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Nanofabrication Lab opens on SciTech Campus

Martha Bushong — Fri, 17 May 2024 17:15:09 +0000

Nanofabrication Lab opens on SciTech Campus Martha Bushong Fri, 05/17/2024 - 13:15

Topics

Nanofabrication Facility

Research

workforce

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Taking a byte out of Apple

Martha Bushong — Thu, 09 May 2024 11:36:28 +0000

Taking a byte out of Apple Martha Bushong Thu, 05/09/2024 - 07:36

A 2020 graduate of George Mason’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Iranian-born Farnoud Farahmand works for tech giant Apple in Silicon Valley doing a job he hadn’t thought about as an undergrad or even a grad student. Farahmand’s journey to California covered more miles than an American pioneer’s and his attitude mirrored the same qualities of curiosity, grit, and determination as those of Western settlers.

Farnoud Farahmand works on site at Apple in Silicon Valley three days a week.
Photo provided.

Farahmand said he chose Mason because he had family living in Virginia and found George Mason a good match for his goals, and his interest in digital design and embedded systems. “Mason had a good program. I saw there were some specializations in digital design and that was a great fit for me,” he said. Farahmand credits his PhD advisor, Professor Krzysztof (Kris) Gaj for teaching him the value of teamwork and nurturing his burgeoning curiosity.

“What I learned from Dr. Gaj was to be dedicated, do the hard work, and keep learning different topics. We used to have very long weekly meetings with him instead of meeting with each of his students in separately, he pulled us all together in one room at the same time,” said Farahmand. Sitting in long meetings with labmates, he learned about related topics and said that experience led him to his internships with Google.

Before the internship, Farahmand was focused on hardware implementation, but other people were working on side-channel analysis, and applied to Google online. “The thing is you don't know the positions. The job descriptions are very general when you apply for internships at Google. “The internship was mostly related to side-channel analysis but because I was in those meetings with Dr. Gaj and others for 2-3 years, I learned all these topics and then when I went for an interview when they asked all these questions, I was ready to answer.”

Farahmand’s advises current students to stay curious and don’t be afraid to learn about a different topic; take every chance you can to learn something new and different. “If I wanted to just focus on what I worked on from the beginning, which was doing digital design and implementing ciphers in hardware, then I maybe I wouldn’t have had the confidence for my internship interviews,” he said.

Farahmand thought that after interning successfully at Google he would be a good fit and applied for a job. Covid’s trajectory and downturn in the tech industry caused a detour that led him elsewhere. When he interviewed for a permanent position with Google, he said everything went well but at the height of the pandemic, the company wasn’t hiring. While he waited for Google’s hiring freeze to thaw, Apple came through with an offer.

That detour, and Farahmand’s new job, led to an opportunity in still another topic. The new job deals with modeling power based on the features that will be added in future generations of Apple electronics.

Farahmand had never worked on power optimization in his research but through his internship experience with side-channel analysis, its relationship to evaluating the power consumption of a chip, and power analysis and simulations, the hiring committee made the connection and offered him the position.

“It was a very good fit for the position and now that I’m working on it. I really like it. One thing that I see from students and for myself as well, we know very famous topics like digital design, verification, and physical design. These are very well-known positions, but sometimes there are available positions in good companies. We don't search for them, so we don't find them.” By keeping his options open, and looking for jobs in unexpected areas Farahmand discovered an unexpected path to success.

Topics

alumni

Melissa J. Perry, Sc.D., MHS

CEC Alumni

Philanthropy in Action: New scholarship supports students studying health informatics

Colleen Rich — Fri, 19 Apr 2024 15:24:50 +0000

Philanthropy in Action: New scholarship supports students studying health informatics Colleen Rich Fri, 04/19/2024 - 11:24

In This Story

Janusz Wojtusiak, PhD

Inspired by the legacy of their mothers' generosity, Tamara Nall and Clement Ezeanii have created a scholarship program to help Mason graduate students pursue degrees in the in-demand field of health informatics.

Mason graduate student Fahim Durani is the first recipient of the Susanna Ezeanii and Mayfred Jolinda Nall Health Informatics Scholarship. Photo provided

��AV’s Health Informatics Program, which incorporates health care, technology, and data science, has an international reputation for its faculty excellence and commitment to student success.

