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Events for March 22, 2018
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Biomedical Engineering Department Guest Speaker
Thu, Mar 22, 2018 @ 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM
Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Michael Economo, PhD,
Talk Title: TBA
Host: Ellis Meng, PhD
Location: Corwin D. Denney Research Center (DRB) - DRB 145/145A
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Mischalgrace Diasanta
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EE Seminar: Programming Dynamic Behaviors in Molecular Systems and Materials
Thu, Mar 22, 2018 @ 03:30 PM - 04:30 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Elisa Franco, Assistant Professor, University of California, Riverside
Talk Title: Programming Dynamic Behaviors in Molecular Systems and Materials
Abstract: Biological cells can adapt, replicate, and repair in ways that are unmatched by man-made devices. At the core of these complex behaviors are many dynamic processes that are difficult to deconstruct, and lack the modularity of electrical and mechanical systems. For example, shape adaptation in cells arises from the interplay of receptors, gene networks, and self-assembling cytoskeletal scaffolds. While the interplay of elements performing sensing, control, and actuation is apparent, it is not clear how to program similar behaviors in biological or synthetic matter using a minimal number of components and reactions. To address this general challenge, we follow a reductionist approach and we combine a systems-engineering theoretical analysis with experiments on nucleic acid systems. Nucleic acids are versatile molecules whose interactions and kinetic behaviors can be rationally designed from their sequence content; further, they are relevant in a number of native and engineered cellular pathways, as well as in biomedical and nanotechnology applications. I will illustrate our approach with two examples. The first is the construction of self-assembling DNA scaffolds that can be programmed to respond to environmental inputs and to canonical molecular signal generators such as pulse generators and oscillators. The second is the design of molecular feedback controllers to achieve homeostatic behavior and reference tracking. I will stress how mathematical modeling and control theory are essential to help identify design principles, to guide experiments, and to explain observed phenomena.
Biography: Elisa Franco is an Assistant Professor in Mechanical Engineering at UC Riverside. She received a Ph.D. in Control and Dynamical Systems from the California Institute of Technology in 2011. She also received a Ph.D. in Automation and a Laurea degree (cum laude) in Power Systems Engineering from the University of Trieste, Italy. Prof. Franco's main interests are in the areas of biological feedback and DNA nanotechnology: her research focuses on design, modeling, and synthesis of controllers and responsive materials using nucleic acids and proteins. She is the recipient of an NSF CAREER award and a Hellman Fellowship.
Host: Mihailo Jovanovic, mihailo@usc.edu and Alice Parker, parker@usc.edu
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Mayumi Thrasher
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CS Colloquium: Holly Yanco (University of Massachusetts Lowell) - Designing for Human-Robot Interaction
Thu, Mar 22, 2018 @ 04:00 PM - 05:20 PM
Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Holly Yanco, University of Massachusetts Lowell
Talk Title: Designing for Human-Robot Interaction
Series: Computer Science Colloquium
Abstract: Robots navigating in difficult and dynamic environments often need assistance from human operators or supervisors, either in the form of teleoperation or interventions when the robot's autonomy is not able to handle the current situation. Even in more controlled environments, such as office buildings and manufacturing floors, robots may need help from people. This talk will discuss methods for controlling both individual robots and groups of robots, in applications ranging from assistive technology to telepresence to search and rescue. A variety of modalities for human-robot interaction with robot systems, including multi-touch devices, software-based operator control units (softOCUs), game controllers, virtual reality headsets, and Google Glass, will be presented.
This lecture satisfies requirements for CSCI 591: Research Colloquium.
Biography: Dr. Holly Yanco is a Distinguished University Professor, Professor of Computer Science, and Director of the New England Robotics Validation and Experimentation (NERVE) Center at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Her research interests include human-robot interaction, multi-touch computing, robot autonomy, fostering trust of autonomous systems, evaluation methods for robot systems, and the use of robots in K-12 education to broaden participation in computer science. Yanco's research has been funded by NSF, including a CAREER Award, ARO, DARPA, DOE-EM, NASA, NIST, Microsoft, and Google. Yanco is Co-Chair of the Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council's Robotics Cluster,served as Co-Chair of the Steering Committee for the ACM/IEEE Conference on Human-Robot Interaction and Journal of Human-Robot Interaction from 2013-2016, and was a member of the Executive Council of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI) from 2006-2009. Yanco has a PhD in Computer Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Host: Maja Mataric
Location: Henry Salvatori Computer Science Center (SAL) - 101
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Computer Science Department
