News  |  April 21, 2025

NASA Declares ASMLS Mission a Success

The Airborne Scanning Microwave Limb Sounder (ASMLS) project is a collaboration between NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and UCLA’s High Speed Electronics Laboratory, led by Professor Frank Chang. The ASMLS 340 GHz spectrometer mission flew for the first time on April 3rd at 10:00am PST, and carrying the UCLA-developed CMOS mmW-PLL chip and Spectrometer chip to the edge of space, along with JPL’s cryogenic 340 GHz InP LNAs. 

This CMOS chipset has been in development in Professor Chang’s lab with many iterations and improvements over the past 6-7 years. ASMLS maps pollution (NO₂ and SO₂) between the Stratosphere and Troposphere, and also performs water vapor surveying and ozone monitoring. The UCLA contributions (Spectrometer and LO) performed flawlessly.

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Professor Aydin Babakhani’s Lab Publishes Paper on Low-Power, Batteryless Biopotential-Recording Integrated Circuit

The paper presents a low-power, battery-less biopotential-recording integrated circuit (IC) designed for implantable leadless cardiac monitoring applications, addressing the full autonomy based on wireless energy harvesting and closed-loop control. 

J. Jang, I. Habibagahi, R. P. Mathews, W. Gwak, H. Rahmani and A. Babakhani, “A Wirelessly Powered, Battery-less, Miniaturized Microchip for Implantable Biopotential-Monitoring Applications,” in IEEE Sensors Journal, doi: 10.1109/JSEN.2025.3556921.

Please see the paper. 

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Professor Aydogan Ozcan’s Lab Publishes Paper on the Uses of Machine Learning in Point-of-Care Testing

UCLA’s Ozcan Lab recently published a paper in Nature Communications on the uses of machine learning in point-of-care testing. This work is in collaboration with University College London (UCL), University of Tokyo, Koç University and Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems. 

Please see the paper. 

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Awards

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Jason Cong Receives 2024 ACM Breakthrough Award

The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) recently named Jason Cong, the holder of the Volgenau Chair for Engineering Excellence at the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering, as the recipient of the 2024 ACM Charles P. “Chuck” Thacker Breakthrough in Computing Award. Cong is recognized for fundamental contributions to the design and automation of field-programmable systems and customizable computing. 

During his career in both academia and industry, Cong developed an extraordinary array of tools to automate integrated circuit design, mostly focused on tools for Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs). FPGAs are special integrated circuits that can be programmed after they have been manufactured. The ability of FPGAs to change their functionality after manufacturing has made them part of the standard hardware in many applications including data centers, telecommunications, aerospace, defense, and automotive engineering. 

“Field Programmable Gate Arrays and Electronic Design Automation Tools have been essential to the development of the computer chips that now power the world,” said ACM President Yannis Ioannidis. “Cong’s work in enabling integrated circuits to be programmed, or re-programmed, led to a new level of versatility, efficiency, and power for a wide range of applications. Like Chuck Thacker, Cong has also been an important mentor and champion in advancing his discipline. As a serial entrepreneur, he has successfully brought his innovations into the marketplace, and as an academic, he has produced 48 PhD students who have taken up leadership roles at companies and universities—ensuring that this work continues.” 

The ACM Charles P. “Chuck” Thacker Breakthrough in Computing Award recognizes individuals or groups who have made surprising, disruptive, or leapfrog contributions to computing ideas or technologies. The award is accompanied by a $100,000 prize with financial support provided by Microsoft.

Please see the news release. 

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Events/Seminars

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Upcoming PhD Defenses

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Call for Papers

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The IEEE Military Communications Conference (MILCOM 2025) will be held this year on October 6-10, 2025, in Los Angeles. The conference will be held at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott (near LAX). 

This year’s conference will focus on the theme of “Pioneering the Future of Space and Terrestrial Networks” and feature a comprehensive, high-quality technical program including five technical tracks, workshops, and a variety of panels and tutorials, for both unclassified and restricted access programs. 

