Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Events for April
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ECE Seminar: Optimizing Distributed Applications in Networked Computing Environments
Thu, Apr 03, 2025 @ 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. Carlee Joe-Wong, Robert E. Doherty Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University
Talk Title: Optimizing Distributed Applications in Networked Computing Environments
Abstract: The recent proliferation of Internet-connected devices with computational and data collection capabilities, e.g., in the Internet-of-Things, promises to enable an explosion in new applications and services like artificial intelligence and mixed reality. Realizing these new applications, however, inherently requires device cooperation, whether integrating user data collected across multiple smart homes to train a prediction model for smart home usage, or synthesizing multiple sensors' readings to predict how a wildfire will spread. Such cooperation is inherently limited by constraints on the available compute, storage, or communication resources on Internet-connected devices—and to make matters worse, these devices are often highly heterogeneous and may need to support a range of different applications or services, each with their own unique needs. In this talk, I describe some of our recent work on optimizing device cooperation by learning and exploiting latent similarities across devices and applications. We first consider the general problem of optimally placing components of a distributed application, e.g., for data pre-processing and analysis, within a distributed network of devices. To meet these challenges, we introduce a new reinforcement learning-based problem representation that allows us to learn generalizable policies for dynamic environments. We then consider the specific problems of distributing machine learning applications across devices, demonstrating that we can exploit the structure of the learned data across devices to improve learning performance.
Biography: Carlee Joe-Wong is the Robert E. Doherty Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University. She received her A.B. degree (magna cum laude) in Mathematics, and M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Applied and Computational Mathematics, from Princeton University in 2011, 2013, and 2016, respectively. Her research interests lie in optimizing various types of networked systems, in particular applications of machine learning and economics to computing and communication networks. From 2013 to 2014, Carlee was the Director of Advanced Research at DataMi, a startup she co-founded from her research on mobile data pricing. Her work has received best paper and poster awards at several conferences, including IEEE INFOCOM, ACM/IEEE IPSN, ACM SIGMETRICS, and IEEE ICDCS. She received the NSF CAREER award in 2018, the Army Young Investigator award in 2019, and the Department of Energy Early Career Research Program Award in 2024.
Host: Dr. Leana Golubchik, leana@usc.edu
Webcast: https://usc.zoom.us/j/95435744209?pwd=XZXbX2oiSTg9AXpAwN3oHsy1g6W37u.1Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 132
WebCast Link: https://usc.zoom.us/j/95435744209?pwd=XZXbX2oiSTg9AXpAwN3oHsy1g6W37u.1
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Mayumi Thrasher
This event is open to all eligible individuals. USC Viterbi operates all of its activities consistent with the University's Notice of Non-Discrimination. Eligibility is not determined based on race, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or any other prohibited factor. -
Semiconductors and Microelectronics Technology Seminar - Pavan Nukala, Thursday, April 3rd at 1:30pm in EEB 248
Thu, Apr 03, 2025 @ 01:30 PM - 02:30 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Pavan Nukala, Centre for Nano Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India.
Talk Title: Visualizing long-range solid state amorphization in ferroic In2Se3
Series: Semiconductors & Microelectronics Technology
Abstract: I will discuss our recent and exciting results on in-situ transmission electron microscopy studies on T-phase, polar In2Se3 nanowires. Through some beautiful atomic resolution images, I'll show that the vdW layers slide with application of current (carrier wind force), eventually leading to a complete solid-state amorphization of these nanowires. I'll show in-situ videos of jerky earth quake-like response of these devices occurring due to the interaction between these defects, which eventually forms a precursor to amorphization. These insights, while on one hand may be considered to be text-book models of solid-state amorphization, have also implications in In2Se3 FES-FETs. I will briefly discuss our most recent foray into the transistors and show how the in-situ TEM studies are relevant for these devices. References:1 G. Modi*, S. Parathe*, et al., Electrically driven long-range solid state amorphization in ferroic In2Se3, Nature, 635, 847, 2024
Biography: Pavan Nukala obtained his Bachelors and Masters in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science, Madras, India. He pursued his PhD from University of Pennsylvania, and subsequently was a nanosaclay post-doc at University Paris Saclay and Marie-Curie fellow at the University of Groningen. He started his independent group at the Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru, India in 2020. His group works on ferroelectric, piezoelectric and phase change materials, oxide and 2D memristors, with an expertise on in-situ electron microscopy.
