University of Kansas Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS)

🎉 Way to go Alexis, Bhavik, and Suhaan! Check out their accomplishments from Hack Midwest: https://eecs.ku.edu/news/article/ku-eecs-students-achieve-major-success-at-hack-midwest-2024

I know... Seven years is a long time but we are back and excited to share all of the wonderful things that will be happening in the EECS Department. Don't be afraid to like our page for updates. We are getting pumped for the Fall semester to start but in the meantime we challenge you to have a relaxing Summer. We'll do the same! 😄☀️

Smithhisler Selected for 2017 School of Engineering Staff Award

Published on September 8th, 2017 by Victor Frost

Leslee Smithhisler, undergraduate assistant in the EECS administrative office, was selected for the School of Engineering Staff Award by engineering dean Michael Branicky and associate deans for her significant contributions to EECS undergraduate programs. Smithhisler joined the EECS department in 2015. She was recognized for being student-centric and friendly, for truly caring about the success of the undergraduate students and for her infectious, overflowing energy. http://eecs.ku.edu/news/dept-anncmnts/2017/09/smithhisler-selected-for/
Leslee Smithhisler Receiving 2017 School of Engineering Staff Award

Electrical Engineering Ph.D. Student Paper Receives First Place at 2017 IEEE Radar Conference

Published on September 8th, 2017 by Victor Frost

EECS Ph.D. student Patrick McCormick received 1st place in the student paper contest at the 2017 IEEE Radar Conference in Seattle. This is the premier conference devoted to advancing radar technology. His paper was selected from 124 student papers submitted from around the world. Five submissions were selected as finalists and students presented their work to a panel of judges. McCormick’s paper was titled “Simultaneous Radar and Communications Emissions from a Common Aperture, Part I: Theory.” It had a companion paper that provided the experimental demonstration of the approach using the BEEMER radar testbed at the Air Force Research Lab. While others have previously explored theoretical approaches to emitting simultaneous radar and communication signals from the same antenna array, this is the first paper to develop the theory in a way that permitted it to be physically accomplished in hardware. Further, the approach McCormick developed, named Far-Field Radiated Emission Design (FFRED), leveraged the notion of multiple-input multiple-output radar in a novel way, whereby each antenna element is driven by a unique waveform, with the set of such emissions combining in the far-field of the antenna to form the radar and communication beams. The second place prize went to a student from the University of Cape Town in South Africa. Third place went to a student from Temple University in Philadelphia. McCormick also won third place at last year’s IEEE Radar Conference. McCormick works in the KU Radar Systems & Remote Sensing Lab that has garnered a world-renowned reputation for innovations in radar since its inception in 1964. His graduate advisor is IEEE Fellow Professor Shannon Blunt.http://eecs.ku.edu/news/research-news/2017/09/electrical-engineering-ph/
Blunt (left) and McCormick at the 2017 IEEE Radar Conference in Seattle

Two EECS Students Win Collaborative Research Experience for Undergraduates Award

Published on September 8th, 2017 by Victor Frost

Computer science major Rebekah Manweiler and computer engineering major Erick Oduniyi received a year-long Collaborative Research Experience for Undergraduates award through Computing Research Association. Their project is titled "Modeling Language Learning Using Child Directed Speech." This award helps promote undergraduate women and minority students in computer science by offering support for these students to work as researchers. Their project mentors are Nicole Beckage, assistant professor of electrical engineering and computer science, and Jon Brumberg, assistant professor of speech-language-hearing. The team will develop an integrated top-down and bottom-up approach for modeling early language learning in children. Using network analysis techniques, machine learning and speech recognition systems, the students will investigate how parents adapt their speech to make language more easily learnable by young children. The students will analyze speech data for semantic meaning and phonological intelligibility of parent directed speech from birth until three years. This work will provide insight into how the relationship between phonological and semantic knowledge bolster future language knowledge in young children. http://eecs.ku.edu/news/dept-anncmnts/2017/09/two-eecs-students-win/
Left to Right: Erick Oduniyi, Dr. Jon Brumberg, Rebekah Manweiler, Dr. Nicole Beckage

