Excellence in Research: COE's GRA Eminent Scholars Lead The Way in Innovation
Investing in tomorrow for the State of Georgia means focusing on disciplines in strategically selected areas where the state has an opportunity to achieve nationally and internationally recognized levels of distinction and achievement. This is being done through the Georgia Research Alliance’s (GRA) Eminent Scholars program which is attracting world class researchers to help lead programs with high potential economic impact. The GRA has recruited more that 60 Eminent Scholars to the state with fourteen of these scholars housed in the College of Engineering (COE) at Georgia Tech. Five of the fourteen COE GRA scholars are members of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE).
These outstanding researchers are capitalizing on innovative university research to achieve significant economic gains for the state. COE’s GRA Eminent Scholars have contributed significantly to Georgia’s economy as demonstrated through their generated research funds and by helping foster and grow new companies. Their scientific success and entrepreneurial energy have helped bring into the state new federal and private research dollars. They work closely with established companies to develop new products and new markets as well as found new companies.
Meet COE's Illustrious Eminent Scholars
Barbara Boyan, BME
Professor and Price Gilbert, Jr. Chair
Tissue Engineering
Research interests include tissue engineering of musculoskeletal tissues, cartilage cell biology, and steroid hormone action. Boyan’s lab has been working on a new class of steroid hormone receptors that transmit their signals to the cells through pathways. Her research helps bring understanding as to why male and female cells respond in different ways and how cells respond to hormones like estrogen.
Long range plans include understanding the underlying mechanisms of how cells and tissues work which has direct implications for new approaches for healthcare.
Gee-Kung Chang, ECE
Professor and Byers Eminent Scholar Chair
Optical Networking
Research interests include optics, photonics, optical networks and systems. Chang’s lab recently worked on building an optical label controlled optical on-ramp and information freeway that looks like the combination of a spider web and a highway interchange.
Long range plans include working to design and build an efficient and flexible next generation Internet powered by optimized integration electronics and optics.
John Copeland, ECE
Professor and John H. Weitnauer, Jr Technology Transfer Chair
Technology Transfer
Research interests include end-to-end issues related to transporting voice, video, and data over the Internet Protocol at the network layer. Particular interest is in a heterogeneous network environment, fault tolerance, and security. Copeland’s lab is currently working on broadband CATV, optical and wireless networks, network management and data security.
Long range plans include enhanced telecommunications which can contribute to an efficient economy and which allow individuals to connect with their community.
Edward Coyle, ECE
Professor and Arbutus Chair for the Integration of Research
and Education
Integration of Research and Education
Research is focused on computer and sensor networks, signal and image processing, statistical inference, distributed education and research, and engineering education/service learning including design and evaluation of social entrepreneurship.
Long range plans include working with new sensors to enable the instrumentation of large, complex physical systems – such as watersheds, farms, cities, road, building, and stadiums to produce knowledge about and appropriate actions for these systems.
John Crittenden, CE
Professor, Hightower Chair and Director, Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems
Sustainable Systems
Research is focused on pollution prevention, physical-chemical processes, nanotechnology, air and water treatment, mass transfer, and numerical methods. As well as the connection of social decision making, regional development, material flows, energy use, and local, regional, and global environmental impacts.
Long range plans include providing the knowledge and tools that enable the creation of an anthrosphere [the part of the earth’s system that is made or modified by humans for use in human activities] that exists within the means of nature; humans should only use resources that nature can provide and generate wastes that nature can assimilate.
Russell Dupuis, ECE
Professor and Steve W. Chaddick Endowed Chair in Electro-0ptics
Electro-Optics
Research interests include the growth of III-V compound semiconductor materials and devices including device design, processing, testing, and simulation. His lab is already working on developing “wide bandgap” semiconductors to improve materials quality and device performance.
Long range plans include developing advanced electronic materials and devices for future-generation commercial and defense applications.
Don Giddens, BME
Dean and Lawrence L. Gellerstedt, Jr. Chair in Bioengineering
Biomedical Engineering
Research interests include fluid mechanics as applied to cardiovascular disease, hemodynamics, vascular grafts and atherosclerosis. In the Giddens’ lab, researchers are using noninvasive imaging such as magnetic resonance imaging, and mathematics to model blood flow in arteries. This research will allow information concerning artery disease development and treatment to be obtained for individual patients. Giddens is also working on understanding the causes of arterial disease so that prevention and treatment can be improved.
