EQuad News Fall 2019 Volume 31, Number 1 School of Engineering and Applied Science Princeton, NJ 08544-5263 www.princeton.edu/engineering
4 EQuad News DEAN’S Fall 2019 NOTE Volume 31, Number 1 Interim Dean H. Vincent Poor *77 Vice Dean Shaping Cities for People and the Planet Antoine Kahn *78 Associate Dean, As Professor Elie Bou-Zeid eloquently explains on page 14 of this magazine, the Undergraduate Affairs way we build and reshape urban areas over the coming decades will determine a lot Peter Bogucki Associate Dean, about the long-term health of society and this planet. Development Jane Maggard No small task, but Princeton excels at this kind of grand challenge. The future of Associate Dean, Diversity and Inclusion cities is a complex mix of societal, technological, environmental, economic, and Julie Yun ethical questions, and Princeton is well equipped to knit creative, effective solutions. Director of Engineering Communications More generally, the Metropolis Project that Elie introduces is just one example of Steven Schultz the high-impact work and focus on societal benefit at the School of Engineering and Senior Editor Applied Science. We have tremendous momentum and growth in data science, John Sullivan Digital Media Editor bioengineering, and robotics and cyber- Aaron Nathans physical systems, as well as in advancing Writer the overall diversity and inclusion of Molly Sharlach Communications Specialist the school. Scott Lyon Science Communication Associate All this work brings together two distinctive Amelia Herb strengths of Princeton engineers: a culture Contributors Liz Fuller-Wright of fluidly integrating diverse viewpoints Adam Hadhazy and disciplines, and the ability to distill Bennett McIntosh Melissa Moss problems to their core constraints, then Molly Seltzer develop solutions with widespread impacts. Denise Valenti Additional Editing Karin Dienst I welcome your comments, questions, and Graphic Designer personal stories of engineering in the service Matilda Luk Web Designer of society. Neil Adelantar EQuad News is published twice a year by the Office of H. Vincent Poor *77 Engineering Communications Interim Dean in collaboration with the Princeton University Office of Michael Henry Strater University Communications. Professor of Electrical Engineering Note on alumni class years Following Princeton University convention, undergraduate alumni are indicated by an apostrophe and class year; graduate alumni, whether Photo by Sameer A. Khan/Fotobuddy master’s or doctoral, are indicated with a star and class year. EQuad News C-222, EQuad, Princeton University Princeton, NJ 08544 T 609 258 4597 1 14 23 26 29 32 F 609 258 6744 News Cities Faculty Undergraduate Graduate Alumni [email protected] engineering.princeton.edu/ News News News News news/e-quad-news Copyright © 2019 by The Trustees of Princeton University In the Nation’s Service and the 250019 Service of Humanity Photo by David Kelly Crow
NEWS
CARTER NAMED EXECUTIVE VICE CHANCELLOR AND PROVOST AT UCLA Emily A. Carter, dean of Princeton University’s Eisgruber, president of Princeton University. Emily Carter School of Engineering and Applied Science, “She is a distinguished leader and brilliant became the executive vice chancellor and scholar with heartfelt commitments to aca- provost of the University of California, Los demic excellence, diversity, and the environ- Angeles, on Sept. 1, 2019. ment. Though we will miss having Emily as H. Vincent Poor, the Michael Henry Strater our colleague at Princeton, we look forward University Professor of Electrical Engineer- to applauding her accomplishments as she ing who served as dean from 2006 to 2016, returns to UCLA.” is serving as interim dean as a search for At UCLA, where she was a faculty mem- Carter’s successor proceeds. ber for 16 years before joining the Princeton Carter, who was the founding director of faculty in 2004, Carter serves as the univer- the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Envi- sity’s second-ranking officer and as the chief ronment for six years before becoming dean of operating and academic officer. The position engineering in July 2016, championed an calls for “bringing broad vision and executive important set of initiatives, including planning leadership to campus-wide policy, planning, for a new campus neighborhood for engineer- initiatives, and operations.” ing; a new first-year curriculum; growth of “Working with so many dedicated and ex- research and teaching in data science, bio- traordinarily talented colleagues at Princeton, engineering, robotics, and the future of cities; as well as passionately supportive alumni, and multiple resources to strengthen has been an honor and privilege,” Carter said. diversity and inclusion across faculty, staff, “With their shared vision and momentum, the and students. School of Engineering and Applied Science will “Emily Carter has made extraordinary con- continue to grow in serving humanity through tributions to Princeton as a scientist, mentor, innovation and generations of amazing center director, and dean,” said Christopher L. students.” –Steven Schultz
1 GIFT FROM ERIC AND WENDY SCHMIDT TO CREATE 3 2 A NEW HOME FOR COMPUTER SCIENCE NEWS NEWS Historic Guyot Hall will be substantially rebuilt educate, train, convene, and support a broad will have 44 tenure-track computer science with proceeds from gifts made to Princeton by and expanded to create a new home for data science community at the University. faculty members in the fall semester of 2019. Cleveland H. Dodge 1879 and his mother to Princeton’s Department of Computer Science, Additionally, in 2009 the Schmidts established More than 36% of the department’s under- benefi t the University’s programs in geology thanks to a gift from Eric Schmidt ’76 and his the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Transformative graduate majors are women, about double the and biology. wife, Wendy Schmidt. Planned for completion Technology Fund, an endowment which sup- national average. Renovations will preserve the original in 2026, the building will be renamed as the ports the invention, development, and utiliza- “Princeton recognizes that computational collegiate Gothic architectural details of the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Hall and will consoli- tion of cutting-edge technology that has the thinking as a mode of scholarship, inquiry, and building’s exterior, and the Guyot name will date the computer science department — capacity to transform research in the natural critical thinking is essential across campus,” be recognized in a new built space located which is currently spread out over nine differ- sciences and engineering at Princeton. said Jennifer Rexford ’91, the Gordon S. elsewhere on campus which will be associ- ent buildings — into one purpose-built space. Eric Schmidt was formerly chief executive Wu Professor of Engineering and chair of ated with Princeton’s environmental science “Eric Schmidt’s brilliant career as a com- offi cer of Google from 2001 to 2011 and then Princeton’s computer science department. programs. The Schmidts’ gift will come to puter scientist makes the Schmidt name es- served as executive chairman of Alphabet Inc, “We are deeply grateful for Eric and Wendy Princeton from the Schwab Charitable Fund. pecially fi tting for the new home of Princeton’s Google’s parent company. He has also previ- Schmidt’s gift, which makes it possible to The renovation of Guyot Hall will increase world-class Department of Computer Science,” ously served as a trustee of the University. have a central location for computer science the square feet assigned to the computer sci- said President Christopher L. Eisgruber. “We Wendy Schmidt is a businesswoman and in which we can create intellectual collisions ence department and will also build in capac- are deeply grateful to Eric Schmidt ’76, his philanthropist. She is the president of The and serendipitous encounters between faculty ity for future growth of the department’s faculty wife, Wendy Schmidt, and Schmidt Futures Schmidt Family Foundation and co-founder of and among students, creating human connec- and student body. During renovation of Guyot, for their spectacular vision and generosity. Schmidt Ocean Institute. tions that spark new ideas across campus and the University will provide additional interim Their extraordinary commitments to this new Eric Schmidt noted that when he earned beyond.” space in the Friend Center for the depart- facility, to the Schmidt DataX Fund, and to the his undergraduate degree from Princeton in Guyot Hall was built in 1909, and was ment. Construction is planned to begin in early Schmidt Transformative Technology Fund have 1976, “I majored in electrical engineering, be- named for Princeton’s fi rst professor of 2024, with the computer science department powerfully enhanced Princeton’s capacity for cause computer science was barely an option. geology and geography, Arnold Guyot, a projected to move into the renovated building teaching, innovation, and collaboration that Now it’s the largest department at Princeton member of the faculty from 1854 to 1884. in mid-2026. open new frontiers of learning and improve and data science has the potential to trans- The building’s construction was supported the world.” form every discipline, and fi nd solutions to Earlier this year, the University announced profound societal problems. Wendy and I are Photo by David Kelly Crow the gift establishing the Schmidt DataX Fund, excited to think about what will be possible COMPUTER SCIENTIST KERNIGHAN *69 ELECTED TO which will advance the breadth and depth when Princeton is able to gather students and AMERICAN ACADEMY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES of data science impact on campus, acceler- faculty in one place, right at the center of cam- Brian Kernighan *69, a pioneer of early among programmers as “K&R,” is a funda- ate discovery in three large, interdisciplinary pus, to discover now-unimaginable solutions programming languages and software tools mental text on the language. His most recent Guyot Hall research efforts, and create opportunities to for the future century.” and a scholar known for distilling and clarify- books include “Millions, Billions, Zillions” Stu Feldman ’68, Schmidt Futures chief ing complex technical subjects, has been (Princeton University Press, 2018) and scientist, said “Princeton University’s computer elected to the American Academy of Arts and “Understanding the Digital World” (Princeton science department is already one of the best Sciences. A professor of computer science, University Press, 2017). in the world, and with this beautiful and larger Kernighan is among fi ve Princeton faculty Kernighan received his master’s and purpose-built space, it is exciting to imagine members, a visiting professor, and six alumni doctoral degrees in electrical engineering how its stature will continue to grow.” joining the academy this year. from Princeton. He worked at Bell Labs for Princeton’s computer science department Kernighan’s work focuses on programming, 30 years before joining the Princeton faculty has grown to become the largest undergradu- software tools, application-oriented languages, in 2002. Among other honors, he is a recipient ate major at the University, with approximately and technology education. He is the author of of the USENIX Association Lifetime Achieve- 25% of students majoring or earning a certifi - a series of books that have become known for ment Award and is a member of the National cate in the discipline. Around 60% of under- Brian Kernighan *69 clarity and precision. Among them is “The C