That reputation and the need for graduates to support specialized data collection and analysis are what attracted Tamara Nall and her husband, Clement Ezeanii, to support the program. The couple has created the Susanna Ezeanii and Mayfred Jolinda Nall Health Informatics Scholarship Endowment to honor the memories of their mothers while making educational aspirations tangible for these College of Public Health students.

“The College of Public Health is grateful for the opportunities that this endowment offers students,” said Dean Melissa Perry. “Endowed scholarships provide much needed financial support for ambitious students who wish to pursue knowledge and experience through graduate education.”

The endowment supports an annual scholarship of $10,000 for students pursuing a master’s degree in health informatics, and the first recipient is Fahim Durani.

“The scholarship means a lot to me, and it’s really had a positive impact on my academic journey,” said Durani. “As a full-time student, I have had to balance work while giving enough time to my studies and academics. But with this relief, I was able to focus more time on my classes.”

Durani also notes that the scholarship has given him the flexibility to take part in professional opportunities, such as the 2024 Health Information Management Systems Society conference, where he was able to represent Mason’s Health Informatics Program at an international gathering of health professionals.

“Health informatics is a rapidly growing and dynamic field,” said program director Janusz Wotjusiak. “Highly qualified graduates are urgently needed by today’s health and public health systems, and this scholarship creates opportunities for students from all pathways to pursue this exciting career.”

Graduates of the Health Informatics MS program are employed by health care and public health agencies and technology firms to support specialized data collection and analysis that is mission critical to providing essential health services.

“The impact of George Mason's initiatives is truly awe-inspiring, and we feel humbled to be able to contribute to an institution so devoted to its students," said Nall, a distinguished member of the ��AV Foundation Board of Trustees. "They only serve to enhance the already remarkable work Mason is doing, and we take immense pride in being part of that."

Nall, who holds PhD in engineering management from George Washington University, holds multiple roles as the founder, president, and CEO of The Leading Niche. The internationally renowned company is known for its exceptional use of data and cutting-edge consulting to provide actionable intelligence to customers in the commercial, defense, and civilian sectors both in the United States and internationally. Nall's achievements have earned her numerous accolades, including esteemed honors such as The Network Journal's 40 Under 40 Award, Black Enterprise 40 Under 40 Award, and the Global Outstanding Business Award presented by the National Minority Business Council, among many others.

“I know our moms would approve of this,” said Ezeanii. “They were givers, and they always loved to see people have opportunities to be able to succeed in life. My mom, early on, knew that education was something that could transform lives.”

Nall, too, recalled her mother’s work to support students in local schools, including organizing winter clothing drives for students and partnering with a local church to provide breakfast to students during the school year and food during the summer for students who relied on receiving meals at school. “If you grow up in that environment of giving,” Nall said, “it just becomes part of you.”

Students interested in learning more about the Susanna Ezeanii and Mayfred Jolinda Nall Health Informatics Scholarship may do so via the College of Public Health website. Applications for fall 2024 are due May 31, 2024.

Topics

Students

Scholarships

College of Public Health

Health Informatics

philanthropy

Mason Now campaign

Mason's new MARC focuses on autonomy, robotics, and responsible AI

Nathan Kahl — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 14:30:37 +0000

Mason's new MARC focuses on autonomy, robotics, and responsible AI Nathan Kahl Tue, 04/16/2024 - 10:30

Industry executives, campus leaders, faculty, donors and alumni attended the official opening of ��AV’s College of Engineering and Computing’s Mason Autonomy and Robotics Center (MARC), but the star of the show was a Boston Dynamics quadruped. As the bright yellow doglike robot held one end of the green ribbon, ��AV President Gregory Washington, MARC co-directors Professors Missy Cummings and Jesse Kirkpatrick cut. Afterward, the quadruped roamed the event, opening doors for attendees and demonstrating its capabilities.

The event showcased Mason’s strength in important, emerging fields. In his welcoming remarks, Dean Ken Ball said, “MARC is the focal point for our research in autonomy, robotics, and AI. Mason truly is a pace-setter in these areas.”

