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DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260423T180000
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SUMMARY:Climate Week Tech Connect: Energy Solutions
DESCRIPTION:Join Baskin Engineering to explore the frontier of power engineering\, where the rapid rise of electrification and digital infrastructure is creating an unprecedented demand for next-generation talent and a critical opportunity for sustainability.  \nThis networking event bridges the gap between the classroom and the field\, offering students and faculty a front-row seat to the trends and high-impact career opportunities shaping our energy future. The event is part of Baskin Engineering Climate Week\, focused on raising awareness of climate issues and sustainability research and teaching. \nWhere: BE Courtyard\nWhen: Thursday\, April 23\, 6:00-7:30 p.m. \nWe hope to see you there!
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/climate-week-tech-connect-energy-solutions/
LOCATION:Jack Baskin Engineering\, Baskin Engineering 1156 High Street\, Santa Cruz\, CA\, 95064
CATEGORIES:Meetings & Conferences
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260423T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260423T181500
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SUMMARY:Careers in Climate Tech & Sustainability
DESCRIPTION:Ready to explore career pathways that matter? \nAttend our very special Careers in Climate Tech & Sustainability Panel—celebrating Baskin Engineering Climate Week—for an inside look at careers that will help build a sustainable future. Panelists representing different roles and organizations will share their career journeys and offer practical insights into working in climate tech. There will also be a catered networking reception that follows—don’t miss it! \nGet informed\, inspired\, and discover your path to a career in sustainability! \nThis event is part of Baskin Engineering’s Climate Tech Day featuring a community fair where students\, faculty\, climate and sustainability tech companies\, and community organizations will showcase their works through demonstrations\, poster presentations\, tabling\, and more.  \nWhere: E2-180\nWhen: Thursday\, April 23\, 5:00-6:15 p.m. \nRegister via Handshake. \nIf you have disability-related needs\, please contact the Career Success office at csuccess@ucsc.edu or (831) 459-4420 as soon as possible. \nYOU BELONG HERE\nPrograms and services are open to all\, consistent with state and federal law\, as well as the University of California’s nondiscrimination policies. Every initiative—whether a student service\, faculty program\, or community event—is designed to be accessible\, inclusive\, and respectful of all identities. To learn more\, please visit UC Nondiscrimination Statement or Nondiscrimination Policy for UC Publications.
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/careers-in-climate-tech-sustainability/
LOCATION:Engineering 2\, Engineering 2 1156 High Street\, Santa Cruz\, CA\, 95064
CATEGORIES:Lectures & Presentations
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260423T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260423T170000
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SUMMARY:Climate Tech & Sustainability Showcase
DESCRIPTION:Join us for a Climate Tech & Sustainability Showcase\, where students\, faculty\, climate and sustainability-focused companies\, founders\, and community organizations come together to share their work and ideas. The event is part of Baskin Engineering Climate Week\, focused on raising awareness of climate issues and sustainability research and teaching. \nExplore a range of interactive demos\, poster presentations\, and tabling displays highlighting innovative research\, emerging technologies\, and real-world solutions to climate challenges. Baskin Engineering student organizations will also be on hand to share their climate friendly projects! \nCome network\, promote your organization\, and meet up-and-coming talent alongside other passionate\, like-minded members of the climate and sustainability community. \nWhere: BE Courtyard\nWhen: 2:00-5:00 p.m.
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/climate-tech-sustainability-showcase/
LOCATION:Jack Baskin Engineering\, Baskin Engineering 1156 High Street\, Santa Cruz\, CA\, 95064
CATEGORIES:Lectures & Presentations
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260421T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260421T113000
DTSTAMP:20260425T113245
CREATED:20260401T234645Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260401T234645Z
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SUMMARY:BE Climate & Cookies Student Pop-Up!
DESCRIPTION:Come get excited about Baskin Engineering Climate Week at our student pop-up! 🌎 \nClimate Week is a chance to explore how Baskin Engineering is addressing climate challenges through innovative research\, teaching\, and hands-on projects. \nDiscover the events happening throughout the week and find ways to get involved! \nSwing by for FREE BE swag\, coffee\, cookies\, Climate Week stickers\, and more—first come\, first served! \nWhere: BE Courtyard\nWhen: Tuesday\, April 21\, 10:00-11:30 a.m. \nWe hope to see you there!
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/be-climate-week-pop-up-2026/
LOCATION:Jack Baskin Engineering\, Baskin Engineering 1156 High Street\, Santa Cruz\, CA\, 95064
CATEGORIES:Social Gathering
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260415T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260415T203000
DTSTAMP:20260425T113245
CREATED:20260325T220453Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260402T171331Z
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SUMMARY:Kraw Lecture: At the Forefront of AI: Innovation and Discovery
DESCRIPTION:Artificial intelligence is transforming how we understand and solve the world’s most complex challenges—while at the same time causing new challenges and concerns. We invite you to join us for a special UC Santa Cruz Kraw Lecture showcasing the faculty whose groundbreaking research in artificial intelligence is transforming science\, technology\, and society. From advances in autonomous systems and natural language processing to the development of sustainable and responsible AI\, this conversation will highlight the innovative work taking place across disciplines and the real-world impact it is poised to have. \nModerated by special guest Ahmad Thomas\, CEO of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group (SVLG)\, this dynamic discussion will bring together leading researchers to explore how these technologies are shaping the future—accelerating discovery\, addressing complex global challenges\, and opening new frontiers for collaboration. Gain insight into the ideas\, discoveries\, and collaborations shaping the next generation of artificial intelligence research and hear from the leaders advancing this work.\n \n\n\nIn-Person Reception: 5:30 p.m.\nLecture: 6:15 p.m.\n\nRegister Now
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/kraw-lecture-at-the-forefront-of-ai-innovation-and-discovery/
LOCATION:The Quad Conference Center\, 2400 Sand Hill Rd\, Menlo Park\, CA\, 94025\, United States
CATEGORIES:Lectures & Presentations
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260413T104000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260413T114500
DTSTAMP:20260425T113245
CREATED:20260409T225747Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260409T225806Z
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SUMMARY:ECE 290 Seminar: Speaker Dr. Josh Star-Lack - Photon Counting Detectors for X-Ray Computed Tomography
DESCRIPTION:Presenter: Dr. Josh Star-Lack\, Principal Scientist and Research Manager\, Varex Imaging Inc \nDescription: X-ray computed tomography (CT) provides rapid\, detailed 3D imaging of internal organs\, bones\, and vasculature. By enabling the swift diagnosis of cancer\, cardiac disease\, neurological disorders\, and other pathologies\, CT has revolutionized medicine—reducing the need for invasive exploratory surgeries and facilitating precise treatment planning. Despite the technology’s maturity\, the clinical demand for higher spatial resolution\, increased sensitivity\, and lower ionizing radiation doses remains high. This presentation reviews the fundamental principles of CT\, traces its evolution since its invention 50 years ago\, and describes a new technology\, photon-counting x-ray detection\, as a transformative solution to current clinical challenges. \nBio: Josh Star-Lack received his B.S. in Applied and Engineering Physics from Cornell University and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from U.C. Berkeley. He has worked on the development of medical imaging technologies\, including X-ray computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging\, for his entire professional career. He is currently a Principal Scientist and Research Manager at Varex Imaging Inc\, the world’s largest manufacturer of X-ray detectors and tubes. He has co-authored over 150 publications and holds over 50 patents. \nHosted by: Professor Soumya Bose\, ECE Department \nZoom Link: https://ucsc.zoom.us/j/97975378707?pwd=ljcgaCfhMmhZ88Vt5dqQUBVQRjehOx.1