Long range plans include understanding how mechanical forces influence the biology of human arteries as related to the development of cardiovascular diseases and their treatment.
Nikil Jayant, ECE
Professor and John Pippin Chair in Wireless Systems
Wireless Systems
Research interests include pervasive broadband networks using both wired and wireless media, real time communication and human-computer communications. Jayant’s research lab is working toward achieving speeds of a billion bits per second in indoor wireless by using multiple antenna signals and engineering. Jayant’s work is also focused on research testbeds that demonstrate the value of broadband in enhancing the quality of life.
Long range plans include continuing to work in developing a region of world-class excellence for telecommunications through industry-guided research centers and new companies in the related domains of networks, content and system solutions.
Biing Hwang Juang, ECE
Professor and Motorola Foundation Chair
Advanced Communications
Research interests include digital signal processing, multi-channel signal processing, multimedia communications, natural human-machine communication and interaction and signal modeling. Juang’s and his lab are currently looking at natural human machine interaction, the next-generation of teleconferencing technologies that offer hi-fi stereo telephony, and work in remote collaboration via tele-presence in a shared environment.
Long range research plans include developing theories and technologies that enable people to communicate remotely by using sight, sound and touch for sharing and interaction, beyond the traditional telephony, which will help drive the growth of broadband telecommunication networks.
William Koros, ChBE
Professor and Roberto C. Goizueta Chair
Membrane Science and Technology
Research interests include synthetic membranes, the processes to make synthetic membranes, and how these membranes can be used in more valuable purified products. Koros’ lab is already working with synthetic membranes, which are thin man-made barriers capable of separating mixtures such as removing impurities from natural gas by separating oxygen and nitrogen from air.
Long range plans include creating the next generation of membrane materials and structures to perform important separations more easily, thus minimizing energy, environmental and economic costs to businesses and industries.
David Sholl, ChBE
Professor and Michael E. Tennenbaum Family Chair
Energy Sustainability
Research interests focus on computational materials modeling to develop new materials for energy storage and generation and to develop practical solutions to energy-related challenges.
Long range plans include the development of new materials and processes that contribute to sustainable energy use on the relevant global scales such as gigawatts of energy and gigatons of reductions in carbon emissions.
Rao Tummala, ECE
Professor and Joseph M. Pettit Chair in Electronics Packaging
Electronic and Bio-electronic Systems by System-on-Package
Research interests focus on nanosystems and nanopacking, ultra high density substrate technologies, and IC and Systems packing. Tummala’s research is looking into pioneering System-on-Package technology for convergent system prototypes based on a microelectronic paradigm, mixed signal designs and designing, and analog integration. He is also working on nano-wafer level packaging and flipchip technology.
Long range plans include being the global leader in System-on-Package research and education in partnership with the global electronics industry.
Eberhard Voit, BME
Professor
Systems Biology
Research interests include metabolic networks, proteomics, biochemical systems theory, and complex systems in biology and medicine. Voit’s lab is currently exploring the next generation of rational drug development and individualized medical treatment through insight into the physiological response of organisms to stimuli. By looking into enzyme activities, the prevalence and activation states of proteins, and other biomarkers, Voit’s research lab is extracting information that can provide a look as to why an organism responds to a given stimulus in a particular fashion. His research group is performing studies that target the fine-tuned synergism between genes, proteins and metabolites, and investigate the results.
Long range plans include understanding how genomic, metabolic, proteomic components cooperate; why systems are designed and operate in the specific manner we observe in nature; and then to apply this understanding to advancing medicine, drug development, and biotechnology. Voit’s hope is that one day mathematics and computation will be capable of reliably predicting, manipulating and optimizing biomedical systems for the advancement of medicine, biotechnology, and productive and sustainable stewardship of the environment.
Wayne Wolf, ECE
Professor and Rhesa "Ray" S. Farmer, Jr., Distinguished Chair in Embedded Computing Systems
Embedded Computing Systems
Research interests include embedded computing architectures, software for embedded computing, methodologies and tools for embedded computing system design, and VLSI systems. An embedded computer is a computer that is a component of a larger system; the computer helps implement the system functionality. Wolf’s work focuses on embedded computers which are everywhere: automobiles, airplanes, home appliances, medical devices and finding ways to embed systems for predictability and reliability.
Long range plans include working with smart cameras and microphone, biochips, and continued focus on hardware-software design including real-time scheduling algorithms, code compression and distributed smart cameras.
>> Engineers are creative problem-solvers.