Faculty and Staff

The ERC faculty team is composed of a variety of disciplines that include Electrical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Physics, and Economics/Management, illustrating the interdisciplinary nature of the Smart Lighting team.

	Paul Chow Professor, ECSE Website	Interests & Expertise Integration of photonic devices with power switching and mixed signal devices to realize optoelectronic ICs in GaN. Also, he is developing novel device concepts, processing and circuit models for high-voltage Si, GaAs, wide bandgap (particularly SiC and GaN) semiconductor power devices and/or ICs. Research S1 Sources
	Ken Connor Professor, ECSE Education Director Website	Interests & Expertise Info coming soon
	Partha Dutta Professor, ECSE ERC Deputy Director Testbeds Thrust Leader Website	Interests & Expertise (1) Material Synthesis: Wavelength conversion compounds (Phosphors and Quantum Dots) in powder, thin film and colloidal solutions. Nanoparticles, thin film and bulk crystals of optically clear tunable refractive index material. (2) Design, Fabrication and Characterization of full spectrum phosphor LEDs, III-V semiconductor photodetectors, nano-particle based ultra-sensitive photosensors. (3) Optical link design and LED modulation schemes for free space visible light communication systems. (4) Integrated lighting and display systems design such as virtual windows. Research S1 Sources, T1 Systems, T2 Testbeds
	Mariana Figueiro Associate Professor, LRC Website	Interests & Expertise Photobiology, energy-efficient lighting, human factors in lighting, and lighting applications. Through her current research, she is striving to better understand how the visual and circadian systems work and what lighting characteristics affect them. Research T2 Testbeds, T1 Systems, A1 Translational Applications
	Mona Hella Assistant Professor, ECSE Sensors Thrust Leader Website	Interests & Expertise High speed integrated circuits for wireless and wireline optical communications, advanced light sensors, high speed optical communication circuits. Microwave and millimeter wave integrated circuits and systems, power amplifier linearization, applications of microwaves in biology and medicine, energy harvesting circuits Research S2 Sensors, T2 Testbeds
	Elizabeth Herkenham ERC K-13 Education Outreach Director	Interests & Expertise Relevant educational activities that introduce cutting edge innovative driven technologies to pre-college students, undergraduates, K-14 educators and the community-at-large. Programs include in-school K-12 classroom activities, informal student programs, informative parent programs, enrichment summer high school and middle school programs, multi-week professional development for teachers as well as multi-week REU programs.
	Agung Julius Assistant Professor, ECSE Website	Interests & Expertise Systems and control theory. His research interests are in the area of hybrid systems and systems biology. At the Smart Lighting ERC, Dr. Julius has been collaborating with Dr. John Wen in the use of smart lighting in circadian rhythm control. Research T1 Systems
	Robert Karlicek Professor, ECSE ERC Center Director	Interests & Expertise LED chip design, thermal management, packaging technoloyg, photonics crystal optics, SS luminaire design Research S1 Sources, T2 Testbeds, A1 Translational Applications
	Shawn Lin Constellation Professor, Physics, Applied Physics & Astronomy Website	Interests & Expertise Info coming soon Research S1 Sources
	James Lu Associate Professor, ECSE Website	Interests & Expertise Micro-nano-electronics technology from theory and design to materials, devices, processing, and system integration; particularly in 3D hyper-integration technology, micro-nano-bio interfaces for future chips, LEDs, sensors and micro-electrical-mechanical systems (MEMS) in combination (3D integration) with CMOS based technologies for smart lighting systems. Research S2 Sensors
	Silvia Mioc ERC Director of Industrial Collaboration & Innovation	Interests & Expertise Business and economic development in emerging markets and technologies, fostering strategic relations for successful completion of common goals.
	Sandipan Mishra Assistant Professor, MANE	Interests & Expertise Broad area of controls and dynamic systems, with application to smart lighting systems. Research thrusts include design of estimation and feedback control algorithms for delivering desired dynamically changing illumination fields. In particular, we are targeting daylight compensation techniques using learning-based algorithms. Research T1 Systems
	Leila Parsa Assistant Professor, ECSE Website	Interests & Expertise Wide array of topics in the field of energy including energy harvesting and power management for portable electronic devices/wireless sensor nodes, LED drivers, power electronics converters for renewable energy systems, electric drives and electromechanical energy converters for various applications. Research S1 Sources
	Joel Plawsky Professor, Chemical & Biological Engineering Website	Interests & Expertise Ttransport and interfacial phenomena with a focus on the fundamental behavior of materials. Applications lie in the fields of: Microelectronics - Dielectric breakdown, reliability; Photonics - Passive dielectrics, photocatalytic/ sensing materials; Energy/Interfacial Heat & Mass Transfer; Biological Systems - biofilm control, blood contact Materials and devices; and Composite NanoMaterials - thermal management, chromatography-on-a-chip. Research S1 Sources