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/ece-290-seminar-speaker-dr-josh-star-lack/
LOCATION:Engineering 2\, Engineering 2 1156 High Street\, Santa Cruz\, CA\, 95064
CATEGORIES:Lectures & Presentations,Seminars
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260309T104000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260309T114500
DTSTAMP:20260425T113245
CREATED:20260305T230039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260305T230039Z
UID:10009404-1773052800-1773056700@events.ucsc.edu
SUMMARY:ECE 290 Seminar: Dynamical Signatures: Harnessing the Hidden Language of In-Space Electric Propulsion
DESCRIPTION:Presenter: Dr. Christine Greve\, Research Engineer\,  Edwards AFB \nDescription: Low-thrust space electric propulsion systems offer long propulsion system lifetimes for satellite maintenance maneuvers. These thrusters operate by generating and accelerating plasmas\, making the thrusters throttleable\, propellant-efficient\, and scalable from low-to-high power operations. This talk will focus on efforts to leverage the underlying time-dependent dynamics of plasma to investigate and influence thruster research and development. Prior years of study have developed techniques to uniquely represent the dynamics of such systems that have since been used to open a new way to test and operate plasma systems. Additional work has investigated the correlations between time-dependent measurements of these dynamics to develop digital twins\, automate test processes with machine learning\, inform design of experiments\, and develop on-orbit system diagnostics. The talk will conclude with a look to the future as these tools are further applied both within the lab and potentially transitioned to on-orbit applications. \nBio: Dr. Christine Greve is a research engineer for the Air Force Research Laboratory at Edwards AFB. She received her Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from Texas A&M University under an NDSEG fellowship for her work in data-driven modeling of plasma-based systems. She now serves as the Electric Propulsion group lead with interests in high-power electric propulsion\, machine learning\, data-driven modeling\, and novel plasma diagnostic techniques. \nHosted by: Professor Soumya Bose\, ECE Department \nZoom: https://ucsc.zoom.us/j/97975378707?pwd=ljcgaCfhMmhZ88Vt5dqQUBVQRjehOx.1
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/ece-290-seminar-dynamical-signatures-harnessing-the-hidden-language-of-in-space-electric-propulsion/
LOCATION:Engineering 2\, Engineering 2 1156 High Street\, Santa Cruz\, CA\, 95064
CATEGORIES:Lectures & Presentations,Seminars
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260309T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260309T110000
DTSTAMP:20260425T113245
CREATED:20260303T174856Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260303T174856Z
UID:10009385-1773050400-1773054000@events.ucsc.edu
SUMMARY:Robbins\, A. (ECE) - How to train your organoid: goal-directed learning in biological neural networks
DESCRIPTION:Artificial neural networks can now learn to play games\, control robots\, generate language\, and solve complicated reasoning tasks\, yet we still lack a clear understanding of how to directly guide learning in biological neural networks. We show that brain organoids can learn to solve a fundamental control task\, balancing an inverted pendulum\, through closed-loop electrophysiology. Cortical organoids interfaced with high-density microelectrode arrays received sensory input about the pole’s angle and produced motor output through their neural activity. Training signals selected by a reinforcement learning algorithm significantly outperformed random stimulation and no-stimulation controls. Blocking glutamatergic transmission abolished the learning and washout restored it\, confirming the adaptation depends on synaptic plasticity. To support this work and future experiments\, we developed BrainDance\, an open-source framework for running reproducible biological learning experiments\, and contributed to RT-Sort\, a real-time spike sorting algorithm. This dissertation presents the tools\, experiments\, and findings from pursuing goal-directed learning in biological neural networks. BrainDance makes these experiments easy-to-create\, reproducible and shareable\, letting any lab with compatible hardware start training their own organoids. \nEvent Host: Ash Robbins\, Ph.D. Candidate\, Electrical and Computer Engineering  \nAdvisor: Mircea Teodorescu \nZoom- https://ucsc.zoom.us/j/95839863615?pwd=EmqTWPN9RRBYZRW7rcpoaT9kqacfRP.1 \nPasscode- 069118
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/robbins-a-ece-how-to-train-your-organoid-goal-directed-learning-in-biological-neural-networks/
CATEGORIES:Ph.D. Presentations
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LOCATION:
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260227T094500
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260227T160000
DTSTAMP:20260425T113245
CREATED:20260126T234626Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260225T003412Z
UID:10009117-1772185500-1772208000@events.ucsc.edu
SUMMARY:Semiconductor Career Summit - From Campus to Silicon Valley
DESCRIPTION:A SEMI Professional Development Seminar organized by the SEMI Silicon Valley Chapter – Connecting College Students to the Semiconductor Industry. Learn about career opportunities in high tech and acquire valuable\, practical information that will help you choose career directions and plan for your success. \nCome learn about careers in the semiconductor industry at the SEMI Professional Development Seminar hosted by UC Santa Cruz. \n\nListen to professionals in the industry talk about their roles and find out how to prepare for jobs in the Semiconductors Industry.\nDiscover semiconductor job opportunities you didn’t know existed (internship and entry-level) and how you can prepare for them through job searches\, interviews\, resumes\, and more.\nMeet with professionals and executives during our speed mentoring\, mock interview\, and networking sessions.\n\nAll majors are welcome! Students with a background in Engineering\, Computer Science\, Chemistry\, Physics\, Math\, Data Science\, and Business are strongly encouraged to attend. \n\nEnjoy free food\, free swag\, and giveaways.\nStudents can come and go.\n\nEVENT is FREE but registration is required. Register by Feb 20th to secure a lunch.  \nEvent is organized by SEMI in collaboration with Career Success\, Baskin Engineering and the Innovation & Business Engagement Hub. \nYou Belong Here: The programs and services described here are open to all\, consistent with state and federal law\, as well as the University of California’s nondiscrimination policies. Every initiative—whether a student service\, faculty program\, or community event—is designed to be accessible\, inclusive\, and respectful of all identities. \nTo learn more\, please visit UC Nondiscrimination Statement or Nondiscrimination Policy for UC Publications. \nQuestions? Send to csuccess@ucsc.edu or visit Career Success at Hahn 125 East Entrance\nNeed accessibility support? Let us know at slugtalent@ucsc.edu at least two weeks prior to the event date.
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/semiconductor-career-summit-from-campus-to-silicon-valley/
LOCATION:Stevenson Event Center\, Stevenson Service Road\, Santa Cruz\, CA\, 95064
CATEGORIES:Exhibits,Lectures & Presentations,Meetings & Conferences,Training
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260226T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260226T140000
DTSTAMP:20260425T113245
CREATED:20260129T143555Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260223T200828Z
UID:10009134-1772107200-1772114400@events.ucsc.edu
SUMMARY:BE Club Bash - Engineers Week
DESCRIPTION:Discover innovation at the Baskin Engineering Club Bash\, an event celebrating National Engineers Week! \nMark your calendars for Thursday\, February 26\, 12–2 PM in the BE Courtyard! The BE Club Bash brings together student organizations across all engineering disciplines to showcase their projects\, demos\, and interactive activities. \nStop by to: \n\nExplore hands-on booths and demonstrations from student organizations\nLearn about engineering opportunities on campus and how to get involved\nChat with student leaders and hear about their experiences\nEnter our 3D printer raffle (must be present to win!)\nGrab snacks and BE swag while you explore\n\nThis is a great way to connect with the engineering community\, discover new ideas\, and have fun. We hope to see you there! RSVP here.