Academy of Engineering. graduates enroll in COS126, the introductory Programming Language” (Prentice Hall, 1978), computer science course, and the University written with Dennis Ritchie. The book, known Photo by Danielle Alio ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE DETECTS 5 4 ANTS' SURVIVAL STRATEGY COULD AID LEADERLESS GROUP ROBOTICS A NEW CLASS OF MUTATIONS BEHIND AUTISM NEWS NEWS Ants’ frenzied movements may seem aimless In a new analysis, Princeton researchers Many mutations in DNA that contribute to body. Mutations in genes result in mutated and erratic to a casual observer, but closer created a mathematical model to explain how disease are not in actual genes, but instead proteins whose functions are disrupted. Other study reveals that an ant colony’s collective desert harvester ants collectively weigh the lie in the 99% of the genome once considered types of mutations, however, disrupt how behavior can help it thrive in a harsh environ cost of losing water while foraging against the “junk.” Even though scientists have recently genes are regulated. Mutations in these areas ment — and may also yield inspiration for benefit of bringing in more food. The model come to understand that these vast stretches affect not what genes make, but when and robotic systems. is a tool for investigating how ant colonies of DNA do in fact play critical roles, deciphering how much they make. these effects on a wide scale has been impos- Until now, it was not possible to look Graduate student respond to a changing environment, and how Renato Pagliara Vásquez behavioral differences among colonies affect sible until now. across the entire genome for snippets of DNA spent part of two sum- their long-term survival and reproductive Using artificial intelligence, a Princeton-led that regulate genes and predict how mutations mers conducting field success. The team published their results in team has decoded the functional impact of in this regulatory DNA are likely to contribute research on desert such mutations in people with autism. The harvester ants in the journal PLOS Computational Biology. to complex disease, the researchers said. southern New Mexico. Professor Naomi Ehrich Leonard ’85, the researchers believe this powerful method is This study is the first proof that mutations in study’s senior author, has previously analyzed generally applicable to discovering such regulatory DNA can cause a complex disease. the dynamics of bird flocks and fish schools genetic contributions to any disease. “This method provides a framework for to understand how large groups can operate Publishing in the journal Nature Genetics, doing this analysis with any disease,” said efficiently without central control. Insights the researchers analyzed the genomes of Olga Troyanskaya, professor of computer sci- gained from these natural systems can help in 1,790 families in which one child has autism ence and genomics and a senior author of the the design of robot teams to carry out search spectrum disorder but other members do not. study. The approach could be particularly help- and rescue missions or take measurements The method sorted among 120,000 mutations ful for neurological disorders, cancer, heart of environments inaccessible to humans. to find those that affect the behavior of genes disease, and many other conditions that have Photo by Renato Pagliara Vásquez –Molly Sharlach in people with autism. Although the results do eluded efforts to identify genetic causes. not reveal exact causes of cases of autism, “This transforms the way we need to think GOOGLE AI LAB BOLSTERS INNOVATION AND INVENTION they reveal thousands of possible contributors about the possible causes of those diseases,” for researchers to study. said Troyanskaya, who also is deputy direc- At an event to celebrate Two Princeton University computer science pro- intelligence. The lab builds on several years Much previous research has focused on tor for genomics at the Simons Foundation’s the opening of the Google fessors are leading a new Google AI lab that of close collaboration between Google and identifying mutations in genes themselves. Flatiron Institute in New York, where she led a AI Lab in Princeton, senior is located in the town of Princeton and which Abby Van Soest (center) professors of computer science Elad Hazan Genes are essentially instructions for making group of co-authors. –Steven Schultz presents her research officially launched in May. and Yoram Singer, who will split their time the many proteins that build and control the poster to NJ Governor Phil The lab, at 1 Palmer Square, is already working for Google and Princeton. The work Genes predicted to be Murphy (left) and Assembly- playing a vital role in expanding New Jersey’s at the lab includes a small number of disrupted by regulatory man Andrew Zwicker (right). innovation ecosystem by building a collabora- faculty members, graduate and undergraduate mutations in people with au- tive effort to advance research in artificial student researchers, recent graduates, and tism tended to be involved in brain cell functioning and software engineers. fell into two categories. One “We are thrilled that Google is in Prince- category (shown in blue) re- ton,” President Christopher L. Eisgruber said lates to synapses, commu- in celebrating the new lab at an event that nication hubs between neu- rons, and the other (shown was also attended by former chairman and in red) relates to chromatin, executive CEO of Google Eric Schmidt ’76 and the highly structured form of
Photo by Denise Applewhite Photo by New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy. “By bringing DNA and proteins required together talented researchers from Princeton for proper gene expression in chromosomes. and Google, and by giving them access to Google’s exceptional computing resources, this collaboration promises to deepen our un- derstanding of machine learning and produce exciting innovations,” Eisgruber said. –Liz Fuller-Wright Image by Troyanskaya Lab/Neil Adelantar 6 ALCATRAZ ISLAND IS UNLIKELY PLACE OF LEARNING 7 SUNLIGHT PULLS HYDROGEN FROM WASTEWATER FOR STUDENTS OF ENERGY INNOVATION NEWS NEWS Hydrogen is a critical component in the manu- The process “allows us to treat wastewater On Alcatraz Island, five students from Photo by Jana Ašenbrennerová facture of thousands of common products and simultaneously generate fuels,” said Jing Princeton University peered across the San from plastic to fertilizers, but producing pure Gu, a co-researcher and assistant professor Francisco skyline from a solar rooftop. Their hydrogen is expensive and energy inten- of chemistry and biochemistry at San Diego visit to the historic prison’s electricity sive. Now, a research team at Princeton has State University. microgrid was one stop on a spring break trip harnessed sunlight to isolate hydrogen from The researchers said the technology could to see emerging energy technologies, part of industrial wastewater. appeal to refineries and chemical plants, a new course on energy innovation and In a paper published in the journal Energy which typically produce their own hydrogen entrepreneurship. & Environmental Science, the researchers from fossil fuels, and face high costs for “Before this class I didn’t even know what reported that their process doubled the cur- cleaning wastewater. the energy sector looked like,” said Diego rently accepted rate for scalable technologies Historically, hydrogen production has relied Fierros, a senior studying mechanical and that produce hydrogen by splitting water. on oil, gas, or coal, and an energy-intensive aerospace engineering. “It was a giant The technique uses a specially designed method that involves processing the hydro- engineering conglomerate.” chamber with a “Swiss cheese” black silicon carbon stock with steam. Chemical manu- The trip took students to the front lines interface to split water and isolate hydrogen facturers then combine the hydrogen gas of Silicon Valley, from startups and incubators gas. The process is aided by bacteria that with carbon or nitrogen to create high-value to multi-million-dollar solar and battery generate electrical current when consuming chemicals, such as methanol and ammonia. companies, including Tesla and SunRun, to organic matter in the wastewater; the current, The two are ingredients in synthetic fibers, see up close how entrepreneurs are commer- As part of the spring course “Energy Innovation and Entrepreneurship,” students took in turn, aids the water-splitting process. fertilizer, plastics, and cleaning products, cializing new energy technologies. an optional trip over spring break to Silicon Valley. The trip included a visit to Alcatraz The team, led by Zhiyong (Jason) Ren, pro- among other everyday goods. On Alcatraz, the students saw the microgrid across from San Francisco to learn about the microgrid that powers the island, Researchers run the composed of solar panels and batteries. From left to right, a Princeton Power wastewater through fessor of civil and environmental engineering Although hydrogen can be used as a vehi- that powers the island, composed of solar Systems field operator and a National Park Service ranger stroll with Darren Hammell, a specially designed and the Andlinger Center for Energy and the cle fuel, the chemical industry is currently the panels and batteries. The ability to use solar CEO of Princeton Power Systems who teaches the course, and Princeton graduate chamber, use a lamp to Environment, chose wastewater from brew- largest producer and consumer of hydrogen. energy to support most of the island’s opera- student Isla (Xi) Han, along the rooftop of the historic prison on Alcatraz Island. simulate sunlight, and eries for the test. They ran the wastewater Producing chemicals in highly industrialized tions, despite periodic cloudiness and nightly watch the organic com- pounds in the waste through the chamber, used a lamp to simulate countries requires more energy than produc- darkness, reflects decades of improvements in Through case studies on existing compa- break down and the sunlight, and watched the organic compounds ing iron, steel, metals, and food, according to battery cost and technology, said Darren Ham- nies and via collaborative discussions and hydrogen bubble up. break down and the hydrogen bubble up. a 2016 report from the U.S. Energy Informa- mell ’01, the president and CEO of Princeton presentations on company business models, tion Administration. The report estimates that Power Systems. Hammell taught the course the students learned many factors that producing basic chemicals will continue to be as part of his tenure as a Gerhard R. Andlinger affect how a technology is scaled up. The trip the top industrial consumer of energy over the Visiting Fellow in Energy and the Environment. allowed students to use that knowledge in next two decades. Hammell had behind-the-scenes access conversations with company executives. “It’s a win-win situation for chemical to the Alcatraz power systems because his “We were able to ask them questions and other industries,” said Lu Lu, the first company built and deployed the island’s mi- about why they made certain decisions,” author on the study and an associate research crogrid. He founded Princeton Power Systems said Erin Redding, a senior in the Woodrow scholar at Princeton. “They can save on as an undergraduate at Princeton in 2001 Wilson School of Public and International wastewater treatment and save on their energy and developed the course to bring a business Affairs. “That was really cool to be able to use through this hydrogen-creation process.” and entrepreneurship perspective to students go from a class project to actually applying –Molly Seltzer studying energy technologies. that knowledge in conversations with a CEO “It’s important for students to understand of a startup.” –Molly Seltzer not just the engineering aspects of energy projects and technologies, but the policy and economic context,” said Hammell. “They need to be able to assess potential applications, Photo by Bumper DeJesus markets, and customers, and how a new inno- vation might be positioned within the existing industry.” 8 NEW TECHNOLOGY MARKS A KEY STEP TOWARD SHRINKING RESEARCH FINDS SOME BACTERIA TRAVEL ALTERNATE PATH 9 A MEDICAL LAB TO FIT ON FINGERTIP TO ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE NEWS NEWS A commercial fluorescence-based bio- sensor typically carries an array of classical optical components including multiple filter sets, lenses, and gratings. The more sensitive the system is, the more expensive and bulky
