Research Festival

7th Annual Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical Engineering Research Festival

Hosted by the Ming Hsieh Institute

Friday, November 18, 2016

This year, over 70 undergraduate and graduate students will present their research through poster sessions, demonstrations and oral presentations at the event.

This Year's Winners

Best Posters:
- Deaun Kim
- Geuodong Xie

Best Poster - Honorable Mention
- Sanmukh Rao Kuppannagari
- Rui Wang
- Cheng-Ru Ho

Best Pitch
- Erick Moen

Best Poster - Undergraduate
- Brandon Horton

Keynote Speaker - Hartwig Adam from Google

Title: Visual Machine Perception and Machine Learning for Mobile Devices

Abstract
Recent progress in machine learning techniques has resulted in rapid progress in machine perception tasks such as image, video understanding or speech recognition. Bringing these technologies to mobile devices, which provide a variety of sensor data suitable for machine learning, promises to open the door to a variety of new applications and products by removing the need for a constant cloud connection, reducing latency, enabling continuous environment sensing while improving user privacy. In this talk we will share ongoing work by my team and many others across the company to develop comprehensive computer vision and machine perception capabilities for Google’s products, and share how we are overcoming the challenges of enabling realtime machine intelligence, in particular deep learning techniques, under hardware and power constraints of mobile environments.

Graduating Ph.D. Pitches

Cao Yu
Research Area: Nano-Science, nano-technology, and micro-electro-mechanical systems
Pitch Title: Carbon Nanotube Electronics
Advisor: Chongwu Zhou
caoyu@usc.edu
Yifei Wang
Research Area: Nano-Science, nano-technology, and micro-electro-mechanical systems
Pitch Title: Virtual Breakdown Mechanism: Field-driven Pure Water Splitting for Hydrogen Production
Advisor: Wei Wu
yifeiwan@usc.edu

Edwin Juarez
Research Area: Controls
Pitch Title: Nonlinear parameter estimation to quantify cellular phenotype
Advisor: Edmond Jonckheere
juarezro@usc.edu
Yihang Zhang
Research Area: Controls
Pitch Title: Combined Variable Speed Limit and Lane Change Control for Highway Traffic
Advisor: Petros Ioannou
yihangzh@usc.edu
Yi Guo
Research Area: Signal Processing
Pitch Title: Direct model-based reconstruction for high-resolution whole-brain DCE-MRI
Advisor: Krishna Nayak
yiguo@usc.edu
Erick Moen
Research Area: Bio-Electronics and Bio-Optics
Pitch Title: Advanced methodologies for the investigation of transient membrane behavior
Advisor: Andrea Armani
emoen@usc.edu
Yongxiong Ren
Research Area: Communications
Pitch Title: High-capacity Optical Communications Using Space Division Multiplexing
Advisor: Alan Willner

yongxior@usc.edu

Zhaojun Yang
Poster Title: A Computational Study of Expressive Facial Dynamics in Children with Autism
Advisor: Shri Narayanan
Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2017
zhaojuny@usc.edu

Applied Electromagnetics

Sriram Subramanian
Poster Title: TBD
Advisor: Martin Gundersen
Expected Ph.D. Graduation: Spring 2021
sriramsu@usc.edu
Sanjana Kerketta
Poster Title: Emissions abatement from diesel engines based on Transient Plasma Research at USC
Advisor: Martin Gundersen
Expected Ph.D. Graduation: Fall 2020
kerketta@usc.edu

Architecture

Shreyas Singapura
Poster Title: Optimal Data Layouts for Applications on 3D Memory
Advisor: Viktor Prasanna
Expected Ph.D. Graduation: Spring 2019
Shijie Zhou
Poster Title: Energy-efficient Edge-centric Graph Processing on FPGA
Advisor: Viktor Prasanna
Expected Ph.D. Graduation: TBD

Chi Zhang
Poster Title: Convolutional Neural Network on FPGA
Advisor: Viktor Prasanna
Expected Master Graduation: TBD

