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SUNMONTUEWEDTHUFRISAT
Events for the 2nd week of February
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Aircraft Accident Investigation
Mon, Feb 07, 2011 @ 08:00 AM - 04:30 PM
Aviation Safety and Security Program
University Calendar
This is a two week course. All aspects of the investigation process are addressed, starting with preparation for the investigation through writing the final report. Investigative techniques are examined with emphasis on fixed wing investigation. Data collection, wreckage reconstruction and cause analysis are also studied.
Location: Aviation Safety & Security Campus
Audiences: Aviation Professionals
Contact: Harrison Wolf
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LAST CHANCE: Viterbi Ball Ticket SalesMon, Feb 07, 2011 @ 11:00 AM - 02:00 PM
Viterbi School of Engineering Student Organizations
Student Activity
Tickets are selling quickly, so buy your tickets for Viterbi Ball NOW! $25 each, checks made out to USC or cash accepted.
Visit the Facebook event for more info: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=170374009672457Location: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) -
Audiences: Undergrad
Contact: VSC
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BME 533 - Seminar in Biomedical Engineering
Mon, Feb 07, 2011 @ 12:30 PM - 01:50 PM
Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Mr. Teo Jimenez, Edwards Lifesciences
Talk Title: Medical Device Development
Host: Department of Biomedical Engineering, USC
Location: Olin Hall of Engineering (OHE) - 122
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Mischalgrace Diasanta
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EE-Electrophysics Seminar
Mon, Feb 07, 2011 @ 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Duygu Kuzum, Standford University
Talk Title: Nanoelectronics for Brain Inspired Computing and Implantable Neurodevices
Abstract: The efficiency of todayâs information processors has been dominated by complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) transistor scaling based on Mooreâs law. However, in the nano era CMOS scaling started to face significant barriers in achieving historical performance gains. In the first part of the talk, advances in high performance Ge CMOS technology, addressing end-of-the-roadmap CMOS scaling, will be presented. I will discuss our work on Ge interface engineering and a novel dopant activation technique to improve Ge CMOS performance.
Besides the scaling limits, the conventional computing paradigm based on binary logic and Von Neumann architecture becomes increasingly inefficient as the complexity of computation increases. Brain-inspired architectures and reconfigurable-adaptive systems are emerging research fields aiming to go beyond capabilities of digital logic and eventually to reach brain-level efficiency. In order to achieve the compactness, energy efficiency, massive parallelism and robustness of biological brain in our computational systems, the most important building block will be a compact nanoelectronic device emulating the functions and plasticity of biological synapses. In the second part of the talk, Iâll introduce a new nanoscale electronic synapse based on technologically mature phase change materials employed in optical data storage and nonvolatile memory applications. Continuous resistance transition in phase change materials is utilized to mimic the analog nature of biological synapses, enabling the implementation of synaptic learning rule. Different forms of synaptic plasticity using same nanoscale synapse with picojoule level energy consumption are demonstrated.
In the future, electronics will be increasingly employed for life science and healthcare applications. In the third part of my talk Iâll explain recent advances in implantable neurodevices. Iâll discuss our efforts on improving durability of implantable brain electrodes and nanoelectronic synapse platform for interaction with biological neurons.
Biography: Duygu Kuzum received her B. S. in Electrical Engineering from Bilkent University, Turkiye, in 2004 and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University in 2009. Her Ph.D. research focused on design, fabrication and characterization of Ge MOSFETs for future technology nodes. She is currently working on novel memory and storage devices and nanoscale electronic devices for brain-inspired computing as a postdoctoral researcher at Stanford University. She is the author or coauthor of over 30 journal and conference papers. She worked as a research intern at Translucent Inc. (2006) and Intel Component Research (2008). She was a recipient of a number of awards, including Texas Instruments Fellowship and Intel Foundation Fellowship.
Host: EE-Electrophysics
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Marilyn Poplawski
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ENH Seminar Series
Mon, Feb 07, 2011 @ 04:00 PM - 05:00 PM
Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. Jane Wang, Professor Cornell University
Talk Title: How do insects fly and turn
Abstract: Insects' aerial acrobatics result from the concerted efforts of their brains, flight muscles, and flapping wings. To understand insect flight, we started from the outer scale, analyzing the unsteady aerodynamics of flapping flight, and are gradually working toward the inner scale, deducing control algorithms. In this approach, the dynamics of flight informs us about the internal control scheme for a specific behavior. I will first describe the aerodynamic tricks that dragonflies employ to hover and fly efficiently. I will then discuss how fruit flies recover from aerial stumbles, and how they make subtle wing movements to induce sharp turns in tens of wing beats, or 40-80ms. The observed yaw maneuver can be explained by a quantitative mechanical model that connects a single control variable to the body dynamics.
Host: Francisco Valero-Cuevas
More Info: http://bbdl.usc.edu/ENH-Schedule_1011.phpLocation: Hedco Neurosciences Building (HNB) - 100
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Adriana Cisneros
Event Link: http://bbdl.usc.edu/ENH-Schedule_1011.php
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South Bay Lunch and Learn
Tue, Feb 08, 2011 @ 12:00 AM - 01:00 PM
DEN@Viterbi, Executive Education, Viterbi School of Engineering Graduate Admission
Receptions & Special Events
Join us for lunch to learn more about the engineering programs available for working professionals at USC! Representatives from the USC Viterbi School of Engineering will give a short presentation, followed by Q&A, while you enjoy a hosted lunch with other industry professionals.