the setup. Crow Kelly David Photo by The researchers found that tiny metal layers already built into modern microchips can relatively easily be adapted to take advantage of light’s unusual behavior when interacting with structures smaller than a single wavelength of light. Harnessing the light in this way allows for detection of thousands of biological substances, from bacterial DNA to hormones. And because modern microchips Photo by Frank Wojciechowski Frank Photo by already are designed to be extremely small, From left: Kaushik Identifying a patient’s viral infection or diag- these structures can be made using standard Sengupta, assistant nosing a blood disorder usually requires a lab manufacturing techniques, Sengupta said. In a study with implications for efforts to halt “Our study has demonstrated that Princeton researchers have professor of electri- and skilled technicians. Now researchers at The new sensor chip, like a classic lab the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, persister bacteria can add substantially to identified a new path that cal engineering, and some bacteria take toward Princeton University have developed a new setup, detects targeted molecules by using researchers at Princeton have identified a new, the risk that antibiotic-resistant mutants will Haw Yang, professor antibiotic resistance. The of chemistry, have technology that goes a long way toward replac- chemical antibodies designed to react in the troubling path that some bacteria take toward arise,” said Mark Brynildsen, an associate research team included developed sensor ing the lab with a single microchip. presence of a specific molecule. The antibod- resistance. professor of chemical and biological engineer- (from left) Mark Brynildsen, technology using The technology, described in articles in the ies are modified to generate light at a specific The discovery focused on bacteria called ing at Princeton and the study’s senior author. associate professor of standard microchips. journals ACS Photonics and Biomedical Optics wavelength (fluoresce) when they are exposed persisters, which are different from antibiotic- “We’ve known that because they survive the chemical and biological engineering; Allison Express, uses tiny metal layers embedded in to the target. resistant bacteria. Resistant bacteria possess first wave of treatment, persisters can cause Murawski, an M.D.-Ph.D. a microchip to eliminate all complex and bulky In a standard lab, the antibodies are genetic mutations that directly protect them chronic infections. But their role in promoting student; and Theresa optical instrumentation employed in diagnostic placed in small wells on a testing plate against antibiotics. Persisters, on the other drug resistance is an unexpected and Barrett *17, who recently labs. As a result, the new system is almost as about the size of a playing card. To make hand, while not genetically endowed with a troubling finding.” completed her doctoral small as a grain of salt, and far less costly to the assembly small enough to fit onto a chip better chance of survival than resistant mu- To help slow the emergence of lethal work in Brynildsen lab's and is finishing a medical manufacture than current diagnostic systems. measuring 4 millimeters per side, Sengupta tants, can nevertheless tough it out because superbugs, clinicians and pharmacologists degree at Rutgers Robert “The key idea is to allow complex optical and his group worked with the group led by of certain genes they switch on or off before, will need to adopt new therapeutic tactics Wood Johnson Medical systems in modern-day chips,” said Kaushik Haw Yang, a chemistry professor, to develop during or after antibiotic treatment. against persisters. “Our study offers School in New Brunswick, Princeton researchers New Jersey. have created biosen- Sengupta, an associate professor of electrical new techniques to prepare and distribute The new study, published in Nature Com- compelling data that when treating bacterial sors by adapting engineering and one of the project’s leaders. the antibodies. munications, found that the line between populations, we have to get rid of the silicon chip technol- Although more work is required, the the two types of bacteria is not as clear as persisters,” said Brynildsen. –Adam Hadhazy ogy similar to that researchers hope the technology will lead scientists previously thought. In fact, the found in personal to diagnostic systems contained in a pill or researchers found that some persisters were computers and mobile phones. The technol- deployed on a smartphone. more likely than standard bacteria to produce ogy uses tiny metal “We show for the first time that this level offspring with the direct, genetic-mutation layers embedded in a of optical field manipulation is possible in a resistance to antibiotics. More disturbingly, the microchip to eliminate silicon chip. By eliminating all classical optics, researchers found, the persisters’ offspring all complex and bulky the system is now small enough that you went on to exhibit resistance not only to the optical instrumenta- tion employed in the could start thinking about putting it in a pill,” drug their forbearers had survived but also to diagnostic labs. Photo by Lingyu Hong Sengupta said. –Bennett McIntosh completely different classes of antibiotics. Princeton researchers 10 OPTIMIZING OPERATIONS FOR AN UNPRECEDENTED VIEW OF THE UNIVERSE have built an electronic NEWS array on a microchip Under construction on a remote ridge in the and astronomical “seeing” — the amount of that simulates particle interactions in a hyper- Chilean Andes, the Large Synoptic Survey star twinkling caused by Earth’s atmosphere, bolic plane, a geometric Telescope (LSST) will boast the world’s largest which can affect the resolution of telescope surface in which space digital camera, helping researchers detect images. While cloud cover is relatively rare at curves away from itself objects at the solar system’s edge and gain the LSST site in the Atacama Desert, one of at every point. insights into the structure of our galaxy and the driest places on Earth, clouds are still a the nature of dark energy. concern for the telescope’s operation. This extraordinary power is attracting At each moment of the night, these scores of researchers worldwide, each with measurements will help a decision-making their own observational needs and timescales algorithm determine where in the sky the tele- and all contending with sporadic cloud cover scope should point and which filter it should and other variable conditions. In short, a major use to capture an image. The LSST will use six scheduling challenge. filters that allow the transmission of different
An automated telescope scheduler wavelengths of light, ranging from ultraviolet of the researchers Images courtesy developed by researchers at Princeton and the to near-infrared. The light spectra emitted by University of Washington aims to maximize the astronomical features such as supernovae, LSST’s efficiency over the span of its opera- or exploding stars, can reveal key information tion, currently planned for 10 years beginning about their origins and chemical composition. in 2023. “Because we’re making a real-time deci- The Large Synoptic Survey Tele- The team includes Elahesadat Naghib *19, sion, the LSST can actually evaluate the scope will boast the world’s largest who earned a Ph.D. in Princeton’s Department clouds and be able to keep observing, where- digital camera, helping researchers of Operations Research and Financial Engi- as [with previous telescope algorithms] they detect objects at the solar sys- neering, and Professor Robert Vanderbei. would have to shut down the whole observa- tem’s edge and gain insights into STRANGE WARPING GEOMETRY the structure of our galaxy and the The scheduler will collect real-time data on tory when the night was cloudy,” said Naghib. HELPS TO PUSH SCIENTIFIC BOUNDARIES nature of dark energy. factors including cloud cover, sky brightness, In addition to accounting for weather and other variable conditions, the scheduler Atomic interactions in everyday solids and hyperbolic space. By introducing photons into incorporates information about the length of liquids are so complex that some materials’ the lattice, researchers can answer a wide A schematic of the properties continue to elude physicists’ range of difficult questions by observing the resonators on the time required for the telescope to rotate from microchip, which are one field of view to another. Optimizing the understanding. Solving the problems math- photons’ interactions. arranged in a lattice efficiency of these movements is particularly ematically is beyond modern computers, so “You can throw particles together, turn on a pattern of heptagons, important for the LSST because it will change scientists at Princeton have turned to an very controlled amount of interaction between or seven-sided polygons. positions faster than previous telescopes, and unusual branch of geometry. them, and see the complexity emerge,” said The structure exists on Researchers led by Andrew Houck ’00, a Houck. a flat plane, but simulates therefore make more observations in a given the unusual geometry time. Each night, the scheduler will prioritize professor of electrical engineering, built an Alicia Kollár ’10, a postdoctoral research of a hyperbolic plane. points of the sky not observed during the pre- electronic array on a microchip that simulates associate at the Princeton Center for Complex vious night, enabling the telescope to observe particle interactions in a hyperbolic plane, a Materials and the lead author of the study the entire southern sky every three nights. geometric surface in which space curves away published in Nature, said the goal is to allow “One of the challenges in this project is from itself at every point. It is difficult to envi- researchers to address complex questions that different regions of the sky have different sion — the artist M.C. Escher used hyperbolic that are very difficult to solve with computer constraints and different objectives, and we geometry in many of his mind-bending pieces models. have to respect all of those based on what — but perfect for answering questions about “We’re trying to implement a model at the quantum interactions, which govern the behav- hardware level so that nature does the hard Photo by M. Park/Inigo Films/LSST/AURA/NSF they require,” explained Naghib, who spent a semester working with astronomers at the Uni- ior of atomic and subatomic particles. part of the computation for you,” Kollár said. versity of Washington to refine the scheduler’s The researchers used superconducting –Molly