Bio-Electronics and Bio-Optics

Saeid Barzegarjalali
Poster Title: An Analog Neural Network that Learns Sudoku-Like Puzzle Rules
Advisor: Alice Parker
Expected Ph.D. Graduation: Fall 2016Communications
Rui Chao
Poster Title: Tests for quantumness
Advisor: Ben Reichardt
Expected Ph.D. Graduation: Spring 2020
ruichao@usc.edu
Sundar Aditya
Poster Title: Blind-spot Analysis using Stochastic Geometry
Advisor: Andreas Molisch
Expected Ph.D. Graduation: Spring 2018
sundarad@usc.edu
Guodong Xie
Poster Title: Boost the Communication Data Rates Using Waves Carrying Orbital-Angular-Momentum
Advisor: Alan Willner
Expected Graduation Date: Fall 2017
guodongx@usc.edu
Qian Yu
Poster Title: The exact Optimal Designs for Coded Caching and Distributed Computing
Advisor: Salman Avestimehr
Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2020
qyu880@usc.edu

Rui Wang
Poster Title: A real-time MIMO channel sounder for vehicle-to-vehicle propagation channel at 5.9 GHz
Advisor: Andreas Molisch
Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2018
wang78@usc.edu
Charith Wickramaarachchi
Poster Title: Towards a Smart Secure Grid: Adaptive Protection Against Data Spoofing Attacks
Advisor: Viktor Prasanna
Expected Graduation Date: Summer 2017
cwickram@usc.edu

Controls

Sanmukh Rao Kuppannagari
Poster Title: Data Driven Modeling for Critical State Estimation in Power Grids
Advisor: Viktor Prasanna
Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2018
kuppanna@usc.edu
Georgios Lymperopoulos
Poster Title: Adaptive Control of Networked Distribution Systems with Unknown Interconnections
Advisor: Petros Ioannou
Expected Graduation Date: TBD
lymperop@usc.edu

Energy

Reza Khaninezhad
Poster Title: TBD
Advisor:
Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2017
m.khaninezhad@usc.edu

Michail Misyrlis
Poster Title: Sparse Causal Temporal Modelling To Inform Power System Defense
Advisor: Viktor Prasanna
Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2018
misyrlis@usc.edu

Integrated Circuits and Systems

Qiumin Xu
Poster Title: Efficient Intra-SM Slicing for GPU MultiprogrammingPower System Defense
Advisor: Murali Annavaram
Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2017
qiumin@usc.edu
Aria Samiei
Poster Title: Neural Stimulation Interface
Advisor: Hossein Hashemi
Expected Graduation Date: TBD
samiei@usc.edu
Cheng-Ru Ho
Poster Title: Ultra-Low Spur Digital Phase-Locked Loop Architecture for Future 5G Communication
Advisor: Mike Shuo-Wei Chen
Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2017
chengruh@usc.edu
Sungwon Chung
Poster Title: Large-Scale Optical Phased Array on a Silicon-on-Insulator Chip
Advisor: Hossein Hashemi
Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2018
chungsun@usc.edu

Hooman Abediasl
Poster Title: TBD
Advisor: Hossein Hashemi
Expected Graduation Date: Fall 2016
abediasl@usc.edu

Nano-Science, nano-Technology, and Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems

Nirakar Poudel
Poster Title: Thermoelectric Transport Across Graphene-hBN-Au Heterostructure
Advisor: Stephen Cronin
Expected Graduation Date: Fall 2018
nirakar.poudel@gmail.com
Dongyu Chen
Poster Title: Ultra-high Q SiOxNy toroidal microcavities
Advisor: Andrea Armani
Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2020
dongyuch@usc.edu
Yuanrui Li
Poster Title: Variable Voxel and Shaped Beam 3D Printing
Advisor: Wei Wu
Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2019
yuanruil@usc.edu

