News  |  March 3, 2025

Professor Aydin Babakhani’s Team Published Paper in IEEE MTT

Professor Babakhani’s team published a paper in IEEE MTT on a 360 GHz multimode orbital angular momentum (OAM) transmitter, designed to enhance high-capacity wireless communication. 

The paper, titled “Fully Integrated Multimode Orbital Angular Momentum Wave Generation at 360 GHz Using SiGe BiCMOS,” was authored by W. Sun, S. Thomas, and A. Babakhani.

Please see the full paper. 

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Distinguished Professor Rahmat-Samii and Collaborators Published a Paper in Nature Communications

A collaboration between Professor Rahmat-Samii’s research group at UCLA’s Electrical and Computer Engineering Department and Professor Zheng’s group at UC Berkeley has resulted in a groundbreaking 3D design methodology for complex antenna structures. Their findings are published in Nature Communications (January 2025):

Ultra-light Antennas via Charge Programmed Deposition Additive Manufacturing

Z. Wang, R. Hensleigh, Z. Xu, J. Wang, James J. Park, A. Papathanasopoulos, Y. Rahmat-Samii, and X. Zheng, Nature Communications volume 16, Article number: 427 (2025)

The paper presents a groundbreaking approach that leverages a charge-programmed, multi-material additive manufacturing platform with broad applications in lightweight antenna design for 5G/6G communications, wearable technology, and aerospace systems. Traditional manufacturing methods are limited by structural complexity and challenges in integrating diverse material classes. In contrast, the charge-programmed multi-material additive manufacturing platform presented in the paper offers unprecedented design flexibility and enables the rapid fabrication of intricate antenna structures that would otherwise require multiple fabrication steps. To demonstrate its capabilities, the paper presents a transmitarray antenna composed of a multi-layered, interconnected array of dielectric/conductive S-ring unit cells, achieving a significant mass reduction compared to conventional configurations. Additionally, a fully printed circularly polarized transmitarray system and a Risley prism antenna operating at 19 GHz both show excellent agreement between measured results and numerical simulations. Further showcasing the versatility of this novel printing technology, a fractal antenna has also been designed and prototyped, demonstrating outstanding performance. This advanced manufacturing methodology establishes a universal platform for antenna fabrication, accelerating the discovery of new designs through data-driven optimization. It paves the way for rapid prototyping and deployment of next-generation antenna systems, where high-speed production and structural complexity are paramount. The figure below highlights key applications of the charge-programmed, multi-material additive manufacturing technique presented in the paper.

Please see the full paper. 

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UCLA Global Issues Impact Story on Ozcan Lab’s Work on Mobile Microscopy, Sensing and Diagnostics

UCLA Global recently issued an impact statement regarding the work of Professor Aydogan Ozcan’s lab in the areas of mobile microscopy, sensing and diagnostics. 

When Professor Ozcan joined UCLA in 2007, he founded a research lab that worked on 3D-printed optical interfaces that could be attached to a phone camera and function as a microscope or biomedical sensor with the help of computation and algorithms. His lab advanced these portable, mobile phone-based computational microscopes and sensors to see viruses and even image individual DNA molecules. These tools have made significant impacts in resource-limited settings across the globe. 

His team’s work also extends to educational initiatives, like a malaria diagnostic game integrated into South Korean high school curricula. The lab continues to lead projects, empowering the next generation of global health researchers through hands-on training. 

Please see the full article. 

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Professor Iyer Delivers Inspiring Plenary at SPIE ALP 2025

Professor Subramanian Iyer’s plenary lecture at the 2025 SPIE ALP Symposium in San Jose captivated an audience of over 2,000 attendees, filling both the main hall and an overflow room. His insights on scale-down, scale-out, and a “Packaging Moore’s Law” resonated strongly, shaping discussions on the future of semiconductor technology and the path to a $1 trillion market by 2030.

His talk was a major highlight of the symposium, contributing to record-breaking attendance. 

Congratulations to Prof. Iyer on this prestigious opportunity!

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Professor Lara Dolecek Steps Up to Teach Displaced Students After LA Fires

In the wake of last month’s devastating Los Angeles fires, which left many families displaced and local schools in ruins, members of the UCLA community stepped in to provide much-needed support. Among them was Professor Lara Dolecek of the Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Department, who took on a volunteer role to assist affected students by offering free math classes.

For nearly a month, Prof. Dolecek dedicated her time to teaching daily math lessons to a group of 5th-grade students whose school buildings had been destroyed in the fires. Most of these students had previously attended Cavalry School in the Palisades, one of the educational institutions severely impacted by the disaster. With their academic routine disrupted and uncertainty looming over their education, Prof. Dolecek’s initiative provided both stability and learning opportunities during an otherwise difficult period.

Her math classes covered a wide range of topics, including grade-level concepts such as fractions, engaging math puzzles, and interactive online math games designed to keep students motivated and engaged. Parents of the affected children expressed deep appreciation for her enthusiasm and dedication, noting that her efforts went beyond academics—she offered a sense of normalcy and encouragement to young learners coping with the aftermath of the fires.

Prof. Dolecek’s class “has been a source of structure and normalcy for our daughter and for us as her parents.  We greatly appreciate generosity in her time and wisdom with these kids,” said one parent. “ Lara was a true blessing!” added another parent.

With the students’ school now reopened in a new location, Prof. Dolecek has concluded her temporary teaching volunteering role, but her contributions will be remembered by the families she supported. Her selfless commitment highlights the power of education as a force for healing and continuity, even in the face of adversity.

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Awards

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Henry Samueli Receives IEEE Medal of Honor

Three-time UCLA alumnus and engineer Henry Samueli, chairman of Broadcom Inc. and the namesake of UCLA’s engineering school, has been recognized with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers’ 2025 IEEE Medal of Honor, the global technical society’s top award. 

At a press conference in New York City, Samueli was introduced as the recipient of this year’s award and its accompanying $2 million prize — a major increase from the previous prize amount of $50,000 intended to cement the award’s status as one of the world’s most prestigious technology-focused honors.

“I am deeply honored and humbled to receive the IEEE Medal of Honor,” said Samueli, who has been a member of the organization for over 50 years. “I would have never dreamed of being bestowed with IEEE’s highest honor when I first joined the organization as an undergraduate student at UCLA.”

Please see the news release.

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UCLA CHIPS Alum Zhe “Frank” Wan Receives 2024 Anantha P. Chandrakasan Award for Distinguished Technical Paper

We are proud to announce that Zhe “Frank” Wan, UCLA CHIPS alum and former student of Professor Subramanian S. Iyer, has been honored with the 2024 Anantha P. Chandrakasan Award for Distinguished Technical Paper. This prestigious award recognizes outstanding technical contributions and impactful research in the field of semiconductor technology and electronic design.

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Events/Seminars

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Upcoming PhD Defenses

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Student Organizations

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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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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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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.