	Mark Rea Professor LRC Website	Interests & Expertise Circadian photobiology, mesopic vision, psychological responses to light, lighting engineering and visual performance. Dr. Mark Rea directs the Lighting Research Center and teaches courses in leadership and visual and circadian processes. Research T1 Systems, T2 Testbeds
	Barbara Ann Ruel Director, WIE & Diversity, School of Engineering ERC Diversity Director Website	Interests & Expertise I enjoy partnering with the Smart Lighting Education Director, Outreach Coordinator, our faculty, and students to develop and deliver K-12 programs about innovative technologies that improve our health, safety, and the economy. It's rewarding to watch the children and their parents participate in hands-on activities and get excited about the engineering process.
	Arthur Sanderson Professor, ECSE Website	Interests & Expertise Robotics, intelligent systems, distributed sensor networks, and smart lighting systems. He and his students are developing novel algorithms for adaptive sampling and optimization of lighting fields leading to improved productivity, health, and efficiency in future lighting applications. Research T2 Testbeds
	Susan Sanderson Associate Professor, Lally School of Management & Technology Website	Interests & Expertise Management of innovation, product and industry development. Research on the evolution of the LED lighting and display industries and the role of innovative technologies in firms and markets in the global context. Research A1 Translational Applications, T1 Systems
	Shayla Sawyer Assistant Professor, ECSE Website	Interests & Expertise Ultraviolet and blue LEDs for reagentless detection and identification of biohazards with potential to both detect and destroy biological treats to a healthy environment. Lifetime decay, fluorescence intensity, and spectral analysis are investigated with controlled or pulsed, narrow, multi-wavelength UV LEDs for active bio-sensing within a smart space. Research S2 Sensors, T2 Testbeds
	Linda Schadler Professor & Associate Dean, Materials Science & Engineering Website	Interests & Expertise Polymer nanocomposites, with a particular interest in the impact of the nanoparticle / matrix interface on optical, mechanical, and electrical properties. Within the ERC focus is on tailoring the index of refraction of nanoparticle-filled polymers for encapsulant and lens applications. Research S1 Sources
	Michael Shur Patricia W. and C. Sheldon Roberts Professor, ECSE Website	Interests & Expertise Modeling, simulation, and characterization of semiconductor devices, circuits, and systems including LED modeling, simulation, and design, novel LEDs and LED systems, deep UV LEDs, and adaptive LED lamps with variable and controlled spectral power distribution for biomedical, agricultural, and industrial applications. Research S2 Sensors
	Richard Siegel Professor, Materials Science & Engineering Website	Interests & Expertise Siegel is involved in the synthesis and processing, characterization, properties, and applications of nanostructured materials. A focus is the creation of nanoscale inorganic nanoparticles that can be dispersed in polymer matrices to tailor the properties of these nanocomposites, including their optical and processing behavior for high refractive index LED encapsulants. Research S1 Sources
	Ken Simons Associate Professor, Economics Website	Interests & Expertise Kenneth L. Simons analyzes technology and industry dynamics, including industry creation and entrepreneurship, disruptive technological change, industry shakeouts, and nationwide influences on technology growth. His work on LEDs develops methods to analyze worldwide patent data to study competitive trends, and characterizes processes of the emergence of LED-related products and industries. Research A1 Translational Applications
	Diane Veros ERC Director of Administration & Finance	Interests & Expertise Info coming soon
	Morris Washington Clinical Professor, Physics, Applied Physics & Astronomy ERC Director of Technical Infrastructure Website	Interests & Expertise Morris A. Washington serves as Director of Technical Infrastructure of the Smart Lighting ERC and has management responsibility for the ERC Central Laboratories. At Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, he also serves as Director of the Microscale and Nanoscale Fabrication Clean Room. His research interests include design and fabrication of compound semiconductor photonic devices, and new material systems and transport of nanoscale interconnects and contacts for semiconductor integrated circuits.
	John Wen Professor, ECSE Website	Interests & Expertise John Wen’s research interest lies in the modeling, optimization and control of dynamical systems, including: Opto-mechatronics – integrated design of static and active optical elements, motion control, image processing to achieve new functionalities; Distributed optimization for networked systems subject to constraints; Regulation of lighting for biological systems, e.g., in circadian rhythm. Research T1 Systems, T2 Testbeds
	Christian Wetzel Constellation Professor, Physics, Applied Physics & Astronomy Website	Interests & Expertise Christian Wetzel and his team are interested in all aspects of photonic-electric energy conversion, in particular high flux light emitting diodes and emerging 3rd generation solar cells. Current materials of choice include wide bandgap group-III nitrides in epitaxy, characterization, and devices. Research S1 Sources