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/be-club-bash-engineers-week/
LOCATION:Jack Baskin Engineering\, Baskin Engineering 1156 High Street\, Santa Cruz\, CA\, 95064
CATEGORIES:Social Gathering,Undergraduate
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260225T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260225T190000
DTSTAMP:20260425T113245
CREATED:20260130T054047Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260209T232119Z
UID:10009139-1772040600-1772046000@events.ucsc.edu
SUMMARY:Exploring Research Pathways at Baskin Engineering
DESCRIPTION:Curious how being part of a research lab can supercharge your experience as a Baskin Engineer?   \nJoin us for this informative event to learn about opportunities to solve open-ended problems\, build deeper technical skills\, and learn how to think like an engineer. \nWe’ll kick things off with a quick overview of the kinds of research opportunities available to undergrads and how to get started\, then you’ll hear directly from students who’ve worked in research labs as undergraduates. They’ll share what they actually did day-to-day\, the skills they built (technical and professional)\, and how research shaped their confidence\, career goals\, and next steps. We’ll then have pizza and networking to end the evening. \nWhether you’re aiming for industry\, graduate school\, or just want hands-on experience that goes beyond coursework\, this panel will help you understand how undergraduate research can set you apart—academically\, professionally\, and personally! \n\nRegister via Handshake. \nYOU BELONG HERE\nPrograms and services are open to all\, consistent with state and federal law\, as well as the University of California’s nondiscrimination policies. Every initiative—whether a student service\, faculty program\, or community event—is designed to be accessible\, inclusive\, and respectful of all identities. To learn more\, please visit UC Nondiscrimination Statement or Nondiscrimination Policy for UC Publications.
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/exploring-research-pathways-at-baskin-engineering/
LOCATION:Engineering 2\, Engineering 2 1156 High Street\, Santa Cruz\, CA\, 95064
CATEGORIES:Seminars
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260224T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260224T181500
DTSTAMP:20260425T113245
CREATED:20260130T054112Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260209T231917Z
UID:10009138-1771952400-1771956900@events.ucsc.edu
SUMMARY:AI and Security 101
DESCRIPTION:Join us for an informative conversation with Neta Haiby\, Head of Product | AI Security at Microsoft! \nArtificial Intelligence is transforming both cyber defense and cyber offense. It creates unique risks in how we build\, deploy\, and operate AI apps and Agents. This session examines how AI can be attacked or misused – through techniques such as jailbreaks\, intent breaking\, and supply-chain compromise and discusses practical defense strategies\, including guardrails\, access controls\, monitoring\, and evaluation. \nDesigned for students interested in cybersecurity and AI\, this session emphasizes a practical understanding of AI security. \nAttendees will also receive resources to help them further explore and get started in the field! \nDon’t miss this highly informative event! \nYOU BELONG HERE\nPrograms and services are open to all\, consistent with state and federal law\, as well as the University of California’s nondiscrimination policies. Every initiative—whether a student service\, faculty program\, or community event—is designed to be accessible\, inclusive\, and respectful of all identities. To learn more\, please visit UC Nondiscrimination Statement or Nondiscrimination Policy for UC Publications.
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/ai-and-security-101/
LOCATION:Engineering 2\, Engineering 2 1156 High Street\, Santa Cruz\, CA\, 95064
CATEGORIES:Undergraduate,Workshop
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260224T103000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260224T113000
DTSTAMP:20260425T113245
CREATED:20260129T145348Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260209T232106Z
UID:10009135-1771929000-1771932600@events.ucsc.edu
SUMMARY:Transform Your Future Pop-Up (Cookies Included!)
DESCRIPTION:Join Baskin Engineering to celebrate National Engineers Week with a sweet stop at the Transform Your Future Pop-Up (Cookies Included!) 🍪☕ \nThis year’s Engineers Week theme\, Transform Your Future\, is a powerful reminder that engineering doesn’t just shape our world—it shapes our opportunities\, our communities\, and the futures we can imagine for ourselves. \nSwing by the BE Courtyard to grab cookies\, coffee\, and BE swag (first come\, first served!) and take a moment to celebrate how you are transforming your future. \n📅 Date: Tuesday\, February 24⏰ Time: 10:30 a.m.📍 Location: BE Courtyard \nWe hope to see you there!
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/transform-your-future-pop-up-cookies-included/
LOCATION:Jack Baskin Engineering\, Baskin Engineering 1156 High Street\, Santa Cruz\, CA\, 95064
CATEGORIES:Social Gathering,Undergraduate
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260223T104000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260223T114500
DTSTAMP:20260425T113245
CREATED:20260219T235259Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260219T235259Z
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SUMMARY:ECE 290 Seminar: High-Frequency Circuits for Next-Generation Communication: From Beyond-5G mm-Wave MIMO to Co-Packaged Optics
DESCRIPTION:Presenter: Susnata Mondal\, Research Scientist\, Intel \nDescription: \nRapid growth in wireless connectivity\, cloud computing\, and AI infrastructure is driving an urgent need for communication systems that can deliver higher data rates with improved energy efficiency. Meeting these demands requires advances in high-frequency circuit design across both wireless and wireline domains\, spanning millimeter-wave radios to optical interconnects. \nThis seminar will present recent developments in two complementary directions. The first focuses on millimeter-wave MIMO systems for beyond-5G communication. Conventional phased arrays are typically limited to single-stream beamforming\, while fully digital solutions\, although flexible\, incur significant power and area overhead. Emerging hybrid architectures enable multi-stream\, multi-band operation with improved spectral efficiency by combining RF and baseband beamforming\, supporting carrier aggregation\, adaptive spatial processing\, and full-duplex operation. Prototype systems have demonstrated scalable multi-antenna transceivers operating across 28/37 GHz bands\, integrating RF front-ends\, beamforming networks\, and system-level signal processing. \nThe second direction addresses high-performance computing interconnects\, where electrical links increasingly struggle with loss and energy efficiency at high data rates. Co-packaged optics offers a promising alternative by placing optical engines in close proximity to compute and switch chips\, improving link efficiency. The seminar will discuss circuit and system innovations enabling scalable optical I/O\, including equalization\, clocking\, and high-linearity design techniques for high-speed optical links\, along with recent prototype demonstrations achieving high data rates with low energy per bit. \nBio: Susnata Mondal received the B.Tech. and M.Tech. degrees in E&ECE from IIT Kharagpur in 2015 and the Ph.D. degree in ECE from Carnegie Mellon University\, Pittsburgh\, in 2020. Since then\, he has been a Research Scientist at Intel\, Hillsboro\, working on co-packaged optics and high-speed I/O. He has authored several lead-author papers in ISSCC and JSSC and holds 18 U.S. patents. He is a Technical Program Committee member of RFIC and an Associate Editor for TCAS-I\, TCAS-II\, and SSCL. His honors include the SSCS Predoctoral Achievement Award\, the Best Ph.D. Thesis Award from CMU ECE\, and selection as an SSCS Rising Star. \nHosted by: Professor Soumya Bose\, ECE Department \nZoom: https://ucsc.zoom.us/j/97975378707?pwd=ljcgaCfhMmhZ88Vt5dqQUBVQRjehOx.1
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/ece-290-seminar-high-frequency-circuits-for-next-generation-communication-from-beyond-5g-mm-wave-mimo-to-co-packaged-optics/
LOCATION:Engineering 2\, Engineering 2 1156 High Street\, Santa Cruz\, CA\, 95064
CATEGORIES:Lectures & Presentations,Seminars
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260209T104000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260209T234500
