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Faculty & research

New faculty 2022

Karen Leung

Karen Leung

Assistant Professor, Aeronautics & Astronautics

Research focus

Control theory, robot motion planning, optimization, formal methods and verification, machine learning

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Julie Rorrer

Julie Rorrer

Assistant Professor, Chemical Engineering

Research focus

Heterogeneous catalysis, renewable energy, polymers, chemical recycling

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Bethany Gordon

Bethany Gordon

Assistant Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering

Research focus

Behavioral science, equity, infrastructure design

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Gilbert Bernstein

Gilbert Bernstein

Assistant Professor, Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering

Research focus

Computer graphics, programming languages, geometry/topology, tools for artists, simulation

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Andrea Wei Coladangelo

Andrea Wei Coladangelo

Assistant Professor, Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering

Research focus

Quantum computation, cryptography

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Matthew Golub

Matthew Golub

Assistant Professor, Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering

Research focus

Machine learning and data science for neuroscience and neuroengineering, brain-machine interfaces

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Serena Eley

Serena Eley

Assistant Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering

Research focus

Quantum materials and devices

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Akshay Gadre

Akshay Gadre

Assistant Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering

Research focus

Space systems, city-scale Internet-of-Things, wireless communication, mobile sensing

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Kimberly Ingraham

Kimberly Ingraham

Assistant Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering

Research focus

Assistive robotic technologies and systems, control systems, machine learning, wearable sensors, mobility interventions

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J. Nathan Kutz

J. Nathan Kutz

Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering

Research focus

Data science, machine learning, scientific computing, dynamical systems, optical and atomic physics, computational neuroscience, fluid dynamics

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June Lukuyu

June Lukuyu

Assistant Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering

Research focus

Energy for climate-aware development, integrated energy development, energy systems planning

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Rahul Trivedi

Rahul Trivedi

Assistant Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering

Research focus

Quantum information theory, quantum optics

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Juan Carlos Idrobo

Juan Carlos Idrobo

Associate Professor, Materials Science & Engineering

Research focus

Experimental electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS), scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), theoretical calculations based on density functional theory (DFT)

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Mehmet Kurt

Mehmet Kurt

Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering

Research focus

Machine learning in biomedical imaging

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Ayokunle Olanrewaju

Ayokunle Olanrewaju

Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering and Bioengineering

Research focus

Diagnostics, precision medicine, translational bioengineering, therapeutic drug monitoring, 3D microfabrication, autonomous microfluidics

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New Associate Teaching Professors

Amelia Regan

Amelia Regan

Civil Engineering

Research focus

Freight transportation, optimization, vehicular communication, environmental impacts of transportation systems

Education
Ph.D. Civil Engineering, University of Texas Austin, 1997
M.S.E. Civil Engineering, University of Texas Austin, 1995
M.S. Applied Mathematics, Johns Hopkins University, 1990
B.A.S. Systems Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, 1987

Amelia Regan joins Civil & Environmental Engineering this fall from the University of California Irvine, where she held appointments in civil and environmental engineering and computer science for more than 25 years. At the UW, she will direct the Supply Chain Transportation & Logistics master's degree program in addition to her role as an associate teaching professor. Amelia’s research focuses on the development of computational models to improve the efficiency, sustainability and security of transportation systems, with applications on warehouse logistics, freight transportation planning, technology adoption and congestion pricing.

Scott Ichikawa

Scott Ichikawa

Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering

Education
M.A. Design, Interaction Design, University of Washington, 2015
B.A. Graphic Design, Western Washington University, 2001

Scott Ichikawa joins the Allen School as an associate teaching professor and associate director of the Master of Human-Computer Interaction and Design (MHCI+D) program offered jointly by the Allen School, Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering, the Information School and the School of Art, Art History and Design. Ichikawa worked as a design and HCI lecturer for the MHCI+D program before joining as its associate director. Previously, he held the role of design director at Artefact, a strategy and design firm based in Seattle, Wash., working on projects that ranged from emerging technology AR/VR, designing for the built environment to envisioning and designing UI/UX for medical robotics technology. Ichikawa plans to further his contributions to the student educational experience and future vision of the MHCI+D program.

Ana da Silva

Ana da Silva

Human Centered Design & Engineering

Research focus

Interdisciplinary design innovation, early-stage product envisioning, longevity infrastructure, UX design, game development

Education
M.A. Design Studies, Digital Media and Production Environments, Harvard University, 2005
B.A. Architecture, University of California Berkeley, 1991

Ana da Silva joined Human Centered Design & Engineering in June. As CEO and founder of 2G3R, da Silva’s work centers on aging and longevity, and transformational change at the intersection of housing, wellness and technology. She is the founder of the Seattle Pecha Kucha speaker series, the founding chair of the Harvard GSD’s global Design Impact initiative and serves on the board of directors for the Harvard GSD MDE program, the Harvard GSD Alumni Council and Leadership Tomorrow.