Attendees explored the new facility in Mason’s Research Hall on the Fairfax Campus. The space includes a 1,649-square-foot, two-story aviary for testing drones, areas for lab experiments, faculty offices, collaboration and study areas, and a student lounge.

Mason President Gregory Washington and MARC co-directors Missy Cummings and Jesse Kirkpatrick are aided by a Boston Dynamics "dog" in cutting the ribbon to open the center officially. Photo by John Boal Photography.

During her remarks, Cummings addressed the evolving role of robots in society. “People don’t want autonomy to do their creative jobs,” she said. “They want to do their art, they want to write their stories…what they want is the robot maid. Once we hit world peak population in 55 years, we won’t have enough people to do the jobs we need. The dull, dirty, dangerous jobs are a great place for robots.”

Both Ball and Washington noted that in addition to being a leader in artificial intelligence (AI), the university is focusing on responsible AI, with a graduate certificate in that field launching in fall 2024.

“We’ve been at the forefront of a whole host of outcomes and technologies that have benefited this state and this region," said Washington. "Right here in engineering, we established the first-in-the-country cybersecurity engineering program, so there’s a real lineage of innovation here. Mason will be the only Virginia university to join more than 200 of the nation’s leading AI stakeholders to participate in the Department of Commerce’s initiative to support the development of trustworthy and safe AI.”

“We do autonomy, we robotics, we do AI…but we do it responsibly and that’s in our core,” said Kirkpatrick. “It’s in our principles, policies, practice, and people. It’s across the research enterprise, and it’s in our teaching. The leaders of today, tomorrow, and the day after have to get this right because it’s so absolutely critical.”

Students demonstrate their claw game-like device, named Skygripper, to be used in the upcoming Defend the Republic competition. Photo by John Boal Photography.

Attendees explored the facility and talked to students about projects. Filling the MARC aviary for the event were student-designed “blimps.” These lighter-than-air creations will soon compete in Defend the Republic, an annual event in EagleBank Arena where the autonomous flying devices compete in a Harry Potter quidditch-like game to move a ball into a target hanging from the ceiling.

"Not just for engineering, MARC will be used by numerous colleges and departments across the university for many multidisciplinary projects. This is a collaborative space for our students to work,” said Ball. “And it’s really important they have the opportunity to work in close proximity to our faculty.”

MARC’s opening is another demonstration of Mason’s strength in STEM, which attracts numerous corporate partners. Venkat Potapragada of 22nd Century Technologies attended the event and said, “I’m here because this is a strategic relationship for us and a key component of our overall growth strategy. We depend on talent, and Mason will help us achieve our growth goals. In the D.C. region, Mason is a name to be reckoned with.”

Enroll in the Certificate for Responsible AI

Learn More About the MARC

Mechanical engineering students build motorized Vitruvian man for a School of Music performance

Shayla Brown — Mon, 08 Apr 2024 20:23:35 +0000

Mechanical engineering students build motorized Vitruvian man for a School of Music performance Shayla Brown Mon, 04/08/2024 - 16:23

In This Story

Dr. Lisa Billingham

Nathan Kathir

A group of ��AV mechanical engineering students are building a motorized Vitruvian man for a Center for the Arts (CFA) performance of "Flying to the Stars," a choral concert dedicated to the beginnings of flight from the time of Leonardo da Vinci to the exploration of space.

Team members Kevin Kuck (left) and David Gosselin working on their project in the Machine Shop. Photo provided.

Lisa Billingham, director of choral activities at the Dewberry Family School of Music, said she wanted the concert to be an immersive experience for the audience, and reached out to the College of Engineering and Computing (CEC) for help. There she connected with Nathan Kathir, a mechanical engineering professor, who shared the project idea with his students.

“This project is exciting because we are partnering with another unit at Mason outside of CEC,” said Kathir, who is the director of senior capstone projects for mechanical engineering students.

“There is already a lot of art involved in engineering, and this collaboration between music and our department will be very inspiring for future students,” said Kathir.

The four students assigned to the project are working in the Machine Shop on the SciTech Campus and call themselves The Polymaths.

“We were thinking about the show’s theme of Leonardo da Vinci and we knew that the Vitruvian man is kind of his staple,” said Mellany Ayala, a senior mechanical engineering student. “I drew a very rough sketch of the Vitruvian man inside a gyroscopic figure, and it ended up being what our team decided to build.”