Sharlach functions. –Molly Sharlach circuits to create a lattice that functions as a 11 Photo by Ian Douglas CONFERENCE EMPHASIZES WIDE IMPACTS OF GROWING CITIES Any attempt to address challenges of the Photo by Sameer A. Khan/Fotobuddy future, from clean energy to a sufficient food supply, must grapple with the issues raised by the planet’s rapidly growing cities, speakers said during a May 6 conference at Princeton. “We believe that the future of cities is the future of the planet,” Emily Carter, then dean of engineering, said in her opening address in the Friend Center lecture hall. Emphasizing the New York-Philadelphia corridor’s strong innovation ecosystem, the conference, called Building the Future: New Technological Frontiers in Cities, brought together representatives from academia, industry, and government to discuss research to approximately double in size. That poses Anu Ramaswami, a and policies. Princeton led coordination of challenges, but also means that society has leading researcher on sustainable urban the conference with Rutgers University, the a chance to plan and build half of the infra- systems, spoke at the College of New Jersey, the New Jersey Insti- structure that will support future cities. opening session of the tute of Technology, and Stevens Institute of “This is a great opportunity,” he said. “We Building the Future: New Technology. Twenty-three regional and national really have to try to build these new cities, and Technological Frontiers in Cities conference. firms described technological innovations retrofit existing ones, better than we have in Ramaswami joined the during a corporate session; and 16 city the past.” Princeton faculty on governments, state offices, and planning Bou-Zeid was followed by keynote speak- Aug. 1 as the inaugural Excerpts from “There Might Be Others” premiered at New York Live Arts in March 2016. The performance was organizations highlighted municipal needs ers Anu Ramaswami, an authority on India and director of the M.S. choreographed and directed by Rebecca Lazier in collaboration with the performers, with music by Dan Trueman in Chadha Center for and issues. The conference also offered a urbanization, and Cameron Carr ’03, internet- Global India and profes- collaboration with S Percussion and Mobius Percussion. Video by Metin Çavu . https://vimeo.com/214109089 panel discussion with three mayors moder- of-things strategy and sales lead for Microsoft. sor of India studies, ated by Beth Simone Noveck, New Jersey’s Ramaswami, who joined the Princeton civil and environmental engineering, and the chief innovation officer. faculty on Aug. 1 as inaugural director of the IMPROVISED DANCE EMBODIES COMPLEXITIES OF SOCIAL DECISIONS Princeton Environmental The conference highlighted Princeton’s new M.S. Chadha Center for Global India, said Institute. Princeton researchers Art evolves from decisions, as an artist com- lecturer in dance in the Lewis Center for the Metropolis Project, which supports research policies and technologies must take into developed a mathematical bines brushstrokes, dance steps, or musical Arts. In the piece, dancers make sequential into systems and technologies that will help account the wider regional and global effects analysis of dancers’ notes. When a dance group improvises from choices among 44 movement modules decisions in the rule- make cities more sustainable, resilient, liv- of cities. based improvisational a repertoire of possible movements, the inspired by a variety of dance styles. Perfor- able, and equitable. Speakers said that as the “Cities have large multiscale impacts work “There Might Be dynamics of the artistic decisions become mance rules guide and constrain when, world population continues to urbanize, the outside their boundaries,” she said. “It is Others.” The work is part even more complex. where, and how the dancers perform the ways in which cities cope with that growth will not about individual widgets and gadgets and of an ongoing effort to A team led by Naomi Erhich Leonard ’85 sequence of modules. Professor of Music be among the most critical decisions facing gizmos. Those are important, but they sit in explore collective behavior investigates collective behavior in nature Dan Trueman *99 composed accompanying in nature and art and global leaders. this larger frame.” to inform the design of and art to inform the design of control music that also relies on rules and “We are going to be, by and large, an urban The conference was organized by control systems for systems for robot teams operating in challen- improvisation. species,” said Elie Bou-Zeid, a professor of Princeton’s Office of Corporate Engagement robot teams. ging environments. “The dancers were incredible to work with,” civil and environmental engineering and one of and Foundation Relations and The Metropolis Leonard, the Edwin S. Wilsey Professor of said Leonard. “They could express the way it the conference organizers. Project, with support from Lyft. The participat- Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, is the made them feel when our manipulations of the Bou-Zeid said that over half the world’s ing institutions have since formed a working senior author of a recent mathematical analy- rules gave them more ideas. We learned new population lived in cities by 2005, and that group to seed further research. –Amelia Herb sis of dancers’ decisions and opportunities ways in which we could impose constraints number is projected to grow to 68% by 2050. and John Sullivan for collaborative composition in the rule-based on the dancers that would make the art more Over the same time, urban areas are expected improvisational work “There Might Be Others,” challenging, and therefore more interesting choreographed by Rebecca Lazier, a senior and more exciting.” –Molly Sharlach 12 13 metropolitan system of systems — they city then looks at the larger scale, consider- design economic, engineering, or policy ing how buildings can be better designed and analyses to achieve practical improvements. monitored and evaluating the risks cities incur Princeton has unique strengths in all these from natural hazards such as flooding. The pillars and the vision to see beyond the livable city surveys sensor technologies and problems of the few large metropolises of models to monitor and improve urban environ- the developed world. We are in a position to mental quality. Finally, the moving city delves lead on the most pressing interdisciplinary into critical and rapid shifts in transportation inquiries that are required to reimagine the technology and patterns in the modern metropolises of the future. metropolis. These are but a few samples of In the following pages, we survey how how Princeton researchers work daily to shape Urbanization has always been about technology. research of Princeton faculty, students, and a better urban future. CITIESAgricultural technology produced the food that is also why Princeton Engineering has recently postdocs is enabling a better urban made the first cities viable, construction and launched its Metropolis Project for urban future. In the wired city, we consider the Elie Bou-Zeid is a professor of civil and envi- elevator technologies allowed them to concen- science and engineering. important role of new hardware, software, ronmental engineering and the director of the trate into small areas while their populations The Metropolis Project will create a and information networks in collecting and Program in Environmental Engineering and increased, and transportation technology re- research ecosystem that enables Princeton to analyzing data and creating knowledge. The Water Resources. versed that trend and caused them to sprawl. play a central role in meeting the urbanization sustainable city showcases innovative building The big question looking forward is: How will challenge. We will leverage our world-class blocks of the metropolis such as new technological breakthroughs — in sensors, programs in disciplines necessary to make materials, structures, and systems. The built models, data analytics, networks, and con- breakthroughs and shift paradigms about nected devices — shape the 21st-century the future of the city: engineering and com- metropolis, from the dense urban cores to the puter science, natural sciences, architecture, distant connected communities and regional economics, policy, demography, and history, Elie Bou-Zeid’s research Earth systems that are vital for providing the among others. We will also take advantage of uses mobile sensors such resources cities need? our relatively small size, which facilitates and as the vehicle-mounted The associated grand challenge is to guide encourages interdisciplinary and fundamental Mobile Urban Sensing Technology (MUST) to technological advances on a path that im- research. Interdisciplinarity has to be at the gather data about urban proves urban living. A path that makes future core of our vision. To have a deep impact, this environments. The research metropolises, as well as smaller agglomera- work requires close interactions between three team included (from left) tions, more resilient in the face of natural groups: (i) Developers who advance science Hamidreza Omidvar *19, and human-made disasters and shocks, and engineer technologies such as algorithms, Einara Zahn, Bou-Zeid, and Maider Llaguno. more sustainable in using resources, more sensors, structures, models, cyberphysical socioeconomically equitable, and simply more systems, and many more; (ii) Users who refine livable. Given that about 70% of the planet’s and apply innovations to engineer the building population will live in urban regions by 2050, blocks and advance the systems of a metropo- and that these built-up agglomerations will lis (water, communications, government, etc.) be responsible for well over 70% of resource — the early adopters of new technologies; use and anthropogenic emissions, this com- (iii) Integrators who examine how the impact of ing transformation of the city is crucial to the specific technologies, design principles, or human race’s future and its quality of life. It engineered systems cascades through the
Photo by Sameer A. Khan/Fotobuddy
14 15 H. Vincent Poor *77 Yueh-Lin (Lynn) Loo *01 Interim Dean, School of Director, Andlinger Center for Energy THE SUSTAINABLE THE WIRED Engineering and Applied Science and the Environment Michael Henry Strater University Theodora D. ’78 and William H. Walton III ’74 Professor of Electrical Professor in Engineering Engineering Complex materials and thin-film electronics CITY CITY Wireless networks and Princeton researchers are working to create energy systems technology that allows buildings to adapt The very structures of cities In cities of the future, To support the information infra- to their occupants’ needs. Devices such as play an important role in urban infrastructure will be structure of the future, cities will smart windows developed by Loo regulate environments, from influencing electronic as well as need wireless systems, includ- how much sunlight and solar heat enters the residents’ energy needs to physical. The sensors and ing emerging 5G networks that building to improve occupants’ comfort and affecting local climates and networks that support can accommodate traffic from a reduce heating, cooling, and lighting needs. ensuring resilience against business, leisure, and multitude of smart devices and natural hazards. Developing everyday life will face much sensors, and enable the explod- new structures and maintaining greater demand and scope. ing capacity demands of urban existing ones are important communications. challenges.
