ECEDHA TIMEE Summit Recap

Entrepreneurship Innovation in ECE

By: Elizabeth Hibbler

On August 11, 2025, ECEDHA hosted its TIMEE (Technology, Innovation, Making, Entrepreneurship, and Education) Summit, gathering educators, industry leaders, and students to explore how innovation and entrepreneurship are reshaping the future of electrical and computer engineering. The event, Innovation and Entrepreneurship in ECE, highlighted how departments can encourage students to move beyond traditional roles as engineers and instead become the creators, leaders, and founders driving the next wave of technological progress.

The afternoon opened with remarks from ECEDHA Executive Director John Janowiak and Sid Deliwala of the University of Pennsylvania, who set the tone for the conversation by emphasizing the importance of creating a culture where engineering students can confidently explore entrepreneurial pathways. YC Wang of DigiKey Electronics reinforced this message, reflecting on how entrepreneurial ambition has historically fueled technology hubs such as Silicon Valley and how similar energy must be cultivated in today’s classrooms and laboratories.

Large Language Models Can Execute Complete Ransomware Attacks Autonomously, NYU Tandon Research Shows

Study demonstrates AI systems can carry out full attack campaigns, a warning to cybersecurity defenders

Criminals can use artificial intelligence, specifically large language models, to autonomously carry out ransomware attacks that steal personal files and demand payment, handling every step from breaking into computer systems to writing threatening messages to victims, according to new research from NYU Tandon School of Engineering.

The study serves as an early warning to help defenders prepare countermeasures before bad actors adopt these AI-powered techniques.

A simulation malicious AI system developed by the Tandon team carried out all four phases of ransomware attacks — mapping systems, identifying valuable files, stealing or encrypting data, and generating ransom notes — across personal computers, enterprise servers, and industrial control systems.

Engineers Create Mini Microscope for Real-Time Brain Imaging

By: Matt Marcure

Researchers at the University of California, Davis, have created a miniaturized microscope for real-time, high-resolution and non-invasive imaging of brain activity in mice. The device is a significant step toward revolutionizing how neuroscientists study the brain.

“What we are doing is creating technology to image brain activity in freely moving and behaving mice to open up the behavior paradigm,” said Weijian Yang, professor of electrical and computer engineering. “The goal is to create a device capable of enabling research into brain activity and behavior in mice in real time — to see how brain activity drives behavior or perception.”

The microscope will advance insights into how the brain works, which is expected to benefit human health by empowering the development of new and improved therapeutic strategies for brain disorders.

The first-of-its-kind imaging system, known as DeepInMiniscope, is described in a paper published Sept. 12 in Science Advances.

Sneha D. Goenka Named Innovator of the Year by MIT Technology Review

By: Alaina O'Regan

Sneha D. Goenka has been named Innovator of the Year by MIT Technology Review, recognizing her advances in rapid genome sequencing to diagnose time-sensitive genetic disorders in infants.

The honor tops this year’s global Innovators Under 35 list, which highlights young entrepreneurs, researchers and inventors who are driving scientific progress and translating discoveries into real-world impacts, according to the organization. From this group, MIT Technology Review selects one honoree whose impact is especially transformative.

Goenka, an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, designed computational tools that speed up genome sequencing and analysis, cutting the time it takes to deliver a genetic diagnosis from weeks to hours. The advance can be lifesaving, especially in intensive care units where up to half of infant deaths are linked to undiagnosed genetic disorders, according to the release.

Penn Engineers Send

Quantum Signals with

Standard Internet Protocol

By: Ian Scheffler

Penn engineers have developed a ‘Q-Chip’ (quantum-classical hybrid internet by photonics) signal which coordinates quantum and classical data and can run on the same infrastructure that carries everyday online traffic.

The honor tops this year’s global Innovators Under 35 list, which highlights young entrepreneurs, researchers and inventors who are driving scientific progress and translating discoveries into real-world impacts, according to the organization. From this group, MIT Technology Review selects one honoree whose impact is especially transformative.

Goenka, an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, designed computational tools that speed up genome sequencing and analysis, cutting the time it takes to deliver a genetic diagnosis from weeks to hours. The advance can be lifesaving, especially in intensive care units where up to half of infant deaths are linked to undiagnosed genetic disorders, according to the release.

