1E L E C T R I C A L E N G I N E E R I N G www.ee.buffalo.edu

2

New Building for UB Engineering

U B E E U p d a t E

Building Momentum through Growth

It was an exciting year of events for the Electrical Engineering (EE) Department. In April, we successfully reviewed the EE graduate program, summarized our prog-ress during the past five years, and also completed a self-study report for the ABET accreditation and visit this October. Noting our progress from the report, during the last five years our undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as research activity, have substantially improved. EE gained eleven new faculty members (four senior and seven junior faculty) that include the recent additions of two assistant professors, Natasha Litchinitser in January 2008 and Jennifer Zirnheld in August 2008. You can read more details about each of these new faculty members on the following pages.

The growth of the department helped us substantially improve course offerings. For example, during 2003-2004 academic year, the EE Department offered 71 courses with full-time faculty teaching 56 courses and adjunct faculty teaching 15 courses. During the 2007-08 academic year, the

The School of Engineering and Applied Sciences has embarked on

an ambitious plan over the next five years to increase faculty by 40 and

students by 1,000, and to improve greatly our infrastructure. And the good

news is that the UB Department of Electrical Engineering is a central

element in the process of growth.

The department is also in the midst of assisting in the design specifications

for the school’s new 130,000-sq.-ft. building that will be equally shared

between the Department of Electrical Engineering and the Department

of Computer Science and Engineering. Due for “ribbon-cutting” in 2011,

the new facility will provide modern infrastructure required to conduct

21st-century research and instruction.

3E L E C T R I C A L E N G I N E E R I N G www.ee.buffalo.edu

department offered 103 courses and only 13 courses were taught by part-time faculty. Moreover, our current part-time faculty members are research professors in the department, members of the UB Graduate School, and heavily involved in training EE undergraduate and graduate students.

During the last five years, the department’s research expen-ditures were close to $15 million, in comparison to the previ-ous five-year period of about $6 million. We also expect that research expenditures will continue to grow as our recently hired faculty begin to generate research funding.

Last year the EE faculty published one book, four review book chapters, and 74 papers in peer review journals. Our publications were also cited in more than 15,000 papers written by other researchers.

Contributing to the university-wide UB 2020 strategic plan, our department continues to build talented faculty’s cumulative skills in fabrication and characterization of novel nanoelectronic

and nanophotonic devices, single-photon detectors, organic photonic devices, and chemical and biological detectors. These broad experimental capabilities are supplemented by expertise in theoretical and numerical analysis and an internationally recognized strength in communications and signal processing.

Finally, this brochure highlights the new engineering building that will bring together the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Engineering Departments and it should be com-pleted in 2011. EE’s 28,000 square foot space will include 5,000 square feet for a state-of-the-art clean room. The new facility will further strengthen the existing collaboration between EE and other departments within the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) and other schools at UB.

Vladimir Mitin Chair

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N E W E E f a c U l t y

E E N E W S

EE awards

Esther S. Takeuchi, professor, was selected as the 2008 recipient of an Astellas USA Foundation Award, admin-istered by the American Chemical Society (ACS) for her achievements in the devel-opment of silver vanadium oxide (SVO) battery technology which enabled the development of life-saving implantable cardiac defibrillators (ICDs).

Yong-Kyu Yoon, director of the Multidisciplinary nano and Microsystems (MnM) laboratory, won the prestigious Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award from the National Science Foundation (NSF). He receives $399,999 to develop an integrated education and research program with a topic of micro-nano machined

New faculty adds Strength

Two new faculty members significantly extend the depth of EE. They include:

Jennifer L. Zirnheld, assistant pro-fessor, was a research assistant profes-sor at UB where she received the doc-tor of philosophy degree in Electrical Engineering. She has continued doing research while securing and managing multimillion dollar grants. Zirnheld’s

main research interests are in multifactor stress aging, par-tial discharge analysis, dielectrics and insulation phenom-ena, energy and power, and engineering education.

Natalia M. Litchinitser, assistant professor, conducts research in the areas of linear and nonlinear optics in metamaterials, photonic bandgap structures, and fiber-optic com-munications. Previously, she was a research scientist at the University

of Michigan, a member of the technical staff of the Lucent Bell Laboratories and of Optical Fiber Solutions Laboratories where she received the R&D 100 team award for development of the tunable dispersion compensator. She was also awarded the Aileen S. Andrew Fellowship to conduct postdoctoral research at the Institute of Optics at the University of Rochester. Litchinitser has authored five invited book chapters and more than seventy journal and conference research papers.

Zirnheld in the lab.

5E L E C T R I C A L E N G I N E E R I N G www.ee.buffalo.edu

metamaterial and its RF/Microwave applications for a period of five years. Nanotechnology is utilized to implement low loss metamaterial to get highly efficient, compact, and multifunctional radio frequency (RF) devices for the tele-communication, microelectronics, and biomedical applications.

