From Department Chair Tony Ambler

Welcome back! And to those of you joining us, Welcome! The quality of our program is based on the quality of our students. We are gratified to report that:

• Average SAT of the entering freshman class is > 1300.
• Over 50% of entering ECE freshman were in the top 5% of their class.
• Average GRE of entering graduate students is 1340.
• The average GPA of the new graduate student class is 3.7.

Engineering Science Building (ENS) Renovation

New students: Student organization offices, graduate and undergraduate offices, and most of our classrooms are on the first floor.

The rest of the building is undergoing massive renovations.

ACA: We still have use of the ACA (giant shed in the parking lot just south of the ENS).

• ACA 1.102 - General purpose computer lab (also known as LRC labs)
• ACA 1.104 - Classroom
• ACA 1.106 - Reserved for EE 319K
• ACA 1.108 - Reserved for EE 302

Basement: The Biomedical Engineering department has left the building, freeing up much needed lab space in the basement.

• ENS Upper Basement, Room 10 - Reserved for EE 316
  (take the elevator on the right to reach it)

3rd floor: Third floor renovations are anticipated to be ready for the Fall 2009 academic year. When complete, the third floor will hold all general purpose computer labs (AKA, LRC labs), all teaching labs, IT workspace, adjunct faculty offices, and the existing classroom.

• ENS 302 EAST - Classroom
• ENS 302 WEST - TA/adjunct office
• ENS 317 (LRC lab) - moved to ENS 507
• ENS 335 - moved to the ENS Upper Basement, Room 10
  (take the elevator on the right to reach it)
• Study area with internet access (wired and wireless) - Still available

5th floor:

• ENS 507 - LRC lab

6th floor: The Biomedical Engineering department moved out of the sixth floor late this summer. Sixth floor renovations are slated to begin after the completion of the third floor. The renovations include moving the chairman and some administrative staff offices to the sixth floor, a display hallway of departmental awards, faculty offices, graduate research labs and offices, and a large multi-purpose room.

• ENS 631 - Reserved for EE 360M

Faculty and Staff on the Move

Dr. Gregory Fenves, former chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, has been appointed dean of the Cockrell School of Engineering. He replaces Ben Streetman who is retiring after 12 years.

This fall we welcome two new professors and four new staff members to the ECE family. Dr. Mikhail Belkin received his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of California at Berkeley. His current research interests include the development of novel quantum cascade lasers, giant optical nonlinearities in semiconductor nanostructures, mid-infrared and THz photonic and plasmonic systems, and metamaterials in mid-infrared.

Dr. Andreas Gerstlauer received his Ph.D. degree in Information and Computer Science from the University of California, Irvine. His research interests are embedded system design; electronic system-level (ESL) design automation, modeling, languages, methodologies and tools; and embedded hardware and software synthesis.

The Wireless Networking and Communications Group hired two new staff members: Lauren Allaire and Cassandra Clarke. Lauren is a graduate student from Texas State. She is administering the EUREKA program, an opportunity for undergraduates to do research over the summer. Cassandra, who has a masters in creative writing from UT, supports Dr. Ted Rappaport. Jason Pannell is the new supervisor of the second floor lab check-out. Our new procurement officer, Kendrick Weld, comes to us from Natural Sciences. They all agree that ECE provides a fast-paced, challenging workplace.

Upcoming Events

	Aug 29 - IEEE Fall Kick-Off Fri, 11:30 AM - 3:30 PM on ENS lawn FREE lunch and an early opportunity to meet with representatives from Schlumberger and TI
	Sept 5 - ParkFest Fri, 4-7 PM on ENS lawn The annual engineering-wide fall kick-off event is an informal opportunity for engineering students, faculty and staff to celebrate the start of the academic year! More...
	Sept 17 - Schlumberger Day Wed, in front of ENS Undergraduate and graduate students get to meet Schlumberger staff and find out why this is a great company.
	Sept 23-24 - Fall Engineering Expo Tues-Wed, Erwin Center Find a coop position, internship, or a real job this annual event at the Erwin Center. More...
	Sept 29 - National Instruments Day Mon, in front of ENS Undergraduate and graduate students get to meet NI staff and find out why this is a great company.
	Oct 2 (tentatively) - HKN Burger Burn Thurs, in front of ENS HKN begins the new academic year with affordable food
	Oct 8 - Sun Day Wed, in front of ENS Undergraduate and graduate students get to meet Sun Microsystems staff and find out why this is a great company.
	Oct 22 (tentatively) - Tech Area Night Wed, ENS Not sure which tech area is the best fit for you? Faculty explains the different areas (+ FREE pizza)
	Nov 1 - Parents' Weekend Saturday, 10-11 AM in ENS Parents get a peak at your life via presentations and demonstrations.
	Nov 6 - Graduating Seniors and External Advisory Committee Banquet Our send-off to graduates