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Community-builder Leon Pryor takes Detroit’s FIRST Robotics program to new heights

Having excelled in careers at Microsoft, Amazon, and now Meta, the alum and renowned video game engineer co-founded The Motor City Alliance to make Detroit a powerhouse for FIRST Robotics teams

June 6, 2022

Celebrating 50th Anniversary of First African- American Woman to Earn Physics PhD

Alum Dr. Donnell Walton (PhD Applied Physics) pens a tribute in the AMERICAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY for Dr. Willie Hobbs Moore, the first Black woman at Michigan to earn a BS and MS in Electrical Engineering ('58 and '61) and first in the country to earn a PhD in Physics (1972), in honor of the 50th anniversary of her doctorate degree.

Engineering tough

ECE alum Linda Zhang has the daunting task of bringing America's bestselling vehicle into the electric age.

ECE alum Mihir Sheth receives Young Innovator Award from Innovate UK for making a medical device that weans patients off ventilators quicker

Sheth is the co-founder of Inspiritus Health and has developed a simple to use, non-invasive medical device that keeps patients’ muscles engaged when they are on a ventilator to prevent muscle atrophy.

Katie Bouman talks legacy of the black hole imaging project and favorite U-M memories

Before Bouman became the face of the project that brought us the first ever image of a black hole, she was wowing ECE professors with design projects and hoarding Domino’s pizza with her HKN family.

Intel’s Jon Zapp plans the technologies of the future

Zapp, an EE alum who led the development of Intel’s Tiger Lake processor, talks combining his love of high tech with his skills in marketing and finance, his career at Intel, his favorite classes at Michigan, and his love of Backroom pizza.

Anthony England, former NASA astronaut, professor, and dean, retires

England has dedicated more than two decades of his distinguished career helping students reach for the stars to understand more about Earth and other planets.

Fawwaz Ulaby retires after nearly four decades of championing students and excelling at research and leadership

Students say Ulaby, a member of the National Academy of Engineering and recipient of the Edison Medal, is one of the best professors – and people – they’ve ever known.

August 10, 2021

IEEE EDS Podcast with Prof. Kensall D. Wise

The IEEE Electron Devices Society interviews Kensall Wise, the William Gould Dow Distinguished University Professor Emeritus of EECS, about his life and career.

ECE alum Linda Guillory breaks two world records for vintage video game collections

Guillory, an electrical engineer at Texas Instruments, shares her memories of U-M and how her love of fixing broken video games helped her become a world-renowned gaming collector.

Deltek’s Senior Director Shirin Mangold found her passion and her voice through Michigan Engineering’s Co-op program

The Engineering Cooperative Education Program introduced Mangold (CE 1993) to life as a working engineer and inspired her to pursue a career in software engineering.

ECE alum and entrepreneur Fred Gibbons teaches engineers to make products that people need

From growing up in a small East Coast fishing village to becoming lifelong friends with Steve Jobs, Stanford Professor Fred Gibbons shares his journey as a first-generation college student and what inspired him to teach product management and design.

Profiles in ECE: Rucha Apte (MS ECE 2021)

From the internships that inspired her interest in signal & image processing and machine learning to late night study sessions at the Duderstadt to her background in classical dance, Master’s student Rucha Apte shares her journey with us.

Dr. Pilar Herrera-Fierro, senior director of the LNF, receives 2021 COE staff excellence award

Dr. Herrera-Fierro goes out of her way to support student, faculty, and external users of the Lurie Nanofabrication Facility, and is considered a key component of its success

Kristen Thornton awarded College of Engineering’s Staff Excellence Award for her unwavering dedication and exemplary service to students

PhD Coordinator Kristen Thornton continues to go above and beyond for the ECE graduate student community by creating new events, new office hours, and helping to launch a new Master’s program all during the global pandemic.

Lisa Armstrong recognized with the Judith A. Pitney Staff Service Career Award for her decades of service to the college and the department

As Unit Administrator for Electrical and Computer Engineering, Armstrong has been a driving force for many of the department’s biggest advancements, and she’s known for fostering a thriving, inclusive, collaborative, and fun environment.

Qing Qu uses data and machine learning to optimize the world

A new faculty member at Michigan, Qu’s research has applications in imaging sciences, scientific discovery, healthcare, and more.

