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Events for April 07, 2023

  • ECE-EP seminar - Dion Khodagholy

    Fri, Apr 07, 2023 @ 09:30 AM - 11:00 AM

    Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Dion Khodagholy, Columbia University

    Talk Title: Translational Neuroelectronics

    Series: ECE-EP Seminar

    Abstract: Our understanding of the brain's physiology and pathology is fueled by sophisticated bioelectronics that enable visualization and manipulation of neural circuits at multiple spatial and temporal resolutions. All components of these bioelectronic devices must be engineered with biocompatibility and clinical translation in mind. Organic electronics offer a unique approach to this device design, due to their mixed ionic/electronic conduction, mechanical flexibility, enhanced biocompatibility, and capability for drug delivery. We design, develop, and characterize conformable, stretchable organic electronic devices based on conducting polymer-based electrodes, particulate electronic composites, high-performance transistors, conformable integrated circuits, and ion-based data communication. We then use these devices in systems neuroscience experiments in animal models and humans to analyze neural network functions and facilitate new discoveries that could improve patient care.
    These devices established new experimental paradigms that allowed discovery of novel brain oscillations and elucidated patterns of neural network maturation in the developing brain. Furthermore, these devices were used for intra-operative recording from patients undergoing epilepsy and deep brain stimulation surgeries, highlighting their translational potential. We have also leveraged them to form responsive electrical interventions that target biomarkers for memory consolidation and affect the progression of epilepsy.
    To expand beyond neural interfaces to complete devices, we are developing fully-implantable, conformable implantable integrated circuits based on high-speed internal ion-gated organic electrochemical transistors that can perform the entire chain of signal acquisition, processing, and transmission without the need of hard Si-based devices. This multidisciplinary approach has permitted innovation of new organic electronic devices that could be leveraged establish a sustainable track of impactful bioelectronic inventions and address clinical applications such as brain-machine interfaces and therapeutic closed-loop devices.

    Biography: Dion Khodagholy is an associate professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science at Columbia University. He received his Master's degree from the University of Birmingham (UK) in Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering. This was followed by a second Master's degree in Microelectronics at the Ecole des Mines. He attained his Ph.D. degree in Microelectronics at the Department of Bioelectronics of the Ecole des Mines (France). He completed a postdoctoral fellowship as a Simon's Society fellow in systems neuroscience at New York University, Langone Medical Center. He is a recipient of the NSF CAREER award, junior fellow of Simons society, and SEAS Translational Award.
    His research aims to use unique properties of materials for the purpose of designing and developing novel electronic devices that allow efficient interaction with biological substrates, and thereby enhancing our understanding of neural networks and brain function.

    Host: ECE-Electrophysics

    More Information: Dion Khodagholy Seminar Announcement.pdf

    Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 132

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Marilyn Poplawski

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  • CS Colloquium: Daniel Seita (CMU) - Representations in Robot Manipulation: Learning to Manipulate Cables, Fabrics, Bags, Liquids, and Plants

    Fri, Apr 07, 2023 @ 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM

    Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Daniel Seita, Carnegie Mellon University

    Talk Title: Representations in Robot Manipulation: Learning to Manipulate Cables, Fabrics, Bags, Liquids, and Plants

    Series: CS Colloquium

    Abstract: The robotics community has seen significant progress in applying machine learning for robot manipulation. However, much manipulation research focuses on rigid objects instead of highly deformable objects such as cables, fabrics, bags, liquids, and plants, which pose challenges due to their complex configuration spaces, dynamics, and self-occlusions. To achieve greater progress in robot manipulation of such diverse deformable objects, I advocate for an increased focus on learning and developing appropriate representations for robot manipulation. In this talk, I show how novel action-centric representations can lead to better imitation learning for manipulation of diverse deformable objects. I will show how such representations can be learned from color images, depth images, or point cloud observational data. My research demonstrates how novel representations can lead to an exciting new era for robot manipulation of complex objects.


    This lecture satisfies requirements for CSCI 591: Research Colloquium

    Biography: Daniel Seita is a postdoctoral researcher at Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute, advised by David Held. His research interests are in computer vision and machine learning for robot manipulation, with a focus on using and developing novel observation and action representations to improve manipulation of challenging deformable objects. Daniel holds a PhD in computer science from the University of California, Berkeley, advised by John Canny and Ken Goldberg. He received undergraduate degrees in math and computer science from Williams College. Daniel's research has been supported by a six-year Graduate Fellowship for STEM Diversity and by a two-year Berkeley Fellowship. He has the Honorable Mention for Best Paper award at UAI 2017, was an RSS 2022 Pioneer, and has presented his work at premier robotics conferences such as ICRA, IROS, RSS, and CoRL.

    Website: https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dseita/

    Host: Stefanos Nikolaidis

    Location: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) - 115

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Assistant to CS chair

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