UCLA Electrical & Computer Engineering Department 2020 - 2021 Annual Report

Electrical and Computer Engineering

2020-2021

2020-2021 Annual Report

Chair C.-K. Ken Yang 2020-2021

ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING: 2020-2021 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Last academic

year had its share of uncertainties as we weathered the COVID-19 pandemic. What is not uncertain is the resilience, innovativeness, and achievements of our community toward teaching and learning, and new research efforts. In these aspects, this annual report is no different than others as we review the excellent unabated progress this department has made in 2020-2021.

This past school year, along with dormitory and campus closures, all of our classes migrated to remote learning including lectures and laboratories. Despite not having in-person interaction, we maintained our standards through our live Zoom lectures and office hours. By adopting individual laboratory kits and USB-based instrumentation systems that were shipped to each student’s home, we enabled students to conduct experiments and design laboratories fully remotely.

Our student organizations such as IEEE, Eta Kappa Nu (HKN), and ECE Graduate and Post-doctoral Students (ECEGAPS) have remained active. To counter the isolation and build community, they hosted game nights.

Student projects hosted by the groups such as IEEE Ops were held by shipping design kits. HKN conducted tutoring sessions with the help of a Discord server. Even talent acquisition by industry continued with a departmental Career Fair held online.

Exceptions to the campus closure were granted to research laboratories since the smaller number of researchers could be monitored carefully. As a result, while some of the research was less efficient without in-person interactions and meetings, most of the research activities persisted. In this past year, the department had research support of $33 million from extramural sources including Department of Defense (⅖), Department of Energy (⅙), National Science Foundation (⅙), NASA, National Institute of Health, and various industry sources.

As in any other year, our faculty and students were recognized for their accomplishments. Professors A. Ozcan and K. Wang were named World’s Most Influential Researchers by citation. Professor A. Madni was elevated to Fellow of the Canadian National Academy of engineering. Professors

J. Cong and B. Jalali were elected Fellows of the National Academy of Inventors. Professor H. Samueli received the IEEE Founders Medal, one of the highest honors of IEEE. Professors D. Markovic, and D. Cabric were elected Fellows of IEEE. The research of our younger faculty has also been recognized. Professor J. Kao received the coveted NIH Director’s New Innovator Award, and Professors A. Kadambi and X. Chen both received the Career Award from NSF and Young Investigator Program Award from our armed forces. The decorations also include our alumni Dr. A. Tang who received the MTT Young Engineer Award.

These are but some of the more notable distinctions described in further detail in this report.

We welcomed three new faculty this year. Professor Bahman Gharesfard, joining us from Queen’s University of Canada, focuses on ensuring the stability of adaptive control of autonomous systems such as self-driving vehicles. Professor Yang Zhang arrived bringing his innovative research on human-centered computing that increases the ways we humans interact with devices and smart environments. And Professor Sergio Carbajo, coming from Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, is developing electron beams that can measure precise ultra-short time scales on the order of femtoseconds (a quadrillionth of a second). Professor Carbajo is also a Mentorship Professor who has extensive experience in mentoring under-represented students. The research of these new faculty spans exciting areas that will bring new collaborations and activity within our department.

Last year around this time, I wrote about the emergence of the vaccine. With its help and better monitoring and treatment, the new school year is starting with the reopening of our dormitories, facilities, and activities. This new beginning will inevitably lead to more changes and uncertainty as we embrace hybrid interactions both in daily departmental functions, research, and teaching. Many of our efforts to enable the flexibility of remote learning and work will be leveraged in the new paradigm. As I look ahead to the school year, my overwhelming impression shared by this community is the joy of sharing each other's company and the growing energy from in-person collaborations.

