The Ohio State University | Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering & ALUMNI MAGAZINE | FALL 2019 A CULTURE OF IMPACT: WELCOME FROM OHIO STATE ECE DEPARTMENT CHAIR, HESHAM EL GAMAL ALUMNI A culture of caring: As I was reflecting on my first year of service as a chair, I could not think of a better description of The Ohio State University Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) program. We deeply care about our scholar- than seeing the spark in their eyes as ship, the impact of our research on the they proudly discuss their research state of Ohio and the world, our com- results. We collectively decided to munity composed of outstanding staff put more focus on engaging our un- DIVERSITY and faculty, and above all, our students. dergraduate students in our faculty This care is exhibited in our commit- research activities. Toward this end, INCLUSION ment to offer our students a world the department is offering more sum- class educational experience extend- mer undergraduate research schol- ing beyond the classroom, the high arships and developing a strategy to QUALITY standards we hold ourselves to when strengthen the engagement of our conducting cutting-edge research, and faculty with student advising and ac- MENTORSHIP the collegial, supportive and inclusive tivities outside the classroom. culture we are very proud of. Last year, we held two department POSITIONING Our department has had a remark- retreats to discuss our strategic plan able year. Our faculty and research for taking the Ohio State ECE depart- role we should play on campus, state- scientists have been busy pushing ment to the next level. With over- wide, and the world. We continue the frontiers of our discipline on mul- whelming support, we agreed on the to be inspired by the insights of our tiple fronts, from securing the next following five pillars of “Diversity,” accomplished alumni base and plan generation of chips to the develop- “Inclusion,” “Quality,” "Mentorship,” to put additional efforts in reaching ment of bio-sensors, machine learn- and “Positioning.” I am very grate- out to celebrate their remarkable suc- ing tools, and new devices empow- ful for the passionate discussions cesses. The department is also very ering applications to benefit society, and engagement by our faculty and active in support of the College of En- it is hard to find a branch of ECE in staff that led to this vision for our gineering and the campus research which our scholarly contributions are future. Now, we turn our attention priorities in Cybersecurity, Mobility, not impactful. Among other recogni- toward developing and implement- Manufacturing, Medicine and Ma- tions, our research at Ohio State is ing policies and metrics guided by terials. Our quality is recognized by recognized by NSF-CAREER awards, these principles, allowing us to be university leadership and the sup- MURI Awards, several multi-million laser focused on our student-centric port we receive from the college and dollar awards from the Department mission. Among other things, we are the Office of Research is highly ap- of Energy, and a Center of Excellence holding focus groups among our stu- preciated. on Hardware Security from AFOSR/ dents to gain more insights on how I am very grateful for being part AFRL. to further develop our diverse and of Ohio State ECE, as we embark on For me, the most amazing part of inclusive culture. our next academic year. I am a firm our research endeavor is the trans- We recognize the importance of believer our exceptional “culture of formative impact on the minds of feedback while defining our path for- caring” will continue to inspire our our graduate and undergraduate ward. Last year, we engaged different faculty, staff and students to new students. Nothing is more satisfying stakeholders in discussions over the heights. ■ Keep up to date on Ohio State ECE news and accomplishments by subscribing to our ECE Weekly newsletter at: ece.osu.edu/ece-weekly-newsletter 2 | BITS & SPARKS ALUMNI MAGAZINE AWARDS A LOOK INSIDE ALUMNI CULTURE RESEARCH 24 Machine Learning And Cybersecurity 26 Next-Gen 36 ECE alumni 50+ 6 ECE Veteran Millimeter years of success Support Wave Devices 38 The future of 8 Making Strides 28 ECE undergrad WOSU, a history at Ford wins Goldwater in engineering Scholarship 9 Dotting the "i" 40 Subiksha in Destiny 14 Under the Radar 29 Alumnus named Madhavan 2019 Next-Gen Reshikeshan 10 MeetUp: CDME 16 Ohio State part Innovator Of of $7.5 million The Year 41 Saeedeh 11 Note from the MURI award Ziaeefard Alumni Society 30 ECE grad President 17 ECE team earns attracts 42 Academic $2.2 million electromagnetic improv collaborative awards energy grant 43 Sesquicentennial 31 El Gamal student scholars Hongping Zhao: Named National 18 Transformational Academy of 44 ECE banquet