Electrical & Computer Engineering Department - Colorado State University

09/09/2026

What can a raindrop reveal?

For ECE Professor “Chandra” V. Chandrasekar, it was the beginning of a career dedicated to transforming how we see inside storms, from photographing raindrops to pioneering radar technology now used around the world to assist weather forecasting.

Learn more about Chandra’s journey in The Art of Research, featuring University Distinguished Professors and the work that shaped their careers.

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“Chandra” V. Chandrasekar started his illustrious career as a radar scientist by flying into storms to take photographs of raindrops. He wanted to understand their exact shape – not teardrops, as it turns out, but little spherical blobs.

08/12/2026

Meet Salvador Castañeda, an optical engineering junior at the University of Rochester who recently participated in CSU’s undergraduate research program in laser science and fusion energy.

This summer, Salvador fabricated nanowires for characterization of angular ion acceleration in relativistic laser-nanowire interactions in the context of inertial fusion energy, or IFE.

⚡️Why research?

“This was my second summer doing IFE research, and I was really looking for a hands-on, in-lab experience, which I definitely got to see firsthand,” said Salvador. “The chance to work with the ALEPH laser system also really appealed to me, so everything came together nicely.”

😎 Coolest experience this summer?

“The process of making nanowires could be long, without even considering the time it takes to initially develop the right ‘recipe’ for making them. That, however, made it all the more rewarding to be able to shoot them on the ALEPH laser, and present that data as well!”

⭐️ Fun fact: Salvador is excited to start an optics design/build competition club at the University of Rochester this year with two of his optics classmates.

08/06/2026

Meet Macy Green, an electrical engineering junior at CSU who just wrapped up an action-packed summer of undergraduate research.

Macy helped develop low-density materials and ablation layer coatings for inertial confinement fusion targets.

⚡️Why research?
“I wanted the opportunity to apply my degree to real engineering problems and learn hands-on skills," said Macy. "I also just really love the lasers and optics field, and CSU has an amazing research community who genuinely believe in the students and make it an exciting space to learn.”

😎 Coolest experience this summer?
“I learned how to design and print microstructures and use scanning electron and atomic force microscopes. And I'll get to present my research at the IFE-SURE symposium this summer in Washington D.C!

🚴Outside the lab, Macy enjoys cooking, swimming, cycling, and racing through the Dune book series before the next movie comes out.

07/31/2026

There is no denying that summer is fun, but we miss seeing our creative students on campus!

07/29/2026

Haonan Chen, ECE associate professor, and his team have published new research that could improve the accuracy of precipitation forecasts up to two weeks in advance.

The research was recently published in Nature Partner Journals. It introduces a new AI framework that both improves precipitation forecast accuracy and helps researchers better quantify uncertainty.

More reliable precipitation forecasts could support decision-making in areas such as agriculture, water resource management, emergency preparedness, and disaster response.

🔗 Read more:

Haonan Chen, a CSU associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, and his team have published new research that could improve the accuracy of precipitation forecasts up to two weeks in advance.

07/27/2026

Carmen Menoni has added another prestigious honor to her already stellar portfolio.

The CSU Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering has received the Distinguished Service Award from the IEEE Photonics Society.

The global society brings together more than 100,000 engineers, scientists, and students working on light-based innovations to benefit humanity.

Menoni received the honor for pioneering and sustained contributions to publications, conferences and leadership within the Photonics Society and IEEE broadly.

“My service to the profession is one of the most rewarding aspects of my career,” she said.

➡️ Learn more: https://lnkd.in/exnsJ6mm

Carmen Menoni, Colorado State University Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, has received the Distinguished Service Award from the IEEE Photonics Society.

07/23/2026

Three ECE researchers on two different projects were awarded prestigious Phase I Genesis Mission awards from the U.S. Department of Energy, announced at the Genesis Mission Summit on July 22 in Washington D.C.

Haonan Chen is serving as Co-PI on a project to develop a first-of-its-kind data-driven AI model to improve understanding of ice-containing clouds and precipitation.

Zongjie Wang and Tim Hansen will contribute their expertise to a second project focused on optimizing remote power grids. The project adds to their growing portfolio of research through CSU’s Grid Modernization Initiative.

We’re proud of our faculty who are playing a lead role in the nation’s efforts to use AI to transform energy and scientific discovery!

➡️ Read more: https://source.colostate.edu/csu-researchers-selected-for-two-highly-competitive-department-of-energy-genesis-mission-projects/

📸 1: Associate Prof. Haonan Chen; 2: Assistant Prof. Zongjie Wang; 3: Associate Prof. Tim Hansen (left).

07/21/2026

What is sustainable computing and why does it matter?

ECE Best Paper Award winners Jason Crop and Hayden Moore share insights from their research to reduce the environmental impact of our growing digital economy. As AI and cloud computing continue to expand, energy-efficient solutions are more important than ever.

🔗 Learn five key takeaways from their award-winning research: https://engr.source.colostate.edu/five-things-to-know-about-sustainable-computing-from-best-paper-award-winners/ .

👏 Congratulations to Jason, Hayden, and Professor Sudeep Pasricha on this outstanding achievement!

07/14/2026

Our summer interns strike a balance between fun and hands-on learning in laser science and fusion energy research. Last week, they rolled into a teambuilding event sponsored by our industry partner, Marvel Fusion. 🎳

07/01/2026

With data centers proposed atop the largest underground water reservoir in the U.S., Newsweek turned to ECE Professor Sudeep Pasricha to explore the environmental implications of our growing digital economy.

Pasricha, a leader in sustainable and green computing, shared his insights and concerns around the rapid expansion of AI data centers, their water consumption, and potential impacts of cumulative development.

“Large facilities can use up to five million gallons per day, comparable to a town of tens of thousands of people," Pasricha shared.

Read the full story: https://www.newsweek.com/data-centers-proposed-largest-underground-water-reservoir-us-12118563.

AI data center growth is clashing with U.S. groundwater, as proposed sites over the Ogallala Aquifer raise water security concerns.