The device, which will hang from center stage throughout the show, has two spotlights as well as projections that will shine down on the students as they perform.

“We’re aiming for something similar to the immersive Van Gogh experience in D.C.,” said Kevin Kuck, a senior mechanical engineering student and the team leader.

The Polymaths met once a week with Billingham and her student research assistant and choir member, Ross Calvin, to discuss the project and work on a proposal for funding. They applied for and received a grant from Mason’s University Life.

Billingham also created a QR code fundraiser on Facebook and received anonymous donations, she said.

“Hopefully these cool project collaborations keep happening in the future. It was really refreshing to work with people from CVPA; they were so easygoing and in such happy spirits,” said Ayala.

The Polymaths worked with the CFA’s electrician and did a run-through a week before the performance. They will also give a presentation about the project on Capstone Day to showcase the final product.

“This project has been one of the more hands-on experiences I’ve had at Mason so far,” said Kuck. “Being able to build something with my own hands was a lot of fun, and I really enjoyed seeing it go from an idea on a page to something real. I think that's been the most satisfying part for me.”

During the concert, students will perform Jocelyn Hagen's “The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci” and “Leonardo Dreams of his Flying Machine” by Eric Whitacre. A piece by alum Peter Kadeli will also be performed.

Topics

senior capstone projects

Center for the Arts

Dewberry School of Music

mechanical engineering

information sciences and technology

CACI Scholars get a head start on success

Colleen Rich — Fri, 05 Apr 2024 19:25:42 +0000

CACI Scholars get a head start on success Colleen Rich Fri, 04/05/2024 - 15:25

CACI International Inc is once again supporting Mason students through a $200,000 gift to establish the CACI Scholars Program. The program helps selected scholars secure science, technology, engineering, or mathematics-related positions upon graduation.

Mason students participate in a career prep lab with CACI employees. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

The company has previously been a generous sponsor of Mason’s College of Engineering and Computing (CEC) and welcomes many Mason students as interns each year. CACI also employs hundreds of Mason graduates.

The CACI Scholars Program, which kicked off in fall 2023, supports 10 Mason students who are alumni of Mason’s Early Identification Program (EIP) and pursuing degrees in computer science, electrical engineering, or mechanical engineering. These scholars are identified by EIP in their senior year of high school and are welcomed into a cohort designed to support their long-term academic and career success.

Each CACI Scholar receives an annual scholarship to reduce the cost of tuition and related fees if the full need is not met through the student’s financial aid package or through a Mason Virginia Promise Grant. Scholars also receive a stipend to assist with the cost of at least one career readiness practice, such as attending a conference or completing a certification.

Scholars also work with dedicated success coaches and peer mentors at Mason, who provide tailored support for first-generation student success. Each scholar is also connected with a CACI mentor who can provide firsthand knowledge of the industry and company. The scholars are also eligible for a paid internship experience at CACI.

CACI’s Chief Technology Officer Glenn Kurowski understands the importance of widening the pipeline for skilled technology workers. “Experiential learning is the key to developing passion and engagement around your area of study—and that leads to a highly successful career,” says Kurowski. “I love working with students on their technical learning path and love getting others in our company engaged with the next generation of talent.”

Mason students in particular are well suited to fill that need for talent. “A partnership like this truly complements the students’ educational experience,” says EIP director Khaseem Davis, PhD Education ’23. “Our EIP students have worked hard to get to this point, to enrolling at Mason. This opportunity to work with CACI helps them to imagine what’s possible on the other side of their university experience.”

Jeana Plews, CACI’s vice president for diversity, equity, and inclusion, agrees. “We realize that many of these students face obstacles in their pursuit of a college education, and we want to help remove some of these barriers.”

Since 1987, EIP has provided academic enrichment, personal and social development, civic engagement, and leadership training opportunities to middle and high school students who will be the first in their families to attend college. In one of the most successful demonstrations of Mason’s commitment to access, the university partners with seven public school districts in Virginia and works with more than 750 students in grades 8 to 12 and their families, taking a holistic approach to successfully navigate the path to postsecondary education.

