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Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Events for January

  • BME 533 (Seminar in Biomedical Engineering)

    Mon, Jan 09, 2012 @ 12:30 PM - 01:50 PM

    Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Dr. Dino DiCarlo, Assistant Professor, Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles

    Talk Title: Inertial Microfluidics: High-throughput cell manipulation and analysis

    Host: Department of Biomedical Engineering

    Location: Olin Hall of Engineering (OHE) - 122

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Mischalgrace Diasanta

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  • EE-Electrophysics Seminar

    Mon, Jan 09, 2012 @ 04:15 PM - 05:15 PM

    Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Joseph Kerckhoff, JILA, University of Colorado and NIST

    Talk Title: Emerging Quantum Optical Networks

    Abstract: Economic and environmental pressures continually push information systems smaller and to operate at lower energies. As a consequence, optical technologies are increasingly utilized to connect computing devices over short distances. For similar reasons and in view of recent advances in nanophotonics, large scale electro-optical integration in processors could also be advantageous. These trends raise some fundamental hardware questions, however. For example, the energy equivalent of today’s CMOS logic operation is a countable number of photons. How could we control a physical optical “bit” with significant quantum noise? Can the full quantum complexity and emergent behavior of an optical network be engineered?

    The stability problem is illustrated by a recent experiment in which quantum fluctuations destabilize bistability (a canonical context for digital logic) in an ultra-low energy, highly non-linear optical device. On the other hand, the emergence of a new binary switching phenomena in this device is also compelling. I will discuss a proposal for stabilizing related devices with a simple, on-chip and all-optical feedback network, utilizing a nascent theory of quantum optical circuits that resembles a non-commutative generalization of electrical circuit theory. Finally, I will describe a potential all-optical feedback network capable of stabilizing an unknown quantum superposition state without external oversight or even a regulating “clock,” demonstrating the wide scope of quantum optical control.


    Biography: Joseph Kerckhoff received a B.A. in Physics and English from Williams College in 2005, graduating magna cum laude. As a graduate student in the group of Hideo Mabuchi first at the California Institute of Technology and then at Stanford University, his research focused on cavity quantum electrodynamics experiments and theoretical quantum optical control networks. Receiving his Ph.D. in Applied Physics from Stanford in June 2011, Joseph is a National Research Council postdoctoral research fellow at JILA (NIST and the U. of Colorado) working on coherent feedback systems with superconducting microwave and quantum electro-mechanical devices in the group of Konrad Lehnert.

    Host: EE-Electrophysics and Physics Colloquium

    More Info: http://ee.usc.edu/news/seminars/eep

    Location: John Stauffer Science Lecture Hall (SLH) - 102

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Marilyn Poplawski

    Event Link: http://ee.usc.edu/news/seminars/eep

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  • Epstein Institute Seminar Series / ISE 651 Seminar

    Tue, Jan 10, 2012 @ 03:30 PM - 04:50 PM

    Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Qifa Zhou, Research Professor, NIH Ultrasonic Transducer Resource Center and Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California

    Talk Title: "Novel Integrated Optical Modality with Ultrasound Transducer for Biomedical Intravascular Imaging"

    Series: Epstein Institute Seminar Series

    Abstract: Atherosclerosis is a complex syndrome characterized by plaques build up on the inner lining of coronary arteries, which is the leading cause of morbidity in developed countries. Diagnosis of atherosclerotic lesions relies on medical imaging techniques significantly.

    The clinically approved Intravascular Ultrasound (IVUS) imaging normally operated at 20~40 MHz range, provides resolution no better than 100 μm, which is insufficient for detection of some critical microstructures (

    More Information: Seminar-Zhou.doc

    Location: Grace Ford Salvatori Hall Of Letters, Arts & Sciences (GFS) - Room 222

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Georgia Lum

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  • Topological Inference, Large-Scale Multiple Testing, and Random Positive Definite Matrices

    Thu, Jan 12, 2012 @ 02:00 PM - 03:30 PM

    Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Dr. Armin Schwartzman, Assistant Professor, Department of Biostatistics, Harvard University

    Abstract: The first concerns the problem of detecting local significant regions in signals and images, where the need is to make inferences about spatial features such as smooth peaks or compact regions of unknown location rather than individual pixels or voxels. Example include detection of spikes in neuronal recordings, finding protein binding sites in CHIP-Seq genomic data and finding regions of neural activation in brain imaging. Focusing on the 1D case, I propose a topological multiple testing approach involving kernel smoothing and testing of local maxima. Theory and simulation show that global error rates are controlled asymptotically and that the optimal bandwidth corresponds to the “matched filter” principle, where the kernel size should be close to that of the peaks to be detected.

    Addressing more generally the problem of large-scale testing under arbitrary correlation, such as in gene expression data, I will describe some of the difficulties in making inferences in this setting such as the added bias and variance in the usual false discovery rate (FDR) estimator and the variability of the observed distribution of the test statistics, calling for the so-called empirical null correction.