	Hatice Altug Assistant Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering Website	Interests & Expertise We are developing advanced bio-chemical sensor systems as well as light sensors that can enable effective smart lighting systems and healthy/safe environment. To achieve our goal we are exploiting nanoplasmonics and metamaterials, while exploring their unique integrating with the novel sources and system protocols that are being developed under ERC. Research S2 Sensors, T2 Testbeds
	Tarik Borogovak Postdoctoral Research Assistant and Adjunct Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering Website	Interests & Expertise High data rate visible light communications. His other interests include efficient stochastic simulation algorithms and modeling of systems in the areas of photonics, statistical mechanics, and finance. Research T1 Systems, T2 Testbeds
	Linda Grosser ERC BU Campus Industrial Liason Officer Website	Interests & Expertise Info coming soon
	Tom Little Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering ERC Associate Director, Systems Technologies Thrust Leader Website	Interests & Expertise Thomas Little is involved in the development of enabling technologies and applications for networked and distributed systems. Recent efforts include research in video sensor networks and streaming in wireless settings, ubiquitous optical networking with visible light, vehicle-to-vehicle/ infrastructure (V2X) communications, and the application of wireless sensors in health monitoring. Research A1 Translational Applications, T1 Systems, T2 Testbeds
	Selim Unlu Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering Website	Interests & Expertise My research interests: are in the general area of nanophotonics and biophotonics. Currently, I am working on high-resolution solid immersion lens microscopy of semiconductor devices and circuits, as well as biosensor fabrication and development of biological imaging techniques, particularly in high-throughput, label-free microarrays and single virus detection Research T2 Testbeds

	Steve Brueck Director, Electrical & Computer Engineering Website	Interests & Expertise Info coming soon Research S1 Sources
	Majeed Hayat Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering Website	Interests & Expertise Probabilistic modeling of impact ionization and avalanche multiplication in submicron layers; ultrafast and low-noise heterojunction avalanche photodiodes for lightwave systems; probabilistic modeling of Geiger-mode avalanche photodiodes and single-photon detection systems; modeling ultrafast optical receivers and novel methods to reduce intersymbol interference; algorithms for real-time nonuniformity correction in infrared focal-plane arrays. Research S2 Sensors
	Steve Hersee Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering ERC Associate Director Sources Thrust Leader Website	Interests & Expertise Research focused on developing nanowire-based coaxial LEDs to address system needs for high efficiency, integrated sources that have color tunability and high speed. Research S1 Sources
	Pradeep Sen Assistant Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering Website	Interests & Expertise Pradeep Sen is an assistant professor in the Advanced Graphics Lab in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at UNM. His research interests involve the measurement of light transport for smart lighting applications, the design of innovative control systems for lighting design, and the efficient simulation of global illumination light transport. Research T1 Systems, T2 Testbeds
	Jamesina Simpson Assistant Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering Website	Interests & Expertise Prof. Simpson’s research lab encompasses the application of the full-wave Maxwell’s equations finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method to modeling electromagnetic phenomena at frequencies over 15 orders of magnitude (~1 Hz vs. ~600 THz). Some applications of her work include modeling and design of plasmonic devices, as well as understanding the interaction of light with living tissues for ultra early cancer detection. Research S1 Sources
	Payman Zarkesh-Ha Assistant Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering Website	Interests & Expertise Prof. Zarkesh-Ha’s research interest is on VLSI designs and systems. More specifically, his current research work focuses on readout integrated circuits (ROICs) for imaging applications, infrared and visible light camera systems, high-performance and low power chip designs, 3D integrated circuits, as well as novel carbon nanotube based devices (CNFETs). Research S2 Sensors

Valencia Joyner Assistant Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering Website

Interests & Expertise Research interests/expertise in silicon electronic-photonic integrated systems, analog/RF VLSI circuits in CMOS, 3D integrated mixed-mode systems, analog signal processing and control circuits, high sensitivity optical sensing architectures for biomedical applications (NIR spectroscopy, fluorescence lifetime imaging), and low-noise bio-electronic interface circuits. Research T1 Systems, T2 Testbeds

	Mohamed Chouikha Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering Howard Campus Coordinator	Interests & Expertise Info coming soon
	Charles Kim Associate Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering Website	Interests & Expertise Info coming soon Research T1 Systems, T2 Testbeds

	Yacob Astatke Assistant Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering Website	Interests & Expertise Info coming soon
	Craig Scott Associate Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering Morgan State Campus Coordinator	Interests & Expertise Info coming soon

Charles Joenathan Professor and Chair, Department of Physics and Optical Engineering RHIT Campus Coordinator Website

Interests & Expertise My research interest lies in studying speckle phenomenon, holography, holographic elements, optical fibers, and optical instrumentation. These areas of interest have close alliance with the smart lighting research projects. As an educator I am on focused on bringing my current research interest to students and to the public.