EECS Hosts Second Annual GenCyber Summer Camp

Published on September 8th, 2017 by Victor Frost Featured

Thirty K-12 educators from around the country participated in the second annual GenCyber summer camp, held July 31 to August 4 at Eaton Hall. The goal of the camp, which is funded through a grant from the National Security Agency, is to teach the fundamental concepts and key aspects of cyber security, with a special emphasis on the first principles of security. The teachers also were introduced to ways to improve teaching methods for delivering cyber security content in K-12 computer science curricula. The weeklong camp is directed and taught by Bo Luo, associate professor of electrical engineering and computer science, Fengjun Li, associate professor of electrical engineering and computer science and Chris Seasholtz, assistant professor of practice in electrical engineering and computer science, with assistance from EECS and IT students from the KU Information Security Club, better known as the Jayhackers. Topics included introduction to information security and cryptography, data security and privacy, OS and network hardening and curriculum development and cyber security education in K-12. Along with hands-on workshops and many collaborative opportunities, the teachers spent time sharing insights from their own experiences within their schools. The weeklong camp concluded with a cyber security competition to test the participant’s knowledge. Along with learning and sharing their cyber security and high school CyberPatriot Club experience, several of the teachers who had never been to Kansas enjoyed visiting Kauffman Stadium to see a Kansas City Royals baseball game and to sample Kansas City style barbecue. Camp Participant April Boyd-Noronha shared her perspective on the event for at StartlandNews.com:

http://www.startlandnews.com/2017/09/april-boyd-noronha-9-takeaways-gencyber/

Many of these teachers oversee CyberPatriot teams in their schools and some attendees aspire to start a team. CyberPatriot is a Youth Cyber Education Program created by the Air Force Association to inspire K-12 students toward careers in cyber security or other science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. The CyberPatriot program, started in 2009, has grown from a few students competing in the initial competition to more than 4,400 middle school and high school teams in 2017.

The GenCyber Program is funded by the National Security Agency and National Science Foundation. It provides grants for cyber security camps targeting students and teachers at the K-12 level. The goals of the program are to help students understand correct and safe online behavior, increase diversity and interest in cyber security, create opportunities for careers in the cyber security and improve teaching methods for delivering cyber security content for K-12 programs.

As the demand for cyber security professionals continues to increase, the KU EECS department is adding faculty in that area and doubling the number of core cyber security classes. In January of 2016, KU was awarded a $4.7 million, five-year grant that is part of the NSA’s effort to encourage students to pursue a cyber security career within the government. The grant supports CyberCorps: Scholarship for Service at the University of Kansas and offers students up to two years of tuition and a generous stipend to finish their undergraduate or graduate degree, or three years of support for Ph.D. students. For more information about CyberCorps: Scholarship for Service check out sfs.ku.edu.

EECS Establishes Power Systems Laboratory

Published on September 8th, 2017 by Victor Frost Featured

The EECS department’s growing capability in renewable energies and smart grid is significantly boosted by acquiring a smart grid emulator test bench system from Lucas-Nülle, complete with solar and wind generation emulation capabilities. The shift from fossil fuel power generation to renewable energy continues to gain momentum. Today, technology has evolved to a point where solar energy, wind power, hydrogen fuel and biomass can be exploited as environmentally friendly energy sources. Well-qualified engineers are being sought after in Kansas and nationally to keep this trend moving forward. Nonetheless, renewable energy technologies are undergoing rapid change. This trend is being compounded by rising expectations in training and education. The acquired test bench from Lucas-Nülle provides the appropriate training needed to cope with the growing complexity of power systems research and education.

The EECS department has created a new laboratory with five new workstations using this test bench to support hands-on projects such as maximum power point tracking for wind and solar generators, grid integration, fault ride through, manually-operated and automatic synchronization circuits as well as automatic power factor control and power control. This provides EECS and the KU School of Engineering with the opportunity to deliver a unique educational experience for students interested in careers in electric energy production, transmission, distribution and utilization. Experiments with this test bench have already been integrated into the EECS department’s power and energy course offerings taught by Reza Ahmadi, assistant professor of electrical engineering and computer science, who has expertise in power systems engineering.
http://eecs.ku.edu/news/dept-anncmnts/2017/09/eecs-establishes-power/

Looking for travel money? The Department is requesting proposals from EECS graduate students who are in need of financial support to present papers at conferences or workshops, attend conferences, or attend short courses, or other activities that would enhance the educational experience and knowledge of the student. The current application deadline is October 13, 2017.
http://www.eecs.ku.edu/current_students/graduate/robb_award

Researchers to study Kansans' inequality of broadband access, cybersecurity issues Researchers to study Kansans' inequality of broadband access, cybersecurity issues Tue, 08/29/2017 LAWRENCE — The dimensions of broadband access reflect similar patterns of social inequality, and those who often rely on public libraries for internet access are often at risk of cybersecurity concerns...

Check out what's been happening in EECS and watch for exciting news as we begin the new academic year. http://www.eecs.ku.edu/news/

News - Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science Brian McClendon, who co-created Google Earth and was recently a vice president of Advanced Technologies at Uber Technologies Inc. and is a member of the National Academy of Engineering will join the Information and Telecommunications Technology Center as research professor. Read more...

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