    Finally, relating to geometry and manifold-valued data, I will present statistical tools I have developed for making inferences about eigenvalues and eigenvectors of random symmetric positive definite (PD) matrices. This problem is relevant in the analysis of Diffusion Tensor Imaging data, where the observations themselves ate 3 x 3 PD matrices. The parameter sets involved in the inference problems are subsets of Euclidean space that are either affine subspaces, polyhedral convex cones, or embedded submanifolds that are invariant under orthogonal transformation. A key tool for working with random PD matrices is the matrix log transformation, leading by the central limit theorem to what may be called a matrix-variate log-normal distribution.

    Biography: Armin Schwartzman is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biostatistics at Harvard. He received his Ph.D. in Statistics from Stanford, working with Bradley Efron and Jonathan Taylor. He holds MS and BS degrees in Electrical Engineering and Science Education from Caltech and the Technion (Israel Institute of Technology).

    Host: Information and Operations Management Department, Marshall School of Business

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Mayumi Thrasher

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  • PHOTONICS AND INTEGRATED SYSTEMS SEMINAR

    Thu, Jan 12, 2012 @ 03:30 PM - 04:30 PM

    Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Willie Ng, HRL Laboratories

    Talk Title: Photonics for Microwave Systems and

    Abstract: This seminar will describe the development and utilization of photonics technologies in microwave antenna systems and ultra-wideband signal processing. It will cover our recent work on photonic assisted analog-to-digital conversion, the characterization of jitter in mode-locked lasers, frequency-locked photonic oscillators, and the use of Si microdisk heterogeneously integrated with silica waveguides for RF-photonic filtering. In addition, it will also describe how the broadband capabilities of photonics and wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) technologies can be exploited for high dynamic range antenna remoting and true-time-delay beamforming that cover multiple microwave bands.

    Biography: Dr. Willie Ng is currently a Principal Research Scientist at HRL Laboratories, Malibu, CA, a research and development company jointly owned by Boeing and General Motors. He has led the photonics effort at HRL since 1997. Under DARPA and Air Force sponsorships, he has led HRL teams that demonstrated a variety of photonic devices/subsystems designed for microwave antenna systems and ultra-wideband signal processing, including RF-photonic filtering and photonics-assisted analog-to-digital conversion. He has given many invited talks in IEEE/OSA Conferences and DARPA Symposiums, and is the author and co-author of over 100 journal articles and conference papers. He holds 20 U.S. patents in the area of photonics technology, with many pending. Cited for pioneering contributions to microwave photonics, he was one of six individuals selected to receive the Excellence in Technology Award in 2005 from the Raytheon Company. Prior to HRL, he was a Member of the Technical Staff in the Rockwell Science Center, Thousand Oaks, Calif. In the Optoelectronics Group of Dr. D. Dapkus, he developed GaInAsP/InP buried heterostructure lasers and power converters. He received his B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland, Ohio), and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology (Pasadena, Calif.) under the guidance of Prof. A. Yariv. His thesis work was on the demonstration of GaAlAs/GaAs Distributed Bragg Reflector lasers and Bragg waveguides. He is a fellow of the IEEE (Class of 2010).

    Host: Viterbi School of Engineering

    Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Marilyn Poplawski

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  • W.V.T. Rusch Engineering Honors Colloquium; Application of NASA "A-Train" Satellite Observations for Climate Model Evaluation

    W.V.T. Rusch Engineering Honors Colloquium; Application of NASA

    Fri, Jan 13, 2012 @ 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM

    USC Viterbi School of Engineering, Viterbi School of Engineering Student Affairs

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Jonathan H. Jiang, Research Scientist, Jet Propulsion Laboratory

    Talk Title: W.V.T. Rusch Engineering Honors Colloquium; Application of NASA "A-Train" Satellite Observations for Climate Model Evaluation

    Abstract: Dr. Jonathan H. Jiang, Research Scientist at Jet Propulsion Laboratory, will present "Application of NASA 'A-Train' Satellite Observations for Climate Model Evaluation" as part of the W.V.T Rusch Engineering Honors Colloquium.

    Host: W.V.T. Rusch Engineering Honors Colloquium

    More Info: http://viterbi.usc.edu/students/undergrad/honors/schedules/

    Location: Seeley G. Mudd Building (SGM) - 101

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Amanda Atkinson

    Event Link: http://viterbi.usc.edu/students/undergrad/honors/schedules/

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  • Integrated Systems Seminar Series

    Fri, Jan 13, 2012 @ 02:30 PM - 04:00 PM

    Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Prof. Shahriar Mirabbasi, University of British Columbia

    Talk Title: Design Techniques for LC-Based Circuits: From Oscillators to Wireless Power Delivery Systems

