UCF ECE Faculty Research Areas: A Hub of Innovation and Discovery

The University of Central Florida (UCF) Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (ECE) stands as a dynamic center for education, research, and industry collaboration. With a focus on empowering students, researchers, and industry partners, the department fosters an environment of innovation and problem-solving. This article explores the department's diverse research areas, highlighting recent faculty additions, ongoing research initiatives, and partnerships that contribute to advancements in various fields.

A Growing Faculty: Expanding Expertise and Research Horizons

The UCF ECE department has recently welcomed twelve new faculty members for the 2023-2024 academic year, marking the largest influx of talent in recent years. These new additions bring a wealth of expertise and diverse research interests, further strengthening the department's capabilities.

Mike Borowczak, Ph.D.: An associate professor specializing in design automation for hardware security and resistance, secure IoT systems, and sustainable semiconductor workforce pipeline development.
Sonali Das, Ph.D.: A lecturer with a background in engineering, she brings her expertise to the ECE department.
Shahana Ibrahim, Ph.D.: An assistant professor whose research focuses on designing provable and efficient methods for data-driven tasks in machine learning and artificial intelligence.
Hadi Mardani Kamali, Ph.D.: An assistant professor specializing in computer engineering.
Jaesung Lee, Ph.D.: An assistant professor with expertise in electrical engineering, contributing to the advancement of semiconductor chip technology.
M. Sazadur Rahman, Ph.D.: An assistant professor and member of the UCF Cyber Security and Privacy Cluster, bringing experience from Intel as a security assurance architecture engineer.
Mohsen Rakhshan, Ph.D.: An assistant professor and contributing researcher of the UCF Disability, Aging and Technology Cluster, with a background in cognitive neuroscience.
Yue Wang, Ph.D.: An assistant professor whose research interests include reinforcement learning, machine learning, optimization, and computer vision.
Di Wu, Ph.D.: An assistant professor specializing in computer architecture, heterogeneous systems, domain-specific acceleration, and emerging computing.
Xin Xin, Ph.D.: An assistant professor with expertise in electrical and computer engineering.
Enxia Zhang, Ph.D.: An assistant professor with a background in microelectronics and solid-state electronics.

These new faculty members, with their diverse backgrounds and research interests, contribute to the dynamic and innovative environment within the UCF ECE department.

Cutting-Edge Research Areas: Addressing Contemporary Challenges

The UCF ECE department is actively engaged in a wide array of research areas, addressing critical challenges and pushing the boundaries of knowledge in various fields. These areas include:

Cyber Security and Privacy

With the increasing reliance on digital systems, cybersecurity has become a paramount concern. The UCF Cyber Security and Privacy Cluster, with members like M. Sazadur Rahman, focuses on developing innovative solutions to protect sensitive data and critical infrastructure from cyber threats. Research in this area encompasses hardware security, secure IoT systems, and privacy-preserving technologies.

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

The department's faculty are actively involved in advancing the field of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Shahana Ibrahim's research focuses on designing provable and efficient methods for data-driven tasks, while Yue Wang explores reinforcement learning, optimization, and computer vision. These efforts contribute to the development of intelligent systems that can learn, adapt, and solve complex problems. The AI technologies developed will allow autonomous systems, such as drones and self-driving cars, to navigate unexpected variables. Autonomous systems, such as self-driving cars and unmanned aircraft, learn from modeling and simulation.

Computer Architecture and Emerging Computing

The UCF ECE department is at the forefront of research in computer architecture and emerging computing paradigms. Di Wu's research interests include heterogeneous systems, domain-specific acceleration, and exploring novel computing approaches. These efforts aim to improve the performance, efficiency, and capabilities of future computing systems.

Micro- and Nano-systems

The department houses experts in micro- and nano-systems, contributing to advancements in areas such as sensors, actuators, and microelectronics. Jaesung Lee is collaborating with the University of Florida to develop and refine a magnetic levitation system that could help improve the performance of inertia sensors for a wide variety of applications such as accelerometers or gyroscopes. Enxia Zhang's background in microelectronics and solid-state electronics further strengthens the department's capabilities in this area.