Pei Zhang solemnly swears that he’s up to some good

In a project he calls the “Marauder’s Map,” Prof. Zhang uses machine learning-based data models, physics models, and heuristic models to turn physical structures into sensing devices.

A MiTEE student and her quest to shape the future of space satellites

Maya Pandya, an Electrical Engineering senior, is a key member of the student team working to design a new generation of CubeSats that may revolutionize how we monitor space environments and provide a new method for interplanetary communication.

Lawser family scholarship supports EECS wolverines

John and Sarah Lawser created the fund to give back to U-M by empowering the next generation of EECS engineers.

Tony Hsu and family establish new fellowship fund to support graduate students

In addition to the new fellowship, the Hsu family is supporting the department through the ECE fund.

Coping with COVID-19 as a student and Olympic hopeful: a Q&A with Thomas Cope

Even award-winning athletes are having a hard time getting into a routine these days, but Tommy Cope wants everyone to keep working hard.

The impact of COVID-19: A student perspective

Stefany Escobedo’s life changed drastically when COVID-19 shut down her access to a wide community of friends and activities

Scholar Stories: Buca Making it Big on Pitch, in Electrical Engineering

MGoBlue.com profiles Electrical Engineering undergrad Kevin Buca, a midfielder on the University of Michigan Men's soccer team.

Cope Reflects on B1G Medal of Honor, Stepping Up to Continue U-M Swimming 'Legacy'

Electrical Engineering undergrad, Tommy Cope, was awarded the B1G Medal of Honor, which is given to two senior students at each conference university for highest excellence in athletics and academics.

Scholar Stories: Gerdov Overcomes Adversity, Injury to Pave Way at Michigan

MGoBlue.com profiles EE undergrad Alan Gerdov, who competes on the University of Michigan Men's Gymnastics team. Gerdov speaks about his road from the Ukraine to the U.S. and how COVID-19 has impacted his life.

The legend of the Rick’s Dancer

ECE Master's student Sam June is The Dancing King at the popular Ann Arbor club.

Advancing the future of circuit design with Intel’s Dr. Eric Karl

Karl (BSE MSE PhD EE) talks about how his time at Michigan helped prepare him for his dream job at Intel and a career advancing embedded memory technology and circuits.

Herbert Winful named Joseph E. and Anne P. Rowe Professor of Electrical Engineering

Winful has made fundamental contributions to nonlinear optics and the physics of tunneling, while also championing an inclusive department.

Data security for a safer world

ECE alum Kurt Rohloff helped create one of the world’s best homomorphic encryption software libraries, and he reflects on how his time at Michigan helped shape his career.

Russel Lecture: Fighting climate change with organic electronics

The researcher-entrepreneur who helped bring OLED displays to the masses envisions a future of efficient lighting and next-gen solar power.

Faculty, students pay tribute to Demos Teneketzis’ remarkable career

Known for his impeccable scholarship and compassionate mentorship, Prof. Teneketzis, an expert in stochastic control, decentralized information systems, networks, and discrete event systems, retired after 35 years of service to the department.

Scholar Stories: Men's Swimmer Cope Sets Lofty Goals in Pool, Classroom

MGoBlue.com highlights Electrical Engineering undergrad, Tommy Cope, including his record-setting swimming career at Michigan and his path from the heart of the Buckeye State to Ann Arbor.

Dave Neuhoff says farewell after 45 years championing students, faculty, and the department

Prof. Neuhoff, an internationally recognized expert in information theory, source coding, and image processing, retired earlier this year.

Engineering education trailblazer and industry innovator honored for by Michigan Engineering

For his work championing ECE from the classroom to the boardroom, Nicolaos Alexopoulos has received Michigan Engineering’s 2019 Alumni Award, the highest accolade given by the Michigan Engineering Alumni Board.

Bridge-builder for academia and industry wins distinguished alumni service award

For her outstanding dedication to electrical and computer engineering education at the University of Michigan, Karen Fireman is honored with the Distinguished Alumni Service Award.

Charging Ahead

Wireless charging is already taking hold. But imagine charging your home appliances or even your car without a single wire. Rackham electrical engineering student Xin Zan is working to make that—and more—a reality.