Networks

Sucha Supittayapornpong
Poster Title: Low-Latency Throughput-Optimal Load-Balancing for Intra Datacenter Networks
Advisor: Michael Neely
Expected Graduation Date: Fall 2016
supittay@usc.edu
Hang Qui
Poster Title: Look Around and Beyond: Enabling Extended Vision for Future Automobiles
Advisor: Ramesh Govindan
Expected Graduation Date: Summer 2018
hangqui@usc.edu
Pedro Silva
Poster Title: TAMU-RPL - Thompson sampling-based Multi-channel RPL
Advisor: Bhaskar Krishnamachari
Expected Graduation Date: Fall 2017
pdasilva@usc.edu
Pradipta Ghosh
Poster Title: A Novel System for Localization and Tracking in Robotic Networks
Advisor: Bhaskar Krishnamachari
Expected Graduation Date: Fall 2017
pradiptg@usc.edu
Pranav Sakulkar
Poster Title: Online Learning for Wireless Distributed Computing
Advisor: Bhaskar Krishnamachari
Expected Graduation Date: Fall 2017
sakulkar@usc.edu
Shangxing Wang
Poster Title: Deep Reinforcement Learning for Dynamic Multichannel Access
Advisor: Bhaskar Krishnamachari
Expected Graduation Date: Fall 2017
shangxiw@usc.edu
Hao Yu
Poster Title: A Low Complexity Algorithm with $O(\sqrt{T})$ Regret and Finite Constraint Violations for Online Convex Optimization with Long Term Constraints
Advisor: Michael Neely
Expected Graduation Date: Fall 2018
yuhao@usc.edu
Po-Han Huang
Poster Title: Efficient mmWave Wireless Backhauling for Dense Small-Cell Deployments
Advisor: Konstantinos Psounis
Expected Graduation Date: TBD
pohanh@usc.edu
Nachikethas Jagadeesan
Poster Title: A Unifying Bayesian Optimization Framework for Radio Frequency Localization
Advisor: Bhaskar Krishnamachari
Expected Graduation Date: Fall 2017
nanantha@usc.edu
Kwame Wright
Poster Title: Noctua: A Publish/Subscribe Framework For In-Network Processing
Advisor: Bhaskar Krishnamachari
Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2018
kwamelaw@usc.edu

Photonics

Ahmed Morsy
Poster Title: Sudden, Laser-Induced Heating Through Silicon Nanopatterning
Advisor: Michelle Povinelli
Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2020
morsy@usc.edu
Soheil Soltani
Poster Title: Optomechanical vibrations in asymmetric resonators
Advisor: Andrea Armani
Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2017
soheilso@usc.edu

