News  |  June 2, 2025

Ozcan Lab Publishes Paper on Single-Image Identification of Bacterial Swarming using a Single Image

Ozcan lab published a new paper on the identification of bacterial swarming from a single blurry image, unlocking new diagnostic possibilities for bacterial diseases. This work was in collaboration with the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

Please see the paper and the news release. 

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Distinguished Professor Rahmat-Samii and Collaborators Publish Paper in IEEE MTT Transactions

A collaboration between Professor Rahmat-Samii’s research group in UCLA’s Electrical and Computer Engineering Department and his former PhD student, Professor Song, and her team led to the timely publication of a paper in IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques Transactions, 2025 titled “A Systematic Study of Wireless Link Frequency Selection Strategies for Miniaturized Backscattering Neural Implants”. 

This article presented a systematic analysis of frequency selection for wireless links in miniaturized backscattering neural implants. A novel frequency selection methodology was proposed, incorporating comprehensive, frequency-dependent design constraints critical to implant performance. These constraints included:

• Power Transfer Efficiency (PTE) of coupling coils,
• Human electromagnetic exposure limitations,
• RF-to-DC conversion efficiency, and
• Power budget of backscattering circuits.

The article began by critically examining how these constraints vary with frequency, particularly in the context of brain-implantable devices. Two representative use cases were analyzed: implants targeting the peripheral nervous system (PNS) in the upper limb and those located at the spinal cord.

The analysis revealed a definitive upper frequency limit for efficient operation of miniaturized backscattering implants due to increasing losses and regulatory constraints at higher frequencies. For cortical implant applications, the proposed frequency selection scheme was validated through prototype fabrication and experimental measurements conducted at representative frequencies.

Please see the paper. 

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Professor Sergio Carbajo Appointed to HPLSE Journal Editorial Board

Professor Sergio Carbajo was recently appointed as the newest Editorial Board member to the High Power Laser Science & Engineering (HPLSE) journal. In addition to reviewing and editing topical manuscripts in accelerator, high-energy physics, and X-ray science and technology,  under this role, he will help ensure the journal’s quality by overseeing peer review, making publication decisions, and upholding ethical standards by combining scholarly expertise with leadership to maintain the journal’s integrity and impact. HPLSE is an open-access journal published by Cambridge University Press that focuses on high-power laser technologies, applications, and related scientific advancements.

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Ozcan Lab Publishes Research on Paper-Based Vertical Flow Assays for in Vitro Diagnostics and Environmental Monitoring

Ozcan lab published a new paper on paper-based vertical flow assays for in vitro diagnostics and environmental monitoring. This work was in collaboration with the Sungkyunkwan University in Korea.

Please see the paper. 

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UCLA IEEE Idea Hacks 2025

IDEA Hacks is the premier hardware-focused hackathon on the West Coast. Hosted by IEEE’s Student Branch at UCLA during 36 hours on May 2-4 (delayed from January by the LA fires), it provided hundreds of students from UCLA and local community colleges with an opportunity to develop their own tangible products. Throughout the experience, the organizers provided parts, tools, space, food, and workshops all for free, so these students could focus solely on their projects. This year was the 11th anniversary of IDEA Hacks; and the theme — “Supercharge” — encouraged students to bring an electrifying mix of innovation and energy to our hackathon. The three subcategories were: 

• Super Human – Enhance aspects of your daily life and become your best self! 
• Super Nostalgic – Take a journey back to your roots and embrace your old self! 
• Super (in)Sane – Break the mold and discover your true self

Attendance IDEA Hacks reached a diverse audience, with 200 applicants this year coming from a wide range of backgrounds. Approximately 150 students competed, with a total of 20 projects submitted for judging. Students participated from UCLA, UCSD, UCI, Cal Poly Pomona, San Jose State University, Georgia Tech, University of Georgia, Stark State College (Ohio), Pierce College, El Camino College, Santa Monica College, Cerritos College, and LA City College. The students attending IDEA Hacks had diverse technical backgrounds, different levels of hands-on experience (purely electrical to purely mechanical knowledge), and years of project experience to students only getting started in engineering. Idea Hacks supported students of all backgrounds with multiple technical workshops and abundant technical support from volunteers to ensure that as many students as possible can learn and have a valuable experience. 

Please see the full news release.

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Awards

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UCLA Team Wins Second Place at Sampling-Assisted Pathloss Radio Map Prediction Competition

Congratulations to Andrew Xing (M.S), Leyi Zou (M.S), Tejas Bharadwaj (BS), and Rushabha Balaji (PhD) for achieving the second place in the Sampling-Assisted Pathloss Radio Map Prediction Competition, held as part of the IEEE International Workshop on Machine Learning for Signal Processing (MLSP) 2025. The competition focused on developing machine learning methods for accurate radio map prediction using sparse measurements—a key challenge in wireless communication and signal processing.

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Distinguished Professor Asad M Madni Awarded Distinguished Career Award by the Washington Academy of Sciences

Congratulations to Andrew Xing (M.S), Leyi Zou (M.S), Tejas Bharadwaj (BS), and Rushabha Balaji (PhD) for achieving the second place in the Sampling-Assisted Pathloss Radio Map Prediction Competition, held as part of the IEEE International Workshop on Machine Learning for Signal Processing (MLSP) 2025. The competition focused on developing machine learning methods for accurate radio map prediction using sparse measurements—a key challenge in wireless communication and signal processing.