Dr. Hadavi sets up new endowment to help ECE wolverines change the world

Dr. Cyrus Hadavi (PhD CE ’83) shares his hopes for the future of the ECE program, his knowledge as CEO of a long-lasting company, and his memories of good ole Ann Arbor days.

Rick Bolander: Entrepreneurship is a team sport

Rick Bolander (BSE MSE EE ’83 ’85; MBA ’94, Harvard) has devoted his career to fulfilling the entrepreneurial dreams of others as much as his own.

Q&A with Mingyan Liu

The incoming electrical and computer engineering chair talks about her vision for the future.

Battling drone ships with Anthony Uytingco

Student leads team that programs the future of boats.

The art of cyber war with Isaac Porche

Porche shares the global state of cyber warfare, and how his time at Michigan led him to the front lines.

Jordi Ribas: From video compression to leading AI products at Microsoft

His PhD from Michigan ECE allowed him to lead one of the largest tech companies’ AI Products initiative.

The million foot view

Kamal Sarabandi has expanded radar capabilities in applications ranging from low earth orbit to thousands of feet underground.

Laser cooling with Laura Andre

Laura Andre says she “ended up just falling in love with optics.”

Evigia founder Navid Yazdi creates essential sensor networks

Alumnus Navid Yazdi develops sensors that accomplish incredible tasks.

Footsteps all her own

The unexpected journey of father-and-daughter Raytheon engineers.

Claude Shannon: information icon

Early theoretical solutions led to practical applications that continue to power our digital world, while his inventions spanned the spectrum from playful to paramount.

Student’s digital art makes the Cube even more interactive

Keenan Rebara hopes to add to the fun of spinning the Cube using his a bit of physics and sensors.

Fred Buhler builds better chips for “Aweslome” applications

Fred Buhler founded Aweslome to provide custom-build chips for a broad range of applications, including machine learning, neural networks, security, and circuits testing.

The Aptitude Academy: student’s instructional YouTube channel tops 6 million views

Dsouza’s lessons have gone viral, his channel now has over 109,000 subscribers who tune in for Dsouza’s lessons and life updates.

Rick Bergman, CEO of Synaptics – giving tech a sense of touch

ECE alum Rick Bergman, CEO of Synaptics, is working to make tomorrow’s technology user friendly, safe, and reliable. The company hopes to lead what they call “the human interface revolution.”

Peter and Evelyn Fuss endow ECE chair

Believing in the power of creativity and quick action, the Fusses wanted to give the department maximum flexibility to respond to new initiatives and special needs wherever and whenever they arose. They are especially interested in expanding student diversity.

Peter S. Fuss: From Michigan to Leading a Global Network Technology Company

Fuss’ solid foundation and curious nature led him to make lasting contributions first at Bell Labs, and then as a founder and president of Tellabs, International.

Elmer Gilbert: A Life in Control

Elmer Gilbert reflects on his illustrious career in Control

A VR-powered crystal structures app (video)

MHacks winner Duncan Abbot wants his VR software startup, Gwdion, to change how humans interact with technology.

The ‘Power’ of a lunchbox

Vasanthakumar came back to Chennai in 2016 with a goal to reinvent traditional and widely used personal products, starting with one of the most versatile products –— the lunchbox.

Lifelong Radiation Lab researcher Valdis Liepa retires

Dr. Valdis Liepa retires after nearly 50 years as a faculty member in the Radiation Laboratory.

Won Pyo Hong, President of Samsung SDS, Presented with Inaugural ECE Alumni Impact Award

This honor, established in 2017, recognizes Dr. Hong for his pioneering work in the personal electronics industry, playing a key role in shaping our world.

Anna Stuhlmacher: Power to change the world

Anna Stuhlmacher, PhD in electrical engineering, is looking for ways to change the world through power and energy.

Making learning addictive

Alumnus develops platform that allows instructors to turn almost any course into a multiplayer online game.

Andy Yagle retires after a 32-year career in Signal and Image Processing

Prof. Yagle’s career was distinguished by his dedication to teaching as well as contributions to research.

