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Events for April 18, 2016
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Molecular Computing: A New Frontier for Interdisciplinary Engineering
Mon, Apr 18, 2016 @ 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. Matthew Lakin, Professor, University of New Mexico
Talk Title: Molecular Computing: A New Frontier for Interdisciplinary Engineering
Abstract: Biological systems have evolved complex information storage and processing capabilities. These involve information-carrying DNA and RNA molecules as well as sophisticated molecular machines, such as the ribosome, that use this information to produce the proteins that drive many cellular processes. The field of molecular computing aims to achieve similarly precise, programmable control over the structure and dynamics of nanoscale computing systems, drawing on approaches from computer engineering, computer science, biology, and biochemistry. For example, a molecular computer might be designed to patrol the body, autonomously diagnosing and treating individual cells, to prevent or cure disease. In this talk I will describe my research on the design, verification, and implementation of DNA-based molecular computing architectures. I will describe my work on software tools and verification techniques as well as my work on wet lab experiments.
Biography: Matthew Lakin obtained his B.A. and Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Cambridge. After graduating he worked as a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Biological Computation Group at Microsoft Research in Cambridge. From 2011 to 2015, he was a Postdoctoral Scholar in the Department of Computer Science at the University of New Mexico. Dr. Lakin is currently a Research Assistant Professor in the Departments of Computer Science and Chemical & Biological Engineering at the University of New Mexico and is also a member of the UNM Center for Biomedical Engineering. Dr. Lakin works on theoretical and experimental aspects of molecular computing using DNA. He builds software tools for the design of molecular computers, works on reasoning techniques to understand and verify their behavior, constructs experimental systems that exhibit novel dynamic behaviors, and works towards applications of molecular computers to monitor and control biological and chemical systems.
Host: Professor Alice Parker
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 132
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Suzanne Wong
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AI SEMINAR
Mon, Apr 18, 2016 @ 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Information Sciences Institute
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Peter Fennell, Postdoc at Univ. of Limerick, Ireland
Talk Title: Information diffusion on Twitter: a hazard rates approach
Series: AI Seminar
Abstract: Online social networks provide a digital footprint of the manner in which people interact in their everyday lives. Information diffuses through online social networks as a result of users creating and sharing information, and such diffusions are highly complex because of the nature of individuals and because of the structure of the network that connects them.
In this talk, I will discuss an approach to understanding information diffusion on online social networks, with specific reference to a case study on Twitter. Here, we use hazard rates to quantify how individuals respond to information, and show the non-linear nature of the response of individuals to multiple signals from their peers. Such hazard rates can be implemented in mathematical frameworks for understanding and predictive purposes, allowing us to analyze the information diffusion and its dependence on the structure of the online social network. I will discuss the importance of empirical observations of large social network datasets in constructing mathematical models of information diffusion, and the necessity of such realistic models for both prediction and analysis.
Biography: Peter Fennell is a postdoctoral researcher in the Dept. of Mathematics and Statistics in the University of Limerick, Ireland. Peter's research focuses on diffusive processes on complex networks, and in using probabilistic frameworks to understand such processes and their interplay with the network through which they spread. Recently, Peter has been awarded a James S. McDonnell postdoctoral fellowship to further his research in the area of information diffusion on online social networks. This project will combine extensive empirical examinations of online social networks along with mathematical modeling to gain an understanding of the underlying mechanisms behind information diffusion
Host: Kristina Lerman
Webcast: http://webcasterms1.isi.edu/mediasite/Viewer/?peid=336e5bb472104d289de47f5e8ef7331c1dLocation: Information Science Institute (ISI) - 1135 - 11th fl Large CR
WebCast Link: http://webcasterms1.isi.edu/mediasite/Viewer/?peid=336e5bb472104d289de47f5e8ef7331c1d
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Alma Nava / Information Sciences Institute
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Seminars in Biomedical Engineering
Mon, Apr 18, 2016 @ 12:30 PM - 01:49 PM
Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Judy Pa, PhD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Institute for Neuroimaging and Informatics Laboratory of Neuro Imaging
Talk Title: Multimodal neuroimaging to detect early neural dysfunction and measure neural enhancement in Alzheimer's disease
Abstract: Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of cognitive impairment in older adults. Over 5 million people in the US are affected and this number is expected to triple by 2050. In concert with clinical trials, identifying effective ways to detect early neural changes and to measure longitudinal change in the preclinical stages of Alzheimer's disease is critically needed. In this presentation, I will discuss my research aimed at using multimodal neuroimaging methods to detect early changes in vulnerable brain regions important for executive function and memory and how these neural alterations affect large-scale brain networks. Ongoing studies focus on the role of regional Alzheimer's pathology using PET and network integrity using MRI and how these changes may be remediated through clinical interventions, like exercise in older adults at risk for Alzheimer's disease. Lastly, I will discuss upcoming plans to integrate new technology, equipment, and ideas to further enhance this research at USC.