Study at the College of Engineering and Computing

Join the Mason Nation

Tech industry professionals describe “A Day in the Life”

Teresa Donnellan — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 17:56:28 +0000

Tech industry professionals describe “A Day in the Life” Teresa Donnellan Mon, 03/25/2024 - 13:56

In This Story

Shahnaz Kamberi

On March 21, 2024, Break Through Tech Mason hosted a panel of tech industry professionals titled "A Day in the Life: Tech Jobs Unveiled." Each panelist discussed their path in the tech industry, as well as the advice they would offer students just starting out.

“Yesterday, we had the privilege of diving deep into the world of tech with Jamie Bowers, site reliability engineer at Microsoft, Veeraj Modi, security analyst at Microsoft, and Cassandra Rothrauff, senior computer engineer at Booz Allen Hamilton,” said Shahnaz Kamberi, a professor of computer science and leader of Break Through Tech Mason. “Their insights illuminated the varied paths to success in the tech industry and the importance of resilience, mentorship, and teamwork along the way.”

Each speaker also shared what a typical day looks like in their current role. Then students were able to ask questions.

Break Through Tech works at the intersection of academia and industry to propel women and underrepresented communities into computing degrees and tech careers. ��AV's partnership with Break Through Tech began in 2019 and includes curriculum innovation, career access, and community building.

"A Day in the Life: Tech Jobs Unveiled" panelists Veeraj Modi, Jamie Bowers, and Cassandra Rothrauff

Kamberi noted that the speakers exemplified the fact that there is no “one-size-fits-all approach” to a career in tech. “From overcoming academic challenges to leveraging mentorship, their stories emphasized the multitude of avenues available to aspiring tech professionals,” she said. “Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just embarking on your journey, their stories serve as a beacon of inspiration for anyone aspiring to make their mark in the tech industry.”

Bowers, Modi, and Rothrauff described how their roles are dynamic to respond to the changing nature of tech. “Whether it’s troubleshooting complex systems, analyzing security threats, or designing innovative solutions, their workdays are marked by diversity and excitement,” said Kamberi.

Kamberi reflected on the main takeaways for students who attended the event, including the importance of work-life balance, learning from mistakes, and collaborating well with colleagues.

A Day in the Life panelists, Shahnaz Kamberi, and Break Through Tech Mason peer leaders

In light of the exciting nature of their industry, speakers emphasized the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance. “From setting boundaries to prioritizing self-care, they emphasized that success in tech goes hand in hand with personal well-being,” said Kamberi. "The panelists candidly discussed the inevitability of making mistakes and the invaluable lessons gleaned from them. Rather than viewing failures as setbacks, they encouraged embracing them as opportunities for growth and learning,” she added.

Bowers, Modi, and Rothrauff also underscored the power of effective teamwork, noting that synergy is a driving force behind innovation and success.

“‘A Day in the Life: Tech Jobs Unveiled’ provided invaluable insights into the multifaceted world of tech, reaffirming that with passion, perseverance, and a supportive community, anything is possible in this dynamic field,” said Kamberi.

Topics

Break Through Tech

computer science

Computer science; computing; School of Computing

professional development

women in computing

Students

Katherine Scafide, PhD, RN, FAAN

��AV Receives $4.85 Million Gift to Increase Intimate Partner Violence Detection and Reporting

mthomp7 — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 14:32:37 +0000

��AV Receives $4.85 Million Gift to Increase Intimate Partner Violence Detection and Reporting mthomp7 Tue, 03/05/2024 - 09:32

In This Story

Janusz Wojtusiak, PhD

David Lattanzi

Melissa J. Perry, Sc.D., MHS

"By prioritizing inclusivity and recognizing the unique challenges faced by survivors with darker skin tones, Scafide's research aligns seamlessly with our vision to end domestic violence in our lifetime."

Ruth Glenn

President of Survivor Justice Action

Dr. Katherine Scafide discusses Alternate Light Sources (ALS) on NBC Nightly News. Click here to view.