Who Should Attend:
Professionals interested in learning more about USC's engineering Master's degrees & continuing education offerings available on-campus or online through the Distance Education Network. Interested friends and colleagues also welcome (all attendees must complete the registration form below).
To RSVP: Please visit http://mapp.usc.edu/lunchandlearnLocation: Tin Roof Bistro, Manhattan Beach
Audiences: RSVP Only
Contact: Viterbi Professional Programs
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LAST CHANCE: Viterbi Ball Ticket Sales
Tue, Feb 08, 2011 @ 11:00 AM - 02:00 PM
Viterbi School of Engineering Student Organizations
Student Activity
Tickets are selling quickly, so buy your tickets for Viterbi Ball NOW! $25 each, checks made out to USC or cash accepted.
Visit the Facebook event for more info: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=170374009672457Location: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) -
Audiences: Undergrad
Contact: VSC
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CS Colloquium
Tue, Feb 08, 2011 @ 03:30 PM - 05:00 PM
Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Ankur Moitra, MIT
Talk Title: Vertex Sparsification
Abstract: Suppose we are given a gigantic communication network, but are only interested in a small number of nodes (clients). There are many routing problems we could be asked to solve for our clients. Is there a much smaller network - that we could write down on a sheet of paper and put in our pocket - that approximately preserves all the relevant communication properties of the original network? As we will demonstrate, the answer to this question is YES, and we call this smaller network a vertex sparsifier.
In fact, if we are asked to solve a sequence of optimization problems characterized by cuts or flows, we can compute a good vertex sparsifier ONCE and discard the original network. We can run our algorithms (or approximation
algorithms) on the vertex sparsifier as a proxy - and still recover approximately optimal solutions in the original network. This novel pattern saves both space (because the network we store is much smaller) and time (because our algorithms run on a much smaller graph).
Additionally, we apply these ideas to obtain a master theorem for graph partitioning problems - as long as the integrality gap of a standard linear programming relaxation is bounded on trees, then the integrality gap is at most a logarithmic factor larger for general networks. This result implies optimal bounds for many well studied graph partitioning problems as a special case, and even yields optimal bounds for more challenging problems that had not been studied before. Morally, these results are all based on the idea that even though the structure of optimal solutions can be quite complicated, these solution values can be approximated by crude (even linear) functions.
Biography: Ankur Moitra is a fourth year PhD student in the theory of computation group at MIT, advised by Tom Leighton. His main research interests are in approximation algorithms, learning theory and applied probability. He received a B.S. in electrical and computer engineering from Cornell in 2007, and a M.S.
in computer science from MIT in 2009. Additionally, he has spent a number of summers working in industry, both as a quant at Citigroup and designing blog ranking algorithms at Google.
Host: Prof. David Kempe, USC
Location: Seaver Science Library (SSL) - 150
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Kanak Agrawal
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Landing Your Dream Internship - Tips for Sophomores and Juniors
Tue, Feb 08, 2011 @ 04:30 PM - 05:30 PM
Viterbi School of Engineering Career Connections
Workshops & Infosessions
Sophomore? Junior? Come learn how to get your dream internship!
Location: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) - 211
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: RTH 218 Viterbi Career Services
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Food, Inc. Michael Pollan and Eric Schlosser in Conversation
Wed, Feb 09, 2011 @ 07:00 AM - 10:00 PM
USC Viterbi School of Engineering
Receptions & Special Events
A Visions and Voices Signature Event
Admission is free. Reservations required. To RSVP, click here beginning Thursday, January 13, at 9 a.m.
Reception to follow.
Michael Pollan and Eric Schlosser, best-selling authors of The Omnivoreâs Dilemma and Fast Food Nation, respectively, are two of the countryâs leading voices on issues of food, the food industry and sustainability. Their groundbreaking work has started a revolution in how Americans think about what they eat. Both Pollan and Schlosser appeared in the Academy Awardânominated documentary Food, Inc., which Schlosser co-produced. Join us as they come together for an important and fascinating conversation about the industrialization of food and its devastating impact on personal health and the environment. The event will be moderated by Barry Glassner, professor of sociology at USC and author of The Gospel of Food.
For the past twenty years, Michael Pollan has been writing books and articles about the places where the human and natural worlds intersect: food, agriculture, gardens, drugs and architecture. He is the author of In Defense of Food: An Eaterâs Manifesto, winner of the James Beard Award, and The Omnivoreâs Dilemma, which was named one of the ten best books of the year by both the New York Times and the Washington Post. In 2009 he was named one of the top ten âNew Thought Leadersâ by Newsweek magazine.
As an investigative journalist, Eric Schlosser explores subjects ignored by the mainstream media and gives a voice to people at the margins. Over the years he has followed the harvest with migrant farm workers in California; spent time with meatpacking workers in Texas and Colorado; told the stories of marijuana growers, pornographers and victims of violent crime; gone on duty with the New York Police Departmentâs bomb squad; and visited prisons throughout the United States. Schlosserâs first book, Fast Food Nation, has been translated into more than twenty languages and remained on the New York Times best-seller list for two years. Schlosser has also worked in the film industry, serving as co-producer of the award-winning documentary Food, Inc., in which both he and Pollan appear.