    Host: Hossein Hashemi

    More Information: Seminar_Speaker_Mirabbasi_2012_1_13.pdf

    Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Hossein Hashemi

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  • Epstein Institute Seminar Series / ISE 651 Seminar

    Tue, Jan 17, 2012 @ 03:30 PM - 04:50 PM

    Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Enid Montague, Assistant Professor and Anna Julia Cooper Fellow, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison

    Talk Title: "Trust in Sociotechnical Health Care Systems"

    Series: Epstein Institute Seminar Series

    Abstract: In health care work systems, multiple types of users are integral to system success and their trust in individual and collective aspects of the work system may provide key insights into health system functioning and design. Individual interactions with technologies are interconnected with interpersonal, organizational, and technological aspects of health care work systems. The interconnectedness of these subsystems implies that trust between multiple and individual users of a particular aspect of the system will have an effect on other aspects of the system. The interconnected subsystems have implications for how individuals perceive other people, technologies and work systems and how technologies and systems should be designed to achieve quality outcomes such as patient safety and health.

    In this talk, Dr. Montague will describe the importance of trust in health care work systems, the effects of distrust in those systems, and models of sociotechnical work systems relevant to health care work. To illustrate these points empirical research regarding patient, care provider and technology relationships will be discussed.


    Biography: Dr. Montague is an Assistant Professor and Anna Julia Cooper Fellow in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is Director of the Human-Computer Interaction Laboratory and specializes in human factors and ergonomics and health systems engineering. She received her Master’s and Doctoral degrees from Virginia Tech in Industrial and Systems Engineering.


    Host: Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering

    More Information: Seminar-Montague.doc

    Location: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) - Room 306

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Georgia Lum

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  • AME Department Seminar

    Wed, Jan 18, 2012 @ 03:30 PM - 04:30 PM

    Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Prof. Andrea M. Hodge, Department of Aerospace & Mechanical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA

    Talk Title: The Search for Stable Nanostructured Materials

    Abstract: Highly nanotwinned (nt) metals have shown a strength comparable to nanocrystalline metals, while maintaining other desired properties including ductility, conductivity, and thermal stability. However, the deformation mechanisms and mechanical stability of the nt metals is not yet fully understood. Therefore in this presentation, results from highly aligned nt-Cu samples tested in compression, torsion, and tension under various loading/testing conditions relative to the twin boundary (TB) direction will be presented. The microstructures of the tested samples were analyzed before and after deformation for each loading configuration in order to study the stability of the nanotwins.
    In all testing configurations, the nt structure was observed to be mostly stable, in which, to a significant extent, the nanotwins survived without major changes in twin size, orientation, or twin density. However, distinct differences in the overall deformation of the samples and in the extent of the changes were observed. Elevated temperature stability will also be discussed.

    More Info: http://ae-www.usc.edu/seminars/index.shtml#upcoming

    Location: Seaver Science Library (SSL) - 150

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: April Mundy

    Event Link: http://ae-www.usc.edu/seminars/index.shtml#upcoming

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  • W.V.T. Rusch Engineering Honors Colloquium; Modernization of the California Electric Power Grid

    Fri, Jan 20, 2012 @ 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM

    USC Viterbi School of Engineering, Viterbi School of Engineering Student Affairs

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: David M. Tralli, Program manager for Terrestrial Power Systems, Jet Propulsion Laboratory

    Talk Title: W.V.T. Rusch Engineering Honors Colloquium; Modernization of the California Electric Power Grid

    Abstract: Dr. David M. Tralli, Program Manager for Terrestrial Power Systems at Jet Propulsion Laboratory, will present "Modernization of the California Electric Power Grid" as part of the W.V.T. Rusch Engineering Honors Colloquium.

    Host: W.V.T. Rusch Engineering Honors Colloquium

    More Info: http://viterbi.usc.edu/students/undergrad/honors/schedules/

    Location: Seeley G. Mudd Building (SGM) - 101

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Amanda Atkinson

    Event Link: http://viterbi.usc.edu/students/undergrad/honors/schedules/

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  • Munushian Keynote Lecture

    Fri, Jan 20, 2012 @ 02:30 PM - 03:30 PM

    Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Dr. Andre Geim, Langworthy and Royal Society Anniversary Research Professor, The University of Manchester

    Talk Title: Random Walk to Graphene

    Abstract: Graphene – a single plane of carbon atoms – is probably the simplest material one can imagine. On the other hand, graphene has acquired so many superlatives to its name that people started calling it a wonder material. In this lecture, I will explain how I walked into this research area and why graphene deserves being called wonder.

    Biography: Dr. Geim is with the University of Manchester. He is the Langworthy and Royal Society 2010 Anniversary Research Professor and the Director of Manchester Centre for Mesoscience Nanotechnology. He is from the Netherlands and UK (born in Russia).

