News  |  February 17, 2025

Patrick Schaumont, Ph.D. Alumnus of Professor Ingrid Verbauwhede, is elevated to IEEE Fellow

Patrick Schaumont, a Ph.D. alumnus of UCLA Professor Ingrid Verbauwhede, has been elevated to IEEE Fellow for his contributions to the implementation and evaluation of hardware security. 

Dr. Schaumont’s main research areas have been hardware security-related topics, including cryptographic engineering, tamper resistance, side-channel analysis, fault analysis, and secure hardware/software design.

Please see the news release and Linked-In post.

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Ozcan Lab Developed AI-powered Sensor for High-sensitivity Cardiac Diagnostics

A research team at UCLA led by Professor Aydogan Ozcan has developed a deep learning-powered chemiluminescence vertical flow assay (CL-VFA) that brings clinical laboratory-grade cardiac troponin I (cTnI) testing to a portable, cost-effective point-of-care platform. Their work, recently published in the journal Small, demonstrates how the integration of chemiluminescence-based biosensing, high-sensitivity imaging through a portable reader, and AI-driven data analysis enables rapid, highly sensitive cTnI quantification for the detection of myocardial infarction (MI), also known as heart attack, in diverse clinical settings. This technology holds the potential to democratize access to fast and reliable cardiac diagnostics, particularly in resource-limited environments where advanced laboratory infrastructure is lacking.

Please see the news release and paper. 

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Awards

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Professor Elaheh Ahmadi Awarded the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers

Professor Elaheh Ahmadi has been awarded the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government on outstanding scientists and engineers early in their careers. Her award was funded by the Office of Naval Research. 

Please see the White House news release and UCLA news release.  

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Professor Ozcan Awarded the Inaugural Keith Terasaki Mid-Career Innovation Award

Professor Aydogan Ozcan has been awarded the Inaugural Keith Terasaki Mid-Career Innovation Award by the Terasaki Institute. This recognition is given in memory of Dr. Keith Terasaki, who had a remarkable legacy of scientific and philanthropic leadership – following the footsteps of his father, Dr. Paul Terasaki. 

“It’s a huge honor to receive the Keith Terasaki Mid-Career Innovation Award. Dr. Keith Terasaki’s legacy of innovation is truly inspiring, and this recognition strengthens my commitment to advancing biomedical optics and making transformative healthcare technologies accessible worldwide,” said Dr. Ozcan. 

Please see the news release. 

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• Coverage of cutting-edge technologies such as autonomous vehicular highways that draw upon novel communications technologies
• Detailed discussion of design and performance behavior for major communication networking technologies
• Treatment designed for readers with no prior knowledge of computer science or programming

Principles of Data Transfer through Communications Networks, the Internet, and Autonomous Mobiles is ideal for students in data communications, telecommunications and wireless networking technology courses, as well as professionals working in data communications industries or those who make use of data transfer communications networks as part of their work.

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Events/Seminars

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Upcoming PhD Defenses

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Student Organizations

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Spectrant Recruiting Event

Come join IEEE in welcoming Spectrant on Wednesday, February 19th, 6-7PM at Engineering IV, Maxwell Room (5th floor, #57-124) for a recruiting event!

You will learn about Spectrant’s role in the RF/microwave industry and their Technical Applications Engineer position (full-time), and have a chance to speak with their representative! This event is aimed at students that will be graduating this year or soon and are looking for full-time positions. Food will be provided!

RSVP and a full role description here: https://forms.gle/3otyKQCbeRDv6ipb7

Spectrant is one of the leading Technical Manufacturer Representative organizations in Southern California. They are the sales and marketing arm for multiple companies that manufacture cutting edge hardware for Military, Space, Medical, Wireless Infrastructure, Broadband Access, Test & Measurement, Handset and Fiber Optics.

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Texas Instruments Lunch and Learn

Come join IEEE and WATT in welcoming Texas Instruments for a Lunch and Learn on Friday, February 21 from 11:30am to 1pm at the Tesla Room (#53-125) in Engineering IV! You will have the chance to talk with TI representatives, ask questions, and receive tips about interviews and internships. Food and merch will be provided! Resume reviews will also be done if time allows!

Please RSVP 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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Job Opportunities

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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.