IEEE MILCOM 2025 solicits technical papers and proposals for tutorials and panels on current and emerging topics applicable to all facets of communications. We encourage professionals in industry, academia, and government worldwide to contribute and participate. 

The unclassified technical program provides a venue for papers and presentations that do not include ITAR-sensitive, CUI, classified, or proprietary information. 

You are encouraged to submit a paper to one of the following five technical tracks: 

• Track 1 – Waveforms and Signal Processing 
• Track 2 – Networking Protocols and Performance 
• Track 3 – Cyber Security and Trusted Edge Computing 
• Track 4 – Integrated Network Architecture and Systems-of-Systems 
• Track 5 – AI/ML for Communications and Networking 

The current paper deadline is May 1 but may be extended. 

More information can be found at: 

https://milcom2025.ieee-milcom.org/authors/call-unclassified-technical-papers

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Student Organizations

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VP to attend here. 

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LA HACKS 2025 at UCLA April 25-27

Are you ready to turn your ideas into reality? LA Hacks 2025, Southern California’s largest hackathon, is happening from April 25-27, 2025, at UCLA’s iconic Pauley Pavilion. Here’s why you can’t miss it:

 $30,000+ in Prizes: Showcase your skills and walk away with more than just memories, in addition to meals and snacks provided throughout the event.

 Learn & Level Up: Access exclusive workshops, mentorship, and cutting-edge tools from top sponsors like Google, Amazon, and Snapchat.

 Career-Boosting Connections: Network directly with recruiters and hiring managers from leading tech companies.

Whether you’re a first-time hacker looking to learn or an advanced developer aiming to push boundaries, LA Hacks is the place to be. Register at lahacks.com. If you are not ready to apply, feel free to join our mailing list!

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Quantum Computing Student Association Quantum Device Workshop May 19-22 

Along with the Center for Quantum Science and Engineering of UCLA (CQSE), the Challenge Institute for Quantum Computation (CIQC) and the USC Quantum Initiative (USCQI), QCSA is organizing and hosting a workshop at UCLA on the design and simulation of superconducting quantum devices. 

This workshop will be held at the Shannon and Tesla Rooms in ECE Building 4, 5th floor from Monday May 19th to Thursday May 22nd from 9am to 5pm. 

QCSA has a stellar lineup of distinguished speakers and sponsors including Google, Nvidia, Rigetti, Keysight, Zurich Instruments and Quantum Machines. We have researchers and professors from around the world joining who pioneered the field such as Michel Devoret (UCSB), Jens Koch (Northwestern), Eli Levenson Falk (USC), Andreas Wallraff (ETH Zurich), Hakan Tureci (Princeton), Zlatko Minev (Google) and many more.

Students and Scholars can participate in person or via zoom and register via the website: https://qdw-ucla.squarespace.com/ 

Food will be provided (breakfast and lunch) as well as other activities such as networking sessions, panel event and more. This workshop will offer its participants lectures and workshops by leading experts in the field as well as unique hands-on experience with professional licensed software and high-performance Nvidia GPU nodes.

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The Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Association Poster Day 2025

Apply for Poster Day 2025, hosted by the Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Association (UIRA), on May 27th! It’s the UCLA-wide opportunity for undergraduates to present their research in a public forum. Submit your application, which only requires an abstract, by May 9th.

Please see the application. 

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Job Opportunities

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Internship Opportunity: Keysight Technologies

Keysight Technologies is looking to hire 4 PhD EE/ECE or MS EE/ECE interns in each of the 4 locations below. These internships are an opportunity for site teams interns to create a core technology project solution, then present those solutions as a competing contest against the other site intern teams at the end of their 3 month internships. The winning team will receive a cash prize. Keysight is in the process of actively reviewing and screening applicants for all positions. All interns will start on June 2 for the 3 month project work with the potential to be extended 6-9 additional months. For the selected interns, Keysight offers local site housing in addition to standard hourly pay.