For further information on this event:
visionsandvoices@usc.eduLocation: George Finley Bovard Administration Building (ADM) -
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Daria Yudacufski
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LAST CHANCE: Viterbi Ball Ticket Sales
Wed, Feb 09, 2011 @ 11:00 AM - 02:00 PM
Viterbi School of Engineering Student Organizations
Student Activity
Tickets are selling quickly, so buy your tickets for Viterbi Ball NOW! $25 each, checks made out to USC or cash accepted.
Visit the Facebook event for more info: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=170374009672457Location: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) -
Audiences: Undergrad
Contact: VSC
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KIUEL Get Connected!
Wed, Feb 09, 2011 @ 11:30 AM - 02:00 PM
Viterbi School of Engineering Student Affairs
Student Activity
Get Connected! is an involvement fair hosted by KIUEL on Bloom Walk between RTH and OHE. Students can learn more about leadership roles, student organizations, and project teams within Viterbi. To learn more about KIUELâs mission and programs, visit viterbi.usc.edu/kiuel.
Location: Bloom Walk
Audiences: Undergrad
Contact: KIUEL
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Orange County Lunch and Learn
Wed, Feb 09, 2011 @ 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM
DEN@Viterbi, Executive Education, Viterbi School of Engineering Graduate Admission
Receptions & Special Events
Join us for lunch to learn more about the engineering programs available for working professionals at USC! Representatives from the USC Viterbi School of Engineering will give a short presentation, followed by Q&A, while you enjoy a hosted lunch with other industry professionals.
Who Should Attend:
Professionals interested in learning more about USC's engineering Master's degrees & continuing education offerings available on-campus or online through the Distance Education Network. Interested friends and colleagues also welcome (all attendees must complete the registration form below).
To RSVP: Please visit http://mapp.usc.edu/lunchandlearnAudiences: RSVP Only
Contact: Viterbi Professional Programs
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AME Department Seminar
Wed, Feb 09, 2011 @ 03:30 PM - 04:30 PM
Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Louis Komzsik , Chief Numerical Analyst, Office of Architecture and Technology, Siemens PLM Software
Talk Title: An Introduction to Industrial Rotor Dynamics
Abstract: The rotational phenomenon is instrumental in our everyday lives. The effects of the phenomenon range from the well known centrifugal force, through the Coriolis forces and to the Euler force. The modeling and computation of such forces forms the basis of rotor dynamics. Rotor dynamics of elastic structures is a very important topic of the energy (turbines and windmills) and transportation (helicopter and airplane propellers) industry. The talk will briefly review the physical fundamentals of rotating phenomenon and its computational formulation with finite elements. It will also present a demonstration example and an industrial case study from NASTRAN, the world leader in commercial finite element analysis. It is aimed at undergraduate and graduate engineering or computational science students, but well suited for interested faculty as well.
Biography: Dr. Louis Komzsik, Chief Numerical Analyst of Siemens Industry Division, PLMS. He is a graduate of the Technical University of Budapest in Hungary and worked for almost four decades in the industry, the last three in the United States. His work focuses on developing computational techniques for industrial applications in commercial finite element analysis. Dr. Komzsik is the author of several books; one on them on Lanczos method published by SIAM has also been published in Japanese, Hungarian and Chinese. His book about Computational Techniques of Finite Element Analysis is in its second edition and used by engineers worldwide. His Approximation Techniques for Engineers and Applied Calculus of Variations for Engineers books are used at several universities in the US and in Europe.
Host: Prof. G. Shiflett
More Info: http://ame-www.usc.edu/seminars/index.shtml#upcomingLocation: Seaver Science Library (SSL) - 150
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: April Mundy
Event Link: http://ame-www.usc.edu/seminars/index.shtml#upcoming
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Got a Brand? Networking Your Way to a Job
Wed, Feb 09, 2011 @ 05:00 PM - 06:00 PM
Viterbi School of Engineering Career Connections
Workshops & Infosessions
What is networking? Attend this workshop and learn how to build relationships and connections that can teach you more about your field. Discover USC networking resources that can help build your private network!
Location: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) - 211
Audiences: All Viterbi Students
Contact: RTH 218 Viterbi Career Services
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SWE's Evening With Industry
Wed, Feb 09, 2011 @ 06:00 PM - 08:00 PM
Viterbi School of Engineering Student Organizations
Student Activity
Join SWE-USC at our biggest networking event of the year! This is a unique opportunity for both undergraduate and graduate engineering students to meet with industry representatives while enjoying a three-course dinner. This event is FREE event for USC students, and priority is given to paid SWE-USC members. Space is limited, so sign up early!
For more information and a detailed description go to: http://www-scf.usc.edu/~sweusc/ewi/students.htmlLocation: Radisson Ballroom
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Society of Women Engineers
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USC NSBE General Body Meeting
Wed, Feb 09, 2011 @ 07:00 PM - 08:00 PM
Viterbi School of Engineering Student Organizations
Student Activity
MEGA will co-host this meeting to give undergraduate students advice about applying for grad school. We also have important announcements.
Location: Grace Ford Salvatori Hall Of Letters, Arts & Sciences (GFS) - 101
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: NSBE National Society of Black Engineers
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LAST CHANCE: Viterbi Ball Ticket Sales
Thu, Feb 10, 2011 @ 11:00 AM - 02:00 PM
Viterbi School of Engineering Student Organizations
Student Activity
Tickets are selling quickly, so buy your tickets for Viterbi Ball NOW! $25 each, checks made out to USC or cash accepted.