ECE Alum Kevin Johnson receives IEEE-USA Award

This award is given to those for Distinguished Public Service that is expected to help tech employees

Alum Mariesa Crow is looking to the future of power

Crow works on microgrids to upgrade infrastructure

A Q&A with alum Angela Blanton: VP and CFO at Carnegie Mellon University

From electrical engineering to University CRO

A Q&A with Tomas Mauricio – Giving Back

What a difference maker can do in the workplace

Cindy Finelli: Community building and envisioning the future of engineering education research

Finelli takes on the future of educating engineers

Herb Winful – professor of optics, friend of the arts

Winful discusses life in education

Queen of the hurricanes: An engineer and feminist for the ages

Elsie MacGill, the world’s first female aircraft designer, drew strength from the women who came before her.

A Q&A with Rhonda Franklin – connecting diverse students

Franklin believes the best research results are achieved from a diversity of backgrounds, something she learned as a graduate student at Michigan and fosters in her own research group at Minnesota.

Mingyan Liu receives CoE Monroe-Brown Foundation Service Excellence Award

Prof. Liu helped implement a diversity incentive program that led to a record number of newly-admitted underrepresented PhD students in 2016 while overseeing the merger of two graduate programs.

Sensors from head to toe – Todd Coleman makes measuring health simpler

Prof. Todd Coleman’s group is tackling the challenging problem of getting high-fidelity monitoring to work affordably at home.

Nader Behdad Receives the Inaugural ECE Rising Star Alumni Award for his Transformative Research in Antennas

Behdad has tackled some of the toughest problems in antenna research. But for his applications, they need to be very small – small enough to be used to treat cancer.

MI business is his business

Alumnus David Tarver founded the Urban Entrepreneurship Initiative (UEI) Inc., in 2014. UEI helps aspiring entrepreneurs tackle urban problems with innovative, sustainable and profitable business solutions.

A silver medal finish for ECE Olympic rower

EE student Zach Burns brought home a silver medal from the Rio De Janeiro Summer Olympics as part of the US Paralympic Rowing Team.

David Blaauw honored with SIA/SRC University Research Award

Prof. Blaauw was a key member of the team that developed the world’s first millimeter-scale computer, known as the Michigan Micro Mote (M3).

Meet the new director of Michigan Robotics

Prof. Jessy Grizzle named inaugural director of Michigan Robotics

Jasprit Singh: Seeking a better life through engineering

During his 30-year career, Prof. Singh enlightened students into the physics and mysteries of electrical engineering, and sharing his belief that technology can enhance healthy and peaceful living

Engineering a better life for people with diabetes

Hygieia automates and streamlines diabetes treatment, a disease affecting over 29 million Americans.

Claude Shannon centennial celebrants recall U-M grad’s advances, societal impact

Shannon theorized the binary code of zeros and ones that makes cell phones, email and the Internet possible.

Cutting the cost of hearing

MEMStim’s technology is already two phases into pre-clinical testing in preparation for FDA examination. Very few MEMS devices have made it this far.

Dr. Mehdi Hatamian elected to National Academy of Engineering

Dr. Hatamian is Fellow and Chief Scientist – Central Engineering at Broadcom Ltd. He joined the company in 1996.

Gift launches M. Alten Gilleo distinguished lecture series in optical sciences and optoelectronics

Kamal Sarabandi receives Stephen S. Attwood award

The Stephen S. Attwood award is the highest honor awarded to a faculty member by the College of Engineering. Prof. Sarabandi has shaped the field of radar remote sensing for more than twenty years.

Googling the physical world

IoT applications are the next wave of computing and the next driving force of the semiconductor industry. The startup PsiKick [now Everactive] is helping shape this future.

Jimmy Hsiao – A local player in a global market

Jimmy founded Logic Solutions, Inc., a consulting company offering website development, web and mobile applications, and other tech solutions to companies around the world.

Garlin Gilchrist II: Innovation for the People

Garlin Gilchrist II set out on a lifelong mission to bring engineering solutions to communities in need.

Jeff Fessler receives Distinguished Faculty Achievement Award

Prof. Fessler has revolutionized medical imaging with groundbreaking mathematical models and algorithms that improve both safety and quality.

Claude Gauthier and OmniPhy: Connecting to the ethernet revolution

Dr. Gauthier is co-founder and CTO of the semiconductor interface intellectual property (IP) company, OmniPhy.

