News

Congratulations to ECSE advisory council member and alumnus Dr. Chandra Narayanaswami, who has just been elevated to be an IBM Distinguished Research Staff Member (RSM)!

Distinguished RSMs are established technical Research leaders who have demonstrated consistent outstanding and extraordinary contributions, including significant IP contributions with sustained impact on the business. These individuals are also exemplary leaders of organizational and technical teams, enabling others to recognize their potential.

TROY, N.Y. — The shortage of critical personal protective equipment (PPE) has been a persistent problem for medical and other front-line workers as they battle the COVID-19 pandemic at close range day after day. A team of researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has developed a potential solution: a machine that uses ultraviolet (UVC) light to sterilize thousands of protective masks each day, rendering them safe for reuse.

ECSE: What PhD Program are you in? What year are you? Where did you complete your BS and MS?

Christopher Wiedeman (CW): I am in the Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering PhD program at RPI. This year has been my first both at RPI and in New York. Before this, I worked and studied in Tempe, Arizona, where I received my BS in biomedical engineering from Arizona State University.

ECSE: Who are you working with at RPI?

ECSE: What PhD Program are you in? What year are you? Where did you complete your B.S. and M.S.?

Meaghan Podlaski (MP): I’m in my first year of the electrical engineering PhD program. I finished my BS and MS in electrical engineering in 2019 at RPI through the co-terminal program.    

ECSE: Who are you working with at RPI?

MP: Luigi Vanfretti

ECSE: What are your general research areas?

Jack joined ECSE and RPI in 1974 as an Assistant Professor.  He was a dedicated teacher, researcher, and colleague for 46 years until his passing in 2020.  Jack graduated more than 70 Masters students and 45 PhD students. He had over 300 journal and conference articles in high impact IEEE journals and conferences.

The Department of Energy announced February 10, 2020  – $74 million awarded for 63 selected projects to, ‘research, develop, and

ECSE Faculty Prof. Michael Shur been appointed Senior member of URSI (The International Union of Radio Science). The International Union of Radio Science (Union Radio-Scientifique Internationale), a non-governmental and non-profit organisation under the International Council for Science, is responsible for stimulating and co-ordinating, on an international basis, studies, research, applications, scientific exchange, and communication in the fields of radio science, according to their website.

TROY, N.Y. — Partha Dutta, a professor of electrical, computer, and systems engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, envisions a not-so-distant future where even the most remote parts of the world would have access to clean and renewable energy. His vision wouldn’t require a large power grid or expensive technology. Instead, he believes it could be accomplished using simple mirrors, local resources, and the sun.

“I call this ‘engineering for a better world,’ which means that you have to use affordable, accessible, and adequate resources,” Dutta said.

Congratulations to ECSE Professor Birsen Yazici on being selected to serve as a Distinguished Lecturer for the IEEE Aerospace & Electronic Systems Society! Distinguished Lecturers and Tutorial speakers are ambassadors of the AESS, who serve as an important demonstration of the value of membership in IEEE and AESS in particular. The lecturers are truly distinguished speakers who are experts in the technical fields of the society.