2020-2021 Annual Report

Electrical and Computer Engineering 2020-2021

Table of Contents Prof. Sergio Carbajo Designing Light to Film Molecules in Action Professor Bahman Gharesifard Verifiable Autonomy

Professor Jia-Ming Liu Named Taiwan Ministry of Education 2020 Yushan Scholar

Asst. Professor Yang Zhang Creating the Next Generation of Ambient Intelligence

Faculty Recently Honored by Professional Organizations Alumni Adrian Tang Recognized by IEEE MTT-S

Professor Asad M. Madni Honored by Canadian Academy of Engineering, IEEE Sensors Council, and NRI Welfare Society of India

Alumni Kat Echazarreta Inspires Others through Work at JPL

Online Only Annual Report Content The full content of the 2020-2021 Annual Report can be found online at ucla-ece-report.com/2020-2021.

HIGHLIGHTS

ucla-ece-report.com/2020-2021/highlights

Professor Suhas Diggavi Receives Facebook and Amazon Awards and Guggenheim Fellowship Professor Achuta Kadambi Featured in Science Journal and Awarded US Army Grant Professor Xiang“Anthony” Chen Receives ONR Young Investigator and NSF CAREER Awards Professor Sam Emaminejad’s Research Group featured on Cover of “Lab on a Chip” Professor Chang Wang Receives NSF Grant to Improve Quantum Computing Chips

Distinguished Professor Yahya Rahmat-Samii Releases New Book and Wins Best paper Award of AIAA Professors Aydogan Ozcan and Kang Wang Named Among World’s Most Influential Researchers Professor Clarice Aiello Appointed to Committee at National Academies and Received NSF Grant Professor Danijela Cabric Receives Qualcomm Faculty Award and elected to IEEE

STUDENTS & TEACHING

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

ucla-ece-report.com/2020-2021/students

Undergraduate and Graduate Students Awards Henry Samueli Excellence in Teaching Awards 2020-2021 DoD Graduate Fellowship Student Centers: UCLA HKN, UCLA IEEE Student Chapter & WATT

ECE FACULTY

ucla-ece-report.com/2020-2021/faculty

Circuits & Embedded Systems Physical & Wave Electronics Signals & Systems Members of National Academies Faculty Recently Honored

2020-2021 Annual Report

ucla-ece-report.com/2020-2021/overview

Affiliated Research Centers Recent Books by Faculty Research Funding and Fellowships Faculty and Staff Enrollment, Graduation and Admission

ALUMNI & PARTNERSHIPS

ucla-ece-report.com/2020-2021/alumni

Alumnae Advisory Committee Alumni Advisory Board Industry Relations and Partnerships Department Administration

2020-2021

New Faculty

Asst. Professor Sergio Carbajo

Designing Light to Film Molecules in Action

Whether a horse

is momentarily air-

watch exactly how molecules react when they interact with

borne, with all its feet

light or undergo changes, such as photo-chemical reactions,

off the floor at once, was a question that had plagued eccentric

protein dynamics, or quantum electrodynamics, among many

photographer Eadweard Muybridge until in 1872, he was

others.

asked by Leland Stanford, then governor of California, to take

Engineering light as scientific instrumentation

up the challenge of photographing his horse while galloping

One way of accessing unprecedentedly bright pulses of light

to see whether artists had been right in their depiction of the

is using X-ray free electron lasers (XFEL), which are usually

flying horse. For the photography of the time, Muybridge suc-

miles-long facilities that accelerate electrons to the speed of

ceeded at this challenging task by triggering 12 different cam-

light and then wiggle them with magnets. The Q-LMC

eras as the horses ran past to create a sequential series of

develops new light-electron techniques to manipulate the

photographs of the motion.

electron beams that are used not only in XFEL

Many of today’s basic questions in physics

experiments but also for another type of ex-

and engineering are studied using this same

periment, ultrafast electron diffraction (UED).

