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Exciting news: MS-EE degree becomes MS-ECE starting fall 2025

Rossette Reid — Fri, 14 Mar 2025 16:26:25 +0000

Exciting news: MS-EE degree becomes MS-ECE starting fall 2025 Rossette Reid Fri, 03/14/2025 - 10:26

Beginning fall 2025, the �鶹ӰԺ’s Department of Electrical, Computer & Energy Engineering is excited to announce that the Master of Science in Electrical Engineering (MS-EE) will be officially renamed the Master of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering (MS-ECE).

Why the change?
This new title better reflects the comprehensive graduate coursework and innovative faculty expertise offered within the department. By incorporating 'Computer Engineering' into the degree title, the department now more effectively showcases the specialized knowledge and skills students acquire, providing a distinct competitive advantage. This change ensures that graduates are better positioned to stand out in a rapidly evolving job market.

What this means for the future
The updated MS-ECE degree name is part of a larger effort to ensure that the department’s degree titles reflect the full scope of innovative research and learning opportunities available while also aligning with the evolving needs of students and employers in today’s interconnected world.

Note: The degree requirements will remain the same; only the diploma name is changing.

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Tamara Lehman receives CAREER award to strengthen hardware security

Charles Ferrer — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 20:40:09 +0000

Tamara Lehman receives CAREER award to strengthen hardware security Charles Ferrer Wed, 03/12/2025 - 14:40

Charles Ferrer

Lehman lands the 2025 CAREER award through the National Science Foundation to advance computer architecture security.

Computers are faster than ever—but at what cost? Speed and performance have long been prioritized over security in hardware design, leaving modern systems vulnerable to attacks.

Assistant Professor Tamara Lehman, from CU �鶹ӰԺ’s Department of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering, is working to address these vulnerabilities in microarchitecture designs while exploring security metrics for future hardware designs.

Lehman recently received a prestigious $615,000, five-year National Science Foundation CAREER Award to advance computer architecture security.

Addressing security gaps in hardware design

Microarchitectural security is the defense mechanisms that can be added at microarchitectural design time.

“Microarchitectural security has been in the back seat for a long time. For years, we’ve focused on making computers faster without fully considering what that means for security,” Lehman said. “That’s why we’re now dealing with systems that are high-performing but often lack security guarantees.”

Microarchitectural design is the functional level design of the hardware; one level above logic gates and one level below the operating system. It is the implementation of the software interface using the hardware constructs.

Since the 2018 disclosure of the Spectre and Meltdown attacks—security vulnerabilities affecting modern processors—industry and academia have faced increasing pressure to address hardware security risks. However, the lack of standardized metrics for assessing microarchitectural security makes it difficult to compare designs and implement effective safeguards.

Lehman’s research aims to bridge this gap by integrating security metrics directly into the hardware design process.

Lehman working with PhD student, Zach Moolman, in her lab.

Evaluating microarchitectural vulnerabilities

The first phase of the project focuses on caches—critical memory structures that are among the most vulnerable components in modern processors.

Lehman and her PhD students will define security metrics for caches and integrate them into commonly used processor simulators, ensuring these tools become widely available to both researchers and industry professionals. She hopes to propose a novel approach to quantify hardware security risks.

“Right now, companies in industry make trade-offs between performance and security with little concrete data about the security guarantees afforded by defense mechanisms,” she said. “My goal is to develop standardized security metrics that allow designers to measure and compare the security of different microarchitectural components in parallel to performance.”

Once they can prove those security metrics provide a meaningful assessment of security risks, they can expand the framework to other parts of the processor microarchitecture, she said.

Real-world implications: strengthening critical infrastructure

Lehman’s research has significant implications for global cybersecurity.

“We rely on computing devices for everything from banking to autonomous vehicles,” she said. “If a microarchitectural attack compromises the hardware running an autonomous driving system, lives could be at risk.”

Beyond personal and commercial computing, her research could help protect critical infrastructure from cyberattacks, such as power grid systems and banking systems.