Host: Joshua Yang, Chongwu Zhou, Steve Cronin and Wei Wu
More Information: Pavan Nukala_2024-04-03.pdf
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Marilyn Poplawski
This event is open to all eligible individuals. USC Viterbi operates all of its activities consistent with the University's Notice of Non-Discrimination. Eligibility is not determined based on race, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or any other prohibited factor. -
Semiconductors and Microelectronics Technology Seminar - Kyung Min Kim, Thursday, April 10th at 1:30pm in EEB 248
Thu, Apr 10, 2025 @ 01:30 PM - 03:00 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Kyung Min Kim, Associate Professor, Materials Science and Engineering Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
Talk Title: Spatiotemporal Computing Utilizing Dual Thermal Dynamics of Mott Memristors
Series: Semiconductors & Microelectronics Technology
Abstract: The Mott memristor is a highly intriguing device that demonstrates unique electrical characteristics through the dynamic interaction of heat and current. The device exhibits dynamic thermal behavior, encompassing temporal accumulation via heat capacity and spatial transportation through heat diffusion. This spatiotemporal thermal activity enables coupling between memristor devices when arranged in arrays, which can be effectively utilized for computing. Additionally, the thermal dynamics of Mott memristors inherently involve stochasticity, resulting in probabilistic behavior. These properties, such as thermal coupling and stochasticity, provide a novel approach to tackling NP-hard problems, which are often challenging for conventional computers to solve. This presentation explores various computing devices that leverage the spatiotemporal thermal information of Mott memristors, including true random number generators (TRNGs), probabilistic computing systems, and thermal computing devices. The future potential and implications of these technologies will also be discussed.
Biography: Professor Kyung Min Kim is a Tenured Associate Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) since 2017. He earned his B.S. degree in 2003 and his Ph.D. degree in 2008 from Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea. From 2011 to 2013, he worked at Samsung Electronics in Korea, and from 2014 to 2017, he worked at Hewlett Packard Labs of Hewlett Packard Enterprise in Palo Alto, California, USA. His research covers a wide range of areas related to next-generation semiconductor technology. This includes exploring new semiconductor materials and processing techniques, post-von Neumann computing technologies such as neuromorphic computing, reservoir computing, and probabilistic computing, as well as semiconductor packaging technology.
Host: Jayakanth Ravichandran, Joshua Yang, Chongwu Zhou, Steve Cronin and Wei Wu
More Information: Kyung Min Kim Flyer.pdf
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Marilyn Poplawski
This event is open to all eligible individuals. USC Viterbi operates all of its activities consistent with the University's Notice of Non-Discrimination. Eligibility is not determined based on race, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or any other prohibited factor. -
Munushian Visiting Seminar Series - Distinguished Lecture - Shanhui Fan, Friday, April 11th at 2pm in EEB 132 & Zoom
Fri, Apr 11, 2025 @ 02:00 PM - 03:30 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Shanhui Fan, Joseph and Hon Mai Goodman Professor of the School of Engineering Stanford University
Talk Title: Nanophotonics and energy applications
Series: Munushian Visiting Seminar Series
Abstract: Light, or electromagnetic wave, represents a fundamental carrier of energy. New ability to control light, as provided by nanophotonic structures, therefore has important implications in energy technology. In this talk, we will discuss some of the efforts in developing nanophotonic structures for energy applications, Examples include radiative cooling, and reciprocity breaking towards ultimate limit for solar energy harvesting.