EE faculty Grants

Vladimir Mitin, professor and chair, received a three-year Air Force Office of Scientific Research grant for advanced theoretical research in the area of elec-tron kinetics in quantum-dot structures, with the main goal to optimize infrared photodetectors. This research program focuses on design of next generation quantum-dot infrared photodetectors (QDIPs) with controllable electron kinetics.

Professors Stella N. Batalama and Dimitrios A. Pados (principal investiga-tor) and assistant professors Weifeng Su and Tommaso Melodia received a $451,000 Air Force Research Laboratory grant for work on cognitive airborne networking. The project leverages EE faculty’s expertise on spread spectrum techniques, code division multiple access (CDMA) communications, multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) techniques, cooperative communications, routing, resource allocation, and cross-layer opti-mization to design highly-reliable high-data-rate cognitive airborne networks.

The EE department has been awarded a $750,000 New York State Foundation for Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR) faculty grant to help professor Gottfried Strasser develop an advanced

technological foundry to produce tera-hertz devices such as nanostructured emitters and detectors. The development program award assists universities in the recruitment of leading research faculty in science and technology fields with strong commercial potential.

Esther S. Takeuchi, professor, was named a Greatbatch Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering and Electrical Engineering, with Greatbatch Inc. providing unrestricted funding of her professorship at $100,000 per year for the next five years.

Chu R. Wie, professor, received $393,000 in new research funding from Samsung Electronics to investigate and model deg-radation processes in amorphous and polycrystalline silicon thin film transistors (TFT) used in the backplane circuits of active-matrix LCD display and organic LED display. The objective is to identify, under-stand, and model the physical mechanisms of degradation in TFTs under bias and temperature stress for predicting reliability and lifetime of the devices in circuits.

EE appointments

Vladimir Mitin, professor and EE chair, was named a SUNY Distinguished Professor in recognition of international

prominence and reputation in nanopho-nonics, the branch of nanotechnology concerned with energy transfer, detec-tion, and conversion at the nanoscale level. The rank of distinguished professor, the highest faculty rank in the SUNY sys-tem, is an order above full professorship.

His work has shaped the understanding of nanoscale electron-phonon kinetics and transport, with applications in quantum sensing, information technologies, astro-physics, and national security. Mitin has also contributed extensively to the development of UB’s nanoengineering program and the creation of the interdisciplinary UB Center on Hybrid Nanodevices and Systems. As a result of his efforts, UB Engineering now has a top U.S. undergraduate nanoelec-tronics lab.

Alexander N. Cartwright, professor, has been appointed as Vice Provost, serving as the point person in the Provost’s Office for the UB 2020 strategic strengths initia-tives. He is responsible for building the research infrastructure and collaborative efforts across multiple strategic strengths, as well as for special UB initiatives. He has served as director of the Integrated Nanostructured Systems strategic strength initiative for the past year.

c o n t i n u e d o n p a g e 6

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E E R E S E a R c H

Research Review

Significant research activity within electrical engineering was driven by numerous peer-reviewed publications and graduate students supported by fellowships and assistantships.

About seventy-four papers were published in refereed journals, four review book chapters, and one book were also published. Fourteen PhDs graduated, which is an absolute record for the Department.

Faculty publications have been cited in more than 15,000 research papers.

Last year’s total research expenditures in the department, reported by SEAS, was $2.2 million. Research expenditures are expected to grow as new faculty members begin to generate and spend research funds.

Cartwright serves as director of the Institute for Lasers, Photonics and Biophotonics, director of UB’s National Science Foundation Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) in Biophotonics, Materials and Applications, and co-director of the Electronics Packaging Laboratory.

Esther S.Takeuchi has been elected presi-dent of the Electrochemical Society, one of the world’s most prestigious electro-chemical organizations, for the 2008-12 term. She has also been appointed to the editorial advisory board of the Journal of Engineering Education.

Stella N. Batalama, professor, was selected for UB’s 2007-08 Faculty in Leadership class. In this program, faculty leaders are paired with a senior member of administration in the offices of the president and provost. They focus on specific projects that allow them to gain valuable administrative experience.

Tommaso Melodia, assistant professor, was named associate editor for Computer Networks (Elsevier) and for the Journal of Sensors (Hindawi).

EE alumni

Chrysostomos L. (Max) Nikias, MS 1980 & PhD 1982, provost and senior vice presi-dent for academic affairs at the University of Southern California, was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering.

e e n e w s c o n t i n u e d

7E L E C T R I C A L E N G I N E E R I N G www.ee.buffalo.edu

areas of faculty Research

A diverse range of activities is supported by industry and a variety of federal sources, including the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, the Army Research Office, and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research.