Lehman noted how the 2021 Colonial Pipeline cyberattack disrupted oil supply chains across the United States and a prime example of how vulnerabilities in computing systems can have far-reaching consequences.

Bringing security for hardware designs

Ultimately, Lehman’s research aims to shift the conversation from viewing security as a trade-off to seeing it as a fundamental design requirement.

“There are no standardized security metrics for hardware or for software,” she said. “We hope to establish widely accepted security evaluation methods that can be integrated into both research and industry design practices.”

“I want to move us toward a more concrete, data-driven approach where security is as quantifiable as performance in hardware design,” Lehman said.

Tamara Lehman, assistant professor of computer engineering, has earned a CAREER award through the National Science Foundation to address hardware vulnerabilities in microarchitecture designs while exploring security metrics for future hardware designs.

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ECEE sparks STEM curiosity at 2025 Denver Metro Science Fair

Charles Ferrer — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 19:37:29 +0000

ECEE sparks STEM curiosity at 2025 Denver Metro Science Fair Charles Ferrer Mon, 03/10/2025 - 13:37

Charles Ferrer

Stephanie Torres, electrical & computer engineering student at CU �鶹ӰԺ, excites high school students about LED lights through a hands-on activity.

A group of wide-eyed middle school students huddled as they carefully placed copper tape onto a small card. After their final connection to a battery, a tiny LED light flickered to life.

“Wow! That’s so cool!” one student exclaimed, proudly holding up the glowing light to show to their friends.

Moments like these filled the air at the 2025 CoorsTek Denver Metro Regional Science & Engineering Fair, where CU �鶹ӰԺ’s Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering (ECEE) Department engaged with students across the region, igniting their curiosity about STEM.

Held at CU Denver, the event brought together more than 300 students in the greater Denver metro area to engage with STEM professionals.

Sparking a passion for electrical and computer engineering

At the ECEE department’s activity booth, students experienced hands-on learning through interactive activities like changing the colors of LEDs and building paper circuits that lit up.

Stephanie Torres, an ECCE undergraduate, guided the young students through the activities. Having discovered her own passion for engineering at a young age while building with Legos and assisting her father with household projects, she understood the power of hands-on learning.

Torres helped the middle and high school students explore the technical aspects of LEDs and paper circuits, showing how programming microcontrollers controls voltage and LED colors. Some students hesitated at first, but with a bit of encouragement, they quickly grasped the concepts.

“My favorite moment was seeing the students’ faces light up when they were able to make the circuits or change the red, blue and green LEDs to different colors,” Torres said. “Interacting with students who were so interested in STEM left me feeling hopeful for the future.”

That spark of curiosity was what the ECEE department hoped to spark in the next generation of STEM students at the fair.

Hands-on activities with lasting impact

A middle school student shows off their very own created circuit LED.

Melinda Piket-May, associate professor and chair of the external relations and outreach committee, was thrilled by the students’ enthusiasm.

“My favorite moments happened over and over when students completed the circuit, saw the light turn on and their eyes lit up. When I told them, ‘You just built your first circuit,’ their smiles were filled with amazement,” Piket-May said.

Parents joined in on the fun, eager to try making a circuit. The energy was undeniable, with three full tables constantly in motion and students proudly showing their circuit cards as a badge of honor.

Keriann Jacobson, education and outreach coordinator for the Integrated Teaching and Learning Program at CU Engineering, echoed the excitement.

“Witnessing the students’ excitement as they visited our booths to learn about electrical engineering was my favorite aspect. They were so enthusiastic that they returned with their friends to join in,” Jacobson said.

The ECEE team inspired countless young minds, showing them that engineering is not only about circuits and wires, but it’s also about creativity and problem solving with discovery infused in.

“One thing I’ve learned is that STEM and electrical engineering can be tough, but if you’re open to learning and have an open mind, it makes all the difference,” Torres said.

The ECEE Department participates in the 2025 Denver Metro Science Fair and engaged with middle and high school students through STEM activities.