Sigrid Adriaenssens Associate Professor of Civil and Jennifer Rexford ’91 Environmental Engineering Gordon Y.S. Wu Professor in Engineering Engineering design framework for the future Networks, internet measuring urban environment Rexford is among Princeton researchers Cities of the future will become increasingly dense, who work on measuring and managing which necessitates highly efficient design. information superhighways by giving Princeton engineers are rethinking fundamental networks the ability to self-monitor and approaches to structures such as Adriaenssens’ adapt to traffic in real time. ultra-lightweight long-span bridges and buildings, which require a minimum of anchor points.
Naveen Verma Forrest Meggers Claire White Professor of Electrical Engineering Assistant Professor of Architec- Associate Professor of Civil and Environ- ture and the Andlinger Center for mental Engineering and the Andlinger Center Application-driven circuits Energy and the Environment for Energy and the Environment In cities of the future, the most pedestrian elements such as walls, floors, and other Building systems design and Sustainable cement surfaces will be self-assessing and self- integration, thermodynamics of Expanding cities will mean even greater use monitoring. Sensors developed at Princeton the urban environment of concrete — a major source of greenhouse Engineering can detect structural damage Engineering researchers are gas emissions — for buildings, sidewalks, or chemical changes in the environment, or designing low-energy building and roads. Researchers at Princeton are monitor the activities happening in a space. systems to harness geo- working to make concrete more sustainable thermal power and heat transfer by replacing conventional cement with to make buildings more sustain- lower-energy alternatives including industrial Text by Amelia Herb, photos by Sameer A. Khan/ able, comfortable, and efficient. byproducts and processed minerals, together Fotobuddy unless otherwise indicated with routes to permanently encapsulate carbon dioxide. 16 17 James Smith Denise Mauzerall William and Edna Macaleer Professor of Civil and Environmental THE LIVABLE THE BUILT Professor of Engineering and Engineering and Public and Applied Science International Affairs Hydrometeorology, flooding and Air quality policy the hydrologic cycle Princeton researchers analyze model CITY CITY Climate change is predicted to results on strategies to reduce air worsen flooding that threatens urban pollution and greenhouse gas emissions As humanity becomes more Structures are cities’ building blocks, systems. Researchers at Princeton around the world. They evaluate the urbanized, maintaining health and as cities grow and change, the role use advanced techniques to measure co-benefits of emission reductions for and happiness in crowded of structures must change as well. In rainfall, gauge atmospheric condi- human health, food security, solar environments becomes some cases, it means protecting and tions, and understand the physics of electricity generation, and climate critical. Clean air, clean water, modifying existing buildings; in others, extreme flooding to protect people change in order to inform productive, and efficient transit systems it means designing new structures to and cities. far-sighted environmental policies. are essential parts of the meet emerging needs. solution. Mark Zondlo Associate Professor of Civil and Maria E. Moreyra Garlock Environmental Engineering Professor of Civil and Atmospheric chemistry and composition Environmental Engineering Mobile sensors attached to airplanes or Creative and resilient urban vehicles, combined with sophisticated engineering modeling, allow researchers to identify Future coastlines will become the emissions of air pollutants and increasingly urbanized, while greenhouse gases, thereby helping to simultaneously being threatened by improve air quality and the climatic foot- rising sea levels and other coastal prints of urban and global environments. environmental hazards. Princeton Photo by G. Brad Lewis researchers are studying novel building techniques such as elegant thin-shell concrete structures that Gerard Wysocki can withstand these changes. Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering (Wysocki pictured at right)
Branko Gliši Laser-based systems for Associate Professor of Civil and chemical sensing Environmental Engineering Princeton researchers are developing techniques to Structural health monitoring detect chemical threats to New construction techniques are important, but urban environments using it is estimated that roughly half the buildings sophisticated lasers and that will make up cities in 2050 are already sensing systems that offer standing today. Princeton researchers are fast, compact, highly sensi- developing techniques to monitor the structural tive, and selective detection integrity of buildings and infrastructure to of airborne molecules. signal needed repairs before they become emergencies. 18 Photo by Frank Wojciechowski 19 Illustrations courtesy of the researchers
Warren Powell ’77 THE MOVING Professor of Operations Research and Financial Engineering Optimization under CITY uncertainty Princeton researchers across Transportation into, out of, and a range of disciplines work within cities has been one of the to optimize systems from key enablers of urban growth. As power grids to transportation cities grow larger and more complex, networks to ensure that in- ensuring that people, goods, and creasingly complex cities will information flow smoothly will run smoothly despite often- Photo by David Kelly Crow become all the more important. incomplete information.
Alain Kornhauser *71 Professor of Operations Research and Financial Engineering Transportation In future cities, smart-driving, on-demand car fleets have the potential to make trans- As a microcosm of the challenges facing “We are exploring ways to build resilience portation safer, more efficient, coastal cities around the world, New York’s that is multilayered and multifaceted," said PRINCETON and more eco-friendly as well Jamaica Bay pretty much has it all. Guy Nordenson, professor of architecture and as more accessible to older Home to about 3 million people, one of the affiliated member of the Department of Civil COLLABORATORS adults and people with world’s busiest airports, and sensitive coastal and Environmental Engineering. Along with BRING LAYERED disabilities. ecosystems, Jamaica Bay is a lagoon bordered Nordenson, principal collaborators at Princeton by Brooklyn and Queens at the southwestern include Ning Lin *10, associate professor APPROACH edge of Long Island. This region is vulnerable of civil and environmental engineering, and TO RESILIENCY to an evolving set of threats, including sea- Michael Oppenheimer, the Albert G. Milbank level rise, increasingly intense storms, and Professor of Geosciences and International IN NEW YORK shifting rainfall patterns. Affairs and the Princeton Environmental Photo by Frank Wojciechowski This complexity makes it a perfect place Institute. Yiguang Ju to apply the cross-disciplinary approach that In the Jamaica Bay report, the authors Robert Porter Patterson Professor of a team of Princeton University researchers propose a two-tiered set of storm barriers: an Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering CITY is bringing to improving the resilience of New outer 6.7-mile barrier linking high ground to the Alternative fuels and low-carbon York and other coastal cities. Culminating north and south of the bay could be closed to by Steven Schultz energy conversion years of research funded by the National protect John F. Kennedy International Airport In addition to needing better materials Science Foundation and supported by the and other critical areas against extreme for storing energy in batteries, vehicles Princeton Environmental Institute, the events; while a lower, more inland barrier of the future will require low-carbon bio- Princeton team recently published a 170-page would provide passive protection against tidal derived liquid fuels that are greener and report that details existing conditions, flooding as sea levels rise, yet preserve the more efficient alternatives to conventional analyzes climate and sea-level trends, and ecology of the marshes. fossil fuels. proposes solutions to protect Jamaica Bay’s The work is part of a larger effort in neighborhoods, infrastructure, and ecology. New York and beyond. Lin, Nordenson, and 20 21 Previous page: A team Oppenheimer are longstanding members of studies, supported by the NPCC, on worst-case FACULTY HONORED FOR DISTINGUISHED TEACHING AND MENTORING 23 of Princeton architects, the New York City Panel on Climate Change scenarios about melting of the Antarctic Ice FACULTY engineers, and scientists (NPCC), a group established by the city in Sheet and the impact on sea-level rise for Peter Ramadge, the Gordon Y.S. Wu Profes- always felt that my academic well-being and led an effort to plan NEWS 2008 that released its fourth major study in cities such as New York. The work is an sor of Engineering, received the engineering success remained her priority,” said one solutions that could protect school’s 2019 Distinguished Teacher Award. former advisee. a critical part of New York March 2019. By studying and applying solu- example of collaborations that “grow from City from rising seas and tions in New York, the Princeton team seeks to the local to the global, as well as from the Ramadge’s research focuses on machine Matthew Weinberg, assistant professor of intensifying storms. One build a broader methodology for protecting global down to the local,” he said. learning and signal processing. Recently, he computer