The following locations have open positions: 

Colorado Springs, Colorado: PhD Students, Masters Students

Santa Rosa, California: PhD Students, Masters Students

Boeblingen, Germany: PhD Students, Masters Students

Interested students should apply online and email their resume to Mari O’Neill for US jobs: maria.oneill@keysight.com 

Email Marcella Clusellas for the Germany jobs: marcella.clusellas@keysight.com 

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Internship Opportunity: Rockstar Games

Title: Intern: Hardware Engineering (Summer 2025)

Commitment: Full-time, 40hrs/wk

Location: In-person, onsite in Los Angeles, CA

Term: Fixed term, Monday, June 9 – Friday, August 15, 2025 (10 weeks)

Compensation: $25/hr

Application link: https://grnh.se/6f1859fa3us

Deadline: Wednesday, April 23rd at 12pm local time (or sooner depending on applicant turnout)

It’s important to note that this is an in-person role. This role is not eligible for remote or hybrid work arrangements. The job link above is intended only for your students/university and should not be shared publicly.

Rockstar Games welcomes undergraduate students, graduate students, and recent alumni who have a background in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, or a related field. An interest in the games industry and familiarity with our games is a plus! This role can also be found on our job board under the Job ID #9846618.

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Job Opportunity: Harvey Mudd College Visiting Assistant Professors of Electrical Engineering 2025-26 (MS/Ph.D.) 

Harvey Mudd College invites applications for Visiting Assistant Professors for our general engineering program for the 2025-26 academic year, with a possibility to renew for the 2026-27 year by mutual agreement. The Department of Engineering seeks candidates with a Ph.D. in electrical engineering or a related field who excel in teaching in a broadly-based undergraduate curriculum. Exceptional candidates with an M.S. and/or late in their Ph.D. program will be considered. Industrial or other practical experience in the field is valued. 

The Department of Engineering seeks candidates who can teach one or more of the following courses: 

ENGR084 HM – Electronic and Magnetic Circuits and Devices 

Introduction to the fundamental principles underlying electronic devices and applications of these devices in circuits. Topics include electrical properties of materials; physical electronics (with emphasis on semiconductors and semiconductor devices); passive linear electrical and magnetic circuits; active linear circuits (including elementary transistor amplifiers and the impact of non-ideal characteristics of operational amplifiers on circuit behavior); operating point linearization and load-line analysis; electromagnetic devices such as transformers. 

ENGR085 HM – Digital Electronics and Computer Engineering 

Design and implementation of digital systems. Topics include levels of abstraction, Boolean algebra, combinational logic, sequential logic, finite state machines, hardware description languages, computer arithmetic, C and assembly programming, embedded systems, and microarchitecture. Lab practices include simulation, prototyping, and   debugging.   

ENGR151 HM – Analog Circuit Design

Design and analysis of electronic circuits based on semiconductor devices (e.g. pn diode, MOSFET, BJT), particularly linear amplifiers including operational amplifiers and associated building blocks. Includes a laboratory focused on experimental realization and measurement of electronic devices and circuits.           

ENGR079 HM – Introduction to Engineering Systems 

An introduction to the concepts of modern engineering, emphasizing modeling, analysis, synthesis, and design. Applications to chemical, mechanical, and electrical systems.           

Visiting Assistant Professors will also advise sponsored projects in the Engineering Clinic program. Advising student teams through the Engineering Clinic program requires site visit travel and regular meetings with students, student leaders, project sponsors, and the Engineering Clinic staff. 

The salary is $85,000 for 9 months of teaching responsibilities. 

Applicants should submit: a cover letter, a curriculum vitae, and the names of at least three references. Candidates should provide evidence of excellence in teaching and the ability to increase students’ hands-on engineering skills. For full consideration, applications should be received by May 19, 2025, but applications will be accepted until the position is filled. 

Any questions may be sent to: eng-visitor-2025-l@g.hmc.edu 

Please see the posting.  

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Job Opportunity: Postdoctoral Scholar at UCLA Center for Advanced Surgical and Interventional Technology

Position description:

Are you passionate about advancing the frontier of healthcare technology? Dr. Bijan Najafi’s renowned research team at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) invites applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher position. This role offers the opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge studies in remote patient monitoring, frailty, dementia, and wearable technologies designed to empower older adults to live independently and age in place.

