ECE Newsletter – February 3, 2025

News  |  February 3, 2025

UCLA Receives Multicampus Research Program Initiatives Grant

A team of UCLA researchers led by Assistant Professor Sergio Carbajo, in collaboration with teams from UCI and UCSD, received a grant from the University of California’s Multicampus Research Programs and Initiatives, a program that supports innovative multicampus research collaborations to strengthen UC’s position as a leading public research university. The $300,000 grant, awarded over the next two years, will fund the study of the quantum nature of electrons and advance light sciences and engineering. The grant proposal presents two specific near-term objectives for future ultracompact and portable, high-brightness X-ray sources and novel QED photon-electron technologies: (Objective 1) a first-time demonstration of quantum X-ray emission, i.e., coherent multi-state X-ray radiation via electron waveshaping, and (Objective 2) its extension to pulsed and time-domain tailored X-ray emission via laser-based modulation of multi-state electron wavepackets.

Please see the abstract and the news release.

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Professor Iyer’s Research on Secure AI at the Edge

Professor Subramanian Iyer, Director of UCLA CHIPS, and collaborators have published a study in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A on integrating advanced sensors with real-time AI for edge computing. Their research addresses nature-inspired solutions that combine computing, memory, and sensing in single systems for adaptive, real-time decision-making. They also tackle security challenges posed by potential systemic attacks, proposing a framework for real-time defense using adaptive learning.

Please see the full paper. 

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Ozcan Lab presented at the SPIE Photonics West Conference in San Francisco

The Ozcan Lab presented a total of 22 talks at the SPIE Photonics West Conference in San Francisco, which is the largest optics and photonics conference globally. 

Please see the Conference program for more information. 

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Professor Izhak Rubin Announces New Book 

Professor Izhak Rubin, a Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the UCLA Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, just published a comprehensive textbook entitled “Principles of Data Transfer Through Communications Networks, the Internet, and Autonomous Mobiles,” ISBN 978-1394267750, 746 pages, 22 Chapters, 2025. The Publisher is WILEY – IEEE Press.

The scope of the book has been described as follows:

Our increasingly connected world is more reliant than ever on data transport and the communication networking technologies of the moment. Ever-expanding wireless communications and the Internet of  things have brought connectivity into more areas of our lives than ever before. Virtually every workplace and industry is now reliant at some level on data transfer.

Principles of Data Transfer through Communications Networks, the Internet, and Autonomous Mobiles offers a comprehensive yet accessible overview of the principles and methods of computer communications and mobile wireless network systems. It’s designed to equip a vast range of students and professionals with the necessary toolkit to manage data flows between and across network systems at various scales. Drawing upon decades of teaching and practical experience, it’s a must-own resource for anyone looking to understand the core mechanics that power our world of mass communications.

Readers will also find:

• 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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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.