The Marconi Society presents the 2025 Awards Gala and Institute Forums hosted by the UCLA and UCI Henry Samueli Schools of Engineering

This two-day event unites global industry, academia, and policy leaders to address key information and communications technology challenges. The program culminates with the Marconi Awards Gala honoring Nick McKeown, the 2025 Marconi Prize recipient, Martin Cooper with the Lifetime Achievement Award, and recognizes Paul Baran Young Scholars.

Hosted by:

The Marconi Society Academic Forum will feature a Student Poster Showcase held during a Networking Lunch on Friday, 11/14

Student Poster Submissions Due: 10/3

• Participation is free, but space is limited - registration is first-come, first-served.
• Students will be notified by 10/17.
• Students are also invited to attend the full Academic Forum, which includes keynote talks, technical panels, and Young Scholar presentations.

Sponsored by:

Celebrating the 15th Anniversary of the Merger with IEEE!

Hear the story of the merger of IEEE and HKN!

When the IEEE and HKN merger was officially signed on 14 February 2009 during the IEEE Meeting Series in Puerto Rico, it marked the culmination of years of behind-the-scenes work. In this video, you hear the stories of the merger from the key people behind it. It explores what prompted the merger, concerns raised, and how the new IEEE-HKN exceeded expectations.

Meet Fred Beyette, ECEDHA Member-at-Large

What inspired you to pursue a career in ECE?

One of my earliest memories is watching the Apollo 11 mission and Neil Armstrongs “One small step” to the surface of the moon. I remember being fascinated by the computers that enabled the Apollo astronauts to land on the moon and return safely to earth. In the early 1980’s when I started my engineering studies, my alma matter had not yet started their Computer Engineering program. Therefore, based on the reasoning that computers use electricity, I chose to study Electrical Engineering.

Can you share a highlight from your time as a department head that you are proud of?

While there have been several highlights over the 8 years that I have served as the Chair of ECE at the University of Georgia, I am perhaps most proud of serving as the Founding Chair of ECE at UGA. While UGA has a history of Engineering that extends back to the 1860’s, the state of Georgia consolidated all engineering except Agricultural Engineering and Biological Engineering to Geogia Tech during the Great Depression. In 2011, UGA was allowed to establish a new College of Engineering and add engineering disciplines including Electrical Engineering and Computer Systems Engineering. By 2016, enrollment in engineering had grown from a few hundred students to more than 1200 students. In 2017 the faculty of engineering voted to re-organize and form 3 schools including the School of Electrical & Computer Engineering and I was hired as the Founding Chair of ECE leading 16 faculty supporting ~250 undergraduate students and less than 20 graduate students in ECE. It has truly been an honor to lead the School of ECE for 8 years as we have grown to 27 faculty serving about 650 undergraduate students and more than 100 graduate students.

Now Renewing!

2025-2026 ECEDHA Memberships



Renew your membership today to continue receiving valuable ECEDHA member benefits.

For assistance with membership renewal, please contact membership@ecedha.org or 312-268-5601

Renewing your ECEDHA membership keeps you connected to a collaborative network of ECE leaders, valuable resources, and opportunities to engage in programs and events. It ensures access to best-practice sharing and partnerships that strengthen your department and advance the ECE community.

Nominations are Open for the 2025 ECEDHA Annual Awards!

Nominations due by Friday, December 19, 2025

ECEDHA members are encouraged to nominate outstanding colleagues and leaders within the ECE community. All nominations are due by Friday, December 19, 2025. Award recipients will be notified in January 2026. The ECEDHA Annual Awardees will be honored during the ECEDHA Awards Ceremony, which will take place on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at the ECEDHA Annual Conference & ECExpo in Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico.

ECEDHA Community Development Award

Innovative Program Award

ECE Technology Integration Award

Industry Award

The 2026 ECEDHA Annual Conference and ECExpo will occur late March 2026 at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa. This premier annual gathering will feature:



• An intensive conference program of Keynotes, Plenary Panels, Collaborative General Sessions and Breakouts
• Specialized programming for Lab Professionals and Students
• ECExpo technology exhibition
• Full-day Pre-Conference Workshops
• Ample opportunity for networking

Call for Articles

ECEDHA members are invited to submit articles of interest for the ECEDHA Source. Please send articles for consideration to information@ecedha.org.

ECEDHA Community Summit - 8/11/25

Entrepreneurship Innovation in ECE

• Developing Industry-Aligned Graduate Programs in the CHIPS and AI Era

• Integrating AI, Quantum, and CHIPS Act Opportunities into Existing Research Infrastructure

On-demand sessions available now on the ECEDHA website