Visit the Facebook event for more info: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=170374009672457Location: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) -
Audiences: Undergrad
Contact: VSC
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Updating our conceptual model for fine particle emissions from combustion systems
Thu, Feb 10, 2011 @ 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Allen L. Robinson, Carnegie Mellon University
Talk Title: Updating our conceptual model for fine particle emissions from combustion systems
Abstract: Atmospheric particles play an important role in the Earthâs engergy balance; they are also strongly
associated with adverse human health effects. Motor vehicles, wood stoves, and other
combustion systems are major sources of atmospheric particles. However, quantifying the
impact of these sources on air quality and global climate remains a major uncertainty.
This talk will describe recent field, laboratory, and modeling results on organic particle
emissions from combustion systems. The results reveal a dynamic picture in which low
volatility organics evaporate, oxidize, and recondense as they are transported away from the
source. This new picture alters our understanding of the contribution of combustion sources to
urban and regional pollution and brings chemical transport model predictions into better
agreement with field observations. The talk will conclude with a brief discussion of future
research needs and the implications of this new conceptual model for our understanding of
source contributions to human exposures and the design of regulations to control organic
aerosols.
Biography: Allen Robinson: Dr. Allen Robinson is a Professor in the Departments of Mechanical
Engineering and Engineering and Public Policy and the director of the Center for Atmospheric
Particle Studies at Carnegie Mellon University. His research examines the impact of emissions
from combustion systems on urban and regional air quality and global climate, with a focus on
fine particulate matter. He was a visiting faculty fellow at the Cooperative Institute for
Research in Environmental Studies at the University of Colorado and NOAA in Boulder,
Colorado and a postdoctoral fellow at the Combustion Research Facility at Sandia National
Laboratories in Livermore, California. He received his Ph.D. from the University of California at
Berkeley in Mechanical Engineering in 1996 and a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Stanford
University in 1990. He received the Carnegie Institute of Technology Outstanding Research
Award in 2010, the Ahrens Career Development Chair in Mechanical Engineering in 2005 and
the George Tallman Ladd Outstanding Young Faculty Award in 200. He is the author of more
than 80 peer-reviewed publications on air pollution, atmospheric chemistry, and biomass
energy.
Host: Sonny Astani Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Location: Kaprielian Hall (KAP) - 209
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Erin Sigman
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Intel Tech Talk for PhD Students
Thu, Feb 10, 2011 @ 12:30 PM - 01:30 PM
Viterbi School of Engineering Career Connections
Workshops & Infosessions
âProcess Technology Development at Intelâ
Speaker: Dr. Jeanne Luce is a Senior Technical Contributor in Logic Technology Development at Intel Corporation. She received her PhD in Chemistry from UC Berkeley, and has been with Intelâs Logic Technology Development (LTD) group since 1999. Jeanne leads the LTD technical development in dielectric gapfill. Jeanne and her colleagues are currently focused on transistor technology development for Intel's 22nm CMOS logic node. Dr. Luceâs presentation will discuss the process technology development cycle in LTD, specific challenges going forward, and job opportunities at Intel, and use selected cases from Intelâs 32nm technology node by way of example.
Location: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) - 211
Audiences: Viterbi CHE, EE, MASC, as well as Chemistry & Physics
Contact: RTH 218 Viterbi Career Services
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Lyman L. Handy Colloquium Series
Thu, Feb 10, 2011 @ 12:45 PM - 01:50 PM
Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Professor David R. Clarke,
Talk Title: uminescence of Oxides for Sensors and New Laser Gain Materials
Series: Lyman L. Handy Colloquium Series
Abstract: Luminescence is one of the most distinctive properties of a material and consequently continues to attract both artistic and scientific interest. And, although the underlying physics has been well established for many years it remains difficult to predict in detail the luminescence spectra of luminescent ions doped in complex oxide hosts and its dependence on temperature, doping concentration and strain. Consequently, the subject provides a wonderful play ground for those of us interested in tailoring, for instance, new phosphor materials, sensors or adding multi‐functionality to existing materials. In my talk I will describe two quite different examples of exploring doping schemes, one to create a luminescence sensor for sensing temperature (and damage) in thermal barrier coatings and the other for identifying a new class of high‐power laser gain material. These exemplify the necessity of combining an understanding of the essential physics with knowledge of crystal chemistry and materials processing, the synthesis of scientific knowledge required in developing new materials today.
Biography: Professor at School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA 02138
Host: Professor Goo
More Info: http://chems.usc.edu/academics/10-11/l-02-10-11.htmLocation: James H. Zumberge Hall Of Science (ZHS) - 159
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Petra Pearce
Event Link: http://chems.usc.edu/academics/10-11/l-02-10-11.htm
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Photonics Seminar Series
Thu, Feb 10, 2011 @ 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Prof. Eric P. Y. Chiou, UCLA
Talk Title: Photothermal Excitation for Ultrafast Micro and Nanofluid Systems and Biomedical Applications
Abstract: Short pulse lasers have broad applications across broad fields including optical communication, imaging, laser machining, laser surgery, and recently in actuating microfluid and nanofluid devices. It has been shown that a tightly focused laser beam is capable of inducing localized hot plasma for rapid heating and creating cavitation bubbles that expand at high speed in the micro and nanometer scale. Through proper engineering design, such ultrafast actuation mechanism can be spatially patterned and synchronized in time domain to achieve novel microfluidic functions such as ultrafast microfluidic cell sorting, droplet generation, and single cell encapsulation. By coupling this photothermal effect with metallic nanostructures, the threshold energy for exciting cavitation bubbles can be greatly reduced and the bubble explosion pattern can be controlled in the nanometer scale. This enables a novel photothermal nanoblade that permits patterned cutting of 3D fragile mammalian cell membranes for large cargo delivery into mammalian cells with high efficiency and high cell viability.