Microelectronics, Photonics, and Materials

spin and electron-wave based approaches to quantum computing

nanomagnetoelectronics

solid-state tHz spectroscopy

superconducting single-photon detection

synthesis and characterization of nanostructured semiconductors

Modeling and simulation of carrier phenomena in nanoscale systems and devices

cMos sensors and analog circuits

nanoscale heat/energy transfer (nanophononics)

MeMs and BioMeMs

photovoltaics

energy harvesting and storage

Molecular beam epitaxy

Communications and Signal Processing

communications theory

cdMa communications

cellular systems

Multi-antenna communication systems

adaptive antenna array

coding and modulation techniques

estimation and detection

digital signal processing and video compression

Radar and medical image processing

computationally efficient architectures and algorithms

wireless communications and networking

cooperative communications for wireless networks

sensor networks

Energy Systems

Reliability and control of autono-mous and/or supervised devices and systems, nano to mega scale size, that have been aged/stressed via a multitude of factors

investigation of electronic circuits, devices and systems for processing electrical power

interdisciplinary investigation of packaging power electronic circuits

8

Undergraduate program

The EE undergraduate program provides the scope of knowledge and training for employment in the field and also forms the basis for further study at the graduate level. The curriculum emphasizes the fields of electronics and information engineering.

UB’s undergraduate program leads to the bachelor of sci-ence in electrical engineering (BS) degree. The BS program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). In addition, the combined degree for the bachelor of science in electrical engineering and master of business administration can be obtained by the students. The total number of undergraduate students is about 400.

The first two years of the undergraduate curriculum emphasize physical sciences and mathematics. In the

third year, the emphasis is on physical electronics, electronic circuits, electromagnetic theory, applied mathematics, and the design of analog and digital cir-cuits. Up to this point, the technical content consists of required courses. The fourth year is largely elective and is devoted to broadening the background, reinforcing lab skills, and studying design concepts. By choosing technical electives, students may concentrate in physi-cal electronics, circuits, signal processing, power, or related studies. Students with computer engineering interests may concentrate on the design of computers and their interface devices and networks through courses available in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering.

Special undergraduate degree programs are offered under electrical engineering auspices in coopera-tion with the Department of Computer Science and

Engineering, the Department of Mathematics, and the Department of Physics.

Companies that have hired our graduates include Cisco, Hewlett Packard, Intel, AMD, IBM, Ford, General Electric, General Motors, Lockheed Martin, Lucent Technologies, Moog, Micron, Motorola, Nokia, Qualcomm, Rockwell, Sun Microsystems, and Texas Instruments. Our alumni also have established compa-nies, such as Atto Technology and MTI, and have joined the faculty in many universities.

E E p R O G R a M S

9E L E C T R I C A L E N G I N E E R I N G www.ee.buffalo.edu

Graduate program

We are a highly interdisciplinary department. We build on a solid foundation of physical sciences, a broad knowledge of engineering techniques, and an understanding of how tech-nologies can help us to shape the future. Our primary mis-sion is to educate students at all levels. We offer the breadth of education and depth of training necessary to make our graduates successful in their professional careers. Our faculty engages in a long-standing tradition of excellent teaching, innovative research, and valuable public service activities; our department staff is devoted to helping students succeed.

Our research programs are diversified and receive long-term support from the university, the State of New York, federal agencies, and industry. The total number of gradu-ate students is about 230. We currently have twenty-seven full-time faculty members. We offer MS, MEng, and PhD programs with specialization and research in communica-tions and signal processing, microelectronics, photonics, materials, and energy systems.

In this year, the department confers 101 MS degrees, 3 MEng degrees, and 14 PhDs.

1 0

E E f a c U l t y

Wayne A. Anderson, Professor

Research: semiconductors, thin films, photovoltaics and thin film transistors, defect spectroscopy

Stella N. Batalama, Professor

Research: wireless communica- tions, detection and estimation, adaptive signal processing

Jonathan P. Bird, Professor

Research: nanoelectronics, nanomaterials characterization

Alexander N. Cartwright, Professor

Research: semiconductor quantum dots, Hybrid inorganic/organic materials and devices, Biological and chemical sensors, nano- photonics and nanoelectronics

Ping-Chin Cheng, Professor

Research: confocal microscopy, Biomedical imaging, X-ray microscopy, Microtomography, Lithography

Kasra Etemadi, Associate Professor

Research: arc technology, plasma chemistry, emission spectroscopy

Adly T. Fam, Professor

Research: digital signal process-ing, algorithms and architectures for arithmetic intensive comput-ing, waveform design for good correlation performance

Donald D. Givone, Professor

Research: switching circuit theory, automata theory, digital systems

Raj K. Kaul, Professor

Research: Fractal phenomena, wave propagation in periodic structures and wavelets, elasticity and piezoelectricity