Nader Najafi: A dream that saves lives

Dr. Nader Najafi is now leading the development of some of the most advanced micro-scale medical technology in the world.

Oz Pearlman: An engineer’s magic moment

Oz Pearlman is a professional magician and mentalist. His performances have made him one of the most well-known in this field.

Ernest S. Kuh (1928 – 2015): pioneer in electronic circuit theory and EDA

As a devoted Michigan alumnus, he established the Ernest and Bettine Kuh Distinguished Faculty Scholar Award in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Michigan.

ECE alum Ruba Borno to join Cisco’s new executive team

The young executive has an extensive history in both the business and tech worlds.

Iverson Bell – Researching the future of space satellites

Mr. Bell is investigating the potential of electrodynamic tether propulsion technology to enhance the capabilities of an emerging class of smartphone-sized satellites.

Eric M. Aupperle (1935 – 2015): An internet pioneer leaves a remarkable legacy

Mr. Aupperle was a true Michigan man, devoting his career to the University and to the state of Michigan in his role as director and later president of Merit Network.

Advancing computation: 4th U-M alum wins Turing Award

The Turing Award has honors the computer scientists and engineers who create the systems and underlying theoretical foundations that propel the information technology industry.

How Hidden Passions Connect People

In this TEDxUofM talk, Prof. Herbert Winful shows that people connect on a different level when they share their hidden passions, especially when they are from different disciplines.

Stephen Forrest receives 2015 Distinguished University Innovator Award

Prof. Forrest is widely acknowledged as one of the most successful academic inventors and entrepreneurs today.

ECE students earn CoE Distinguished Leadership Awards

Cheng Zhang and Elizabeth Dreyer are both Ph.D. students in electrical engineering, and Lauren Bilbo is an undergraduate senior majoring in electrical engineering.

Two ECE alums make top semiconductor CEOs list

Two ECE alumni were recognized in an ‘Electronics Weekly’ list of 2014’s top semiconductor CEOs.

Irma Wyman: Computer pioneer and advocate for women in engineering

Her experiences led her to establish the Irma M. Wyman Scholarship at the University’s Center for the Education of Women.

Mark Kushner awarded 2015 IEEE NPSS Charles K. Birdsall Award

Prof. Kushner is an internationally renowned expert in the area of low-temperature plasma simulation.

Dave Neuhoff receives Distinguished Graduate Mentor Award

Dave Neuhoff is an internationally recognized expert in information theory, source coding and image processing.

Nick Yang: Investing in the age of robotics

At the age of 24, Yang sold his company ChinaRen for $35 million.

Hansford Farris (1919 – 2014): In Memoriam

Prof. Farris served as an active and highly respected member of the College of Engineering for more than 20 years.

Lynn Conway Receives 2015 IEEE/RSE James Clerk Maxwell Medal

The James Clerk Maxwell Medal is one of the highest awards presented by IEEE.

Shayna Simon – From intern to full-time, making company experience matter

Shayna recently accepted a job offer at General Motors, and will dive into a position in infotainment there after school.

Scott Hanson receives 2014 Arbor Networks Ph.D. Research Impact Award

Dr. Hanson is the co-founder of a startup semiconductor company that plans to lead the low-power revolution in electronics by powering the Internet of Things.

Khalil Najafi receives 2015 IEEE Daniel E. Noble Award for emerging technologies

The IEEE Daniel E. Noble award is a Technical Field Award, which is among the highest awards given.

Student Spotlight: Tal Nagourney – Exploring navigation

Tal is researching fabrication techniques for a micro rate-integrating gyroscope, using a vacuum mold and blowtorch.

Steve Mollenkopf: Leader of Qualcomm and Mobile Technologies

Mollenkopf was elected as the third CEO of Qualcomm, Inc., which has become the largest fabless semiconductor producer in the world.

Ted Norris receives Distinguished Faculty Achievement Award

Prof. Norris is an internationally recognized expert in the field of ultrafast optics.

Peter Tchoryk: An entrepreneurial CEO

At MAC, Peter’s been able to combine his passions for scientific research and entrepreneurial creation.

Dipak Sengupta (1931-2014): In memoriam

Faculty and staff alike will miss his cheerful and gentle presence.