Biography: Prof. Eric P. Y. Chiou received his Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences Department from the University of California at Berkeley in 2005. He received his M.S. degree in Electrical Engineering Department in the University of California at Los Angeles and B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering Department from National Taiwan University in Taiwan in 1998. He joined the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department at the University of California at Los Angeles in 2006. His research interest is Optical MEMS, BioMEMS, laser manufacturing, and biophotonics. He has received the NSF CAREER award in 2008.
Host: Prof. Michelle Povinelli
More Info: http://ee.usc.edu/news/seminars/photonics/Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Jing Ma
Event Link: http://ee.usc.edu/news/seminars/photonics/
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2011 NAE National Meeting
Thu, Feb 10, 2011 @ 01:00 PM - 05:00 PM
USC Viterbi School of Engineering
Receptions & Special Events
The Viterbi School Hosts the 2011 NAE National Meeting
Thursday, Feb. 10, 2011, 1:00pm â 5:00pm
Henry Salvatori Computer Science Center Auditorium (SAL 101)
The important topic of MEGACITIES will be addressed by six experts on infrastructure, energy, the environment, transportation and natural disasters.
You can see the talks live @ http://viterbi.usc.edu/nae2011
Location: Henry Salvatori Computer Science Center (SAL) - 101
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Gloria Hayes
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CS Distinguished Lecture
Thu, Feb 10, 2011 @ 03:30 PM - 05:00 PM
Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. James O'Brien, UC Berkeley
Talk Title: Sparse Matrix Factorization, Mesh Modification, and Real-Time FEM Simulation
Abstract: This talk will discuss the use of dynamic remeshing and sparse matrix factorization in the context of real-time dynamics simulations. The first part of the talk will focus on two systems that have been developed for specific applications: destructible environments in "Star Wars: The Force Unleashed" and interactive modeling of prostate brachytherapy. Although dynamic remeshing is often dismissed as impractically slow, in both cases it plays a key part to making the simulations work effectively in a real-time setting. The second part of the talk will focus on an incremental update method for the Cholesky factors of sparse matrices that out-performs standard iterative methods for solving elastodynamic problems. The factors are not recomputed at each time step, but the nonlinearities that normally compel refactoring are not ignored either. Instead, the algorithm makes local incremental updates to the Cholesky factors to maintain error limits on the solution. The results presented will include captured footage from the live game, comparisons of simulated needle insertion to footage with gel tissue phantoms, and demonstrations of the sparse direct solver on large meshes.
Biography: James F. O'Brien is an Associate Professor of Computer Science at the University of California, Berkeley. His primary area of interest is Computer Animation, with an emphasis on generating realistic motion using physically based simulation and motion capture techniques. He has authored numerous papers on these topics. In addition to his research pursuits, Prof. O'Brien has worked with several game companies on integrating advanced simulation physics into game engines, and his methods for destruction modeling were recently used in the film Avatar. He received his doctorate from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2000, the same year he joined the Faculty at U.C. Berkeley. Professor O'Brien is a Sloan Fellow and ACM Distinguished Scientist, Technology Review selected him as one of their TR-100, and he has been awarded research grants from the Okawa and Hellman Foundations. He is currently serving as ACM SIGGRAPH Director at Large. http://obrien.berkeley.edu/
Host: Prof. Jernej Barbic, USC
Location: Seaver Science Library (SSL) - 150
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Kanak Agrawal
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ASBME's 15th Annual Corporate Dinner!
Thu, Feb 10, 2011 @ 05:00 PM - 08:00 PM
Viterbi School of Engineering Student Organizations
Student Activity
The 15th Annual Corporate Dinner has finally arrived!!
For those attending the event this Thursday evening, remember:
1. The Corporate Dinner will be this Thursday, February 10th, 5:30-8:00PM in Grand Ballroom A at the Tutor Campus Center. Check-In will begin at 5PM.
2. Turn in your resumes to asbme.events@gmail.com by Monday, February 7th, at 4PM in order to be included in the Resume CD
3. Enter your seating preferences into the Google doc. If you did not receive the e-mail about the Resume CD and seating arrangements, please let us know!
4. Print out some resumes to hand out at the dinner if you want.
5. Be ready to dress to impress! (Business professional)
We hope you are all excited to meet and network with fellow students, BME department faculty and staff, and corporate representatives from Accenture, Amgen, AMI, Edwards Lifescience, Medtronic, Med Exec, Neotech, St. Jude Medical, Kleinberg & Lerner, and others at this delicious free dinner. Look forward to raffle prizes as well, including an iPod nano! We will be resuming all regular ASBME activities after the corporate dinner concludes.
Thanks! Please e-mail us at asbme@usc.edu if you have any questions.Location: Ronald Tutor Campus Center (TCC) - Ballroom A
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Associated Students of Biomedical Engineering
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Intel Info Session with Intel Interns
Thu, Feb 10, 2011 @ 06:30 PM - 08:00 PM
Viterbi School of Engineering Career Connections
Workshops & Infosessions
Changing the game. Just another day at the office.