Biography: Shanhui Fan is the Joseph and Hon Mai Goodman Professor of the School of Engineering at the Stanford University. He received his Ph. D in 1997 in theoretical condensed matter physics from MIT. His research interests are in nanophotonics. He has published over 700 refereed journal articles and has given over 400 invited talks, and was granted over 70 US patents. His recent awards include the R. W. Wood Prize from the Optica, a Simons Investigator in Physics, and a Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellowship. He is a member of the U. S. National Academy of Engineering, and a Fellow of APS, OSA, SPIE, and IEEE.
Host: Eun Sok Kim, Quntao Zhuang, Chongwu Zhou
More Info: https://usc.zoom.us/j/99755735840?pwd=9wy4p6Ncgv8bMyNaJHOFf2yaJnCLFB.1
More Information: Shanhui Fan Flyer.pdf
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 132
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Marilyn Poplawski
Event Link: https://usc.zoom.us/j/99755735840?pwd=9wy4p6Ncgv8bMyNaJHOFf2yaJnCLFB.1
This event is open to all eligible individuals. USC Viterbi operates all of its activities consistent with the University's Notice of Non-Discrimination. Eligibility is not determined based on race, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or any other prohibited factor. -
Controls Seminar: Dario Paccagnan
Mon, Apr 21, 2025 @ 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dario Paccagnan, Associate Professor, Department of Computing, Imperial College London
Talk Title: Pick-to-Learn for Systems and Control: Data-driven design with state-of-the art safety guarantees
Abstract: Data-driven methods have become powerful tools for tackling increasingly complex problems in Systems and Control. However, deploying these methods in real-world settings — especially safety-critical ones — requires rigorous safety and performance guarantees. This need has motivated much recent work at the interface of Statistical Learning and Control, aiming to integrate formal guarantees with data-driven design methods. However, many existing approaches achieve this only by sacrificing valuable data for testing/calibration or by restricting the design space, thus leading to suboptimal performances.
Against this backdrop, in this talk I will introduce Pick-to-Learn (P2L) for Systems and Control, a novel framework designed to equipany data-driven control method with state-of-the-art safety and performance guarantees. Crucially, P2L enables the use of all available data to jointly synthesize and certify the design, eliminating the need to set aside data for calibration or validation purposes.
I will then demonstrate how, as a result, P2L delivers designs and certificates that outperforms existing methods across a range of core problems including optimal control, reachability analysis, safe synthesis, and robust control.
Biography: Dario Paccagnan is a Senior Lecturer (US Associate Professor) and a member of the Computational Optimization Group in the Department of Computing, Imperial College London.Previously, he was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Center for Control, Dynamical System, and Computations, UCSB hosted by Prof. Francesco Bullo and Prof. Jason Marden. Paccagnan received a PhD in optimization and control from ETH Zurich under the guidance of Prof. John Lygeros. He was awarded a B.Sc. and two M.Sc. degrees from the University of Padova, and the Technical University of Denmark under the TIME double degree program.He is interested in the modeling, analysis, and control of multi-agent systems where self-interested agents take autonomous decisions. He leverages theoretical models and real world case studies to shed light on the societal impact of self-interested decision making.