Signal and Image Processing

Andrew Li
Poster Title: Automated Classification of Epileptogenic Zone
Advisor: Richard Leahy
Expected Graduation Date: TBD
jli981@usc.edu
Weiyi Chen
Poster Title: Evaluation of upper airway neuromuscular reflex and passive collapsibility using real-time multi-slice MRI during CPAP
Advisor: Krishna Nayak
Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2018
weiyic@usc.edu
Theodora Chaspari
Poster Title: Knowledge-driven representation of biomedical signals for wearable device applications
Advisor: Shri Narayanan
Expected Graduation Date: Fall 2016
chaspari@usc.edu
Han-Lin Hsieh
Poster Title: Adaptive Multiscale Brain Machine Interface Decoders
Advisor: Maryam Shanechi
Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2019
hanlinhs@usc.edu
Manojkumar Prabakaran Abitha
Poster Title: Objective Language Feature Analysis in Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders during Autism Assessment
Advisor: Shri Narayanan
Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2020
prabakar@usc.edu
Yannick Bliesener
Poster Title: Objective evaluation of (k,t) sampling schemes for DCE MRI pharmacokinetic parameters estimation
Advisor: Krishna Nayak
Expected Graduation Date: Fall 2020
bliesene@usc.edu
Yongwan Lim
Poster Title: Improved depiction of vocal tract articulators in spiral real-time MRI using auto-focus off-resonance correction
Advisor: Krishna Nayak
Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2020
yongwanl@usc.edu
Sajan Lingala
Poster Title: Nested Tracer-kinetic model selection in model-based DCE-MRI reconstruction from under-sampled data
Advisors: Shri Narayanan and Krishna Nayak
Expected Graduation Date: TBD
lingala@usc.edu
Daeun Kim
Poster Title: Diffusion-Relaxation Correlation Spectroscopic Imaging (DR-CSI): A Multidimensional Approach for Probing Microstructure
Advisor: Justin Haldar
Expected Graduation Date: TBD
daeunk@usc.edu
Ahsan Javed
Poster Title: Fast imaging of the heart can reduce physiological noise in myocardial blood flow imaging
Advisor: Krishna Nayak
Expected Graduation Date: Fall 2017
ahsanjav@usc.edu
Yuxiao Yang
Poster Title: Adaptive identification of brain network dynamics
Advisor: Maryam Shanechi
Expected Graduation Date: Fall 2018
yuxiaoya@usc.edu
Ruchir Travadi
Poster Title: Non-Iterative Parameter Estimation for Total Variability Model Using Randomized SVD
Advisor: Shri Narayanan
Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2018
travadi@usc.edu
Colin Vaz
Poster Title: Convex Hull Convolutive NMF for Uncovering Temporal Patterns in Multivariate Time-Series Data
Advisor: Shri Narayanan
Expected Graduation Date: Fall 2017
cvaz@usc.edu
Pavlos Papadopoulos
Poster Title: Noise Aware and Combined Noised Models for speech denoising in Uknown Noise Conditions
Advisor: Shri Narayanan
Expected Graduation Date: Fall 2017
ppapadop@usc.edu
James Gibson
Poster Title: A Deep Learning Approach to Modeling Empathy in Addiction Counseling
Advisor: Shri Narayanan
Expected Graduation Date: Fall 2017
jjgibson@usc.edu
Hamidreza Abbaspourazad
Poster Title: A New Modeling Framework for Multiscale Neural Activity Underlying Behavior
Advisor: Maryam Shanechi
Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2020
habbaspo@usc.edu
Omid Ghasem-Sani
Poster Title: State-Space Modeling of Brain Network Dynamics
Advisor: Maryam Shanechi
Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2020
ghasemsa@usc.edu
Keng-Shih Lu
Poster Title: Symmetric Line Graph Transforms for Inter Predictive Video Coding
Advisor: Antonio Ortega
Expected Graduation Date: TBD
kengshil@usc.edu
Divya Varadarajan
Poster Title: TBD
Advisor: Justin Haldar
Expected Graduation Date: TBD
dvaradar@usc.edu
Che-Wei Huang
Poster Title 1: Media content analysis and understanding
Poster Title 2: Attention Assisted Discovery of Sub-Utterance Structure in Speech Emotion Recognition
Advisor: Shri Narayanan
Expected Graduation Date: TBD
cheweihu@usc.edu

Shao-Yen Tseng
Poster Title: Couples Behavior Modeling and Annotation Using Low-Resource LSTM Language Models
Advisor: Panayiotis Georgiou
Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2019
shaoyent@usc.edu
Zisisiason Skordilis
Poster Title: Vocal Tract Area Function Estimation from Volumetric MRI
Advisor: Shri Narayanan
Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2018
skordili@usc.edu
Md Nasir
Poster Title: Complexity in Prosody: A Nonlinear Dynamical Systems Approach for Behavioral Analysis
Advisor: Shri Narayanan/Panayiotis Georgiou
Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2018
mdnasir@usc.edu
Haoqi Li
Poster Title: Sparsely Connected and Disjointly Trained Deep Neural Networks for Low Resource Behavioral Annotation: Acoustic Classification in Couples' Therapy
Advisor: Panayiotis Georgiou
Expected Graduation Date: Fall 2019
haoqili@usc.edu

Benjamin Girault
Poster Title: Graph Signal Processing and Stationary Graph Signals
Advisor: Postdoc
benjamin.girault@usc.edu

Tae Hyung Kim
Poster Title: Wave-LORAKS for highly accelerated MRI: Structured Low-rank matrix reconstruction for Wave-encoded MRISignals
Advisor: Justin P. Haldar
Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2019
taehyung@usc.edu

Jiun-Yu Kao
Poster Title: Moving Object Segmentation utilizing Depth, Optical Flow and Geometric-guided Label Propagation
Advisor: Antonio Ortega
Expected Graduation Date: TBD
jiunyuka@usc.edu