DTSTAMP:20260425T113245
CREATED:20260202T233432Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260202T233432Z
UID:10009148-1770633600-1770680700@events.ucsc.edu
SUMMARY:ECE Seminar: Integrated Micro- and Nanosystems for Biosensing\, Neural Therapy\, and Nanotoxicity
DESCRIPTION:Presenter: Dr. Ke Du\, Associate Professor of Chemical and Environmental Engineering\, University of California\, Riverside \nDescription: Miniaturized micro- and nanofluidic systems\, integrated with biochemistry\, microscopy\, nanomaterials\, and computer vision algorithms\, provide powerful platforms for diverse biomedical applications\, including molecular diagnostics\, biophysics\, and optogenetics. In this presentation\, we introduce a pneumatically controlled nano-sieve device with nanolithography-defined microstructures designed to enhance target capture efficiency in bodily fluids. This system incorporates sheath flow configurations\, surface-enhanced Raman probes\, and CRISPR reactions for the sensitive and multiplexed detection of drug-resistant bacteria in nanoconfined environments. We also highlight our recent advancements in implantable devices for adeno-associated virus (AAV) delivery and the treatment of neurological disorders in mouse models. These devices\, fabricated via high-resolution 3D printing\, utilize total internal reflection at the liquid–air–microstructure interface to efficiently stimulate neurons. Finally\, we integrate experimental approaches with molecular dynamics simulations to study the interactions between arbitrary nanoparticles and living cells—advancing our understanding of nanotoxicity and guiding the design of next-generation drug delivery systems. \nBio: Dr. Ke Du is an Associate Professor of Chemical and Environmental Engineering at the University of California\, Riverside. He established his independent research lab in 2018 following postdoctoral training with Richard Mathies at the University of California\, Berkeley\, and Holger Schmidt at the University of California\, Santa Cruz. His research team focuses on molecular diagnostics for infectious diseases such as sepsis\, in vivo bioimaging\, and nanotoxicology. Dr. Du has received numerous honors\, including the EIPBN Inaugural Early Career Award (2024) and the NIH Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award (2021). He was recognized as an Emerging Investigator by Lab on a Chip (2024) and Nanoscale (2025)\, and named a Global Rising Star in Sensing by ACS Sensors. His research is supported by federal agencies and industry partners\, including NIH NIGMS\, NIH NIAID\, NSF CBET\, NSF CMMI\, USDA\, DOE\, the Burroughs Wellcome Fund\, Mammoth Biosciences\, and Biological Mimetics. Beyond his research activities\, Dr. Du serves as an Early Career Editorial Advisory Board member for Biomicrofluidics (AIP Publishing) and Sensors and Actuators Reports (Elsevier). \nHosted by: Professor Soumya Bose\, ECE Department \nZoom Link: https://ucsc.zoom.us/j/97975378707?pwd=ljcgaCfhMmhZ88Vt5dqQUBVQRjehOx.1
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/ece-seminar-integrated-micro-and-nanosystems-for-biosensing-neural-therapy-and-nanotoxicity/
LOCATION:Engineering 2\, Engineering 2 1156 High Street\, Santa Cruz\, CA\, 95064
CATEGORIES:Lectures & Presentations,Seminars
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://events.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/BElogoWHITE.png
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260202T104000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260202T114500
DTSTAMP:20260425T113245
CREATED:20260126T213156Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260126T213348Z
UID:10009111-1770028800-1770032700@events.ucsc.edu
SUMMARY:ECE Seminar: Advanced Packaging as the Engine of the AI Systems Era
DESCRIPTION:Presenter: Tolga Acikalin\, System and Package Architect\, Lumilens \nDescription: The rapid rise of artificial intelligence and machine learning—most notably recent breakthroughs in large language models—is reshaping the trajectory of the semiconductor industry and ushering in a new era of system innovation. As performance scaling at the device level slows\, heterogeneous integration (HI) has emerged as a foundational technology to sustain advances in computing and communication. By integrating separately manufactured components with diverse functions into a single system\, HI enables new levels of functionality\, performance\, and efficiency that are no longer achievable through traditional scaling alone. \nRealizing the full potential of heterogeneous systems demands a shift toward holistic system-level co-design\, with advanced packaging assuming a central and strategic role. This talk will briefly review the evolution of packaging technologies and then focus on advanced packaging architectures that enable heterogeneous integration.Topics will include advances in 2D and 3D interconnect technologies\, the introduction of novel packaging materials such as glass substrates\, and the growing role of photonic links\, including co-packaged optics enabled by silicon photonics. The talk will conclude with a discussion of power delivery and thermal management as system-level challenges and opportunities that will shape the next generation of high-performance\, energy-efficient systems. \nBio: Tolga Acikalin received his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Middle East Technical University in Ankara\, Turkey\, and his Master of Science and Ph.D. degrees from Purdue University in West Lafayette\, Indiana. \nHe joined Intel in 2007 as a Research and Development Engineer\, working on assembly and test pathfinding projects within the Technology and Manufacturing Group in Chandler\, Arizona. From 2013 to 2025\, he was a Principal Engineer at Intel Labs in Santa Clara\, California\, where he led and influenced innovative strategies for heterogeneous system integration\, spanning package- to wafer-scale solutions\, with a strong emphasis on next-generation interconnect technologies. Tolga is currently a System and Package Architect at Lumilens\, where he focuses on next-generation photonic interconnect solutions\, ranging from near-packaged optics to co-packaged optics. \nHis technical interests include co-packaged optics and silicon photonics\, optical and sub-THz to THz RF high-speed interconnects and the associated advanced package architectures\, novel advanced packaging solutions such as glass substrates\, and optical computing. Tolga has authored or co-authored more than 15 peer-reviewed journal and conference publications in leading APS\, ASME\, and IEEE venues\, including best paper awards at IEEE RFIC and JSCC. He holds nine issued patents and more than 27 additional patent filings. \nHosted by: Professor Soumya Bose\, ECE Department \nZoom Link: https://ucsc.zoom.us/j/97975378707?pwd=ljcgaCfhMmhZ88Vt5dqQUBVQRjehOx.1
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/ece-seminar-advanced-packaging-as-the-engine-of-the-ai-systems-era/
LOCATION:Engineering 2\, Engineering 2 1156 High Street\, Santa Cruz\, CA\, 95064
CATEGORIES:Lectures & Presentations,Seminars
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://events.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/BElogoWHITE.png
GEO:37.0009723;-122.0632371
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260126T104000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260126T114500
DTSTAMP:20260425T113245
CREATED:20260112T223834Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260112T223834Z
UID:10008350-1769424000-1769427900@events.ucsc.edu
SUMMARY:ECE Seminar: Tactile sensing: At the boundary between mechanical and computational intelligence in robotic grippers
DESCRIPTION:Presenter: Dr. Hannah Stuart\, Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering\, University of California at Berkeley \nDescription: Robot grippers typically include mechanical intelligence (e.g.\, underactuation\, compliance) or computational intelligence (e.g.\, fully actuated with a wide array of sensors). Next generation grippers and hands will require both intelligences to work in concert across applications with resilience and dexterity. This talk will introduce the concept of mechanical and computational intelligence co-design through example case studies that focus on the particular importance of embodied sensitivity as a feature of the co-design process. For example\, the most recent work on the Smart Suction Cup\, conducted largely by Dr. Jungpyo Lee\, demonstrates how design decisions like the number of sensitive chambers influences the resultant robot arm controller as well as physical compliance and manufacturing feasibility and cost. \nBio: Dr. Hannah Stuart is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of California at Berkeley. She received her BS in Mechanical Engineering at the George Washington University in 2011\, and her MS and PhD in Mechanical Engineering at Stanford University in 2013 and 2018\, respectively. Her research focuses on understanding the mechanics of physical interaction in order to better design systems for dexterous manipulation. Applications range from remote robotics to assistive orthotics. Recent awards include the NSF CAREER grant\, NASA Early Career Faculty grant\, Hellman Fellows Fund grant\, and Johnson & Johnson Women in STEM2D grant. She is a Senior Member of IEEE. \nHosted by: Professor Soumya Bose\, ECE Department \nZoom Link: https://ucsc.zoom.us/j/97975378707?pwd=ljcgaCfhMmhZ88Vt5dqQUBVQRjehOx.1