Learn More About the Study

��AV Receives $4.85 Million Gift to Increase Intimate Partner Violence Detection and Reporting

FAIRFAX, VA (March 5, 2024) – ��AV today announced an anonymous $4.85 million gift to advance groundbreaking research on bruise and injury detection for individuals who experience interpersonal violence. The funding will help develop new tools in imaging technology using a light source that is five times better than white light for identifying and visualizing bruising across all skin tones for use by forensic nurses, social service providers, and law enforcement.

“This single largest gift to support research in the College of Public Health’s history underscores Mason faculty’s leadership in life-changing work affecting those who experience interpersonal violence,” said Melissa J. Perry, Dean of the College of Public Health. “A gift of this magnitude brings transformative resources to Mason’s cross-disciplinary research and collaborative approach that takes ground-breaking research to new heights with the potential for greater use and impact.”

Mason’s acclaimed interdisciplinary research in using Alternate Light Sources for bruise detection, as featured on NBC Nightly News, is led by Katherine Scafide, David Lattanzi, and Janusz Wojtusiak. The funding will expand the team’s bruise detection system that leverages artificial intelligence (AI), imaging and light technologies, forensic reports, and clinical expertise to increase data collection and access to care for trauma victims. The technology can be used across all skin tones and responds to deficits in the identification of physical injuries particularly among people with darker skin tones.

Filmmaker and humanitarian Angelina Jolie examines bruising using alternate light.

"By improving documentation of physical trauma, we hope to address disparities in clinical care which can lead to improved healthcare for all as well as legal recourse for all survivors of violence," said Scafide, forensic nurse, research leader, and Associate Professor of Nursing in Mason’s College of Public Health. “This gift expands Mason’s leadership in developing new technologies to empower vulnerable communities.”

One in 3 women worldwide experience physical trauma at the hands of an intimate partner or stranger. In the United States, over 10 million women and men grapple with intimate partner violence each year. Among domestic violence survivors, bruises and soft tissue trauma are the most reported injuries. When injuries are accurately documented, survivors are more likely to participate in the criminal justice process, according to recent studies on interpersonal violence and reporting. In addition, family and partner violence and elder abuse can lead to a host of other public health issues such as infectious and noninfectious diseases, mental health trauma, and reproductive health problems.

"A vital piece to success is ensuring that any AI tool has access to in-depth data from all skin tones and skin characteristics alongside human expert analysis,” said Lattanzi, associate professor in the Sid and Reva Dewberry Department of Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering in the College of Engineering and Computing.

Supporters working on ending domestic violence commended the announcement.

Ruth Glenn, President of Survivor Justice Action, applauds the groundbreaking work led by Dr. Katherine Scafide at ��AV, harnessing alternate light source (ALS) technology to support and uplift the needs of domestic violence survivors. “In a nation where domestic violence disproportionately impacts communities of color, this innovative research holds immense promise. By prioritizing inclusivity and recognizing the unique challenges faced by survivors with darker skin tones, Scafide's research aligns seamlessly with our vision to end domestic violence in our lifetime. Continued research on this technology not only has the potential to revolutionize the identification of bruising in diverse populations but also signifies a vital step toward justice and empowerment for those who have long been marginalized. Survivor Justice Action stands firmly in support of initiatives that demand systems change and establish resources for survivors and advocates.”

“The Scafide team’s research and findings are revolutionizing medical forensic examinations. The ability for medical professionals to visualize and identify previously ‘invisible’ injury substantively advances quality medical assessment and patient care. Visibility and documentation of trauma/ injury provide valuable forensic corroboration for law enforcement and the courts to hold offenders accountable,” said Ann Burdges, CEO of End Violence Against Women International.

This project is led by Mason’s College of Public Health in collaboration with the College of Engineering and Computing. More information on the study can be found at bruise.gmu.edu.

About ��AV

��AV is Virginia’s largest public research university. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason enrolls more than 40,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Mason has grown rapidly over the past half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity, and commitment to accessibility. In 2023, the university launched Mason Now: Power the Possible, a one-billion-dollar comprehensive campaign to support student success, research, innovation, community, and stewardship. Learn more at gmu.edu.