    He published over 200 peer-refereed research papers, including 15 Nature and Science articles and many more in Physical Review Letters and Nature series magazines. More than 40 of the papers are cited > 100 times, with 9 of them being cited >1000 times each. According to ISI’s Essential Science IndicatorsSM, responsible for initiating two new research fronts (on graphene and on van-der-Waals adhesives). He is credited with more than 50 named and plenary lectures.

    Dr. Geim won the 2000 IgNobel Prize for “levitating frogs” (shared with Michael Berry). He was named among “Scientific American 50” in 2006; According to Thomson-Reuters, among “hottest researchers” for 2009, 2010 and 2011. His research on superconductivity was chosen twice by AIP among 50 annual highlights (1998 & 1999). He has Honorary PhDs from Delft University, ETH Zurich & Universities of Antwerp & Manchester. He is the Hon Professor of Moscow Phys-Tech; Hon Professor of the University of Nijmegen; Hon Fellow of the Institute of Physics; Hon Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry; Corresponding Member of the Dutch Academy of Sciences; Hon Fellow of Singapore Institute of Physics; Hon Professor of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.


    Host: Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical Engineering, EE-EP

    More Info: http://ee.usc.edu/munushian

    Location: Ethel Percy Andrus Gerontology Center (GER) - 124

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Marilyn Poplawski

    Event Link: http://ee.usc.edu/munushian

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  • BME 533 (Seminar in Biomedical Engineering)

    Mon, Jan 23, 2012 @ 12:30 PM - 01:50 PM

    Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Oscar J. Abilez, M.D., Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Stanford University

    Talk Title: Biochemical, Electrical, and Optogenetic Control of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

    Abstract: Cardiovascular disease affects more than 70 million Americans and is the number one cause of mortality in the United States. Because the regenerative capacity of cardiac tissue is limited, human pluripotent stem cells (hPSC) have emerged as a potential source for cellular-based therapies. However, for these therapies to be effective, sufficient amounts of differentiated cells must be produced, these cells must be identified and sorted, and, upon implantation, arrhythmias must be avoided. In this seminar, I describe the biochemical control of hPSC for their directed differentiation into cardiomyocytes, electrical control for electrophysiology-based cell sorting, and optogenetic control for temporal synchronization.


    Biography: Guided by quantitative approaches, Dr. Abilez's long-term research goal is to ascertain the mechanisms by which various biophysical stimuli direct the development of cells and tissues from human pluripotent stem cells, and to use these findings to address challenges in the basic, translational, and clinical sciences.

    Host: Department of Biomedical Engineering

    Location: Olin Hall of Engineering (OHE) - 122

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Mischalgrace Diasanta

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  • EE-EP/Joint Colloquium with Physics

    Mon, Jan 23, 2012 @ 04:15 PM - 05:15 PM

    Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Edo Waks, University of Maryland, College Park

    Talk Title: Strong Light-Matter Interactions in Semiconductor Quantum Dots Coupled to Photonic Crystals

    Abstract: Two dimensional photonic crystals have been recognized as a highly promising scalable platform for compact integrated photonics. Another important aspect of photonic crystals is their ability to localize and trap light to spatial volumes on the order of a cubic wavelength, resulting in extremely high electromagnetic intensities. Recently, it has been shown that by embedding a single quantum dot (QD) in the high field region of photonic crystal cavities it becomes possible to achieve strong light-matter interactions at the single photon/single atom level. These unprecedented interaction strengths open up the possibility for creating nonlinear optical effects approaching the single photon level. In addition, they can be exploited to engineer unique quantum mechanically entangled states of light and matter that enable scalable quantum networks. In this talk, I will discuss our work on coupling indium arsenide (InAs) QDs to photonic crystal structures for creating nonlinear optical interactions at low photon numbers, and for storing and transferring quantum information from QD spin to photons for quantum networking. I will describe an experimental demonstration of giant optical Stark shifts with only 10 photons of energy by using a strongly coupled cavity-QD system, as well as a recent demonstration of all-optical switching with only 150 photons of control energy. I will then describe our work on coupling QD spin to light in order to realize a quantum transistor that can exhibit the quantum mechanical property of entanglement. The quantum transistor could enable a novel class of opto-electronic devices that serve as a fundamental building block for quantum computers and quantum networks.

    Biography: Edo Waks is a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Maryland, College Park. He is also a member of the Joint Quantum Institute (JQI), a collaborative effort between the University of Maryland and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) at Gaithersburg, dedicated to the study of quantum coherence. Waks received his B.S. and M.S. from Johns Hopkins University, and his Ph.D. from Stanford University. He is a recipient of an NSF CAREER award as well as a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) for the investigation of interactions between quantum dots and nanophotonic structures. His current work focuses on coherent control and manipulation semiconductor quantum dots, and their interactions with photonic crystal devices for creating strong atom-photon interactions.