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/ece-seminar-tactile-sensing-at-the-boundary-between-mechanical-and-computational-intelligence-in-robotic-grippers/
LOCATION:Engineering 2\, Engineering 2 1156 High Street\, Santa Cruz\, CA\, 95064
CATEGORIES:Lectures & Presentations,Seminars
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GEO:37.0009723;-122.0632371
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260112T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260112T183000
DTSTAMP:20260425T113245
CREATED:20251209T200526Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251218T001742Z
UID:10005751-1768237200-1768242600@events.ucsc.edu
SUMMARY:Be Inspired: Explore Graduate Studies in STEM
DESCRIPTION:Not sure if graduate school is right for you? \nJoin us to learn what graduate school is really about and explore whether it’s the right path for you. We’ll cover topics such as qualifying exams\, funding options\, common misconceptions\, and more! \nClick the link below to register for the event: \nhttps://ucsc.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_31OHhwc7QPqJ7nSyiuAUNg
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/be-inspired-explore-graduate-studies-in-stem/
CATEGORIES:Seminars,Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://events.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Graduate-Student-Workshop-Flyer.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251210T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251210T150000
DTSTAMP:20260425T113245
CREATED:20251204T161744Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251205T222136Z
UID:10005732-1765371600-1765378800@events.ucsc.edu
SUMMARY:Singh\, A. (ECE) - Quantum Key Distribution Using Entangled Pairs with Random Grouping
DESCRIPTION:Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) provides information-theoretic security for cryptographic key establishment\, but existing protocols exhibit limited noise tolerance\, restricting their applicability in practical quantum channels with finite resources. This work introduces a QKD protocol based on entanglement swapping that significantly enhances error tolerance and key generation rates. The protocol encodes six-bit classical symbols into six-qubit entangled states organized as three Bell pairs. Key contributions include: (1) maintaining positive secrecy rates under 100% intercept-resend attacks\, unprecedented among existing protocols\, (2) proven security against collective attacks up to 29.29% quantum bit error rate (QBER)\, substantially exceeding BB84’s 11% threshold\, and (3) finite-key security analysis demonstrating viable key generation under practical block size constraints. These results establish that structured multi-qubit encoding fundamentally broadens the operational capabilities of quantum key distribution\, enabling secure communication in high-noise environments such as free-space satellite links and urban channels where conventional protocols fail. \nHost: Archana Jayprakash Singh\, Ph.D. Student\, Electrical and Computer Engineering  \nAdvisor: Zouheir Rezki  \nZoom- https://ucsc.zoom.us/j/92875779810?pwd=xIWhFkOw5WR3vyBvVhBCkd7ueJs2m2.1 \nPasscode- 530049
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/singh-a-ece-quantum-key-distribution-using-entangled-pairs-with-random-grouping/
LOCATION:Jack Baskin Engineering\, Baskin Engineering 1156 High Street\, Santa Cruz\, CA\, 95064
CATEGORIES:Ph.D. Presentations
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X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Jack Baskin Engineering Baskin Engineering 1156 High Street Santa Cruz CA 95064;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=Baskin Engineering 1156 High Street:geo:-122.0632371,37.000369
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251209T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251209T170000
DTSTAMP:20260425T113245
CREATED:20251202T204536Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251209T182652Z
UID:10005719-1765296000-1765299600@events.ucsc.edu
SUMMARY:Zhu\, R. (ECE) -  From Neuromorphic Principles to Efficient Neural Language Architectures
DESCRIPTION:While Large Language Models exhibit remarkable capabilities\, their reliance on the standard Transformer architecture imposes prohibitive computational costs and quadratic memory complexity. To bridge the gap between biological efficiency and high-performance AI\, we have established foundational work in linearizing attention and maximizing hardware utilization through architectures such as RWKV and MatMul-Free networks. Addressing the remaining bottlenecks in long-term memory consolidation and optimization stability\, we propose a research roadmap focused on “In-Place Test-Time Training” (TTT) to enable compositional memory via dynamic weight updates\, and the Muon optimizer to stabilize deep reasoning through orthogonal gradient updates. Ultimately\, this work aims to unify neuromorphic principles with scalable deep learning to enable robust performance in resource-efficient environments. \nEvent Host: Ridger Zhu\, Ph.D. Student\, Electrical and Computer Engineering  \nAdvisor: Jason Eshraghian \nZoom- https://ucsc.zoom.us/j/95241268060?pwd=WDMgDWhhSyXNh8NZpBDvgpbcMVbvUz.1 \nPasscode- 256794
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/ridger-z-ece-from-neuromorphic-principles-to-efficient-neural-language-architectures/
LOCATION:Engineering 2\, Engineering 2 1156 High Street\, Santa Cruz\, CA\, 95064
CATEGORIES:Ph.D. Presentations
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GEO:37.0009723;-122.0632371
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Engineering 2 Engineering 2 1156 High Street Santa Cruz CA 95064;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=Engineering 2 1156 High Street:geo:-122.0632371,37.0009723
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251208T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251208T140000
DTSTAMP:20260425T113245
CREATED:20251202T163305Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251202T163305Z
UID:10005718-1765198800-1765202400@events.ucsc.edu
SUMMARY:de Priester\, J. (ECE) - Hybrid Reinforcement Learning
DESCRIPTION:Reinforcement Learning (RL) is a machine learning paradigm that trains a decision maker\, or policy\, by learning from interaction with an environment. The power of RL lies in its ability to learn complex strategies without explicit human instruction\, which can lead to better solutions that human designers overlook in domains ranging from robotics to scientific discovery. Despite these successes\, applying RL to safety-critical control systems remains a significant challenge due to the fragility of black-box policies. Standard RL controllers are prone to “chattering” or indecisiveness\, which is rapid\, detrimental switching between decisions induced by small disturbances\, and lack formal closed-loop safety\, stability\, and robustness guarantees. Furthermore\, existing discrete and continuous-time RL paradigms struggle to model hybrid systems\, where continuous state evolution is intertwined with instantaneous discrete updates. Consequently\, standard RL approaches cannot effectively be applied to safety-critical hybrid dynamical systems\, as such approaches suffer from discretization artifacts\, computational inefficiency\, and a lack of closed-loop safety\, stability\, and robustness guarantees. \nTo bridge the gap between hybrid control theory and RL\, this research proposal is organized into four interconnected thrusts. Thrust 1 addresses the fragility of existing standard RL-based policies by designing RL algorithms to construct robust hybrid supervisors to eliminate chattering. Thrust 2 establishes the theoretical bedrock of a native hybrid RL formulation. By leveraging insights from discounted MPC\, the hybrid RL problem is formulated with intrinsic closed-loop stability\, safety\, and robustness properties. Thrust 3 extends standard RL components to the hybrid domain to create RL algorithms capable of solving the hybrid RL problem defined in Thrust 2. Finally\, Thrust 4 provides comprehensive empirical validation\, confirming the robustness of the supervisors from Thrust 1 and demonstrating the advantages of the native hybrid RL formulation developed in Thrusts 2 and 3 over a standard RL formulation. \nHost: Jan de Priester\, Ph.D. Student\, Electrical and Computer Engineering  \nAdvisor: Ricardo Sanfelice \nZoom- https://ucsc.zoom.us/j/95229790206?pwd=ICevzd4QdEE7ZAlYALZIYbhU2bCU4W.1 \nPasscode-  981137