ECEE undergraduate students volunteer at the Denver Metro Science Fair.

Eugene Liu, associate professor, and Stephanie Torres, undergraduate student, work with students on LEDs and circuit board activities.

The ECEE Department volunteered at the 2025 Denver Metro Science Fair and engaged with middle and high school students with hands-on activities such as building paper circuits and changing LED colors. The event sparked curiosity and excitement, inspiring the next generation of engineers.

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In Memoriam: Russell Hayes

Charles Ferrer — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 15:10:32 +0000

In Memoriam: Russell Hayes Charles Ferrer Fri, 02/28/2025 - 08:10

Professor Emeritus Russell Hayes passed away on Feb. 9. He joined the Department of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering in 1963 and was an active faculty member for more than 35 years before retiring in 1999. His research area was in semiconductors with a focus on microwave and optical devices.

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Scott Diddams elected to 2025 class of National Academy of Engineering

Charles Ferrer — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 14:19:02 +0000

Scott Diddams elected to 2025 class of National Academy of Engineering Charles Ferrer Fri, 02/28/2025 - 07:19

Electrical engineer and physicist Scott Diddams who holds the Robert H. Davis Endowed Chair was elected to 2025 class of National Academy of Engineering for his contributions to optical frequency combs and their applications.

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ECEE PhD student wins campus Three Minute Thesis Competition

Charles Ferrer — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 16:33:07 +0000

ECEE PhD student wins campus Three Minute Thesis Competition Charles Ferrer Tue, 02/18/2025 - 09:33

Congratulations to ECEE PhD student Aoife Henry for taking first place in the University's Three Minute Thesis competition! Aoife gave her talk on "Directing Wind Turbines with Foresight: The Shepherd and the Sheepdog Find a Crystal Ball".

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Electrical and computer engineering student interns at Medtronic

Charles Ferrer — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 15:35:02 +0000

Electrical and computer engineering student interns at Medtronic Charles Ferrer Tue, 02/11/2025 - 08:35

Nathan Mahary is a fourth-year undergraduate student in the Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering Department. He interned at Medtronic, a global medical device company, and has been heavily involved with the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) during his time at CU �鶹ӰԺ.

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Lucy Pao earns IEEE award for advancements in wind turbine control systems

Charles Ferrer — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 18:30:57 +0000

Lucy Pao earns IEEE award for advancements in wind turbine control systems Charles Ferrer Tue, 01/28/2025 - 11:30

Charles Ferrer

Pao (right) accepts the IEEE Transactions on Control Systems Technology Outstanding Paper Award in Milan, Italy.

Photo Credit: IEEE Control Systems Society

In order for wind turbines to function effectively across wide ranges of wind conditions, you’ll need what’s known as blade pitch control.

Lucy Pao, the Palmer Endowed Chair Professor in the Department of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering at CU �鶹ӰԺ, was honored by the IEEE Control Systems Society for advancing research in wind turbine control systems.

Her IEEE Transactions on Control Systems Technology Outstanding Paper Award recognized the work with her former PhD student Michael N. Sinner, now a researcher at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and collaborators from ForWind – Center for Wind Energy Research in Germany.

Advancing Wind Energy Through Control Systems

In the award-winning paper, Pao’s team explored how advanced control methods, specifically a model predictive control (MPC) framework, can optimize blade pitch control on wind turbines.

Blade pitch control—the adjustment of a wind turbine’s blade angle—is crucial for regulating rotor speed and mitigating structural loads, particularly during gusty or turbulent wind conditions.

The study demonstrated how incorporating wind information, measured in this case with anemometers in a wind tunnel, can significantly improve the performance of wind turbines. By anticipating wind conditions before they reach the turbine, the system optimizes blade pitch adjustments in real-time, reducing wear and tear on turbine components and enhancing energy efficiency.

“With just a little bit of preview information, we were able to start pitching the blades ahead of a gust of wind,” Pao explained. “This reduces structural loads and regulates generator speed more effectively than feedback-only control systems.”