science, received the annual award component is a storm surge coastal cities. “NPCC provides an example to the rest of has worked with colleagues in neuroscience for excellence in undergraduate teaching from barrier that would operate A key element of the work is combining the world for how localities can approach the on analysis of functional Magnetic Reso- the Princeton University chapter of the Phi during more intense, less nance Imaging (fMRI). Ramadge also directs Beta Kappa honor society. He was one of two frequent storms. state-of-the-art climate projections with the analysis problems characterized by substantial particular practical questions that affect cities. uncertainty, yet deliver science that is ready to Princeton’s Center for Statistics and Machine faculty members who received the award. Lin said that city officials need details about be used by policymakers,” Oppenheimer said, Learning. Weinberg studies algorithmic mechanism Wojciechowski Frank Photo by rainfall, storm surge, sea level, and wind, not noting that New York already has made intel- Sharad Malik, chair of electrical engineer- design, algorithmic game theory, and algo- just large-scale features such as air and sea ligent use of the work. ing, said in the award nomination that Rama- rithms under uncertainty. temperatures. “The NPCC’s science, including the Prince- dge’s teaching style “blends a deep commit- Engineering student organizations have “There is a gap between the decision- ton team’s integrative work spanning engineer- ment to fundamentals with essential real-world twice honored Weinberg for excellence in making and the large-scale climate ing and architecture, has informed everything examples, providing students with both a firm teaching for his class on economics and protections," said Lin. While broad climate from our updated building and zoning codes to grounding and a real sense of how to apply computing. Peter Ramadge projections are critical, she said, regional the design of our large-scale coastal protec- their knowledge.” Students highlighted Weinberg’s skill in officials are dealing with more immediate tion projects,” said Jainey Bavishi, director of “Peter’s teaching is marked by incredible preparing students for the math and theory problems. “You are going to make a decision the New York City Mayor’s Office of Recovery dedication, meticulous attention to detail, and requirements in computer science. Citing for this building, this dam, this community.” and Resiliency. outstanding caring and mentorship for his Weinberg’s strength in accommodating the In a talk at an NPCC conference in March, In addition to Nordenson, Lin, and students,” said Malik, the George Van Ness varied experience of students, they noted that Below: The planning Oppenheimer said the practical work of ana- Oppenheimer, the authors of the Jamaica Lothrop Professor in Engineering. his courses “serve as a meaningful stepping accounted for a range of Kenneth Norman, chair of psychology and stone toward deeper theory for students with storm scenarios and time- lyzing hazards and solutions for New York has Bay report include Professor of Architecture scales as well as the unique informed his work as a contributing author to Paul Lewis *92, graduate alumna Rennie co-teacher of a course with Ramadge, said in more mathematical maturity.” And, when topography, ecosystem, the award nomination that “Peter’s approach students struggle with the material, they are Emily Carter, former dean reports for the Intergovernmental Panel on Cli- Jones *16, former research scholar Reza of engineering, shown at communities, and infra- is to extract the essence of the material and met with Weinberg’s “willingness to meet until mate Change, the lead international organiza- Marsooli, and Catherine Seavitt of the City the 2019 Class Day, was structure of the region. tion assessing climate change. He cited recent College of New York. Undergraduates Yolanda present it with such searing clarity that even late hours and for much longer than scheduled recognized for her work Jin ’20 and Reuben Zeiset ’19 also contributed students who have seen the material before in order to get ‘un-stuck’ on a problem.” with graduate students. as part of summer internships. learn something new.” Nordenson said the work includes Emily A. Carter, the Gerhard R. Andlinger several broadly useful principles: designing Professor in Energy and the Environment, for a range of scenarios, from minor to Emeritus, and former dean of engineering, severe; using world-class science to project received a Graduate Mentoring Award from the how those scenarios are likely to change McGraw Center for Teaching and Learning. She over decades; integrating multiple layers of was one of four faculty members who received solutions, such as a combination of wetlands, the honor. barrier islands, seawalls, levies, and dunes; Carter was the founding director of the and developing accurate maps of current Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environ- and future flood risks. ment and served as engineering dean from This combined perspective leads to 2016 until 2019 (see story, page 1). Carter’s greater creativity and effectiveness, he said. research combines applied mathematics, “We can put ideas out there that are bolder quantum mechanics, and physical chemistry to than what government folks can put out enable the discovery and design of materials themselves and that start to pull people in for sustainable energy technologies. a different direction.” Despite substantial administrative duties during her tenure, students described Carter as an attentive and involved mentor. “I 22 Photo by Tori Repp/Fotobuddy 24 RECENT FACULTY AWARDS, PROMOTIONS, AND HONORS 25 Photo by David Kelly Crow FACULTY Photo by David Kelly Crow FACULTY NEWS CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL Brian Kernighan *69 Andrew Houck ’00 MECHANICAL AND NEWS ENGINEERING Member, American Academy E-Council/GEC Excellence in AEROSPACE ENGINEERING José Avalos of Arts and Sciences (see Teaching Award, SEAS Emily Carter Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar, story, page 3) Distinguished Alumni Award, National Science Foundation E-Council/GEC Excellence in Sharad Malik Caltech (NSF) Teaching Award, SEAS Intel Outstanding Researcher Award, Intel Corporate Luc Deike Clifford Brangwynne Gillat Kol Research Council Faculty Early Career MacArthur Fellowship, John D. E. Lawrence Keyes Jr. / Distinguished Alumni Award, Development (CAREER) and Catherine T. MacArthur Emerson Electric Company University of California- Award, NSF Foundation Yueh-Lin (Lynn) Loo *01 Faculty Advancement Award, Jennifer Rexford ’91 Berkeley Department of Yiguang Ju SEAS Electrical Engineering and Pierre-Thomas Brun International Prize, Combustion COMPUTER SCIENCE Matthew Weinberg Sameer A. Khan/Fotobuddy Photo by Photo courtesy & of John D. MacArthur Foundation Catherine T. Sloan Research Fellowship, Computer Sciences Howard B. Wentz Jr. Junior Society of Japan Ibrahim Albluwi Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Howard B. Wentz Jr. Junior Claire Gmachl Clifford Brangwynne Faculty Award, School of E-Council/GEC Excellence in Faculty Award, SEAS Prateek Mittal Andrej Kosmrlj Engineering and Applied Teaching Award, SEAS Wyatt Lloyd *13 E-Council/GEC Excellence in Young Investigator Program Alfred Rheinstein Faculty Award, Science (SEAS) Sloan Research Fellowship, Teaching Award, SEAS Award, U.S. Army Research SEAS Mark Braverman Pablo Debenedetti Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Office Alan T. Waterman Award, Alpha Chi Sigma Award for ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING Anirudha Majumdar NSF Arvind Narayanan H. Vincent Poor *77 Amazon Research Award, Chemical Engineering Presidential Early Career Award Minjie Chen Benjamin Garver Lamme Award, Research, American Institute Bernard Chazelle Faculty Early Career Amazon.com Inc. for Scientists and Engineers, American Society for Faculty Research Award, of Chemical Engineers Test-of-Time Award, European NSF Development (CAREER) Engineering Education Symposia on Algorithms Award, NSF Google AI Yueh-Lin (Lynn) Loo *01 Photo by Steve Schultz Honorary Doctor of Engineering, University of Waterloo Alexander Smits Defense Science Study Group, Edward Felten Yuxin Chen Dani Dillena Photo by Photo by David Kelly Crow Kelly David Photo by Fluid Dynamics Prize, American 2020-2021 Distinguished Service Award, Young Investigator Research Peter Ramadge Amir Ali Ahmadi Mark Braverman Association for Computing Program Award, U.S. Air Force Physical Society Robert Prud’homme Distinguished Teacher Award, Machinery (ACM) Office of Scientific Research Edison Patent Award, Research SEAS Member, U.S. Privacy and Civil Photo by Sameer A. Khan/Fotobuddy OPERATIONS RESEARCH AND & Development Council of Liberties Oversight Board Alejandro Rodriguez FINANCIAL ENGINEERING New Jersey Presidential Early Career Award Amir Ali Ahmadi Robert Fish for Scientists and Engineers, Presidential Early Career Award CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL Fellow, Institute of Electrical and NSF for Scientists and Engineers, ENGINEERING Electronics Engineers (IEEE) NSF Arvind Narayanan Branko Gliši Jeffrey Thompson Optimization Society Young Michael Freedman Fellow, International Society for Jennifer Rexford ’91 Presidential Early Career Award Researchers Prize, Grace Murray Hopper Award, Structural Health Monitoring Special Interest Group on Data for Scientists and Engineers, INFORMS (Institute for Crow Kelly David Photo by ACM Alejandro Rodriguez Photo by David Kelly Crow Kelly David Photo by of Intelligent Infrastructure Communications (SIGCOMM) NSF Operations Research and Award for Lifetime Sloan Research Fellowship, Claire White James Smith Thomas Funkhouser the Management Sciences) Contribution, ACM Nathalie de Leon Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Hydrologic Sciences Medal, Fellow, ACM E-Council/GEC Excellence in Special Interest Group on Teaching Award, SEAS American Meteorological Robert Sedgewick Nathalie de Leon Computer Graphics and Photo by Frank Wojciechowski Society Leroy P. Steele Prize for E. Lawrence Keyes Jr. / Mykhaylo Shkolnikov Interactive Techniques Mathematical Exposition, Emerson Electric Company E. Lawrence Keyes Jr. / Claire White (SIGGRAPH) Academy, ACM American Mathematical Faculty Advancement Award, Emerson Electric Company Gustavo Colonnetti Medal, SEAS International Union of Tom Griffiths Society Faculty Advancement Award, Laboratories and Experts Troland Research Award, Karl V. Karlstrom Outstanding Jason Fleischer SEAS in Construction Materials, National Academy of Educator Award, ACM Defense Science Study Group, SIAG/FME Early Career Prize, Systems and Structures Sciences 2020-2021 Society for Industrial and