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/de-priester-j-ece-hybrid-reinforcement-learning/
LOCATION:Jack Baskin Engineering\, Baskin Engineering 1156 High Street\, Santa Cruz\, CA\, 95064
CATEGORIES:Ph.D. Presentations
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GEO:37.000369;-122.0632371
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Jack Baskin Engineering Baskin Engineering 1156 High Street Santa Cruz CA 95064;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=Baskin Engineering 1156 High Street:geo:-122.0632371,37.000369
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251124T104000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251124T114500
DTSTAMP:20260425T113245
CREATED:20251117T231136Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251117T231136Z
UID:10005167-1763980800-1763984700@events.ucsc.edu
SUMMARY:ECE 290 Seminar: Fundamental Nanopower Analog Circuits
DESCRIPTION:Presenter: Joey Sankman\, Analog/Power Designer\, Analog Devices \nDescription: With the rising interest in edge computing\, and the addition of AI/ML functionality\, nanopower circuits are in great demand to reduce the quiescent power consumption of remote sensors. In this tutorial\, fundamental building blocks for nanopower circuits will be covered\, including startup-less low-voltage references\, low-frequency clocks\, and LDO regulators. Attendees can expect a deep dive into fundamental and practical analog techniques to design nanopower systems. \nBio: Joey Sankman received the B.S. degree from the University of Arizona\, Tucson\, AZ\, and Ph.D. degree from the University of Texas at Dallas\, TX in electrical engineering in 2010 and 2014\, respectively. At the University of Texas at Dallas\, his research included energy harvesting circuits and systems as well as high-performance switch mode power converters. He is currently an analog/power designer at Analog Devices\, Principal Member of Technical Staff\, working on automotive PMICs. Previously\, he was an Analog R&D Engineer working on audio amplifiers\, ultra-low power circuits\, and radhard gate drivers at Kilby Labs\, TI\, Dallas\, TX. He was the recipient of the U.S. National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship and the 2011 Texas Instruments/Semiconductor Research Corporation Graduate Fellowship. He has authored or co-authored 20 publications in various IEEE journals and conferences. He currently serves on the IEEE ISSCC power subcommittee. \nHosted by: Professor Soumya Bose\, ECE Department \nZoom Link: https://ucsc.zoom.us/j/97975378707?pwd=ljcgaCfhMmhZ88Vt5dqQUBVQRjehOx.1
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/ece-290-seminar-fundamental-nanopower-analog-circuits/
CATEGORIES:Lectures & Presentations,Seminars
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://events.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/BE-logomark_localist.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251121T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251121T160000
DTSTAMP:20260425T113245
CREATED:20251021T182427Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251022T181942Z
UID:10004960-1763733600-1763740800@events.ucsc.edu
SUMMARY:Torres\, S. (ECE) - An Integrated Platform for Real-time Monitoring and Support of 3D Tissue Growth
DESCRIPTION:Organoids are three-dimensional tissue cultures that model real organs and serve as valuable tools for studying development\, disease\, and treatment response. Traditional methods\, which rely on manual handling and incubators\, limit consistency and real-time monitoring. To address these issues\, we developed a modular microfluidic platform that integrates automated feeding\, live fluorescence imaging\, and environmental control without the need for a standard incubator. The core of the system is a vertically oriented PDMS-glass chip that enables precise media delivery and continuous imaging of small 3D structures such as organoids. Using fluorescent dyes to mimic molecules\, such as nutrients or drugs\, we tracked their movement through tissue in real time without invasive sensors. This setup maintains metabolic stability and provides detailed insight into molecular transport\, which improves applications in disease modeling\, drug testing\, and personalized medicine. \n  \nEvent Host- Sebastián Torres\, Ph.D. Candidate\, Electrical & Computer Engineering  \nAdvisor: Mircea Teodorescu \n  \nZoom- https://ucsc.zoom.us/j/2333595627?pwd=aWtwL3V2QnFTMkNDSWowZnRNS0xSQT09 \nPasscode- 579836
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/torres-s-ece-an-integrated-platform-for-real-time-monitoring-and-support-of-3d-tissue-growth/
CATEGORIES:Ph.D. Presentations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://events.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/option-3-1.png
LOCATION:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251121T123000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251121T140000
DTSTAMP:20260425T113245
CREATED:20251118T163526Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251118T163526Z
UID:10005179-1763728200-1763733600@events.ucsc.edu
SUMMARY:Ramollari\, H. (ECE) - An Optofluidic Spectrometer and Applications in Biosensing
DESCRIPTION:Miniaturized spectrometers have the potential to replace bulky and expensive benchtop models. We have previously demonstrated a multimode interference (MMI) waveguide-based spectrometer that achieves high performance while minimizing its footprint. \nIn this talk\, the integration of the MMI spectrometer into an optofluidic device is proposed. This integration opens up applications such as the detection of single particle fluorescence spectra and absorption spectra. \nMoreover\, adding a metasurface to the spectrometer waveguide is expected to enhance the sensitivity of single particle detection and simplify the analysis methods. \nFinally\, to improve the MMI waveguide spectrometer a new nanophotonic platform is proposed. \nEvent Host: Helio Ramollari\, Ph.D. Student\, Electrical Engineering  \nAdvisor: Holger Schmidt  \nZoom- https://ucsc.zoom.us/j/99623652977?pwd=j2hy77fV9jdGuEzI0iGa5JVAa35W1b.1 \nPasscode- 576057
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/ramollari-h-ece-an-optofluidic-spectrometer-and-applications-in-biosensing/
LOCATION:Engineering 2\, Engineering 2 1156 High Street\, Santa Cruz\, CA\, 95064
CATEGORIES:Ph.D. Presentations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://events.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/ph.d.-presentation-graphic-option2.jpg
GEO:37.0009723;-122.0632371
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Engineering 2 Engineering 2 1156 High Street Santa Cruz CA 95064;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=Engineering 2 1156 High Street:geo:-122.0632371,37.0009723
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251117T104000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251117T114500
DTSTAMP:20260425T113245
CREATED:20251113T000837Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251113T000837Z
UID:10005135-1763376000-1763379900@events.ucsc.edu
SUMMARY:ECE 290 Seminar: Low-Power and Miniaturized Medical Electronics for in vivo Localization and Tracking