We are seeking a highly motivated individual with a Ph.D. in Biomechanics, Kinesiology, or a related field. The ideal candidate will have expertise or familiarity in:

• Wearable technologies for human motion analysis

• Motion tracking systems

• Gait and balance assessments

• Muscle activity monitoring and motor disability evaluation

Start Date: As soon as possible

Qualifications:

Basic qualifications: PhD

Preferred qualifications: Ph.D. in Biomechanics, Kinesiology, or a related field.

Application Requirements:

Document requirements

• Curriculum Vitae – Your most recently updated C.V.

• Cover Letter – Limited to two pages, summarizing your career goals and prior   research relevant to human movement analysis.

• Statement of Research (Optional)

• Reference check authorization release form – Complete and upload the reference check authorization release form

• Sample Publication – A sample of a relevant prior publication.

Reference requirements

• 3-5 required (contact information only)

Please see the full posting. 

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Internship Opportunity: Design Verification Engineer Intern at Apple

Apple is seeking a Design Verification Engineer intern in their first year of an MS degree and will graduate either in Dec 2025 or May 2026. 

Position description:

Through this experience, you will learn all aspects of a large scale SOC design, complex verification test benches, different types of SOC architectures, multiple high speed protocols, industry-standard low power architecture, best in class DV methodology, verification on accelerated platforms, knowledge on Cellular protocol, FW- HW interactions, complexities of multi-chip SOC debug architecture, etc. 

Please send your resume to j_lou@apple.com if interested.

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Internship Opportunity: Ayar Labs

Ayar Labs is in search of a number of summer interns. The internships span several areas, including circuit design, photonics, computer vision/AI, data science, and hardware engineering. 

For more details and to apply, students can visit: Ayar Labs Internship Opportunities.

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Job Opportunity: Cellular SOC Design Verification Engineer – Entry Level at Apple

Description
Do you have a passion for invention and self-challenge? This position gives you an opportunity to be a part of one of the most cutting-edge and key projects that Apple’s Silicon Engineering Group has embarked upon to-date. As a Design Verification Engineer on our team, you’ll be at the center of the verification effort within our silicon design group, responsible for crafting and productizing state-of-the-art Cellular SoCs!

You will have the opportunity to contribute to the verification effort of a set of complex SOCs delivering the Cellular solution. You will integrate multiple sophisticated IP level DV environments, craft highly reusable best-in-class UVM-based test benches, implement effective coverage-driven and directed test suites, and deploy new tools and methodologies to deliver chips that are right-first-time. By collaborating with other product development groups across Apple, you can push the industry boundaries of what cellular systems can do and improve the product experience for our customers across the world!

Through this experience, you will learn all aspects of large-scale SOC design, complex verification test benches, different types of SOC architectures, multiple high-speed protocols, industry-standard low power architecture, best-in-class DV methodology, verification on accelerated platforms, knowledge of Cellular protocol, FW-HW interactions, and the complexities of multi-chip SOC debug architecture.

Minimum Qualifications

• BS in Electrical Engineering (EE) or Computer Science (CS) is required
• Object-Oriented Programming
• Coursework in Digital Design

Preferred Qualifications

• MS in Electrical Engineering (EE) or Computer Science (CS)
• Must graduate by June 2025
• Coursework in Computer Architecture, Networking Protocol
• Should be a great teammate with excellent communication and problem-solving skills and the desire to seek diverse challenges
• Programming experience in SystemVerilog, Python, and C++

Pay & Benefits
At Apple, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The base pay range for this role is between $121,900 and $183,600, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.

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Research Opportunity: Geothermal Technology Development (UCLA)

The research group of Professor Sergio Carbajo at UCLA is seeking a highly motivated

graduate engineering student to contribute to an exciting geothermal technology research project for 1-2 months during Winter Quarter. This is an excellent opportunity to gain hands-on research experience and earn university research credit.