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ECE PhD Student Ali Jabbari Receives Outstanding Masters Graduate Award from the Association of Professors and Scholars of Iranian Heritage (APSIH)

Congratulations to Ali Jabbari, an ECE PhD student under Professor Mona Jarrahi, who received the Outstanding Masters Graduate Award from the Association of Professors and Scholars of Iranian Heritage (APSIH). The award was sponsored by the generous support of The Moshfeghi-Rofougaran Family Award Fund.

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Hao Zhang Awarded SPIE Optics and Photonics Scholarship

ECE PhD Student Hao Zhang has been awarded a 2025 Optics and Photonics Scholarship by SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, for potential contributions to optics, photonics, or a related field.  Hao is advised by Professor Sergio Carbajo. His work focuses on nonlinear optics, advanced pulse shaping for ultra-high-brightness light sources, optical trapping, and photonic transduction. 

The Society awarded $323,000 in scholarships to 74 outstanding SPIE Student Members, based on their potential contribution to optics and photonics, or a related discipline. Successful applicants were evaluated, selected, and approved by the SPIE Scholarship Committee, chaired by SPIE Senior Member Brian Primeau.

Please see the list of scholarship recipients. 

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Aditya Wadaskar and Professor Danijela Cabric Win Best Paper Award at IEEE DySPAN

Aditya Wadaskar and Professor Danijela Cabric won the Best Paper Award (Technical track) at the IEEE DySPAN conference 2025, held in London, UK, from 12th – 16th May 2025, for their paper titled “Satellite-Terrestrial Coexistence in FR3 Band via Hybrid True-Time-Delay Array-based Nulling.” The paper proposed a novel framework for satellite-terrestrial coexistence in the upper-mid band using Hybrid True-Time-Delay array-based null steering. It demonstrated that cellular base stations can realize degradation-free coexistence with satellites with a negligible loss of cellular performance using only a few radio frequency chains. The paper was selected to be presented at the opening Plenary session of IEEE DySPAN 2025.

IEEE DySPAN is the leading international conference on radio spectrum technology and policy innovation, addressing key issues such as spectrum management, access, sharing, coexistence, and utilization in current and emerging wireless technologies. The theme of IEEE DYSPAN 2025 was spectrum innovation.

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Events/Seminars

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Upcoming PhD Defenses

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Scholarship Opportunities

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Bonenfant International Travel Scholarship

Do you know a promising engineering or physical sciences student planning to study abroad next semester? The Bonenfant International Travel Scholarship offers a US$9,000 award to support global experiences that align with academic and professional goals.

This scholarship supports U.S.-based students enrolled at accredited universities who will participate in semester-abroad programs. Established in 2012 in memory of Paul A. Bonenfant, the scholarship honors his belief that international experiences enrich both personal and professional development through cross-cultural engagement and collaboration.

We invite you to encourage qualified students to apply.

Eligibility Criteria Applicants must:

• Be enrolled in an engineering and/or physical sciences program
• Have a minimum 3.0 GPA (or equivalent)
• Be a U.S. resident
• Have applied or been accepted to a study abroad program of at least 6 weeks
• Demonstrate interest in optics-related research and applications
• Be willing to document their experience via blogs and/or social media

Application Materials

• Responses to short-answer questions about optics and the study abroad experience
• A CV/resume (max 4 pages)
• Budget showing how the scholarship will be used
• GPA certificate
• Two letters of recommendation

This is an incredible opportunity for students to deepen their education, broaden their worldview, and build a global network.

Know a student who fits the criteria? Please share this opportunity with them and encourage them to apply.

Please see the website. 

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Women in Spectrum Scholarship

The Diversity in Spectrum Council (DISC) is currently accepting applications for the Women in Spectrum Scholarship program, designed to further develop the pipeline of talented women engineers entering fields related to spectrum and communications. 

Spectrum Scholars will be awarded a $1,500 scholarship as well as up to $1,500 travel stipend to attend the 2025 IEEE MILCOM conference in Los Angeles, CA.

Eligibility: Current undergraduate or graduate students majoring in electrical engineering at an ABET-accredited university in the United States

Deadline: June 25, 2025

Please see the application. 

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Job Opportunities

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ASEE/NSF Engineering Postdoctoral Fellowship Program

Applications are now open for the fourth cohort of ASEE/NSF’s Engineering Postdoctoral Fellowship (eFellows) program. Since 2021, the eFellows program, funded by NSF, has placed nearly 70 early-career PhDs into two-year postdoctoral research positions with faculty advisors at universities nationwide. 

Program Highlights: 

• Encourages recent engineering PhD graduates to continue in research careers 
• $75,000 annual salary for two years, plus benefits, and up to $3,000 for travel 
• Professional development and mentoring activities to prepare for future careers 

Program Requirements: 

• Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents 
• Fringe benefits for the fellow are requested at the host institution’s applicable rate for postdoctoral researchers, capped at the rate of 26% 
• Indirect costs/facilities and administrative costs are charged as a percentage of the modified total direct costs of the host institution, capped at a rate of 35% (with the below caveat*). 

*ASEE is seeking clarity about the recent guidance for indirect rates and its impact on new sub-awards for fellowships. We will update this language once more information becomes available from the NSF and will let sub-awardees know. In the meantime, we intend to initiate awards under this program at the previously approved maximum Indirect Rate of 35%. We may need to adjust this to 15% if instructed by DGA to do so. 

The eFellows application can be found here and must be submitted by the deadline on Friday, June 13, 2025. Upon selection, ASEE will issue subawards to host institutions to cover salary and benefits.

Please see the eFellows website.

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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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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.