Eric Michielssen receives IEEE APS Chen-To Tai Distinguished Educator Award

This award is in recognition of being an outstanding educator, mentor and role model for the next generation of faculty members.

Kathryn Clay: A policy leader in the natural gas revolution

Kathryn believes the country would benefit greatly if more scientific and technically trained people went into journalism or science policy.

Student Spotlight: Nick Asendorf – Matrix Musician

Nick specializes in the area of machine learning and statistical signal processing.

Student Spotlight: Luis Gomez – An expert in computational electromagnetics and teaching

The goal of Gomez’s research is to alleviate the communications blackout that sometimes occurs when vehicles are traveling through the earth’s atmosphere.

Student Spotlight: Nicholas Clift – 2014 Graduate Student of the Year

He is a founding member of Own It, and is dedicated to cultivating an engineering community that feels an inherent responsibility to live ethically.

Alumni Spotlight: Steve Mollenkopf, New CEO of Qualcomm

Babak Parviz: The visionary behind the glass

The inventor of Google Glass is now developing glucose monitoring contact lenses.

Alumni Spotlight: Allan Evans and Avegant: Creating a brilliant multimedia experience from anywhere with Glyph

Glyph is a wearable mobile personal theater and is the first head-mounted display coming to market that will have a virtual retinal display.

Nancy Benovich: Entrepreneur x 10

Nancy visits campus regularly as a speaker and is currently the mentor for a Michigan I-Corps innovation team.

Andrew Farah: the spark behind the Volt

Andrew Farah (BSE CE 1982; MSE Electrical Science 1984) was one of the chief architects behind the groundbreaking Chevy Volt.

In the News: October 23, 2012

The History Makers: Interview with Herbert Winful

The History Makers interviewed Herbert Winful on his life and career. (Requires U-M institutional login).

Kensall D. Wise: Michigan, MEMS and Microsystems

This retrospective of Kensall D. Wise, William G. Dow Distinguished University Professor Emeritus, provides a view of how he built a world-class program in MicroElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS).

Richard P. Wallace – Reaching new heights

Whether it’s biking to the crest of Haleakala on Maui, or leading KLA-Tencor to the top of NASDAQ, Rick Wallace is familiar with making it to the summit.

Graduating Students Make their Marks Locally, Globally: A Michigan engineer pays it forward

“Chris has always been interested in helping others discover their passions and dreams.”

Charles K. (Ned) Birdsall (BSE EE and Math, MSE EE, ’46 ’48): 1925-2012

Birdsall was a pioneer in microwave tubes and plasma physics, an avid runner, and a beloved member of the EC Berkley community.

Alumni Spotlight: Syed B. Ali (MSE EE 81)

“I wanted to give back. If it wasn’t for Michigan I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

Meera Sampath: Creative Problem Solving and Global Reach

Curtis Ling: Making Things Happen

“Failure is an essential part of success. Be afraid of not learning enough, or not working with the best people. Don’t be afraid of failure, which is frequently success in disguise.”

Ken Wise – Leading a Revolution in MEMS

Wise is recognized as one of the world’s foremost experts in sensor technology as well as a MEMS pioneer and entrepreneur.

Kamal Sarabandi: Bridging the Divide of Fundamental Science and Technology

Tony Fadell, Mastermind Behind the Apple iPod, Offers Advice for Students

Emmett Leith (1927 – 2005): Inventor of Practical Holography

We now celebrate the life of a remarkable individual – a brilliant innovator, visionary researcher, remarkable teacher, and gentle friend.

Pallab Bhattacharya: The race is on

His work involves the conception and realization of synthetically modulated semiconductor structures and nanophotonic devices.

George Haddad: A remarkable legacy

“I love Ann Arbor, I love Michigan,” said Haddad. “The University of Michigan is in my blood.”

Gérard A. Mourou: In pursuit of new directions in science

“The future of CUOS is bright,” said Mourou. “Nothing will stop the flow of discoveries.”

David Anderson: Making the connection

“I’ve always been involved in auditory neurophysiology, that’s the thread throughout my career,” said Anderson.

Tony England: From space to Earth and back

“All science and engineering is a physical experience,” said England. “It’s an adventure.”

Run, RABBIT, run!

Today, no other biped machine walks faster, is as stable, or varies its walking speed so adroitly.