Biography: Judy Pa is an assistant professor at the Institute for Neuroimaging and Informatics in the Keck School of Medicine and the department of Neurology. Judy's research is focused on identifying individuals at risk for Alzheimer's disease using multimodal neuroimaging techniques, understanding how Alzheimer's pathology impacts brain function in the living brain, and developing ways to remediate cognitive and brain dysfunction using modifiable lifestyle factors, like exercise. Her research program is supported by the National Institute on Aging, Alzheimer's Association, and Springer Medical Fund.
Judy is dedicated to teaching and enjoys training and mentoring students in USC's Neuroscience Graduate Program, Keck School of Medicine, and new Neuroimaging and Informatics Masters of Science program.
The Pa Lab is now recruiting intellectually curious and motivated members. Please email Judy directly to inquire about research internships or lab rotations.
Host: K. Kirk Shung, PhD
Location: Olin Hall of Engineering (OHE) - 122
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Mischalgrace Diasanta
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CS Colloquium: Julia Rubin (MIT CSAIL) -The Secret Life of Mobile Applications
Mon, Apr 18, 2016 @ 02:00 PM - 03:15 PM
Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Julia Rubin, MIT CSAIL
Talk Title: The Secret Life of Mobile Applications
Series: CS Colloquium
Abstract: This lecture satisfies requirements for CSCI 591: Computer Science Research Colloquium
As software becomes increasingly more complex and yet more pervasive, poor understanding of software behavior compromises the quality and the integrity of software systems that we use. In this talk, I will show that automated analysis techniques can help to identify and reason about software behavior characteristics that matter to humans. After a brief overview of my current research directions, I will focus on techniques for identifying privacy violations in mobile applications, i.e., leakages of sensitive information such as user location and shopping preferences. I will present a set of solutions that rely on contextual, functional and usage-based clues for improving the accuracy of leakage detection and for distinguishing between "legitimate" and "illegitimate" information distribution patterns.
Biography: Julia Rubin is a Postdoctoral Researcher in the EECS department at MIT. Prior to that, she was a Research Staff Member and, part of the time, a manager at IBM Research in Haifa, Israel. She received her PhD in Computer Science from the University of Toronto, Canada in 2014. Julia's research interests are in software engineering, program analysis and software security, focusing on improving the quality and the integrity of modern software systems. Her recent work in this area won an ACM Distinguished Paper Award at ASE, two Best Paper Awards, at SPLC and CSMR, and was nominated for Facebook's Internet Defense Prize at the USENIX Security Symposium.
Host: CS Department
More Info: https://bluejeans.com/706751366
Location: John Stauffer Science Lecture Hall (SLH) - 102
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Assistant to CS chair
Event Link: https://bluejeans.com/706751366
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EE 598 Cyber-Physical Systems Seminar Series
Mon, Apr 18, 2016 @ 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Walid Saad, Assistant Professor, Virginia Tech
Talk Title: Behavioral Game Theory in Cyber-Physical Systems: Frameworks and Applications
Abstract: Cyber-physical systems (CPSs) are characterized by three key features: heterogeneity, in terms of technology, services, and human interactions, dynamics, in terms of rapidly varying environments and uncertainty at both the cyber and physical realms, and size, in terms of number of users, devices, and services. These characteristics motivate the need for distributed optimization and control solutions that can lay the foundations of smart and secure CPSs. In this respect, game theory is expected to play a critical role towards deploying such intelligent CPSs in which cyber-physical devices, and possibly humans, can make independent and strategic decisions, smartly adapting to their environment. In particular, the presence of humans in the CPS loop motivates the adoption of game-theoretic methods that go beyond classical game theory in which agents are assumed to be objective, fully rational, and uninfluenced by real-world perceptions. Capturing such practical CPS considerations within game-theoretic constructs can be achieved via suitable notions of bounded rationality and behavioral considerations. In this talk, we will investigate the role of behavioral game theory in CPS design while delineating emerging frameworks in that field with a focus on two key CPS domains: (i)- Consumer-centric energy management in the smart grid and (ii)- Cyber-physical systems security. We conclude the talk by discussing other ongoing research activities in our group.