Electromagnetics

The ECE faculty includes prominent experts in electromagnetics, conducting research on topics such as antennas, wireless communication, and electromagnetic compatibility. These efforts contribute to the development of advanced wireless technologies and the optimization of electromagnetic systems.

Cyber-Physical Systems

The department also focuses on cyber-physical systems, which integrate computing, communication, and control technologies to manage physical processes. This research area is crucial for developing smart infrastructure, autonomous systems, and intelligent control systems for various applications.

Disability, Aging and Technology

Mohsen Rakhshan's involvement with the UCF Disability, Aging and Technology Cluster highlights the department's commitment to developing technologies that improve the lives of individuals with disabilities and the aging population. This research area encompasses assistive technologies, human-computer interaction, and the design of accessible systems.

State-of-the-Art Facilities: Enabling Groundbreaking Research

The UCF ECE department provides researchers and students with access to cutting-edge facilities that support their innovative work. These facilities include:

Florida Power & Light and GE Digital Microgrid Control Lab: This state-of-the-art research facility features control-center equipment and software to simulate and test real-life grid control operations. It is designed to help find ways to optimize and secure the grid of the future, addressing the increasing dynamism of modern power systems.

These facilities provide a platform for researchers to conduct experiments, develop prototypes, and validate their ideas, ultimately accelerating the pace of innovation.

Industry Partnerships: Bridging the Gap Between Theory and Practice

The UCF ECE department recognizes the importance of collaboration with industry to ensure that research is relevant and impactful. The department partners with industry giants such as Intel, Texas Instruments, AMD, and Northrop Grumman to provide students with mentorships and the opportunity to apply their theoretical knowledge to the real world through undergraduate internships.

AMD Graduate Research Fellowship: The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) at UCF is now accepting applications for the inaugural “AMD Graduate Research Fellowship”. Inaugural AMD undergraduate research fellows John Gierlach and Chase Szafranski. High-performance computing giant AMD has partnered with the UCF Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering to offer an exciting new opportunity for its students: undergraduate research fellowships.
Capacitech Energy: Joe Sleppy '18, CEO of Capacitech Energy, was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Green Energy & Tech list. I’ve been fortunate to work with one of those technologies from its early research days at UCF all the way through to commercial installations at Capacitech Energy. Modern power systems are increasingly dynamic. The answer isn’t more batteries, bigger generators, or more strain on the grid. It’s simpler than that. Use supercapacitors to protect and enable those resources to operate as they were designed to.

These partnerships provide students with invaluable real-world experience and ensure that the department's research aligns with the needs of industry.

Student Research: Fostering the Next Generation of Innovators

The UCF ECE department is committed to fostering the next generation of innovators by providing students with ample opportunities to engage in research.

Student Research Week: This annual university event allows students of all majors to showcase a particular project from their area of study. More than 700 students participated this year, including over 120 undergraduate and graduate students from the College of Engineering and Computer Science.
Real-Time and Intelligent Systems (RTIS) lab: Research by three ECE students from the Real-Time and Intelligent Systems (RTIS) lab - Ph.D. Brian Kim, an assistant professor in the UCF Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, has been recognized by the National Science Foundation with a Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) award for his research proposal, Superresolution Neurochemical Probe Using Stochastic Neurotransmitter Localization.

These opportunities allow students to develop innovative problem-solving skills, publish their discoveries, and present their innovations to peers and industry professionals.

Addressing Engineering Systems Challenges

The department also actively participates in programs aimed at addressing engineering systems challenges. The award, provided through the National Science Foundation’s Addressing Systems Challenges through Engineering Teams program, aims to address problems surrounding engineering systems and networks.

Contributions to Semiconductor Manufacturing

The university will play a supporting role in a regional research hub that will develop digital twin technology to improve semiconductor chip manufacturing. At the heart of every electronic device is a semiconductor chip.

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