About the College of Public Health at ��AV

The College of Public Health at ��AV is the first College of Public Health in Virginia combining public health transdisciplinary research, education, and practice in the Commonwealth as a national exemplar. The College enrolls more than 1,900 undergraduate and 1,300 graduate students in our nationally recognized programs, including six undergraduate degrees, eight master’s degrees, five doctoral degrees, and six professional certificate programs. The College is comprised of the School of Nursing and the Departments of Global and Community Health, Health Administration and Policy, Nutrition and Food Studies, and Social Work. The College’s transdisciplinary research seeks to understand the many factors that influence the public’s health and well-being throughout the lifespan, from the cell structures to the policy decisions. Areas of focus include environmental exposures, pregnancy outcomes, youth risk behavior, interpersonal violence, infectious disease, nutrition, mental and behavioral health, inequality and populations that are marginalized, health informatics, health policy, and novel methods for causal inference. With more than 500 partners, the College serves the community and engages our students through research, practice, and clinical care.

About the College of Engineering and Computing (CEC)

The College of Engineering and Computing (CEC) is a fast-growing force for innovation in research and education. Ranked nationally in the top 100 in both undergraduate and graduate education, the CEC enrolled a record high of 10,933 students in fall 2023. The college has 34 undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degree programs including several first-in-the-nation offerings. As part of a nationally ranked research university, CEC research teams expended $65 million in sponsored research awards in the past year and had projects with over $119 million in current and anticipated awards. The college stands out for its leading research in areas such as artificial intelligence, data analytics engineering, cybersecurity engineering, biomedical imaging and devices, healthcare, autonomous systems, 5G/Next G communications, systems architectures, computational biomedicine, advanced materials and manufacturing, sustainable infrastructure, and more.

Topics

Intimate Partner Violence

Artifical Intelligence

Machine Learning

Press Release

Press Releases

robotics and autonomous systems

Teaching humans to play safe

Nathan Kahl — Mon, 04 Mar 2024 21:02:44 +0000

Teaching humans to play safe Nathan Kahl Mon, 03/04/2024 - 16:02

Autonomous systems can be programmed to always make the logical, “best” decisions, given a set of circumstances. But what happens when human judgment and decision-making is introduced to a system? Xuan Wang, an assistant professor in ��AV’s Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, is asking this question as part of a recent $344,000 grant from the National Science Foundation.

Wang stressed that this research is particularly important given technologies on the horizon. “The operation of many real-world systems involves the co-existence of human and autonomous agents. Inadequate coordination among these agents can lead to significant performance degradation or safety risks.”

Wang is turning the idea of humans controlling machines on its head. “The key novelty of this research is, instead of thinking about how humans can program robots, we are thinking about the ways that the autonomous agents can impact humans," he says. "Assuming human response can’t be coded in the way we can control a robotic agent’s behavior, then how we can design the robot’s behavior so they're impacting human behavior in a way that is beneficial for the overall system?”

In one of Wang's simulations, a human and robot carry a cup of hot water, testing programmed guarantees so that when the cup spills, it only spills to the robot side of the board, protecting the human. Photo provided.

Because human agents, who are very diverse, use observations to see occurrences in the world around them and respond accordingly, traditional optimization approaches are less effective at predicting behavior. Wang says that he’ll use a framework relying on game theory, which assumes each agent has their own objective function, and that function is coupled with another agent’s decisions and actions. Then both human and autonomous agents ideally will optimize their overall behavior to coordinate across a whole system, creating a better output.

This human-response alignment mechanism is bidirectional, allowing for communication moving in opposite ways at the same time. For robots, they will investigate new approaches that allow them to adapt more intelligently to human behaviors with uncertainties; for humans, they will study how they can be incentivized during human-robot interaction so that human responses favor the efficiency and robustness of the entire system.

But how can systems—autonomous or controlled by humans—ever guarantee safety, say in the use of unpersoned vehicles?

Wang says, “When we are deriving safety criteria, there might be some uncertainties, so given the inputs of the system there will be an upper and lower bound that allows you to know what is the worst case that will happen. Given that, if all assumptions are satisfied, one can guarantee that there will be no crash.”

Wang and team are also working with the Army Research Lab to develop collaborative autonomous vehicles working in unknown environments, ensuring the vehicles can coordinate and gain advantage when there are potential threats in the environment.

In This Story

Xuan Wang

Topics

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

human-computer interaction

Artificial Intelligence

National Science Foundation

Research

CEC faculty research