Please join us to hear Intel Interns talk about their unique experiences in computer architecture, audio development applications, manufacturing development, and to talk about opportunities for internships and full time positions at Intel.
Please bring your resume - we'll raffle off an Intel based netbook!
Intel is hiring BS, MS, and PhD students with backgrounds in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and Material Science.Location: Kaprielian Hall (KAP) - 156
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: RTH 218 Viterbi Career Services
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An Evening with James Conlon and the USC Thornton Symphony
Thu, Feb 10, 2011 @ 07:30 PM - 09:30 PM
USC Viterbi School of Engineering
Receptions & Special Events
Admission
FREE for USC students, staff and faculty with valid ID. One free ticket per ID. To RSVP, visit the event page http://web-app.usc.edu/ws/eo2/calendar/113/event/873353 beginning Tuesday, January 18, at 9 a.m.
$12, Seniors, Alumni and Non-USC Students
$18, General Public
Tickets will be available for purchase at the USC Ticket Office. For more info, go to www.usc.edu/tickets or call (213) 740-GOSC.
One of todayâs preeminent conductors, James Conlon, music director of L.A. Opera, has cultivated a vast symphonic, operatic and choral repertoire, and developed enduring relationships with the worldâs most prestigious symphony orchestras and opera houses. He will lead a discussion from the podium and perform selected works with the USC Thornton Symphony.
Since his New York Philharmonic debut in 1974, Conlon has appeared as a guest conductor with virtually every major North American and European orchestra and has frequently been a guest conductor at the Metropolitan Opera. In addition to serving as the music director of L.A. Opera, he is the music director of the Ravinia Festival, the summer home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the Cincinnati May Festival. In 2009, Conlon won two Grammy Awards (Best Classical Recording and Best Opera Album) for conducting L.A. Operaâs production of Kurt Weillâs Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny.
Organized by the USC Thornton School of Music.
For further information on this event:
visionsandvoices@usc.eduLocation: George Finley Bovard Administration Building (ADM) -
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Daria Yudacufski
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Soldering Synthesis: Theory, Practice, Music A Workshop and Performance with Mark Allen
Fri, Feb 11, 2011 @ 10:00 AM - 03:30 PM
USC Viterbi School of Engineering
Receptions & Special Events
Admission is free.
RSVP required. To RSVP, see the workshop schedule and reservation links below.
Mark Allen, founder of the Los Angelesâbased nonprofit arts collective Machine Project, will present a hands-on workshop in which participants will learn how basic electronic circuits function by creating a synthesizer. This unique event is not merely a how-to workshop, but a multimedia performance uniting fundamental information, hands-on use of soldering tools and musical performance by the band ing, who will play throughout the event. The workshop, which will be presented twice, will culminate in a group jam session as each synthesizer begins to function.
Mark Allen is the founder of Machine Project, a nonprofit community space in Echo Park that investigates art, technology, natural history, science, music, literature and food. In the Machine Project storefront, Allen and his colleagues produce events, workshops and site-specific installations using hands-on engagement to make rarefied knowledge accessible. In his own work, Allen is interested in how sculpture and performance can affect the viewer in a deep, personal way, moving the viewer from a passive position to a state of engagement and communal experience.
Workshop Schedule:
The workshop will be repeated twice. Participants may sign up for one workshop only.
10 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Workshop #1
IML Blue Lab
To RSVP, go to http://www.usc.edu/dept/pubrel/visionsandvoices/RSVP/reserve.php?RSVPEvtCode=79 beginning Wednesday, January 19, at 9 a.m.
12 p.m.: Lunch
IML Patio
1:30 to 3:30 p.m.: Workshop #2
IML Blue Lab
To RSVP, go to http://www.usc.edu/dept/pubrel/visionsandvoices/RSVP/reserve.php?RSVPEvtCode=107 beginning Wednesday, January 19, at 9 a.m.
Organized by Steve Anderson (Cinematic Arts).
For further information on this event:
visionsandvoices@usc.edu
Location: Institute for Multimedia Literacy Blue Lab, 746 West Adams Blvd.
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Daria Yudacufski
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An Information Theoretic View of Robust Cooperation/Relaying in Wireless Networks
Fri, Feb 11, 2011 @ 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Shlomo Shamai , Technion - Israel Institute of Technology
Talk Title: An Information Theoretic View of Robust Cooperation/Relaying in Wireless Networks
Abstract: In many wireless networks, cooperation, in the form of relaying, takes place over out-of-band spectral resources. Examples are ad hoc networks in which multiple radio interfaces are available for communications or cellular systems with (wireless or wired) backhaul links. In this information-theoretic overview, we put emphasis on robust processing and cooperation via out-of-band links for both ad hoc and cellular networks. Specifically, in focus are, robust approaches and practical aspects such as imperfect information regarding the channel state, and the codebooks (modulation, coding) shared by transmitters and receivers.
First we address cooperation scenarios with perfect channel state information and investigate the impact of lack of information regarding the codebooks (oblivious processing) on basic relay channels and cellular systems with cooperation among base stations. Then, similar models are examined in the absence of perfect channel state information. Robust coding strategies are designed based on 'variable-to-fixed' channel coding concepts (the broadcast coding approach, or unequal error protection codes). The effectiveness of such strategies are discussed for multirelay channels and cellular systems overlaid with femtocell hotspots.
