how can they best prepare for the evolving technology landscape?

My advice would be to focus on the following: · Develop a technical competency and master it – your value is dependent on your skills. · Make the connection to industry and get hands-on experience while at university – it’s a great opportunity to deepen understanding and apply your education in the real world. · Stay curious and follow emerging trends – this is critical to staying fresh and keeping yourself marketable. · Cultivate a professional network – you will leverage this across your career. · Understand the business and people side of engineering. It’s not just technology; understanding the business and human side of teams is critical.

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The University of Arizona Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering P.O. Box 210104 Tucson, AZ 85721-0104

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