DESCRIPTION:Presenter: Dr. Saransh Sharma\, Postdoctoral Scholar\, MIT \nDescription: Accurate in vivo localization of medical devices is central to applications ranging from ingestible pills in the GI tract to endovascular and minimally invasive procedures. However\, current clinical methods rely on endoscopy or repeated ionizing imaging (CT/X-ray)\, and are poorly suited for continuous or out-of-hospital use. In this talk\, I will present a radiation-free platform for high-precision localization of wireless miniaturized devices in vivo\, using engineered magnetic field gradients. We design battery-less ingestible microdevices that measure and transmit their local magnetic field\, while planar coils generate monotonically varying fields in X\, Y\, and Z. This architecture uniquely encodes spatial position and achieves <100 μm 3D accuracy—to our knowledge\, the highest reported. We then translate this to in vivo large-animal studies to localize ingestible devices in the GI tract in real time with mm-scale resolution\, without radiation or hospital-grade imaging. This enables continuous monitoring relevant to constipation\, incontinence\, motility disorders\, medication adherence\, and quantitative GI transit-time. Next\, I will show how this platform generalizes to surgical navigation. By embedding the same localization architecture into catheters and guidewires\, we can track device position without fluoroscopy\, offering a pathway toward image-free vascular navigation and minimally invasive interventions. Finally\, to further shrink devices and power\, I developed a monolithic 3D magnetic sensor in 65 nm CMOS (4 mm²\, 14.8 μW\, <10 μT_rms noise). This fully CMOS-compatible architecture enables high-sensitivity magnetic sensing at μW power\, and can serve as the core for future miniaturized\, radiation-free localization systems. \nBio: Dr. Saransh Sharma received the B.Tech. degree in Electronics and Electrical Communication Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)\, Kharagpur\, India\, in 2017\, and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech)\, Pasadena\, CA\, USA\, in 2018 and 2023\, respectively. He is currently a postdoctoral research scholar at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)\, Cambridge\, USA\, working on low-power analog and mixed-signal integrated circuits and system design for bio-medical applications. Dr. Sharma was a recipient of the Wilts Prize and the Demetriades-Tsafka-Kokkalis Award for outstanding Ph.D. thesis in Electrical Engineering\, Biotechnology and related fields at Caltech\, Lewis Winner Award for outstanding paper at ISSCC 2024\, Best Student Paper Award at CICC 2025\, Charles Lee Powell Fellowship at Caltech\, and Excellence in Mentorship Award at Caltech for mentoring undergraduate and graduate students. \nHosted by: Professor Soumya Bose\, ECE Department \nZoom Link: https://ucsc.zoom.us/j/97975378707?pwd=ljcgaCfhMmhZ88Vt5dqQUBVQRjehOx.1
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/ece-290-seminar-low-power-and-miniaturized-medical-electronics-for-in-vivo-localization-and-tracking/
CATEGORIES:Lectures & Presentations,Seminars
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251113T163000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251113T190000
DTSTAMP:20260425T113245
CREATED:20251017T180809Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251017T180809Z
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SUMMARY:Leveraging UC Resources To Launch Your Biotech Company
DESCRIPTION:Are you a UCSC faculty member\, postdoc\, or graduate student with an entrepreneurial mindset? \nJoin us for an insightful panel discussion on how to turn your biotech research into a successful startup. Learn how to tap into the University of California’s robust innovation ecosystem—from research commercialization and funding opportunities to mentorship and startup incubation. \nHear firsthand from UC-affiliated founders\, investors\, and innovation experts who have successfully navigated the path from lab discovery to market launch. Stay afterward for a networking reception to connect with peers\, panelists\, and campus innovation partners. \nOpen to: UCSC faculty\, postdocs\, and graduate studentsLight refreshments provided. \nRegistration requested: https://luma.com/2gmhjlbo
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/uc-resources-to-launch-your-biotech-company/
LOCATION:Hay Barn\, 94 Ranch View Road\, Santa Cruz\, CA\, 95064\, United States
CATEGORIES:Meetings & Conferences
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251107T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251108T235959
DTSTAMP:20260425T113245
CREATED:20251013T212720Z
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SUMMARY:United Nations Reboot the Earth Hackathon
DESCRIPTION:The United Nations (UN) and the Baskin School of Engineering at the University of California\, Santa Cruz\, are collaborating to bring the “Reboot the Earth” hackathon to the West Coast for the first time. \nThis is a social event bringing together aspiring developers to create open source software solutions that address the climate crisis\, including wildfire response. It’s a chance to collaborate with peers\, use open data\, and apply your coding skills to real-world climate challenges! \n\n\n\nDate: November 7-8\, 2025\nLocation: UC Santa Cruz Silicon Valley Center.\nRegister here for the event. \n\nOrganized by the UN Office of Information and Communications Technology (OICT)\, the 2025  Reboot the Earth hackathons are focused on agriculture and artificial intelligence (AI). The California event will focus on the locally relevant challenges of wildfire detection\, response\, and impact. Participants can leverage open source\, AI\, and open data sets\, along with local expertise on the environment and emergency preparedness and response. The goal is to build solutions that can become a digital public good\, serving local community needs. \nUC Santa Cruz students interested in attending the event can take advantage of the Silicon Valley Connector shuttle\, which will be running on Saturday\, November 8\, in addition to the regular Friday schedule. \nTo learn more about the Reboot the Earth initiative\, visit: https://unite.un.org/en/reboot-earth.
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/un-reboot-the-earth-hackathon/
LOCATION:Silicon Valley Campus\, 3175 Bowers Avenue\, Santa Clara\, CA\, 95054\, United States
CATEGORIES:Meetings & Conferences,Social Gathering
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251030T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251030T150000
DTSTAMP:20260425T113245
CREATED:20251028T190921Z
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SUMMARY:Human Acceptance of Autonomous Systems
DESCRIPTION:Speaker: Sina Nordhoff\, Postdoctoral Researcher\, Institute of Transportation Studies at UC Davis.\nTitle: Human Acceptance of Autonomous Systems.\nTime: Thursday\, Oct 30th\, 2025\, 2:00-3:00 pm.\nLocation: E2-506 or Zoom. \nAbstract: This seminar explores how society engages with autonomous transportation systems\, focusing on automated vehicles and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM). Dr. Sina Nordhoff will present research on human acceptance\, trust\, and safety\, emphasizing that public confidence and social readiness are essential alongside technological progress. Drawing on theoretical models\, real-world applications\, and extensive empirical data\, including over 220 interviews and 40\,000 surveys\, Dr. Nordhoff will identify key factors shaping acceptance\, such as socio-demographics\, personality traits\, perceived risks and benefits\, and the effects of misuse or miscalibrated trust. The seminar will highlight how ethical considerations\, societal norms\, and regulatory frameworks influence deployment. Attendees will gain insight into how this work can guide policymakers\, industry\, and communities in ensuring responsible\, equitable\, and safe implementation. Dr. Nordhoff will also briefly discuss future research directions. \nSpeaker Bio: Dr. Sina Nordhoff is a leading expert in the field of human factors and user acceptance of new and emerging transportation technologies. She holds a Ph.D. from Delft University of Technology and is affiliated with the University of California\, Davis. Dr. Nordhoff specializes in electric vehicles and automated vehicles (AVs)\, focusing on how to responsibly integrate these innovations into society. Her research spans theoretical models\, empirical studies\, and real-world applications\, involving over 220 interviews and 40\,000 analyzed surveys. She has developed innovative frameworks to understand human acceptance\, trust\, and safety\, addressing critical issues such as misuse\, trust miscalibration\, and cyber-physical attacks. Dr. Nordhoff’s research is published in top-tier journals and has garnered significant attention from policymakers and industry leaders. Her work aims to inform the design\, deployment\, and regulation of these technologies to ensure they are safe\, equitable\, and socially beneficial. Dr. Nordhoff’s current research agenda includes pioneering efforts in interdisciplinary theory development\, safety assessment\, and understanding cognitive measurements. Her overarching goal is to bridge the gap between technological advancements and societal well-being\, creating a future where transportation benefits all members of society.