photographic concept, albeit at far smaller and

Rather than shining X-rays on a molecule to

faster scales approaching fundamental atomic

film its motion, UED uses electrons instead. By

scales. That is, if we see something happening

detecting how the path of the electrons has

that occurs in 100 milliseconds (a tenth of a

changed as a result of interacting with the mol-

second), we generally perceive the event as

ecule, a picture can be constructed of how the

occurring instantaneously. But for quantum

molecule looked at a particular moment in

systems, such as atoms, molecules, and con-

time. As well as making XFELs better, the Q-

densed matter systems, this may even be

LMC investigates ways to make them smaller

longer than their entire lifetime. Many of the changes atomic

and democratize access to these incredible machines. The

and molecular systems undergo occur on femtosecond

length of the accelerators is necessary to provide sufficiently

(quadrillionth of a second) or faster timescales. This is such a

strong field gradients to accelerate the electrons up to speed,

short timescale that one femtosecond is to one second as one

ideally in an orderly fashion. Laser-driven accelerators may

second is to about 32 million years.

offer a more compact alternative to traditional radio fre-

Through our research in the Quantum Light-Matter Coop-

quency technology-based designs for applications in targeted

erative (Q-LMC), we can develop unique instrumentation and

radiation therapy and future quantum information technolo-

capture changes in quantum systems relevant for myriad ap-

gies. The strong field gradients produced within a laser pulse

plications far too fast and too small for standards cameras to

make it possible to achieve comparable acceleration in a mat-

resolve. By using the ultrashort and very bright pulses of

ter of millimeters, rather than miles.

uniquely engineering light, our research provides a means to

Read more at ucla-ece-report.com/2020-2021/news.

2020-2021 Annual Report

2020-2021

New Faculty

Professor Bahman Gharesifard

Verifiable Autonomy My research

interests cover a wide range,

do not come with stability guarantees. The expected

mainly in the intersections of

standards for future autonomous vehicles are in a way that

control theory, geometry, network sciences, machine learn-

robustness and stability guarantees are indispensable.

ing, and game theory. For the purpose of this brief note, I

As control theorists, we are often concerned with stabil-

focus on one recent topic that has occupied some of my time.

ity; we do not want systems to go unstable, ever. In this

The abundance of access to data and

sense, we are trained to be conservative.

advanced sensing apparatus has made the in-

Learning about unknowns, by its nature,

terplay between “uncertainty”, “stability”, and

requires exploration, and enforcing stability

“performance” at the cusp of focus for

prevents exploratory decisions. If the

achieving certifiable autonomy. Providing

objective is for an autonomous vehicle to

such certificates is in the roots of control the-

follow a certain path, with the abundance of

ory, with the foundations of robustness and

unknowns present, implementing classical

adaptation going back decades. Adaptive

control strategies with robustness certifi-

control, for instance, was built precisely to

cates would simply bring the car to halt. In

deal with unknown parameters while provid-

this sense, if the measure of performance is

ing some stability certificates. Much of the

how well the path is followed, the perform-

classical development of the subject, how-

ance will be very poor. On the contrary, core

ever, was focused on systems with models at hand. The key

techniques in machine learning, ranging from online opti-

challenge in nowadays complex problems such as au-

mization to reinforcement learning, are often solely con-

tonomous driving is lack of such models, along with the fact

cerned with performance. Even though it is a gross

that the decisions are made in an online fashion. The latter is

generalization, the interplay I depicted is present across the

in sharp contrast with offline problems in machine learning,

board. The key question that I am interested in is on how

such as algorithms behind Alpha Go, where training algo-

to mathematically capture this interplay, and how to

rithms provide incomparable results. On the other hand,

generate certificates that meet the standards of future

model-free techniques, such as reinforcement learning, often

autonomous systems.