Natalia M. Litchinitser, Assistant ProfessorResearch: Linear and nonlinear optics in metamaterials, photonic bandgap structures, Fiber-optic communications

Pao-Lo Liu, Professor

Research: computational photonics, photonic band gap materials and devices, Quantum information processing

Tommaso Melodia, Assistant Professor

Research: design and optimi-zation of multi-hop wireless networks, Multimedia sensor net-works, cognitive radio networks, underwater acoustic networks

Vladimir Mitin, Professor and Chair

Research: nanoelectronics, Microelectronic and optoelec-tronic devices and materials, nanophononics, photodetectors, terahertz generators and detectors

Kwang W. Oh, Assistant Professor

Research: BioMeMs, Lab-on-a-chip, Microfluidics, nanobiosensors, Microactuators, world-to-chip interfacing and packaging, single cell manipulation

Dimitrios A. Pados, Professor

Research: communication theory and systems, coding and sequences, adaptive signal processing

Paras N. Prasad, Professor

Research: nonlinear optics, nanophotonics, Biophotonics

David T. Shaw, Professor

Research: carbon nanotubes, High temperature superconductivity, thin films, plasma dynamics, aerosol mechanics

Mehrdad Soumekh, Professor

Research: signal and image processing, Medical and radar imaging, inverse scattering

Gottfried Strasser, ProfessorResearch: semiconductor electronics, optoelectronics, nanotechnology of advanced mate-rials and devices, including epitaxial growth and device processing

Weifeng Su, Assistant Professor

Research: wireless communica- tions and networking, MiMo systems and space-time coding, cooperative communications for wireless networks

Esther S. Takeuchi, ProfessorResearch: Lithium battery cells for implantable applications, development of power sources for implantable cardiac defibrillators

Albert H. Titus, Associate Professor

Research: analog VLsi design, neural networks, electronic routing and packaging design, electron beam lithography, sensors, optoelectronics

1 1E L E C T R I C A L E N G I N E E R I N G www.ee.buffalo.edu

E E l a B O R a t O R I E S

Advanced Power Sources

Advanced Wireless Communications

Analog VLSI Systems

Biosensors and Bioelectronics

Center for Innovation Engineering Learning

Communications and Signals

Electronic Packaging

Energy Systems Institute

Environmental Research High-Resolution X-ray Diffraction

Laboratory for Advanced Spectroscopic Evaluation (LASE)

Materials, Devices, and Circuit Simulations

Microelectronic Fabrication

Microwave Measurements

Multidisciplinary Nano- and Microsystems

Nanobiosensors and Microactuators

Nanoelectronics

Nanophotonics & Nonlinear Optics

Optoelectronics

Photonic Device

Semiconductor Device Characterization

Wireless Networks and Embedded Systems

Cemal Basaran adjunct professor

Venugopal Govindaraju adjunct professor

Wilson Greatbatch Research professor

Douglas C. Hopkins Research professor

Venkat Krovi adjunct assistant professor

Andrea Markelz adjunct associate professor

Bruce McCombe adjunct professor

Russ Miller adjunct professor

Victor Pogrebnyak adjunct associate professor

Chunming Qiao adjunct professor

Mohammed Safiuddin advanced technology applications Research professor

W. J. Sarjeant James clerk Maxwell general dynamics chair professor, emertius

Peter Scott adjunct associate professor

Andrei Sergeev Research associate professor

Ramalingam Sridhar adjunct associate professor

Nizami Vagidov Research assistant professor

Darold C. Wobshall associate professor, emeritus

adjunct, Emeritus, part-time

and Research faculty

Aleksandr Verevkin, Assistant Professor

Research: superconductor and semiconductor single-photon detectors, Quantum cryptography, ultrafast magnetooptics

James J. Whalen, Professor

Research: electromagnetic compat-ibility, Microwaves, semiconductor electronics

Chu R. Wie, Professor

Research: semiconductor devices, Radiation effect, X-ray analy-sis of semiconductor materials, semiconductor nanodevice visual simulation

Yong-Kyu Yoon, Assistant Professor

Research: 3-d MeMs technology, RF passive components and millimeter- wave antennas, electronic and MeMs packaging, temperature sensors, Bio/microfluidic systems for the lab-on-a-chip

Jennifer L. Zirnheld, Assistant Professor

Research: Multifactor stress aging, partial discharge analysis, dielectrics and insulation phenomena, energy and power, engineering education

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W W W. E E . B U f fa l O. E d U

department of electrical engineeringuniversity at Buffalo332 Bonner HallBuffalo, nY 14260-1900

nonpRoFit oRg.u.s. postage

paidBuFFaLo, nY

peRMit no. 311

Produced by the Office of University Communications, Division of External Affairs, University at Buffalo. August 2008. 08-EAS-001.