Photo by David Kelly Crow Kelly David Photo by (RILEM) Applied Mathematics Michael Freedman Claire Gmachl Erlang Prize, INFORMS Head of Whitman College Optimization Society Jeffrey Thompson 26 27 UNDERGRAD UNDERGRAD NEWS NEWS Video still by Evelyn Tu Photo courtesy of Maryam Bahrani Video still by Evelyn Tu
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT THESES
The thesis experience allows Princeton students to apply the material skills they’ve learned over four years at the Emily Abdo, chemical and biological engineering Maryam Bahrani, computer science Mayee Chen, operations research and financial engineering University. With the guidance of faculty Plans after graduation: Working as an engineer for Jacobs Plans after graduation: Pursuing a Ph.D. in theoretical Plans after graduation: Starting a Ph.D. in computer science at advisers, all undergraduates discover Engineering at Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas computer science at MIT Stanford University new ways to apply their knowledge. On pushing through: “It’s been a challenge, but it also has On learning through collaboration: “Collaborating with several On new directions in research: “My adviser (Elad Hazan) “I am amazed by the resilience been a really good lesson in how to start a huge project and people taught me about how my approach to research is helped me work through the steps of generalizing my algorithm and motivation some of them display,” take it all the way to completion.” sometimes different from others, and how to utilize those and pointed out the most interesting directions to take the said Elad Hazan, a computer science differences to produce better work. ” project. My work with him has shaped my goals of continuing to professor. “They truly become pursue machine learning research.” researchers.” –Melissa Moss Photo courtesy of Whitney Huang Photo by Kenalpha Kipyegon, Class of 2022 Video still by Evelyn Tu
Whitney Huang, mechanical and aerospace engineering Joyce Kimojino, civil and environmental engineering Bhaskar Roberts, electrical engineering Plans after graduation: Working as an engineer at Zipline Plans after graduation: Working for InterSystems Corporation Plans after graduation: Pursuing a Ph.D. in computer science International before attending graduate school at Princeton On theory and application: “Despite my project being on the On seeing the bigger picture: “A key takeaway from my On the intellectual journey: “You learn to push through application side of the research spectrum, having a theoretical thesis research is that there is a big intersectionality setbacks even if you’re still not getting results after months basis informing each design decision I made is so important.” between technology and environmental studies, especially and months of working on it. Although you never know how far in understanding the terrain of energy access in information- away the next success is, you know that it has to be out there.” starved areas like sub-Saharan Africa.” CLASS DAY RECOGNIZES CLASS OF 2019 FOR CURIOSITY AND ACHIEVEMENT 28 29 UNDERGRAD The 361 members of the engineering Class of 2019 participated in athletics, dance, musical GRADUATE NEWS and theatrical performances, made scientific discoveries and novel technological advances, and NEWS served the University and wider community through volunteer work. Graduates went on to pursue graduate and professional degrees; work for employers including Microsoft, Google, and IBM; play professional sports, teach, enter military service, or start new companies. Members of the class have received honors including Fulbright fellowships and National Science Foundation fellowships. At Class Day ceremonies on June 3, the School of Engineering and Applied Science presented the following awards:
Photo by Tori Repp/Fotobuddy Award winners at the 2019 Class Day Photo by Sameer A. Khan/Fotobuddy Photo by GRADUATE STUDENTS HONORED FOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING AND SERVICE Two engineers were among seven graduate study, who also has great skills in simplifying The Graduate School students who received the Graduate School’s and clarifying the material.” honored seven graduate students with its annual annual teaching awards in April. Laura Leal is a Ph.D. student in operations teaching awards in recog- Mattias Fitzpatrick graduated in June research and financial engineering. She was nition of their outstand- with a Ph.D. in electrical engineering (applied nominated for her work as a preceptor for ing abilities as teachers. physics). He served as an assistant in “Fundamentals of Statistics.” Pictured from left to right are Emma Kast, instruction (AI) for “Foundations of Engineering: “Being so close to the students, she Mattias Fitzpatrick, David Electricity and Photonics.” He received the understands the difficulties they experience, Villalobos-Paz, Laura electrical engineering department’s Richard C. and being able to channel this information Leal, Dean of the Gradu- Hough Teaching Award and the Keller Center to the instructor of the class is invaluable,” ate School Sarah-Jane Leslie, Wasim Shiliwala, for Innovation in Engineering Education’s said René Carmona, the Paul M. Wythes ’55 Elena Dugan, and George J. Rich Steers Award Joseph Clifton Elgin Prize Calvin Dodd MacCracken The Lore Von Jaskowsky Outstanding Teacher Award. Professor of Engineering and Finance and Sorg-Langhans. Alexander Hsia Amber Lin Senior Thesis/Project Award Memorial Prize James Sturm ’79, the Stephen R. Forrest professor of operations research and financial Mechanical and Aerospace Civil and Environmental Emily Geyman Coleman Merchant Professor of Electrical Engineering, said engineering. “I have found her insights to be Engineering Engineering Geosciences Mechanical and Aerospace Fitzpatrick developed the entire lab component extremely useful when preparing homework Nyema Wesley Moyinoluwa Opeyemi Mitchell Hallee Engineering for the course, which was offered for the first problem sets, [and] midterm and final exams, Civil and Environmental Computer Science Civil and Environmental Peter Russell time in spring 2018 to address the preparation as she knows precisely how the students will Engineering Engineering Electrical Engineering of incoming engineering undergraduates. fare, and how much further we can push them George J. Mueller Award Gerry Wan “Due to this new freshman physics/math to achieve their best potential.” Jeffrey O. Kephart ’80 Prize Amanda Brown Electrical Engineering James Hayes-Edgar Palmer sequence in the School of Engineering and Students said Leal was an enthusiastic Prize In Engineering In Engineering Physics Operations Research and Applied Science, approximately 20 sophomores instructor and dedicated to helping students Emily de Jong Ryoto Sekine Financial Engineering The Tau Beta Pi Prize are now majoring in engineering who would understand course materials. “What truly sets Chemical and Biological Electrical Engineering Maximilian Véronneau Diego Fierros have otherwise transferred out,” Sturm said. Laura apart is the care and commitment she Engineering Mechanical and Aerospace Mechanical and Aerospace “Mattias Fitzpatrick deserves the credit for a shows for each and every one of her students,” Gavin Zhu Engineering Engineering large fraction of this result.” said one student. “More than any other Operations Research and Said a student, “It has been very inspiring preceptor I have had, Laura goes out of her way Financial Engineering having a chance to learn from someone so to ensure that her classroom is one in which passionate and enthusiastic about their field of everyone feels brave enough to try and safe enough to fail.” –Denise Valenti 31 GRADUATE NEWS
Photos by Frank Wojciechowski PIERRE YVES GAUDREAU PIERRE YVES GAUDREAU LAMARRE RESEARCH AND OPERATIONS FINANCIAL ENGINEERING Hometown: Canada Denholm, M.S.; University of B.S., Canada Ottawa, Gaudreau Lamarre develops mathematical tools using probability to analyze complex systems. Often, physical in a phenomenon called some broad universality, properties of large systems can be observed independent microscopic of the system’s details. A problem of great interest to mathematicians is to under- and physicists stand the mechanisms that cause universality and to build mathematical machinery to study the quantitative features of such systems. Gaudreau Lamarre develop has helped mathematical tools providing a deeper understanding of the in some universal behavior models of interacting particle such as gases of systems, positively charged particles. His goal is to advance this work across multiple types of natural and human-made complex systems.
