• Zhang, X. (STAT) – Predictive Generalized Variational Inference for Spatial Gaussian Process Model

    Virtual Event

    Spatially dependent data are common in environmental and climate studies, where Gaussian process models are used for prediction and uncertainty quantification. Learning their covariance structure involves both statistical and computational challenges. Likelihood-based inference may be sensitive to covariance misspecification, while repeated evaluation of prediction-oriented criteria can be computationally demanding. To study these issues, we develop […]

  • Devarajan, K. (ECE) – Towards Multimodal Detection of Neuronal Signaling using Graphene Heterostructures

    Understanding neuronal function requires measurements that capture both the rapid dynamics and spatial organization of neural activity. Conventional neural interfaces often prioritize either high temporal resolution through electrophysiological recording or high spatial resolution through optical imaging, while integrating these modalities within a single interface remains challenging. This work seeks to develop a transparent, flexible, and […]

  • Chen, Y. (STAT) – Flexible Bayesian Models for High-Dimensional and Longitudinal Discrete Data in Microbiome Studies

    Virtual Event

    Multivariate dependent discrete data routinely arise in microbiome studies. Analyzing these data presents interesting statistical challenges, such as high dimensionality, excess zeros, large heterogeneity across samples, and temporal dependence in longitudinal studies. Drawing inferences about objects of primary scientific interest—such as temporal trajectories of microbial abundance, microbial interactions, clusters of microbes similarly associated with environmental […]

  • Abdulaziz, A. (ECE) – Learning-Based Channel Estimation for Next-Generation Wireless Communications

    Engineering 2 Engineering 2 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA
    Hybrid Event

    Coherent wireless reception depends on accurate channel state information (CSI), yet acquiring CSI through pilot transmission consumes time–frequency resources that could otherwise carry data. This tradeoff becomes more pronounced in time-varying and frequency-selective channels and in short-packet communications, where accurate channel estimation is challenging and pilot overhead can be significant. This dissertation investigates how CSI […]

  • Mirzanezhad, H. (EE) – Van der Waals materials-based memory devices for neuromorphic computing

    Jack Baskin Engineering Baskin Engineering 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA

    The separation of memory and processing in conventional computer architectures leads to significant energy consumption associated with data transfer, known as the von Neumann bottleneck. Two-dimensional (2D) materials provide a promising platform for developing nanoscale memory devices for in-memory and neuromorphic computing because of their atomic-scale thickness, lack of dangling bonds, and ability to form […]

  • Tornoe, S. (ECE) – Improving the UV optical response and suppressing surface plasmon resonance in aluminum and silver base telescope mirrors

    2300 Delaware Avenue 2300 Delaware Ave, Santa Cruz, CA
    Hybrid Event

    Aluminum and silver are excellent metal-bases for astronomical telescopes designed for broadband spectral measurements. In particular silver excels in the violet to infrared spectral range range with over 95% reflectance. In turn aluminum excels deep ultra-violet to infrared with over 90% reflectance across the bulk of its spectral range. In astronomical telescope optics, each percent […]

  • How to Apply to the Premed Postbacc Program

    Silicon Valley Campus 3175 Bowers Avenue, Santa Clara, CA, United States

    Join UC Santa Cruz Healthcare Pathways for a live online information session to learn about our Premed Postbacc Cohort, Premed and Pre-Health DIY Pathways, and other program offerings. We’ll provide an overview of our programs and cover how to apply for our next admissions cycle. We’ll also discuss the application process, admissions timeline, coursework, advising, MCAT preparation, […]

  • ECE Special Seminar: “Autonomous Electric Vehicles – Data Centers on the Wheel”

    Engineering 2 Engineering 2 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA

    Presented by: Kaushik Rajashekara, Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished University Professor @ University of Houston Description: “Autonomous electric vehicles (AEVs) are at the forefront of modern transportation, merging automation with sustainability to enhance efficiency and safety while reducing environmental impact. However, these vehicles face significant challenges in balancing the energy demands of autonomous compute […]

  • Mastoras, M. (BMEB) – Polishing genome assemblies and leveraging their improved quality to study centromere variation

    Physical Sciences Building Physical Sciences Building, Santa Cruz, CA
    Hybrid Event

    A complete and accurate genome reconstruction serves as the foundation for studying an organism’s biology and the mechanisms underlying disease. It is particularly critical for reference genomes, which provide a universal coordinate system for downstream genomic analysis. Errors or missing sequences in a reference genome create bias in all of the studies built on top […]

  • Malekos, E. (BMEB) – CRISPR screens of noncanonical ORFs uncover retroviral-derived immune regulators

    Biomedical Sciences Biomedical Sciences Building Red Hill Road, Santa Cruz, CA

    Ribosome profiling has revealed thousands of noncanonical translation events across mammalian genomes, yet functional characterization has overwhelmingly focused on proliferative fitness in cancer cell lines. Here, we present a comprehensive survey of noncanonical translation in the mouse immune system and its functional consequences in macrophages. By performing a unified Ribo-seq meta-analysis across 20 public mouse […]

  • ECE 290 Seminar: “Where The Semiconductor Industry Is Headed Over The Next 5, 10, 20 Years?”

    Engineering 2 Engineering 2 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA

    Presented by: Dr. Victor Zhirnov, Product Ideation Head @ Applied Materials Description: “Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) are a primary engine of socioeconomic growth in the modern world. Electronic information processing and transmission are being further accelerated by the rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The adoption of AI continues to expand at an unprecedented pace, […]

  • Environmental Studies Seminar Series | Lightning Talks by ENVS Faculty

    Interdisciplinary Sciences Building 7487 Red Hill Road, Santa Cruz, CA

    In person and via Zoom (Meeting ID: 978 5545 8946, Passcode: 454736).  If you are unable to stream the talk live and need to access a recorded version, please contact Stacy Philpott at sphilpot@ucsc.edu. A UC Santa Cruz email address is required to access the recording. Host: Natalia Ocampo-Peñuela Speaker #1: Hannah Waterhouse Title: Building […]

  • Statistics Seminar: Vecchia Approximated Bayesian Heteroskedastic Gaussian Processes

    Jack Baskin Engineering Baskin Engineering 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA

    Presenter: Parul Patil, Postdoctoral Researcher, UC Santa Cruz Description: Many computer simulations are stochastic and exhibit input dependent noise. In such situations, heteroskedastic Gaussian processes (hetGPs) make ideal surrogates as they estimate a latent, non-constant variance. However, existing hetGP implementations are unable to deal with large simulation campaigns and use point-estimates for all unknown quantities, […]

  • Heath, H. (BMEB) – Linking Altered mRNA Processing to Translational Regulation in Lung Cancer

    Biomedical Sciences Biomedical Sciences Building Red Hill Road, Santa Cruz, CA
    Hybrid Event

    In lung cancer, recurrent alterations in RNA processing regulators reshape both the proteins genes encode and the sequences that regulate their production. Understanding how mRNA processing influences protein production requires resolving the coding and regulatory sequences present in individual mRNA isoforms. Transcription start site (TSS) choice, alternative splicing (AS) , and polyadenylation site (PAS) choice […]

  • BME 280B Seminar: Speaker Julian Lucas & Speaker Theo Kell

    Physical Sciences Building Physical Sciences Building, Santa Cruz, CA

    Title of Talk 1: Enabling Population-Scale Analysis of Human Centromere Diversity Presenter 1: Julian Lucas, Graduate Student in Miga Lab, University of California, Santa Cruz Description: Centromeres are essential for […]