Project Overview:

This project, under the direction of Professor Carbajo, focuses on developing innovative technologies to enhance geothermal energy extraction and super deep drilling. The selected student will play a key role in the design and modeling of novel technology.

Responsibilities:

• Utilize CAD software to design and refine components for direct energy drilling and geothermal rigging systems.
• Contribute to the modeling and analysis of hydrodynamic and electromagnetic phenomena within the system.
• Collaborate with the research team to interpret simulation results and contribute to project discussions.
• Document research findings and contribute to technical reports or presentations.

Qualifications:

• Currently enrolled graduate student in Electrical Engineering (EE) or Mechanical Engineering at UCLA.
• Experience with CAD design software (e.g., SolidWorks, AutoCAD, Fusion 360).
• Interest or experience in hydrodynamics and electromagnetism.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Expertise with Field-Effect Transistors (FETs) or Metal-Oxide Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistors (MOSFETs).

Benefits:

• Earn university research credit.
• Gain valuable research experience in a cutting-edge field.
• Opportunity to contribute to a real-world energy solution for climate change.
• Work alongside experienced researchers and faculty at UCLA, including Professor Sergio Carbajo.

Time Commitment:

1-2 months during Winter Quarter, with flexible scheduling to accommodate academic

commitments.

To Apply:

Interested students should submit their resume/CV and a brief statement of interest (one paragraph) outlining their relevant skills and experience to johnfstrike@gmail.com. Please include “Geothermal Research Application” in the subject line. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

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Electronics/PCB Development Undergraduate Internship Opportunity

Employment Period: Year-round

Location: On-campus

Approximate hours per week: 5+ hours

Duration: 6-24 months

Salary / Pay rate / Stipend: $20/hour

Relevant Website: https://www.edroplets.org/

Job description

Digital microfluidics is a technology that enables programmable control over individual droplets using electrical signals on a chip, which has been transforming wet labs towards the era of lab-on-a-chip. You will develop electronic control circuits for operating digital microfluidics chips. This is a highly engineering-oriented project, which requires independent schematic design, PCB layout design, PCB manufacturing, and assembly outsourcing for various circuits and electronic systems. You will also work with the mechanical design and software development team guided by graduate students to create multiple products. These products will be used by numerous digital microfluidics researchers and startups around the world through an open-source platform (edroplets.org).

For domestic students (US Citizen or Permanent Resident), the payment may be a stipend from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program. 

For international students, the payment will be through a regular research fund.

For those who prefer research credits over stipends, SRP 99 or MAE 199 is also possible.

What you will get:

(1) You will experience creating a real-world electronic product for a transformative technology, which will be used by lots of real users!

(2) You will get hands-on experience and training in schematic/PCB/electronics design and development

(3) You will learn the basic knowledge and industry status of digital microfluidics, and participate in translating ground-breaking research into real-world products

(4) You may become a co-author of resulting journal and conference publications

Quality & skill desired:

(1) A strong and genuine interest in electronics is essential. If you are a DIYer who loves working with electronics and wants to build something impactful, this is a perfect project for you.

(2) Enjoy working in a team with different expertise is essential. The ability to articulate your work to non-technical team members is essential.

(3) Experience with Altium Designer, KiCAD or other PCB design software is a plus. Experience with LabView is a plus. Experience in making a PCB from design to manufacturing is a huge plus.

(4) No experience or knowledge of digital microfluidics is required

Interested? Please send your resume to Professor CJ Kim (cjkim@ucla.edu) and Leo Wang (wangqining265@gmail.com). If there’s a good match, you will be invited to an interview.

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Newsletter Submissions

To be included in future newsletters, please send the latest news, awards, publications and any upcoming PhD oral defenses to the Chair’s assistant, Winda Mak, at wmak@seas.ucla.edu. Please include “newsletter submission” in the subject line. The ECE newsletters will be sent bimonthly on the first and third Mondays of the month. Please ensure all submissions are received by the Wednesday before distribution to be included in the newsletter.