    Host: EE-EP/Joint Colloquium with Physics

    More Info: http://ee.usc.edu/news/seminars/eep

    Location: John Stauffer Science Lecture Hall (SLH) - 102

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Marilyn Poplawski

    Event Link: http://ee.usc.edu/news/seminars/eep

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  • Parametric Speech Production Representations for Formant Tracking and Joint Source-filter Modeling

    Tue, Jan 24, 2012 @ 02:15 PM - 03:30 PM

    Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Dr. Daryush Mehta, Harvard University & Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital

    Talk Title: Parametric Speech Production Representations for Formant Tracking and Joint Source-filter Modeling

    Abstract: We continue to see an urgent need for robust representations of the acoustic speech waveform, especially in speakers with speech and voice impairments. First, I will discuss our approach to the problem of formant and antiformant tracking, in which extended Kalman algorithms take advantage of a linearized mapping from formant frequencies and bandwidths to cepstral coefficients in an autoregressive moving average model. Second, we will explore joint source-filter models for representing sustained vowel phonation that exhibits nonstationary or asymmetric vocal fold vibration. These algorithms hold potential clinical significance for better understanding acoustic-physiological relationships observable with current imaging systems.

    Biography: Daryush Mehta is a Research Associate in Electrical Engineering in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Harvard University, an Assistant Biomedical Engineer at the Center for Laryngeal Surgery and Voice Rehabilitation at the Massachusetts General Hospital, and an Instructor in Surgery at Harvard Medical School. Daryush received his PhD in Speech and Hearing Bioscience and Technology from Harvard–MIT (2010), Master's degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from MIT (2006), and Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from University of Florida (2003). 
http://people.seas.harvard.edu/~dmehta/

    Host: Prof. Shri Narayanan & Dr. Michael Proctor

    Location: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) - 320

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Mary Francis

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  • Low-Complexity Equalization for Multi-scale Multi-lag OFDM Channels

    Tue, Jan 24, 2012 @ 03:30 PM - 04:30 PM

    Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Zijian Tang, Research Scientist of TNO the Hague, the Netherlands

    Talk Title: Low-Complexity Equalization for Multi-scale Multi-lag OFDM Channels

    Abstract: We consider an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) transmission scheme over wideband underwater acoustic channels, where the propagation paths can experience distinct Doppler effects (manifested in signal scales) and time of arrivals (manifested in delays). We capture such an effect in this paper with a multi-scale multi-lag (MSML) model, and show that the resulting frequency-domain MSML-OFDM channel is subject to inter-carrier interference (ICI), whose amount differs per subcarrier. The corresponding channel matrix can still be approximated as highly sparse, but lacks a specific structure that can optimally be exploited by those low-complexity equalizers proposed for narrowband channels. In this paper, we propose to use the conjugate gradient (CG) algorithm to equalize the channel iteratively. The suitability of the preconditioning technique, that often accompanies the CG to accelerate the convergence, is discussed for the MSML-OFDM channel. We show that in order for the preconditioner to function properly, optimal resampling is indispensable.

    Biography: Zijian Tang received the MSc in electrical engineering and the PhD degree from the Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) in 2003 and 2007, respectively. After working with Mathworks for one year, he joined the Sonar Group at Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) in 2008 as a research scientist, where the research area covers underwater acoustic communications, anti-submarine warfare, marine mammal detection etc. Since 2010, he has also been holding a (part-time) research fellow position at the Network & Circuits Group of TU Delft. Zijian Tang is the recipient of the best student paper award (honourable mention) at ICASSP 2007, and was nominated to the Simon Stevin Gezel prize in 2008.

    Host: Prof. Urbashi Mitra, ubli@usc.edu, x04667

    Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Gerrielyn Ramos

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  • Epstein Institute Seminar Series / ISE 651 Seminar

    Tue, Jan 24, 2012 @ 03:30 PM - 04:50 PM

    Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Dr. M. Elisabeth Paté-Cornell, Burt and Deedee McMurtry Professor of Engineering, Management Science and Engineering Department, Stanford University

    Talk Title: "Risk Analysis in Real Life and Recent Developments Including Games"

    Series: Epstein Institute Seminar Series

    Abstract: This talk will focus first on the challenges- -and the joys-- of blending a full-time academic life including teaching and research on a spectrum of risk analysis topics, and a rich family life. The second part will cover recent developments in combining games and risks analyses with applications to project management and national security issues (counter-terrorism and nuclear counter-proliferation).