Biography: Shlomo Shamai (Shitz) (S'80âM'82âSM'89âF'94) received the B.Sc., M.Sc., and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from the TechnionâIsrael Institute of Technology, in 1975, 1981 and 1986 respectively. During 1975-1985 he was with the Communications Research Labs in the capacity of a Senior Research Engineer. Since 1986 he is with the Department of Electrical Engineering, TechnionâIsrael Institute of Technology, where he is now the William Fondiller Professor of Telecommunications. His research interests encompass a wide spectrum of topics in information theory and statistical communications. He is especially interested in theoretical limits in communication with practical constraints, multi-user information theory and spread spectrum systems, multiple-input-multiple-output communications systems, information theoretic models for wireless networks and systems, information theoretic aspects of magnetic recording, channel coding, combined modulation and coding, turbo codes and LDPC, in channel, source, and combined source-channel applications, iterative detection and decoding algorithms, coherent and noncoherent detection and information theoretic aspects of digital communication in optical channels. Dr. Shamai (Shitz) is a member of the Union Radio Scientifique Internationale (URSI). He is the recipient of the 1999 van der Pol Gold Medal of URSI, and a co-recipient of the 2000 IEEE Donald G. Fink Prize Paper Award, the 2003, and the 2004 Joint IT/COM Societies Paper Award, and the 2007 Information Theory Society Paper Award. He is also the recipient of the 1985 Alon Grant for distinguished young scientists and the 2000 Technion Henry Taub Prize for Excellence in Research. He has served as Associate Editor for the Shannon Theory of the IEEE Transactions on Information Theory, and also serves on the Board of Governors of the Information Theory Society.
Host: Giuseppe Caire
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Gerrielyn Ramos
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ASTE Seminar
Fri, Feb 11, 2011 @ 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Astronautical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Jay Polk, Ph.D., Principal Engineer, Propulsion and Materials Engineering Section, Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Talk Title: High Power Electric Propulsion for Human Exploration Missions
Abstract: The use of high specific impulse electric propulsion offers dramatic cost savings for human missions as part of the flexible path for deep space exploration. Near-term solar array and electric thruster technologies incorporated in a 300 kWe solar electric propulsion (SEP) stage could enable human exploration of many scientifically interesting near-Earth objects in the 2020 time frame with a factor of two or more reduction in the total mass that must be launched to low earth orbit compared to conventional chemical propulsion. Similar performance can be achieved for human missions to Phobos or Deimos with vehicle power levels of about 600 kWe and missions to explore the surface of Mars could be accomplished with MWe-class vehicles. In this talk, the âElectric Path,â a new architecture exploiting the fuel efficiency of high specific impulse electric propulsion, and the required high power Hall thruster technologies will be described. Current research focuses on thruster lifetime issues, and the physics of two key life-limiting phenomena, Hall thruster discharge channel erosion and barium depletion in hollow cathodes, will be discussed.
Biography: Dr. Polk received his Ph.D. from Princeton University. He has over 20 years experience in electric propulsion research and development, and had led many electric propulsion projects at JPL.
Host: Department of Astronautical Engineering
Location: Seaver Science Library (SSL) - 150
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Marrietta Penoliar
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Center for Energy Nanoscience and Technology - Distinguisted Speaker Series
Fri, Feb 11, 2011 @ 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. Richard M. Swanson, President Emeritus SunPower Corporation
Talk Title: High Efficiency Silicon Solar Cells - Concepts and Commercialization
Biography: Richard Swanson received his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University in 1974. In 1976, he joined the faculty at Stanford University where he and his group conceived and developed the point-contact solar cell. Laboratory versions of these cells achieved a record 28 percent conversion efficiency in concentrator cells and 23 percent large-area one-sun cells. In 1991, Swanson resigned from his faculty position to devote full time to SunPower Corporation, a company he founded to develop and commercialize cost-effective photovoltaic power systems. Swanson currently serves as its president emeritus. Along with his students and co-workers, Swanson has published more than 200 articles in journals and conference proceedings, as well as several book chapters. In 2002, Swanson received the William R. Cherry award by the IEEE for outstanding contributions to the photovoltaic field, and in 2006 he was awarded the Becquerel Prize in Photovoltaics from the European Communities. Most recently, Swanson received the Economistâs Innovation Award for Energy and Environment.
Host: P. Daniel Dapkus, Director, Center for Energy Nanoscience
Location: Seeley G. Mudd Building (SGM) - 101
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Eliza Aceves
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W.V.T. Rusch Engineering Honors Colloquium; High-efficiency Solar Cells for Power Generation
Fri, Feb 11, 2011 @ 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
USC Viterbi School of Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. Nasser Karam, Vice President for Advanced Technology Products
Talk Title: W.V.T. Rusch Engineering Honors Colloquium; High-efficiency Solar Cells for Power Generation
Abstract: Dr. Nasser Karam will present "High-efficiency Solar Cells for Power Generation" 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: Undergrad
Contact: Amanda Atkinson
Event Link: http://viterbi.usc.edu/students/undergrad/honors/schedules/
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Integrated Systems Seminar Series
Fri, Feb 11, 2011 @ 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. Alireza Shirvani, Ralink Technology
Talk Title: Embedded RF Interfaces in Deep Submicron CMOS: Challenges and Opportunities
Abstract: For the past few years, most state-of-the-art wireless transceivers have evolved into single chip SoCâs in deep submicron CMOS technologies. Such high level of integration is mainly driven by cost and form factors demanded by the market. For RF and analog designers, however, such high level of integration is a mixed blessing. Keeping up with digital scaling imposes technical and strategic challenges for RF transceiver development. Furthermore, small die sizes with increased on-die digital activity necessitate substrate noise mitigation and isolation techniques. The added integration, however, provides numerous benefits. A higher level of system self test and calibration can be achieved on the die, alleviating the need for external test equipment and added time and cost. In addition, digitally assisted techniques can be more readily employed to overcome circuit and system impairments, saving precious die size and power.