Energy Inventors Fellow 45 ECE honors Underwater 32 ESL Annual its retiring 20 Robotics Awards event Marathon Man 46 Buckeye Current 2020 49 Class of 2019 BITS & SPARKS FALL 2019 © The Ohio State University Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering David D. Williams Hesham El Gamal Ryan Horns Dean, College of Engineering ECE Department Chair ECE/IMR Communications Specialist Michael V. Drake Kathleen Coen Laura J. Sanders, Ryan Horns University President ECE Development Officer Design and Layout FALL 2019 | 3 ALUMNI “IF YOU’RE AN ELECTRICAL ENGINEER, THINK ABOUT THE AUTO INDUSTRY. IT’S A PLACE THAT NEEDS YOU AND IT’S A REALLY EXCITING PLACE TO BE RIGHT NOW.” ECE ALUMNUS MATTHEW WOLFE 4 | BITS & SPARKS ALUMNI MAGAZINE 10 FALL 2019 | 5 OHIO STATE ECE LEADING IN VETERAN SUPPORT Veteran. Student. Mother. Engineer. Buckeye. fter serving in the Coast and universities are expecting a surge in Ohio and No. 8 nationwide. Guard for six years, Brandi in veteran enrollment unseen since ECE Chair, Hesham El Gamal, said A Downs found herself switch- World War II. Creating a welcome en- support for veterans is crucial as they ing from military life to that of an vironment for those service men and enter academia. atypical student at Ohio State. women is essential. “Many returning vets face serious A veteran, student, mother and According to the U.S. government, emotional challenges,” he said. wife, she began a new phase of her life veterans often experience enhanced Read on as Ohio State ECE alum- as a Ph.D. scholar in the electrical and feelings of isolation, or extended re- ni and current students explain why computer engineering (ECE) program. covery from physical and emotional they became Buckeyes and how their She is part of Professor Joel Johnson’s issues from serving in wartime. Many time here helped to deal with the tran- remote sensing team at Ohio State’s fail to graduate or succumb to depres- sition from carrying a weapon to car- ElectroScience Laboratory. sion or suicide. rying a book bag. While her trajectory in academia Ohio State’s reputation for veteran What they describe is an envi- is blossoming, the transition outside support is growing. College Factual cur- ronment of respect for their service, of military life is not always easy for rently ranks the university No. 4 nation- diverse resources, affordability and some veterans. With wars in Iraq and wide for veteran student support and most important, a community of sup- Afghanistan winding down and en- friendliness. The electrical engineering portive people. hancements to the GI Bill, colleges program is specifically ranked the best 6 | BITS & SPARKS ALUMNI MAGAZINE BRANDI DOWNS TYLER GROWDEN While in the Coast Guard, Downs Growing up in Ohio, spent time training in Alaska, Flor- Growden knew he ida and Wisconsin as a machinery wanted to go to technician working inside battle- Ohio State. ship engine rooms. “Unfortunately, I was However, it was her time spent oper- a bit of a troublemaker in ating navigation systems for a search high school,” he admitted. and rescue station where she truly The chances of head- discovered a future in engineering. ing to college were not Downs chose Ohio State because of looking good for him. its strong engineering reputation and “My family didn’t in-state tuition assistance through the have the money to pay GI Bill program. for college either, so the By focusing on remote sensing, military was a good road Downs later learned what a great deci- to take,” he said. “The sion she made. The Ohio State Electro- Army gave me the dis- Science Lab is one of the most respect- cipline, motivation, and ed of its kind in the world. funding I needed to take Downs is researching remote sens- on college.” ing signals to make measurements of Although he shaped the environment, such as hurricanes up his behavior and or ocean wind speeds. This summer, refocused years later, her role as an Ohio State graduate Growden said, his high student takes her to the Arctic, as school grades remained she joins the international Multidis- an issue. He enrolled at ciplinary drifting Observatory for the Columbus State Community Col- Research Laboratory. Study of Arctic Climate (MOSAiC) lege (CSCC) because of its partner- What helped his career trajec- expedition to study sea ice in unprec- ship with Ohio State for transfer tory so much at Ohio State, he edented detail for the first time in his- students. said, was that any connections tory. “I attended classes there for he lacked personally, ECE made There is often a stigma surround- over two years and worked hard to up for because of its ties to NASA ing veteran students, Downs said, but maintain a 4.0 GPA so I could eas- and the Wright-Patterson Air she found Ohio State supportive of ily transfer to the ECE program at Force Base.