    Biography: M. Elisabeth Paté-Cornell

    Professor; Burt and Deedee McMurtry Professor of Engineering
    Former Chair, Management Science and Engineering
    Senior Fellow, Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, by courtesy

    Dr. M. Elisabeth Paté-Cornell was born in Dakar, Senegal, in 1948. She attended public high schools both in Dakar and in La Rochelle, France. Her undergraduate degree is in mathematics and physics (BS, Marseilles, France, 1968), and her first graduate degrees are in applied mathematics and computer science (MS and Engineer Degree, Institut Polytechnique de Grenoble, France, 1970; 1971). In 1971 she came to study and live in the United States, where she has been a citizen since 1986. She received a Masters degree in Operations Research (OR) in 1972 and a Ph.D. in Engineering-Economic Systems (EES) in 1978, both from Stanford University. She then was an Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering at MIT, before joining the Stanford faculty in 1981, where she became Professor (in 1991) and then Chair (in 1997) in the Department of Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management (IEEM). In 1999, she was named the Burt and Deedee McMurtry Professor in the School of Engineering at Stanford University. She is presently Professor and Chair of the Department of Management Science and Engineering, as well as a Senior Fellow (by courtesy) of the Stanford Institute for International Studies.
    .
    Research Projects
    Study and models of medical device development process
    Strategic risk analysis with application to nuclear nonproliferation problems
    Risk analysis and game theory: policy and management applications
    Designing early warning systems for crisis situations
    Display All Research Projects


    Host: Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering

    More Information: Seminar-Pate-Cornell.doc

    Location: Ethel Percy Andrus Gerontology Center (GER) - Room 309

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Georgia Lum

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  • Integrated Systems Seminar Series

    Wed, Jan 25, 2012 @ 03:30 PM - 05:00 PM

    Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Prof. Hui Wu, University of Rochester

    Talk Title: 3-D Integrated Free-Space Optical Interconnect

    Host: Hossein Hashemi

    More Information: Seminar_Speaker_Wu_2012_1_25.pdf

    Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Hossein Hashemi

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  • AME Department Seminar

    Wed, Jan 25, 2012 @ 03:30 PM - 04:30 PM

    Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Rouslan Krechetnikov, Assistant Professor. Department of Mechanical Engineering. University of California, Santa Barbara

    Talk Title: On a few puzzles in interfacial fluid mechanics

    Abstract: Interfacial fluid mechanics has always been an inexhaustible source of challenging questions. In this talk I will discuss three long-standing problems and our recent progress on their understanding. First, I will present the experiments on self-agitation of a pendant drop, which results from a chemical reaction at the drop interface and which generates a number of nontrivial features: nonlinear auto-oscillations, tip-streaming and droplet trajectory splitting. While some of these features are analogous to the ones in the Taylor cone problem, preliminary analysis revealed that the underlying physics is fundamentally different. The second problem addresses the controversy in the current understanding of Marangoni effects in the classical Landau-Levich problem of a film deposition by a substrate withdrawal. The talk concludes with a discussion of the nature of the crown forming instability in the drop splash problem. Namely, I will describe some recent experiments on the drop splash problem, in which a drop impinges on a thin film of the same liquid, and provide some novel theoretical insights into the nature of the fundamental instability responsible for the crown formation.

    Host: Prof. Paul Newton

    More Info: http://ae-www.usc.edu/seminars/index.shtml#upcoming

    Location: Seaver Science Library (SSL) - 150

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: April Mundy

    Event Link: http://ae-www.usc.edu/seminars/index.shtml#upcoming

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  • Distinguished Lectures Series

    Distinguished Lectures Series

    Thu, Jan 26, 2012 @ 12:45 PM - 01:45 PM

    Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Richard Braatz, Chemical Engineering, MIT

    Talk Title: NanoSystems Engineering: Analysis, Design, and Control at the Nanoscale

    Series: Distinguished Lectures Series

    Host: Joe Qin

    Location: James H. Zumberge Hall Of Science (ZHS) - 159

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Petra Pearce

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  • AME Department Seminar

    Fri, Jan 27, 2012 @ 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

    Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Panos Papadopoulos, Professor. Department of Mechanical Engineering. University of California, Berkeley Berkeley, CA 94720-1740.

    Talk Title: Multiscale Modeling of Phase Transition in Superelastic Nitinol Polycrystals

    Abstract: Nitinol is a Ni-Ti alloy used widely in biomedical devices, such as endovascular stents, angioplasty guidewires, vena-cava filters, etc. One of the major attractions of Nitinol as a biomedical material is its superelastic behavior. This is due to a stress-induced solid- solid phase transformation which accommodates large deformations that may be completely reversed upon removal of the stress. Most constitutive models of phase transformation in superelastic Nitinol account for the austenite-martensite transformation only, and disregard the formation of an intermediate rhombohedral phase (R-phase). However, the presence of R-phase influences the formation of martensitic variants, thus rendering the transformation process path-dependent. In this seminar, a path-dependent micromechanics-based model that incorporates all possible transformations is presented first for the stress-induced phase transformation of Nitinol single crystals. This is subsequently extended to a multiscale thermomechanical model which accounts for the presence of polycrystalline texture. An efficient numerical strategy for solving the resulting constitutive equations is also proposed within a finite element setting.