Biography: Walid Saad received his Ph.D degree from the University of Oslo, Norway, in 2010. Currently, he is an Assistant Professor and the Steven O. Lane Junior Faculty Fellow at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Virginia Tech. His research interests include cyber-physical systems, wireless and social networks, game theory, security, and machine learning. Dr. Saad is the recipient of the NSF CAREER award in 2013, the AFOSR summer faculty fellowship in 2014, and the Young Investigator Award from the Office of Naval Research (ONR) in 2015. He was the author/co-author of five conference best paper awards at IEEE WiOpt in 2009, ICIMP in 2010, IEEE WCNC in 2012, IEEE PIMRC in 2015, IEEE SmartGridComm, also in 2015. He is the recipient of the 2015 Fred W. Ellersick Prize from the IEEE Communications Society. Dr. Saad serves as an editor for the IEEE Transactions on Information Forensics and Security, IEEE Transactions on Communications, and IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications.
Host: Paul Bogdan
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Estela Lopez
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Department of Astronautical Engineering: Presentation on Lessons from Columbia by Matthew MelisMon, Apr 18, 2016 @ 03:00 PM - 05:00 PM
Astronautical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Matthew Melis, NASA Glenn Research Center
Talk Title: Lessons from Columbia A Decade Later
Abstract: Matt Melis provides a detailed look into the inner workings of the Space Shuttle and a behind the scenes perspective on the impact analysis and testing done for the Columbia Accident Investigation and NASA's Return to Flight programs. His presentation is full of rich, still and motion picture imagery, and, although technical, is easily understood by all audiences. In addition, highlights from recent Shuttle missions are presented demonstrating how NASA conducted its operations differently and more safely, post Columbia, through better imagery, better analysis, and enhanced best practices.
Biography: Matt received both a BS in Civil Engineering and an MS in Engineering Mechanics from Michigan State University and has worked at the NASA Glenn Research Center for thirty two years. His primary area of focus is in advanced finite element modeling and analysis methods including nonlinear and dynamic impact loading. Trained in engineering mechanics, he has been recognized for expertise in actively cooled structures, stress analysis, ballistic impact research, and multi physics analysis during his tenure at the Research Center. He has worked on numerous aeronautics and space programs for the agency including the International Space Station, the Space Shuttle, and NASA's Exploration Program. In the four and one half years that followed the Columbia accident, Matt was assigned full time to working the Columbia Accident Investigation and the Shuttle Return to Flight Program as technical lead of the NASA Glenn Ballistic Impact team. Most recent Matt has worked on landing impact testing of various design concepts for the Orion crew module and is currently a program sub-element lead for a cryogenic fluid management program at NASA Glenn.
In addition to his technical commitments, Matt also devotes significant effort to public outreach and teaching for NASA at all levels of education as well as conferences pertaining to Ballistic Impact Research, The Columbia Accident Investigation, NASA's Return to Flight and the Space Shuttle Program. Organizations he has spoken to include: The National Transportation and Safety Board, The Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Dartmouth College, The Canadian Royal Astronomical Society, Ontario Science Center, Ivey Business School in Canada, The University of Reykjavik, Iceland, The American Society for Metals, Skywalker Sound, Industrial Light and Magic, and the London Science Festival.