Biography: Alireza Shirvani received the B.S. degree in electrical engineering from Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran, in 1997, and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from Stanford University, Stanford, CA, in 1999 and 2003 respectively. He was with Tavanza from 2000 to 2002 working on RF power amplifiers for cellular communications. From 2002 to 2009, he was with Marvell Semiconductor, most recently as Senior Director of RF and Analog Design, where he led development of several generations of Marvell WLAN products. He is currently with Ralink Technology, as Director of RFIC Engineering, engaged in design and development of integrated RF transceivers for wireless communications. Dr. Shirvani was a member of the Iranian team in the 24th International Physics Olympiad. He is a technical program committee member and chair of the Panels Subcommittee at the IEEE Custom Integrated Circuit Conference (CICC). He is also the author of Design and Control of RF Power Amplifiers (Springer, 2003) and the recipient of the 2002 IEEE Journal of Solid State Circuits Best Paper Award.
Host: Prof. Hossein Hashemi and Firooz Aflatouni
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Hossein Hashemi
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Extremes of Random Coding Error Exponents
Fri, Feb 11, 2011 @ 03:30 PM - 04:30 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Albert Guillén i Fà bregas, University of Cambridge
Talk Title: Extremes of Random Coding Error Exponents
Abstract: In this talk, we will briefly review Gallager's random coding achievability proof. We will show that Gallager's random coding error exponent of an arbitrary binary-input memoryless symmetric channel is upper-bounded by that of the binary erasure channel and lower-bounded by that of the binary-symmetric channel of the same capacity. We will illustrate how the result can be applied to find the extremes of the channel dispersion for the aforementioned class of channels.
Biography: Albert Guillén i Fà bregas received the Telecommunication Engineering Degree and the Electronics Engineering Degree from Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya , Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain, and the Politecnico di Torino , Torino, Italy, respectively, both in 1999, and the Ph.D. in Communication Systems from Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland, in 2004.
From August 1998 to March 1999, he conducted his Final Research Project at the New Jersey Institute of Technology , Newark, NJ. He was with Telecom Italia Labs, Italy, from November 1999 to June 2000. From September 2000 to May 2001, he was with the European Space Agency (ESA), The Netherlands. During his doctoral studies, from 2001 to 2004, he was a Research and Teaching assistant at Institut Eurécom , France. From June 2003 to July 2004 he was a visiting scholar at EPFL. Since September 2004 until December 2006 he was a Research Fellow at the Institute for Telecommunications Research , University of South Australia , Australia. From January 2007 he has been a Lecturer at the Department of Engineering , University of Cambridge , United Kingdom. He is also a Fellow of Trinity Hall . He held visiting appointments at Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Télécommunications , Paris, France (June-July 2005 and June 2006),Universitat Pompeu Fabra , Barcelona, Spain (September 2008), at the Institute for Telecommunications Research , University of South Australia , Mawson Lakes, Australia (December 2008, June-July 2010) and Texas A&M Univeristy at Qatar (May 2010). His specific research interests are in the area of communication theory, information theory, coding theory, digital modulation and signal processing techniques, particularly with wireless terrestrial and satellite applications.
Dr. Guillén i Fà bregas received the Starting Grant from the European Research Council , the Young Authors Award of the 2004 European Signal Processing Conference EUSIPCO 2004, Vienna, Austria, the 2004 Nokia Best Doctoral Thesis Award in Mobile Internet and 3rd Generation Mobile Solutions from the Spanish Institution of Telecommunications Engineers , and a pre-doctoral Research Fellowship of the Spanish Ministry of Education to join ESA. He is also a Senior Member of IEEE (Information Theory and Communications Societies ), of theARC Communications Research Network (ACoRN), and a Junior member of the Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences . Since November 2007, he has been an Editor of the IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications
Host: Giuseppe Caire, caire@usc.edu, EEB 528, x04683
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Gerrielyn Ramos
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AIChE Annual Roller Skating Event
Fri, Feb 11, 2011 @ 06:45 PM - 09:00 PM
Viterbi School of Engineering Student Organizations
Student Activity
Come take a break from school with AIChE as we head out to World on Wheels Skating Rink! Have a great time with fellow chem-e's at our roller-skating event!
Date: Friday, February 11, 2011
Time: meet in front of RTH to carpool @ 6:45pm; return at 9pm
Cost: $7/personLocation: World on Wheels
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: USC American Institute of Chemical Engineers
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MESA MPTI Follow-up
Sat, Feb 12, 2011 @ 09:00 AM - 03:00 PM
Viterbi School of Engineering K-12 STEM Center
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Abstract: Follow-up to Summer Math Physics Technology Institute teacher professional development
Location: Seaver Science Library (SSL) - 150
Audiences: MESA Teachers
Contact: Larry Lim