2020-2021 Annual Report

2020-2021

Creating the Next Generation of Ambient Intelligence

New Faculty

Asst. Professor Yang Zhang

Our environments

are getting smarter.

ambient intelligence to acquire knowledge from people either

Advances in sensors,

explicitly (i.e., interaction) or implicitly (i.e., event and activity

actuators, and communication have made the vision of ambi-

recognition) in a practical manner.

creasing number of smart devices around us such as voice

Pillar 2: Use ambient intelligence to make the physical world accessible to all

assistants, service robots, UAVs, autonomous vehicles, and a

Ambient intelligence also opens new opportunities for mak-

broader array of connective objects in IoT. Professor Yang

ing the physical world equally accessible to all. Specifically,

Zhang creates enabling technologies to make ambient intelli-

HiLab develops systems that can digitize the physical world

gence more powerful in facilitating the future of work, health-

for accessibility applications, including virtual and augmented

care, and education. He also researches human-centered

reality techniques that can help people with disabilities. HiLab

ent intelligence increasingly achievable. We have seen an in-

design frameworks to make ambient intelligence and the en-

also creates intelligent sensing and actuation systems that can

vironments where they reside equally accessible to all and can

be easily deployed by people with motor impairments for in-

be developed by anyone. Professor Zhang is currently direct-

dependent living and improved quality of life.

ing the Human-Centered Computing & Intelligent Sensing Lab (HiLab) at UCLA ECE. https://www.hilab.dev

Pillar 3: Lower the barrier to create ambient intelligence

Finally, HiLab aims to empower everyone to create ambient

Pillar 1: Create more powerful ambient intelligence

intelligence. People should be able to create ambient intelli-

HiLab creates sensing technologies to extend the capabili-

gence as easily as switching a lightbulb. Besides sponsoring the

ties of ambient intelligence. Such technologies improve the

community with toolkits of existing research, HiLab also seeks

ambient intelligence by prepping everyday objects for inter-

general design frameworks that can be easily adopted by any-

activity — intelligent walls that sense human poses, cameras

one for any application. Ongoing research in this pillar in-

that turn surfaces into high-precision touchscreens. Addition-

cludes 1) creating open-source sensor toolkits, 2) developing

ally, HiLab develops novel sensors that monitor events and

frameworks for developers to create human-centered energy-

user activities for environmental and personal informatics,

constrained systems, and 3) using augmented and virtual real-

such as cameras that sense vibrations to recognize building-

ity to facilitate developing and debugging of smart

and city-scale activities. Overall, this research pillar enables

environments.

2020-2021 Annual Report

Taiwan Ministry of

Asad M. Madni Honored by Canadian Academy of Engineering, IEEE Sensors Council, and NRI Welfare Society of India

Education Names Jia-Ming Liu 2020 Yushan Scholar

2020-2021

Distinguished Adjunct Professor Distinguished Professor Jia-Ming Liu, Northrop Grumman

Asad M. Madni was elected an Inter-

Optoelectronics Chair in Electrical Engineering, has been

national Fellow of the Canadian Acad-

named a 2020 Yushan Scholar by the Taiwan Ministry of Ed-

emy of Engineering (CAE). The

ucation, one of only 43 scholars globally to receive the pres-

nonprofit organization announced its

tigious scholarship. He is Samueli School of Engineering

2021 class of 52 fellows, recognizing outstanding achieve-

Associate Dean for Academic Personnel.

ments and service to engineering in Canada and the world.

The award supports a three-month exchange program per

Professor Madni was also awarded the prestigious 2021

year for three years to teach and conduct research at the Na-

IEEE Sensors Council Technical Achievement Award (Ad-

tional Chung Hsing University (NCHU). Named after the

vanced Career) in the area of Sensor Systems and Networks

tallest mountain in Taiwan, the Yushan Scholarship or

“for seminal contributions to the development and com-

“Mount Jade Scholarship,” is the highest honor given by the

mercialization of electronic sensors, systems and instru-

Taiwan Ministry of Education. Established in 2018, the pro-

mentation for aerospace and automotive safety”.

gram recruits top international scholars to teach at various

Additionally, Professor Madni was awarded the Hind

Taiwan universities and colleges in an effort to expand inter-

Rattan (“Jewel of India”) Award, granted annually to non-

national academic capacity in Taiwan's academic environ-

resident persons of Indian origin (NRIs) by the NRI Welfare

ment and enhance the international influence of Taiwan’s

Society of India. His award citation reads “for outstanding

higher education.