    Host: Prof. Geoff Spedding

    More Info: http://ae-www.usc.edu/seminars/index.shtml#upcoming

    Location: Seaver Science Library (SSL) - 150

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: April Mundy

    Event Link: http://ae-www.usc.edu/seminars/index.shtml#upcoming

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  • USC PSOC Monthly Seminar Series

    USC PSOC Monthly Seminar Series

    Fri, Jan 27, 2012 @ 11:45 AM - 01:00 PM

    Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Denis Wirtz, Ph.D., Theophilus H. Smoot Professor, Departments of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Oncology, John Hopkins University

    Talk Title: Cancer Cell Migration in 3D

    Abstract: Two-dimensional (2D) in vitro culture systems have for a number of years provided a controlled and versatile environment for the study of cell adhesion and migration, two interrelated cell functions critical to cancer metastasis. However, the organization and functions of focal adhesion proteins in cells embedded in physiologically more relevant 3D matrices is qualitatively and functionally different from their organization and functions on conventional 2D planar substrates. In a 3D, cross-linked, fibrillar collagen matrix, cell migration and protrusion activity are still regulated by focal adhesion proteins, such as p130Cas, FAK, Zyxin, Vinculin, Talin, and VASP, but differently from the 2D case. This talk will describe the implications of the dependence of focal adhesion protein-based cellular functions on microenvironmental dimensionality in cancer. We will discuss the implications of this work in cancer metastasis.


    Biography: About the USC Physical Sciences in Oncology Center Monthly Seminar Series

    USC was selected to establish a $16 million cancer research center as part of a new strategy against the disease by the U.S. National Institutes of Health and its National Cancer Institute. The new center is one of 12 in the nation to receive the designation. During the five-year initiative, the Physical Sciences-Oncology Centers will take new, nontraditional approaches to cancer research by studying the physical laws and principles of cancer; evolution and the evolutionary theory of cancer; information coding, decoding, transfer and translation in cancer; and ways to de-convolute cancer’s complexity. As part of the outreach component of this grant, the Center for Applied Molecular Medicine is hosting a monthly seminar series.



    Host: Center for Applied Molecular Medicine

    Location: Clinical Science Center (CSC) - Harkness Auditorium

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Kristina Gerber

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  • W.V.T. Rusch Engineering Honors Colloquium; MRI and Health

    W.V.T. Rusch Engineering Honors Colloquium; MRI and Health

    Fri, Jan 27, 2012 @ 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM

    USC Viterbi School of Engineering, Viterbi School of Engineering Student Affairs

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Krishna Nayak, Associate Professor, Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical Engineering

    Talk Title: W.V.T. Rusch Engineering Honors Colloquium; MRI and Health

    Abstract: Dr. Krishna Nayak, Associate Professor in the Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical Engineering at the Viterbi School of Engineering at USC, will present "MRI and Health" as part of the W.V.T. Rusch Engineering Honors Colloquium.

    Host: W.V.T. Rusch Engineering Honors Colloquium

    More Info: http://viterbi.usc.edu/students/undergrad/honors/schedules/

    Location: Seeley G. Mudd Building (SGM) - 101

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Amanda Atkinson

    Event Link: http://viterbi.usc.edu/students/undergrad/honors/schedules/

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  • Probing "inside" quantum collapse with solid-state qubits”

    Fri, Jan 27, 2012 @ 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM

    Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Alexander N. Korotkov, University of California, Riverside

    Talk Title: Probing "inside" quantum collapse with solid-state qubits”

    Abstract: We discuss what is "inside" the quantum state collapse due to measurement, and what happens if the collapse is stopped half-way. For particular setups with solid-state qubits the answer is rather simple: the qubit state changes in accordance with gradually acquired information, without loss of its purity (no decoherence). The simple theory of such measurement leads to a number of experimentally testable predictions. So far three such experiments have been realized with superconducting qubits: partial collapse, uncollapse (measurement reversal), and
    persistent Rabi oscillations. These effects can be potentially useful, for example for quantum feedback and decoherence suppression.

    Biography: Alexander N. Korotkov received his Ph.D. in Physics in 1991 from Moscow State University (adviser: Konstantin K. Likharev). After that he worked at Moscow State University and the State University of New York at Stony Brook, he also held visiting
    positions at Université de la Méditerranée (Marseille, France), and at NEC Fundamental Research Lab (Tsukuba, Japan). In 2000 Alexander Korotkov joined the faculty of the University of California, Riverside, where he is a Professor of Electrical
    Engineering since 2006. Research interests of Alexander Korotkov include quantum computing, quantum measurements, quantum feedback control, and nanoelectronics. He has authored 105 journal papers and 37 proceedings/book chapters, which have
    over 3,000 citations (h-index of 31).