RENATO PAGLIARA PAGLIARA RENATO VÁSQUEZ MECHANICAL AND ENGINEERING AEROSPACE Hometown: Guatemala Guatemala City, University, B.S.; Simon Fraser Canada seeks Vásquez Pagliara insights for designing decen- high-perfor- robust, tralized, mance systems that adapt to conditions by environmental studying the collective behav- iorssystems. of biological He has demonstrated how feedback across different timescales helps regulate ant allowing colonies’ foraging, them to thrive in the hot desert region of the southwestern United States. Pagliara is also studying the Vásquez spread of disease to better un- derstand of ideas the spread across networked systems. His work on resilient collective will help illuminate behavior other decentralized biological medi- processes in ecology, and the environment, cine, and will help create robust and systemic methodologies that enable engineered multi-agent systems to inherit some of the remarkable features of natural systems. KYUNG MIN LEE KYUNG MIN LEE ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING Hometown: South Korea Seoul, York New B.E.; Cooper Union, an Organic semiconductors, alternative to conventional silicon-based electronics, offer exciting opportunities for designing unconventional for many electronic devices research focuses uses. Lee’s on building systems with light-emitting organic semi- including flexible conductors, with high-efficiency displays and biodegradable electronics. Enabling energy efficiency and biodegradability is an interest- but it ing scientific problem, also has important practical implications for reducing energy consumption and most Lee’s electronic waste. is building recent endeavor light-emitting polymer transistors synthetic to drive chemistry for use in batter- ies. She hopes to see organic electronics research help solve and problems of plastic waste energy consumption. COMPUTER SCIENCE COMPUTER SCIENCE Hometown: China Dalian, B.E.; Tsinghua University, China M.E.; National University of Singapore his who completed Zhang, studied doctorate in 2018, allowing computer vision, artificial intelligence (AI) sys- tems to understand the world such as through visual inputs, in photos or videos. Within this main research focus his realm, 3D scene understanding, was how to mea- which investigates sure the 3D shape and mean- ing of the surrounding environ- ment. While it is still extremely challenging for computers to Zhang inte- fulfill these tasks, grated computer vision algo- rithms with computer graphics and emerging deep-learning techniques to significantly their performance.improve The ultimate goal of his research the visual to empower was perception component of next-generation AI systems with comprehensive and robust scene understanding capability. YINDA ZHANG ZHANG YINDA CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING Hometown: Connecticut Hamden, B.A.; Connecticut College Historic structures are abundant in cities across yet millions stand the nation, vacant. Napolitano develops diag- tools for documenting, and communicating nosing, damage of historic buildings to promote projects such as adaptive reuse and retrofitting. She uses drones and image- based 3D reconstruction work to document structures’ numerical simula- conditions, tions and machine learning techniques to understand how occurred, damage could have and virtual reality to convey this information a broad au- to dience. This research not only strives to preserve cultural but also promotes heritage, sustainable practices. By recy- engineers can cling buildings, reduce carbon emissions and in the hopes of material waste creating sustainable cities for the future. REBECCA NAPOLITANO REBECCA NAPOLITANO JENI SORLI JENI SORLI CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL ENGINEERING Hometown: Montana Red Lodge, B.S.; University of Colorado- Boulder Organic semiconductors en- hance technologies including displays, lighting, solar cells, easier are and sensors. They and cleaner to synthesize than traditional materials and can that are be made into devices flexible and relatively inexpen- sive. Researchers can adjust organic semiconductors’ properties changing their by chemical structure. Sorli is de- veloping a deeper understand- ing of how such changes alter the structures and the optical and electronic properties of such organic semiconductors, as electrical charge transport when the semiconductor is assembled into thin-film struc- tures. Her work highlights the importance of understanding molecular structure and pro- cessing conditions to enable future applications of organic materials in electronics.
30 GRADUATE NEWS SCIENTIFIC FOUNDATIONS GRADUATE STUDENTS STUDENTS GRADUATE BUILD TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS ON STRONG With a strong basis in fun- With a strong basis Princeton damental science, pursuegraduate students re- the bound- search that pushes Some aries of their fields. involve of their innovations while highly theoretical math, others emerge from hands-on work in the laboratory or in the field. All use technology to address real-worldand needs problems. Projects featured here include computer vision analysis of insect systems, that will inform robot- behavior and techniques ics controls, to combine historic preser- vation and environmental sustainability. 32 ALUMNI HONORED FOR RESEARCH AND TEACHING ALUMNI TAPPED FOR NATIONAL SERVICE, ADVISORY ROLES 33 ALUMNI ALUMNI NEWS Frances Arnold ’79, the Linus Pauling Kelvin H. Lee ’91 received the 2019 Eric Schmidt ’76 joined the National Security Christopher Hart ’69 *71, who holds NEWS Professor of Chemical Engineering, Bioengi- Marvin J. Johnson Award in Microbial and Commission on Artificial Intelligence. He a B.S.E. and M.S.E. in mechanical and aero- neering and Biochemistry, and director of the Biochemical Technology from the American heads the group of 15 tech experts who ad- space engineering from Princeton, was hired Donna and Benjamin M. Rosen Bioengineering Chemical Society’s Division of Biochemi- vise the government on national security as an independent safety adviser to Pacific Center at Caltech, won the 2018 Nobel Prize cal Technology. He is the Gore Professor of implications of artificial intelligence and on Gas and Electric Company to focus on wildfire in Chemistry for pioneering directed evolution Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at how to maintain U.S. dominance in the threats. He also headed delegations exam- of enzymes. Her bioengineering methods for the University of Delaware and the director technology market. Schmidt, who has a B.S.E. ining the Federal Aviation Administration’s creating new enzymes have benefited industry, of NIIMBL, the National Institute for Innovation in electrical engineering from Princeton, is the certification of the Boeing737 Max airliner. medicine, and other fields. Arnold earned her in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals. former executive chairman of Google’s parent Hart is the former chairman of the National S. Raja B.S.E. in mechanical and aerospace engineer- Lee’s B.S.E. in chemical engineering is company, Alphabet Inc. Transportation Safety Board. Krishnamoorthi ing at Princeton and her Ph.D. in chemistry from Princeton and his Ph.D. in the same S. Raja Krishnamoorthi ’95 was appointed from the University of California-Berkeley. subject is from Caltech. a member of the House Permanent Select Audrey Ellerbee Bowden ’01 was named Sindee L. Simon *92, Committee on Intelligence. Krishnamoorthi is a fellow of the International Society for Optics the Whitacre Department a U.S. Representative for Illinois’s 8th Con- Frances Arnold and Photonics. A professor of biomedical Chair and Horn Professor gressional District. His J.D. is from Harvard engineering at Vanderbilt University, Bowden of Chemical Engineering and his B.S.E. in mechanical and aerospace graduated with a B.S.E. in electrical engineer- at Texas Tech University, engineering is from Princeton. ing from Princeton and a Ph.D. in biomedical was named recipient of the engineering from Duke University. 2019 International Award ALUMNI NAMED TO LEADERSHIP ROLES IN BUSINESS Lance Collins ’81, the Joseph Silbert Dean from the Society of Plastics Sindee Simon Curtis Arledge ’87 joined the Mariner Elizabeth Clymer ’03 was appointed CFO of Engineering at Cornell University, was pre- Engineers. She is the first Investment Group LLC, an international of Jobcase, a social media platform where sented with the Edward Bouchet Legacy Award, woman in the society’shistory to receive the investment management firm. He serves members can manage multiple aspects of which especially recognizes educators and ad- award. Simon holds a B.S. from Yale as chairman and CEO and heads the asset their work-lives. She previously spent 10 years vocates who promote diversity and inclusion. University and a Ph.D. from Princeton, both management platform of ORIX USA, a major as an operating partner at Bain Capital Private While dean, Collins increased the proportion in chemical engineering. shareholder. Arledge’s undergraduate degree Equity. Clymer’s B.S.E. in operations research of underrepresented students significantly, and Avi Wigderson *83, the Herbert H. Maass from Princeton is in electrical engineering. He and financial engineering is from Princeton and female enrollment has grown to 50%. Collins Professor in the School of Mathematics at the serves on the advisory council of Princeton’s her M.B.A. is from Harvard. Elizabeth Clymer has a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylva- Institute for Advanced Study, was recognized Bendheim Center for Finance. Thomas Kurian ’90, who holds a B.S.E. nia and a B.S.E. in chemical engineering from with the Donald E. Knuth Prize for outstanding Douglas Boothe ’86 in electrical engineering from Princeton and Princeton, where he serves on the advisory contributions to the foundations of computer was named president and an M.B.A. from Stanford, became the head of council for the Department of Mechanical and science. His research includes randomized CEO of Akorn Inc., a phar- Google Cloud. He was president of product Aerospace Engineering. computation, cryptography, maceutical company. Previ- development at Oracle for over 20 years. J. Alex Halderman ’03 *09, a professor of and circuit complexity. ously, he served as presi- Kurian is a member of Princeton’s School of electrical engineering and computer science Wigderson earned his Ph.D. dent of Impax Laboratories’ Engineering and Applied Science Leadership and director of the Center for Computer Secu- at Princeton in electrical generic division. Boothe’s Council. Thomas Kurian rity and Society at the University of Michigan, engineering-computer M.B.A. is from the Uni- Douglas Pagan ’93 joined KSQ Thera- received an Andrew Carnegie Fellowship. His science after receiving Douglas Boothe versity of Pennsylvania and peutics, a drug discovery company, as CFO. winning proposal is titled “Strengthening Elec- his B.A. from the Israel his B.S.E. in mechanical and aerospace engi- Before this, Pagan was CFO of Paratek Phar- tion Cybersecurity with Evidence-based Elec- Institute of Technology Avi Wigderson neering is from Princeton. maceuticals, playing a key role transforming tions.” Halderman received his A.B. and Ph.D. in 1980. Paratek from a development-stage company from Princeton, both in computer science. to a commercial one. His B.S.E. in chemical engineering is from Princeton, and his M.B.A. is from Columbia. Douglas Pagan
Photos courtesy of the subjects