Bridging the Gap Between Theory and Practice

While MPC is a well-known method in control systems, its application to wind turbines represents a leap forward in the field. Traditionally used in industries with slower dynamic systems, such as chemical processing, MPC has not been widely adopted in fast-moving systems due to its computational complexities.

Dr. Pao’s team addressed this challenge by successfully implementing MPC on a fully instrumented, scaled wind turbine in a state-of-the-art wind tunnel at the University of Oldenburg’s ForWind Center in Germany.

“Our study proves that model predictive control can be implemented in real-time, even in dynamic systems like wind turbines,” said Dr. Pao. “Our findings pave the way for future adoption of this technology in commercial wind turbines, potentially transforming the wind energy sector.”

Collaboration Across Continents

The research is the culmination of a long-standing collaboration with the ForWind Center, initiated during Pao’s sabbatical in Germany in 2016.

“This collaboration began almost a decade ago with an exchange student and has since grown into a strong partnership,” Pao said. “We’ve exchanged students and postdocs, conducted joint experiments and built a shared vision for advancing wind energy.”

Michael Sinner’s involvement in the project is a testament to this collaboration. During his PhD, Sinner worked extensively with the ForWind Center’s advanced wind tunnel facility, which enabled precise and repeated experiments.

“Wind tunnel testing allows us to replicate conditions and isolate variables in ways that are challenging in open-field testing,” she said. “This control and consistency were critical for validating our findings.”

Looking to the Future

Pao’s collaborators have already begun follow-up studies, exploring the sensitivity of the control system to varying wind information and optimization horizon lengths. Preliminary results suggest the control approach is robust even when the predicted timing of the incoming wind, like a gust, is slightly off, which is encouraging for future field applications.

“We’re excited to see how this technology could be tested on full-scale turbines in the field,” Dr. Pao said. “The wind energy industry is already expressing interest, and we believe these advancements could have a significant impact.”

Beyond the technical achievements, the collaboration with ForWind continues to thrive. The partnership has facilitated ongoing exchanges, such as the current work of Juan Boullosa, a master’s student from Oldenburg University, who is contributing to wind field forecasting and optimization algorithms in Pao’s lab at CU �鶹ӰԺ through the Europe-Colorado Program.

The intersection of advanced control systems and renewable energy continues to offer groundbreaking opportunities for innovation and global collaboration. Reflecting on the award, Pao expressed gratitude for the recognition.

“It’s a celebration of collaborative effort and the potential for meaningful impact, so it’s a tremendous honor.”

Lucy Pao was honored by the IEEE Control Systems Society for advancing research in wind turbine control systems. Her IEEE Transactions on Control Systems Technology Outstanding Paper Award recognized the work with her former PhD student Michael N. Sinner, now a researcher at NREL and collaborators from ForWind – Center for Wind Energy Research in Germany.

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Meet Three Minute Thesis finalist Aoife Henry

Charles Ferrer — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 20:57:22 +0000

Meet Three Minute Thesis finalist Aoife Henry Charles Ferrer Thu, 01/23/2025 - 13:57

Aoife Henry, a doctoral candidate in electrical, computer and energy engineering will compete as a finalist for the Three Minute Thesis Competition on Feb. 13, 2025. Her presentation’s title is, “Directing Turbine with Foresight: The Shepard and the Sheepdog find a Crystal Ball.”

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Quantum engineers ‘squeeze’ laser frequency combs to make more sensitive gas sensors

Charles Ferrer — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 21:05:49 +0000

Quantum engineers ‘squeeze’ laser frequency combs to make more sensitive gas sensors Charles Ferrer Fri, 01/17/2025 - 14:05

Scientists use devices known as frequency comb lasers to search for methane in the air above oil and gas operations and to screen for signs of infection in human breath. A new study from CU �鶹ӰԺ could help make these sensors even more precise. The work is a collaboration between Scott Diddams and Jérôme Genest at Université Laval in Canada.

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