U.S. Representative Lamar Smith announced early this year he had obtained a $1.2 million appropriation for ECE researchers to create advanced wireless communications devised for military use. The research will be a collaborative effort by Computer Engineering Research Center (CERC) professors Jacob Abraham and Ranjit Gharpurey and Wirelss Networking and Communications Group (WNCG) professors Ted Rappaport and Sriram Vishwanath.

ECE professor Constantine Caramanis and colleagues at MIT are working on a air traffic system which would track rapidly changing conditions over airports. There is currently no unified decision-making framework for air traffic flow optimization, said Dr. Caramanis.

The complicated nature of the process, and the need to make quick adjustments when changes occur, will best be addressed with a mathematical model that combines theories and calculations from probability, statistics, optimization modeling, economics and game theory.

Professor Ray Chen received an Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI) award worth $4.75 million. Dr. Chen is the lead in a collaborative project to build a laser system.  The system can be used for biomedical sensors and air-borne and space-borne communications.Three other colleges are involved. Fabian Pease at Stanford will work on 3D nano-membrane lithography.

Professor Alan Bovik, ECE alumni Dr. Umesh Rajashekar, UT psychology professor Larry Cormack, and Dr. Ian van der Linde are attempting to answer 2 fundamental questions on the way to creating intelligent artificial sight: What do people look at? and What do people look for?

UT Alumnus: Steve Poizner

The Norman Hackerman Advanced Research Program (ARP) received $16.7M from the 80th Texas Legislature and granted almost 20% of it to engineering projects at The University of Texas at Austin. Projects funded at UT-ECE are:

Professor Ray Chen received an Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI) award worth 4.75 million dollars. Dr. Chen is the lead in a collaborative project to build a laser system.  The system can be used for biomedical sensors and air-borne and space-borne communications. Three other colleges are involved. Fabian Pease at Stanford will work on 3D nano-membrane lithography.

Dr. Gregory L. Fenves, international expert in structural engineering and 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 at The University of Texas at Austin.

Fenves’ appointment, which follows an international search, is effective Sept. 1. Fenves, 51, replaces Dr. Ben Streetman who served 12 years as the Cockrell School dean.

R. Gary Daniels—ECE adjunct professor since 1999 and strong friend of ECE since his days as Senior VP at Motorola—was recently named an ECE Fellow for his service to the department. Daniels came to us via the External Advisory Committee, which he chaired. There he tackled operational and educational issues and raised $1M in start-up money to help recruit a senior faculty member. He is also a popular teacher, famous for his first lecture of the semester—an inspirational slide show of his house, boat, and cars.

ECE's External Advisory Committee recognized Professor Gary Hallock with the annual High Gain Award. The High Gain Award was established to recognize exceptional contributions to the mission of the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering. Gary is an inspiring teacher and a stalwart champion for the Department. says Chairman Tony Ambler. In the past year alone, he developed an undergraduate course and revamped our graduate recruitment efforts. He always steps up.