New Assistant Teaching Professors

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Alvar Saenz-Otero

Aeronautics & Astronautics

Research focus

Space systems, nano-satellites, project-based learning, avionics

Education
Ph.D. Aerospace Systems, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2005
MEng., S.B. Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2000
S.B., Aeronautics & Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1998

Alvar Saenz-Otero joins Aeronautics & Astronautics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Space Systems Laboratory where he served as the principal research scientist. In this role, he was responsible for developing research activities to test, including aboard the International Space Station and the Marshall Space Flight Center flat floor, and made contributions to several planned missions including the Mars Orbit Sample Return, Stellar Imager, DARPA F6 and DARPA Phoenix. At the UW, Saenz-Otero will lead capstone courses for undergraduate and graduate students and teach space systems engineering and avionics.

Alexis Prybutok

Alexis Prybutok

Chemical Engineering

Teaching focus

Unit operations laboratory, reactor design, numerical methods/computer skills, bio-based electives, DEI in engineering education

Education
Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, Northwestern University, 2022
B.S. Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, University of Texas at Austin, 2016

Alex Prybutok joins Chemical Engineering from Northwestern University where she earned her doctorate. With a passion for engineering biology and improving engineering education spaces, she led department and college level teaching committees, co-instructed an undergraduate course, and co-founded her department's ARDEI Committee and led many of its initiatives. Her Ph.D. research focused on developing agent-based models of cell-based therapies in solid tumors and integrating social justice context into chemical engineering courses. At the UW, Prybutok plans to advance equity in engineering education through her work with students and in improving the Unit Ops Laboratory.

Elba Garz

Elba Garza

Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering

Research focus

Computer architecture, branch prediction, prefetching, cache replacement

Education
Ph.D. Computer Science and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, 2022
M.Sc Engineering in Computer Science, Princeton University, 2015
B.Sc Computer Science, Columbia University, 2011

Elba Garza joined the Allen School in September as an assistant teaching professor, where she plans to create an accessible and engaging learning environment for a diverse and collaborative student population. At Texas A&M University where she received her Ph.D., Garza focused her research on developing more resilient hardware predictive structures and policies that better evolve with computing demands. Her awards include the 2020 IEEE Computer Society Lance Stafford Larson Student Award, and a 2021 Google Scholarship.

James Wilcox

James Wilcox

Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering

Research focus

Teaching, programming languages, distributed systems

Education
Ph.D. Computer Science and Engineering, University of Washington, 2021
M.S. Computer Science and Engineering, University of Washington, 2015
B.A. Computer Science and Mathematics, Williams College, 2013

James Wilcox joined the Allen School in September as an assistant teaching professor after previously working as a temporary lecturer since 2020. His research explores how programmers can get correctness guarantees about the systems they build. Wilcox teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in programming languages, software engineering and distributed systems.

Mahmood Hameed

Mahmood Hameed

Electrical & Computer Engineering

Research focus

Fiber optics and photonics, systems engineering, algorithm development and optimization, digital signals and systems, signal processing, wireless and telecommunication systems

Education
Ph.D. Electrical Engineering, University of Kansas, 2016
M.S. Electrical Engineering, University of Kansas, 2008
B.S. Electronics and Communication Engineering, Osmania University, India, 2005

Mahmood Hameed joined Electrical & Computer Engineering in September from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute where he was a lecturer in electrical, computer and systems engineering. Hameed has experience in designing and developing course curriculum for hands-on experiments to inform instruction of linear systems and hands-on labs focused on digital circuits. He is the recipient of an Excellence in Teaching Award, a Graduate Ambassador Fellowship and a Wallace S. Strobel Scholarship from the University of Kansas.

Sepehr Makhsous

Sepehr Makhsous

Electrical & Computer Engineering

Research focus

Biomedical devices, image processing, Internet-of-Things, 3D imaging, machine learning

Education
Ph.D. Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Washington, 2020
MBA Technology Management, University of Washington Bothell, 2016
M.S. Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Washington 2016
B.A. Electrical Engineering, University of Washington, 2012

Sep Makhsous joined Electrical & Computer Engineering as an assistant teaching professor and associate director of the Sensors, Energy and Automation Laboratory (SEAL) after studying ECE at the UW and working as a postdoctoral researcher. Makhsous focuses his research on biomedical devices, image processing and 3D imaging. His teaching interests include embedded systems, digital systems, controls and robotics, and he aims to focus his teaching on providing real-life engineering problems.

Hanson Fong

Hanson Fong

Materials Science & Engineering

Education
Ph.D. Materials Science and Engineering, University of Washington, 2003
M.S. Materials Engineering, San Jose State University, 1996
B.S. Chemical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering, University of California Davis, 1993

Hanson Fong continues his work with Materials Science & Engineering in his new role as assistant teaching professor this fall. Along with receiving his Ph.D. from the department, Fong previously worked in numerous roles at MSE including research scientist and lecturer. His research interests focus on the structure-mechanical relationship and development of dental tissues, including peptide mediated biomineralization and 3-D printing and fabrication. He has expertise in electron microscopy and nano-scale characterization techniques. He plans to blend his laboratory experience to engage students in experimental techniques and other skills needed in undergraduate lab courses.