    Host: Todd Brun, x0-3503

    Location: Seaver Science Library (SSL) - 150

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Gerrielyn Ramos

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  • Integrated Systems Seminar Series

    Fri, Jan 27, 2012 @ 02:30 PM - 04:00 PM

    Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Prof. Pavan Kumar Hanumolu, Oregon State University

    Talk Title: Synthesizing Accurate Clocks with Inaccurate Components

    Host: Hossein Hashemi

    More Information: Seminar_Speaker_kumar_2012_1_27.pdf

    Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Hossein Hashemi

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  • Repeating EventBME 533 (Seminar in Biomedical Engineering)

    Mon, Jan 30, 2012 @ 11:00 PM - 12:00 PM

    Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Lili Yang, Ph.D., Lead Scientist, California Institute of Technology

    Talk Title: Engineering Immunity against Cancer and HIV/AIDS

    Biography: Overall Interests:
    *To exploit a systems immunology approach to engineer synthetic immunity against
    chronic diseases like cancer and HIV/AIDS.
    *To develop a systems immunology approach to elucidating molecular control of dendritic cell functions
    *To exploit a targeted cellular engineering approach to optimizing dendritic cell-based immunotherapy

    Host: Department of Biomedical Engineering

    Location: Olin Hall of Engineering (OHE) - 122

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    View All Dates

    Contact: Mischalgrace Diasanta

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  • Meet n’ Greet with the Mathworks

    Tue, Jan 31, 2012 @ 02:00 PM - 03:30 PM

    Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Anushree Chorghade and Ryan Gordon, Mathworks Inc. Natick, MA

    Talk Title: Meet n’ Greet with the Mathworks

    Abstract: ABSTRACT:
    Mathworks is the leading developer and supplier of software for technical computing and Model-Based design. We have around 2000 people worldwide and are headquartered in Natick, MA with offices throughout the world! Drop by to know more about this great company, its work culture, and the current developments and ongoing projects. Great place to ask and get your questions answered on how you can be a part of it and contribute your knowledge and technical skills and make the professional experience worth-while.
    Also get to know more exciting facts and figures from two current engineers working in the Engineering Development Group at Mathworks and their experience so far at Mathworks!
    We will be collecting resumes of interested students at both the information session and career fair.
    Looking for MS or PhD in Engineering (Electrical or Mechanical) or Computer Science


    Biography: BIO:
    After completing graduate work at USC, Anushree Chorghade and Ryan Gordon joined Mathworks as . Application Support Engineers.
    They will be representing Mathworks at the 2012 USC Viterbi Career Expo.

    Host: Michael Safonov

    Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Shane Goodoff

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  • Epstein Institute Seminar Series / ISE 651 Seminar

    Tue, Jan 31, 2012 @ 03:30 PM - 04:50 PM

    Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Dr. Wei Chen, Wilson-Cook Chair Professor in Engineering Design, Northwestern University

    Talk Title: "Model Uncertainty Quantification and Objective-Oriented Sampling in Simulation-Based Design under Uncertainty"

    Series: Epstein Institute Seminar Series

    Abstract: Various sources of uncertainty exist in simulation-based design under uncertainty. Quantifying the uncertainty of a model and the resulting probabilistic predictions is essential for robust and reliable decision making. In physics-based engineering modeling, the two primary sources of model uncertainty, which account for the differences between computer models and physical experiments, are parameter uncertainty and model discrepancy. Distinguishing the effects of these two sources of uncertainty can be challenging. For situations in which identifiability cannot be achieved using only a single response, we propose the use of multiple responses that share a mutual dependence on the common set of calibration parameters to improve identifiability. In this talk, we will present a multi-response modular Bayesian approach and demonstrate that using multiple responses can substantially enhance identifiability. In addition, we will also introduce a newly developed, sequential objective-oriented sampling approach to robust design. We will present the need and the techniques developed for sampling control and noise variables separately towards optimizing a robust design objective that incorporates both the mean and variance of design performance.

    Biography: Dr. Wei Chen is the Wilson-Cook Chair Professor in Engineering Design at Northwestern University. Affiliated with the Segal Design Institute as a Faculty Fellow, she is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, with courtesy appointment in the Department of Industrial Engineering and Management. Directing the Integrated Design Automation Laboratory (IDEAL- http://ideal.mech.northwestern.edu/), her current research involves issues such as simulation-based design under uncertainty, model validation, stochastic multiscale analysis and design, robust shape and topology optimization, multidisciplinary optimization, consumer choice modeling and enterprise-driven decision-based design. She is the co-founder and Director of the interdisciplinary doctoral cluster in Predictive Science and Engineering Design (PSED) at Northwestern, a program aiming for integrating scientific, physics-based modeling and simulation into design of innovative “engineered” systems.

    Dr. Chen received her Ph.D. from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1995. She is an elected member of the ASME Design Engineering Division (DED) Executive Committee and currently serving as the DED executive chair of the Technical Committees. She is also an elected Advisory Board member of the Design Society, an international design research community. She is an Associate Editor of the ASME Journal of Mechanical Design and serves as the review editor of Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization.

    More Information: Seminar-Chen_Wei.doc

    Location: Ethel Percy Andrus Gerontology Center (GER) - Room 309

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Georgia Lum

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