Host: Dr. Lars Lindemann, llindema@usc.edu | Dr. Mihailo Jovanovic, mihailo@usc.edu | Dr. Ketan Savla, ksavla@usc.edu
More Information: 2025.04.21 Seminar - Dario Paccagnan.pdf
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - EEB 132
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Lars Lindemann
This event is open to all eligible individuals. USC Viterbi operates all of its activities consistent with the University's Notice of Non-Discrimination. Eligibility is not determined based on race, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or any other prohibited factor. -
Semiconductors and Microelectronics Technology seminar - Wolfgang Maass, Thursday, April24th at 2pm in EEB 248
Thu, Apr 24, 2025 @ 02:00 PM - 03:30 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Wolfgang Maas, Institute of Machine Learning and Neural Computation Graz University of Technology
Talk Title: Recent brain-data and theories suggest new ways of porting cognitive function into neuromorphic hardware through on-chip learning
Series: Semiconductors & Microelectronics Technology
Abstract: I will discuss experimental data and models for BTSP (Behavioral Time Scale Synaptic Plasticity), the only known mechanism for 1-shot learning in the brain. I also will explain how BTSP can be used to create content-addressable memories and to learn cognitive maps that enable flexible goal-directed behavior. References and a simple model for BTSP have already been published (Yujie Wu and Wolfgang Maass, Nat. Comm. 2025). The other material is unpublished.
Biography: Wolfgang Maass - Since 2023: Director of the ELLIS Unit Graz (ELLIS = European Lab for Learning and Intelligent Systems). 1992-2017 Founder and Head of the Institut fuer Grundlagen der Informationsverarbeitung (Institute of Theoretical Computer Science) at Graz University of Technology. Since 1991 Professor of Computer Science at the Graz University of Technology in Austria (since 2017 without teaching duties except education of Phd students, leader of research projects). 1986 - 1991 Professor of Computer Science at the University of Illinois in Chicago. 1984 - 1986 Associate Professor of Computer Science at the University of Illinois in Chicago. 1975 - 1984 Postdoc at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in Munich, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the University of Chicago, and the University of California at Berkeley.
Host: Prof. Jayakanth Ravichandran, Prof. J. Joshua Yang, Prof. Chongwu Zhou, Prof. Stephen Cronin, and Prof. Wei Wu
More Information: Wolfgang Maass Flyer.pdf
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Marilyn Poplawski
This event is open to all eligible individuals. USC Viterbi operates all of its activities consistent with the University's Notice of Non-Discrimination. Eligibility is not determined based on race, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or any other prohibited factor. -
Quantum/Physics Joint seminar - Kenneth Brown, Friday, April 25th at 2pm in EEB 132 & Zoom
Fri, Apr 25, 2025 @ 02:00 PM - 03:30 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Kenneth Brown, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Physics, and Chemistry Duke University
Talk Title: Building Quantum Systems at Universities
Series: MHI Physics Joint Seminar Series
Abstract: Quantum computers have improved dramatically as industry has pushed the capability of these devices in terms of both scale and quality. Continued improvement requires research at all levels of the stack from the physical control of qubits to the software-layer that executes programs. Quantum systems at universities enable scientists and engineers to optimize over all these levels and to test new frameworks for quantum system design. In this talk, I will discuss how varying levels of access to quantum computers at companies, national laboratories, and universities enable different kinds of research.
Biography: Kenneth Brown is the Michael J. Fitzpatrick Distinguished Professor in the Departments of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Physics, and Chemistry at Duke University. He is an expert in quantum information science and engineering, and he uses the control of quantum systems to develop new technologies and understand the natural world. His research interests are ion trap quantum computers and quantum error correction. He serves on the American Physical Society Council of Representatives for the Division of Quantum Information. He was named a Fellow of the American Physical Society, a Kavli Fellow, and an Experienced Research Fellow of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation for his work in quantum information.