Host: Department of Astronautical Engineering, Ad Astra Student Society, VGSA
Location: John Stauffer Science Lecture Hall (SLH) - 100
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Norma Perry
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Systems Architecting and Engineering Program Distinguished Speaker Series - Space is Still a One Strike and You're Out Business
Mon, Apr 18, 2016 @ 03:30 PM - 04:30 PM
Astronautical Engineering, Systems Architecting and Engineering, USC Viterbi School of Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. William Ballhaus Jr., President Emeritus of The Aerospace Corporation
Talk Title: Space is Still a One Strike and You're Out Business
Series: SAE Distinguished Speaker Series
Abstract: This presentation covers an historical look at the space and launch business from the 1990s to the present, and how the US appears to experience a historical launch cycle. Dr. Ballhaus will also cover the key attributes of successful program execution based on his career experience in government and industry which includes the topics of controlling risk, cost and schedule estimating, people and teamwork, processes, and accountability.
Biography: Dr. William F. Ballhaus, Jr. is President Emeritus of the Aerospace Corporation. He served as Aerospace President from 2000 to 2007. Dr. Ballhaus joined Aerospace after an 11-year career with Lockheed Martin where he served as corporate vice president, Engineering & Technology. In that post, he was responsible for monitoring the scientific and engineering expertise for the company and overseeing research and engineering functions throughout the Corporation. Prior to his tenure with Lockheed Martin, Dr. Ballhaus served as president of two Martin Marietta businesses: Aero & Naval Systems and Civil Space & Communications. He also was vice president and program director, Titan IV Centaur, at Martin Marietta Space Launch Systems.
Prior to joining Martin Marietta, Dr. Ballhaus served as director of the NASA Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, California. He also acted as associate administrator for Aeronautics and Space Technology at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., and served as president of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
Dr. Ballhaus has B.S. and M.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering and a Ph.D. degree in Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. He has served as a co-chair of the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board and currently serves on engineering advisory boards at the University of California, Berkeley, the University of Maryland, MIT, and Johns Hopkins. Dr. Ballhaus is a member of the National Academy of Engineering.
Host: Azad Madni
More Information: Distinguished Speaker _ Ballhaus _ Flyer.pdf
Location: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) - 217
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Azad Madni
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Analytic Reconstructions for MEG and EEG (Lecture III)
Mon, Apr 18, 2016 @ 04:00 PM - 05:20 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Prof. Thanasis Fokas, Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge & Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Southern California
Talk Title: Analytic Reconstructions for MEG and EEG (Lecture III)
Series: Three Part Lecture Series
Abstract: Analytical reconstructions as well as appropriate mnumerical implementations for the important imaging techniques of Magneto-encephalography (MEG) and Electro-ecephalography (EEG) will be reviewed. The numerical implementations of MEG and EEG are based on state of the art codes for the numerical evaluation of certain auxiliary functions appearing in the relevant analytical formulae. The effectiveness of reconstructions of the neuronal current using either real EEG or real MEG data will be demonstrated.
Biography: Thanasis Fokas, Chair of Nonlinear mathematical science at the University of Cambridge and Visiting Professor of Electrical Engineering here at USC, will give a series of lectures on Magneto-Electro-Encephalography, which will be introduced by Professor Richard Leahy. The work of Thanasis FOKAS and collaborators has resolved completely the following important question in this area that was open since the fundamental work of Helmohltz: which part of the neuronal current can be computed from the knowledge of either MEG or EEG data?
*This is the final lecture in this series.
Host: Prof. Richard Leahy
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - EEB 132
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Talyia White
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Karlsruhe, Germany - Graduate Engineering Information Session
Mon, Apr 18, 2016 @ 06:00 PM - 07:30 PM
Viterbi School of Engineering Doctoral Programs, Viterbi School of Engineering Graduate Admission, Viterbi School of Engineering Student Affairs
Workshops & Infosessions
Students who have earned or are in the process of earning a Bachelor's degree in engineering, math, or a hard science (such as physics, biology, or chemistry) are welcome to attend our information sessions in Germany to learn more about applying to our graduate programs.
The sessions will include information on the following topics:
Master's & Ph.D. programs in engineering and computer science
How to apply
Scholarships and funding
Student life at USC and in Los Angeles
There will also be sufficient time for questions. Refreshments will be provided.
Please contact us at viterbi.gradprograms@usc.edu if you have any inquiries about the event.
For more info and to register, visit the event pageLocation: Hotel ibis Karlsruhe Hauptbahnhof
Audiences: Prospective students with a background in engineering, math or hard science
Contact: Mary Kae/Graduate and Professional Programs