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/human-acceptance-of-autonomous-systems/
LOCATION:Engineering 2\, Engineering 2 1156 High Street\, Santa Cruz\, CA\, 95064
CATEGORIES:Lectures & Presentations
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251028T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251028T120000
DTSTAMP:20260425T113245
CREATED:20251024T173428Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251024T173853Z
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SUMMARY:Alatawi\, A. (ECE) - Learning-Based Channel Estimation for Next-Generation Wireless Communications
DESCRIPTION:Accurate Channel State Information (CSI) is critical for coherent detection\, equalization\, and adaptive resource allocation in modern wireless systems. Traditional estimators rely on stationary statistical models\, and many learning-based methods assume training and deployment conditions are matched. In practice\, these assumptions break down under user mobility and environmental dynamics\, leading to degraded performance. This proposal explores machine-learning approaches for channel estimation that address two complementary challenges. \nFirst\, we develop an adaptive deep neural network (ADNN) for single-input single-output links over slowly time-varying channels. The method converts readily available physical-layer feedback—cyclic redundancy check (CRC) and automatic repeat request (ARQ)—into reliable self-supervision. Specifically\, packets decoded without errors are re-estimated using least squares (LS) across all symbols to generate high-quality labels\, and the DNN weights are periodically updated online. This design eliminates the need for ground-truth labels at deployment and enables continual learning. Simulations show that the ADNN tracks distributional shifts and recovers near–linear minimum mean-square error (LMMSE) performance in both mean-square error (MSE) and symbol error rate (SER)\, whereas a fixed offline-trained DNN degrades as channel statistics change. \nSecond\, we propose a sequence-to-sequence LSTM estimator for orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM). The model exploits both temporal and frequency correlation by taking LS pilot estimates from several previous OFDM blocks as input and reconstructing the full channel frequency response of the current block. Trained on realistic time-selective channels such as WINNER II\, the LSTM outperforms LS interpolation and recent super-resolution–based methods across a wide range of SNRs\, pilot densities\, and temporal window sizes. \nFinally\, the proposal outlines future research on semantic-aware channel estimation using CSI timeliness\, and enhanced sequence models with DNN-refined pilots\, whole-block inputs\, and efficient GRU architectures. \nEvent Host: Abdulaziz Alatawi\, Ph.D. Student\, Electrical & Computer Engineering \nAdvisor: Hamid Sadjadpour & Zouheir Rezki \nZoom- https://ucsc.zoom.us/j/94895993579?pwd=Bs1ppmjqFvNknefRAHoVGXPSXxdZ6i.1 \nPasscode- 884927
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/alatawi-a-ece-learning-based-channel-estimation-for-next-generation-wireless-communications/
CATEGORIES:Ph.D. Presentations
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LOCATION:
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251023T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251023T150000
DTSTAMP:20260425T113245
CREATED:20251017T183348Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251017T183421Z
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SUMMARY:Robots that Know What They Do Not Know: Assured AI-enabled Autonomy in Unknown Environments
DESCRIPTION:Speaker: Yiannis Kantaros\, Assistant Professor\, Electrical and Systems Engineering at WashU in St. Louis. \nTitle: Robots that Know What They Do Not Know: Assured AI-enabled Autonomy in Unknown Environments. \nTime: Thursday\, Oct 23rd\, 2025\, 2:00-3:00 pm. \nLocation: E2-553 or Zoom. \nAbstract: Designing robots that navigate unfamiliar environments to execute natural language (NL) commands is a cornerstone of advanced embodied intelligence. While recent AI-enabled architectures have made impressive empirical progress\, they often lack introspection\, leading to systems that act with unwarranted confidence\, unaware of their own limitations or whether they have successfully completed their tasks. As a result\, these systems offer limited performance and safety guarantees\, restricting their deployment in safety-critical settings.\nIn this talk\, I will present an introspective\, neuro-symbolic autonomy architecture that enables robots to complete NL tasks in unknown environments with assurance guarantees by explicitly quantifying their own uncertainty using uncertainty quantification (UQ) tools. The neural component employs large language models (LLMs) to translate NL commands into temporal logic specifications\, while leveraging conformal prediction\, a UQ tool\, to calibrate and quantify prediction uncertainty arising from LLM imperfections and potential NL ambiguity. When uncertainty exceeds user-defined thresholds\, uncertainty-aware feedback is solicited from auxiliary LLMs—or\, if necessary\, from human operators. We provide theoretical guarantees\, supported by empirical case studies\, that the proposed uncertainty-aware translation framework\, called ConformalNL2LTL\, achieves user-specified translation success rates under certain distributional settings. The symbolic component generates plans for mobile robots with AI-enabled perception systems to satisfy temporal logic tasks while explicitly reasoning over perceptual and environmental uncertainty. This allows robots to decide when to proceed confidently and when to actively gather additional sensor data\, ensuring task completion with the desired probability. Notably\, the developed planners are agnostic to specific sensor models or noise characteristics. The talk will conclude with case studies and demonstrations\, followed by a discussion of limitations and open problems. \nSpeaker Bio: Yiannis Kantaros is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Systems Engineering\, Washington University in St. Louis (WashU)\, St. Louis\, MO\, USA. He earned a Diploma in Electrical and Computer Engineering in 2012 from the University of Patras\, Greece\, and M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Duke University\, Durham\, NC\, in 2017 and 2018\, respectively. Prior to joining WashU\, he was a postdoctoral associate in the Department of Computer and Information Science\, University of Pennsylvania\, Philadelphia\, PA. His current research interests include machine learning\, distributed control and optimization\, and formal methods with applications in robotics. He received the Best Student Paper Award at the 2nd IEEE Global Conference on Signal and Information Processing (GlobalSIP) in 2014 and was a finalist for the Best Multi-Robot Systems Paper at the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) in 2024 and a finalist for the Best Paper Award at the ACM/IEEE International Conference on Cyber-physical Systems (CPSWeek-ICCPS) in 2025. He also received the 2017-18 Outstanding Dissertation Research Award from the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science at Duke University and a 2024 NSF CAREER Award.
URL:https://events.ucsc.edu/event/assured-ai-enabled-autonomy-in-unknown-environments/
LOCATION:Engineering 2\, Engineering 2 1156 High Street\, Santa Cruz\, CA\, 95064
CATEGORIES:Lectures & Presentations
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