Host: Quntao Zhuang, Eli Levenson-Falk, Jonathan Habif, Daniel Lidar, Kelly Luo,k Todd Brun, Tony Levi, Stephan Haas
More Info: https://usc.zoom.us/j/92394501475?pwd=xmrBvQLybbTORjh79PVFav4Abrzeba.1
More Information: Ken Brown Flyer.pdf
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 132
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Marilyn Poplawski
Event Link: https://usc.zoom.us/j/92394501475?pwd=xmrBvQLybbTORjh79PVFav4Abrzeba.1
This event is open to all eligible individuals. USC Viterbi operates all of its activities consistent with the University's Notice of Non-Discrimination. Eligibility is not determined based on race, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or any other prohibited factor. -
Quantum/Physics Joint seminar, Ofer Naaman, Tuesday, April 29th at 4pm in EEB 248 & Zoom
Tue, Apr 29, 2025 @ 04:00 PM - 05:00 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Ofer Naaman, Research Scientist Google Quantum AI
Talk Title: Quantum computing at Google
Series: Quantum/Physics Joint Seminar Series
Abstract: Google Quantum AI's mission is to build a useful quantum computer. In this talk I will review Google's approach to quantum computing, and our roadmap to building a useful machine based on superconducting qubits. I will highlight milestone experiments along our roadmap, demonstrating beyond-classical computation and quantum error correction, and some of the multidisciplinary technical challenges we are addressing toward a long-lived error-corrected logical qubit.
Biography: Ofer Naaman (he/him) is a research scientist with Google Quantum AI, where he leads the readout hardware team. Ofer holds a BSc degree from Tel Aviv University and a PhD in physics from UC San Diego. Prior to joining Google, Ofer was at NIST Boulder, UC Berkeley, and Northrop Grumman, where he has worked on topics ranging from single-electron transistors, quantum computing, and parametric amplifiers, to superconducting logic and cryogenic memory. He authored and co-authored 55+ papers and 25+ patents, is a member of APS, and an IEEE MTT-S senior member.
Host: Quntao Zhuang, Eli Levenson-Falk, Jonathan Habif, Daniel Lidar, Kelly Luo,k Todd Brun, Tony Levi, Stephan Haas
More Info: https://usc.zoom.us/j/96507214109?pwd=KAEOiIOoBtpCVDywfI13CKtiPKCnZg.1
More Information: Ofer Naaman Flyer.pdf
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Marilyn Poplawski
Event Link: https://usc.zoom.us/j/96507214109?pwd=KAEOiIOoBtpCVDywfI13CKtiPKCnZg.1
This event is open to all eligible individuals. USC Viterbi operates all of its activities consistent with the University's Notice of Non-Discrimination. Eligibility is not determined based on race, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or any other prohibited factor. -
ECE Pioneer Talk - Prof. Alice Parker
Wed, Apr 30, 2025 @ 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. Alice Parker, Professor Emerita, Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, USC
Talk Title: From Silicon to the Brain using Microelectronics as a Bridge
Series: ECE Pioneer Series
Abstract: This presentation spans 55 years of my career in science and engineering, from graduate school in the MSEE program at Stanford to final research at the University of Southern California as a Dean's Professor. My background in electronic circuits laid the groundwork for my final two decades of research in electronics to model the brain, a research interest I had for my entire career but placed on hold due to successes early on with graduate students on high-level synthesis of digital circuits, including system and intranet synthesis. The talk focuses first on high-level synthesis of digital circuits and then on the BioRC Biomimetic Research Cortex, a project focused on building an electronic brain based on pulseand timing circuits.
Biography: Alice C. Parker is a Professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Southern California and is a former Division Director for Computer Engineering, a former Dean of Graduate Studies, and a former Vice Provost for Research at USC. She was elected President of the Academic Senate in 1993. She was previously on the faculty at Carnegie Mellon. Dr. Parker received the B.S.E.E. and Ph.D degrees from North Carolina State University and an M.S.E.E. from Stanford University. She was elected a Fellow of the IEEE for her contributions to design automation in the areas of high-level synthesis, hardware description languages and design representation. She also received an NSF Faculty Award for Women Scientists and Engineers, an NSF Fellowship, an award from ASEE (the Sharon Keillor award), and an teaching award from the Viterbi school.
Host: Richard Leahy, leahy@usc.edu
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - EEB 132
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Cathy Huang
This event is open to all eligible individuals. USC Viterbi operates all of its activities consistent with the University's Notice of Non-Discrimination. Eligibility is not determined based on race, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or any other prohibited factor.