Services, Achievements and Contributions”.

Faculty Recently Honored by Professional Organizations National Academy of Inventors Professor Bahram Jalali Professor Jason Cong

International Microelectronics Assembly & Packaging Society (IMAPS) Professor Subramanian S. Iyer

2020-2021 Annual Report

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Elected Fellows 2021 Professor Danijela Cabric Professor Dejan Markovic

National Institute of Health Asst. Professor Jonathan Kao

2021 IEEE Founders Medal Professor Henry Samueli

Institute of Physics Professor Mona Jarrahi

2020-2021

Alumni Adrian Tang Recognized by IEEE MTT-S As recognitionfor his outstanding achievements as a

mate change and update existing

young member of the IEEE’s Microwave Theory and Tech-

models and trends. Dr. Tang’s work

niques Society, ECE alumni Adrian Tang of UCLA has been

gave Planetary Instrument for Sub-

chosen as a 2021 recipient of the Outstanding Young Engi-

millimeter-wave Surface and At-

neer Award. Dr. Tang’s revolutionary work surrounding the

mospheric

infusion of complementary metal-oxide-semiconductors

Research in Orbit (PISSARRO)

(CMOS) in space instrumentation allows for entirely differ-

tools to observe planetary moon

ent measurement and visualization techniques of the

surfaces and detect water on aster-

planet’s atmosphere.

oids and comets.

Reconnaissance

and

These new instrument design techniques give re-

Adrian Tang led a NASA sub-orbital mission in 2019

searchers new perspectives on how water and greenhouse

using his new instruments, which he named the Reck-Tang

gases traverse the atmosphere, to better understand cli-

Limbsounding Experiment or “ReckTangLE.”

Alumni Kat Echazarreta Inspires Others through Work at JPL to launch the spacecraft into orbit

also active in the Center for Excellence

around Jupiter’s moon Europa in 2024

in Engineering and Diversity (CEED) and

to determine whether Europa can har-

the Society of Latino Engineers and Sci-

bor conditions suitable for life.

entists (SOLES)

Before landing her dream job at JPL,

Outside of her work at JPL, Echaz-

Echazarreta notes in her blog that her

arreta uses her social media to embolden

educational journey was not a straight

and motivate others. Echazarreta acts as

shot. Born in Mexico, she moved to the

a “big sister” for other young women in-

As a child, Kat Echazarreta ’19 was fas-

U.S. at the age of seven after her father

terested in STEM, creating and sharing

cinated by electricity. How does elec-

received a work visa. She faced a lan-

content she wishes she had seen when

tricity work? How can electricity be used

guage barrier at first, making it difficult

she was in school and searching for in-

to create new technologies? Now, this

to adjust to her new home. “It was defi-

ternships and jobs.

UCLA electrical engineering alumna is

nitely an obstacle for me to learn about

working at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Labo-

a brand new culture and to learn a brand

similar career path, Echazarreta suggests

ratory ( JPL). She knows the answers to

new language,”

attending career fairs and conferences,

For students interested in following a

all those questions, and more. Inside her

While at UCLA, Echazarreta, a first-

and networking as much as possible.

world at JPL, Echazarreta is an electrical

generation college student, was involved

Mentors from internships can also help

engineer with the Ground Support

in robotics research, which provided

students find jobs after graduation.

Equipment team where she designs,

hands-on experience with developing

builds and tests equipment vital to the

testing procedures that helped her se-

Read the full Annual Report at

Europa Clipper mission. NASA’s goal is

cure her first internship at JPL. She was

ucla-ece-report.com/2020-2021.

Electrical and Computer Engineering Department Los Angeles, CA 90095 www.ee.ucla.edu