erVa - NSF Engineering Research Alliance

AI Engineering: A Strategic Research Framework to Benefit Society

AI Engineering, the convergence of artificial intelligence and engineering, promises to revolutionize society by enhancing national security, economic growth, and competitiveness. This emerging field leverages the strengths of both AI and engineering to create safer, more reliable, and efficient systems. Positioned to redefine key disciplines and tackle grand challenges, AI Engineering is set to propel the U.S. to the forefront of technological innovation.

Explore the critical challenges and strategies shaping this future in the Visioning Event Report and Executive Summary.

Using AI to Enable Better Vision - for Both Humans and Machines

By Katherine Connor

Unique collaboration between electrical engineers and ophthalmologists at UC San Diego solves clinical and computational challenges

For the past five years, several University of California San Diego electrical engineering graduate students have spent one day a week at Joan and Irwin Jacobs Retina Center at Shiley Eye Institute. Jacobs Retina Center is the only freestanding retina research center in the country, working to increase the understanding of retinal diseases, such as macular degeneration and diabetes-related blindness, and to conduct clinical trials to develop better treatments for these diseases. But the students aren’t there for treatment, and they’re not there to see patients. 

Through a unique and long-standing collaboration, the electrical engineers are embedded in Jacobs Retina Center to partner with ophthalmologists to develop better computer vision, artificial intelligence (AI), and image processing tools to help physicians diagnose patients faster and more accurately; predict which drugs will be most successful for specific patients; and even aid in the process of developing new therapeutic treatments for retinal diseases.

According to Professor Junshan Zhang of the UC Davis Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, AVs struggle when confronted with unforeseen events, such as a car driving on the wrong side of the road. 

Zhang and his lab have developed a new open-source platform called CarDreamer to address this issue. The platform lets an AI model learn how to drive on its own by imagining scenarios — say, taking a right turn at a red light or merging onto the highway — in a simulated world. 

Meet Irving Barron

iREDEFINE is a workshop funded by the NSF with the goal of increasing the representation of women and underrepresented minorities in ECE faculty positions. The iREDEFINE Fellows participate in dedicated programming to support their academic career paths, attend ECEDHA sessions, present their research, and take part in mock interviews.

Hello everyone! I am Irving Barron, and I come from the University of Rochester in Rochester, New York, where I serve as an Assistant Professor of Instruction in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), a position I began in July 2024. I earned my Engineer's degree in Electronic Engineering and a master’s degree in Electronic Engineering from the Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí in San Luis Potosí, México, in 2012 and 2015, respectively. Additionally, I earned a master’s degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Rochester in 2018. I have successfully completed all the requirements for a PhD from the University of Rochester, with the degree expected to be conferred on August 31, 2024. I conducted my PhD research under the supervision of Dr. Gaurav Sharma, who encouraged me to participate in the iREDEFINE workshop. My PhD research focused on computer vision and information security, particularly in the fields of digital forensics and digital image processing for the verification and authentication of physical and digital assets.

Meet Justin Terry

The IEC 2to4 program is an IEC initiative focused on supporting first-generation, underrepresented minority community college students in their transition to completing four-year ECE degrees. In Fall 2023, the first cohort of 2to4 students received scholarship funds. We invite you to share in their academic journey. 

Learn more about the IEC 2to4 program.

My decision to study engineering stemmed from my early experiences and influences during childhood. Growing up in the country, I spent considerable time with my grandfather and uncle, who were constantly working on various mechanical and electrical projects around our family property. These hands-on experiences, such as changing a tractor differential and running electrical wiring, gave me a foundational understanding of the skills needed to be an engineer. My admiration for my uncle, a software engineer at IBM, also played a significant role in sparking my interest in the field. I was amazed by his ability to solve complex problems by researching and learning new information, which inspired me to pursue a similar path.

Although I faced challenges throughout my academic journey, my passion for engineering never wavered. One of the turning points in my journey was realizing the importance of a strong technical education. My work experience highlighted the need for advanced skills and knowledge, pushing me to return to school and complete my degree. My mother's encouragement motivated me to achieve my academic and professional goals. The support from my family, my personal experiences, and the IEC 2to4 Scholarship drove me to excel in my studies and pursue a career in engineering. I am proud to share that I graduated from Virginia State University and now work at Caterpillar Inc as a Marine Systems Engineer.

2024-2025 ECEDHA Memberships

Membership renewal information will be sent out next week!

Please reach out if any updates need to be made to your institution's member profile or assistance processing your renewal once you receive your membership kit.

Tori Holt, ECEDHA Program Manager

tholt@ecedha.org or membership@ecedha.org

312-268-5601

ECEDHA Annual Conference & ECExpo Update

Due to member feedback, the 2025 ECEDHA Annual Conference dates have shifted, with the pre-conference workshops beginning on Thursday and the Annual Conference kick-off on Friday.

2025 ECEDHA Annual Conference & ECExpo

Thursday, March 20th - Monday, March 24th, 2025.

2025 Schedule Overview

ECEDHA

Annual Conference

Friday, March 21st - Monday, March 24th

Have an article you would like to share?

ECEDHA members are encouraged to submit articles of interest for inclusion in the ECEDHA Source. Email your article for consideration to information@ecedha.org. 

ECE Summit: What is the Role of ChatGPT in ECE? How will Generative AI Drive Innovation?

Webinar produced in partnership by:

ECE Foundation & NVIDIA

Professional Growth Series: Interview Like a Pro

Webinar produced in partnership by:

Texas Instruments &

Inclusive Engineering Consortium