UW ECE alumna Thy Tran (BSEE ‘93) will be honored guest speaker for the 2025 UW ECE Graduation Ceremony, which will take place in the Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion on Wednesday, June 11, from 7 to 9 p.m.
UW ECE undergraduate Mary Bun studies multitasking in fruit flies to offer valuable insights into disorders like Parkinson’s disease. Her work is inspired by neural engineering research led by UW ECE and UW Medicine Professor Chet Moritz.
Shanti Garman is a doctoral degree candidate at UW ECE, studying and working in the Sensor Systems Lab. She is also an instructor in the Department’s Professional Master’s Program as well as a mentor to aspiring engineers and first-generation college students.
UW ECE students toured inside the Washington Nanofabrication Facility, where tiny tech is transforming research in quantum, chips, medicine and more.
UW ECE Associate Teaching Professor Mahmood Hameed has a superpower — his unique ability to connect with students. He is known for his exceptional ability as an educator and his passion for teaching.
UW ECE undergraduate Kyshawn Warren part of NSF-funded team of researchers using eye-tracking technology to help create autonomous systems that can adjust to individual comfort levels.
UW ECE alumna Thy Tran (BSEE ‘93) will be honored guest speaker for the 2025 UW ECE Graduation Ceremony, which will take place in the Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion on Wednesday, June 11, from 7 to 9 p.m.
UW ECE undergraduate Mary Bun studies multitasking in fruit flies to offer valuable insights into disorders like Parkinson’s disease. Her work is inspired by neural engineering research led by UW ECE and UW Medicine Professor Chet Moritz.
UW ECE students toured inside the Washington Nanofabrication Facility, where tiny tech is transforming research in quantum, chips, medicine and more.
UW ECE undergraduate Kyshawn Warren part of NSF-funded team of researchers using eye-tracking technology to help create autonomous systems that can adjust to individual comfort levels.
UW ECE Professor Maryam Fazel is a program co-chair for the 2025 International Conference on Machine Learning, which will be held from July 13 to 19 in Vancouver, Canada.
UW ECE Associate Teaching Professor Mahmood Hameed has a superpower — his unique ability to connect with students. He is known for his exceptional ability as an educator and his passion for teaching.
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[_finalHTML:protected] => https://www.ee.washington.edu/spotlight/2025-graduation-thy-tran/Thy Tran from Micron Technology to speak at UW ECE Graduation
UW ECE alumna Thy Tran (BSEE ‘93) will be honored guest speaker for the 2025 UW ECE Graduation Ceremony, which will take place in the Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion on Wednesday, June 11, from 7 to 9 p.m.
Unlocking the brain with the fruit fly
UW ECE undergraduate Mary Bun studies multitasking in fruit flies to offer valuable insights into disorders like Parkinson’s disease. Her work is inspired by neural engineering research led by UW ECE and UW Medicine Professor Chet Moritz.
Precision at the smallest scale
UW ECE students toured inside the Washington Nanofabrication Facility, where tiny tech is transforming research in quantum, chips, medicine and more.
Eye-tracking for tailored autonomy
UW ECE undergraduate Kyshawn Warren part of NSF-funded team of researchers using eye-tracking technology to help create autonomous systems that can adjust to individual comfort levels.
The 2025 International Conference on Machine Learning: Q&A with Professor Maryam Fazel
UW ECE Professor Maryam Fazel is a program co-chair for the 2025 International Conference on Machine Learning, which will be held from July 13 to 19 in Vancouver, Canada.
A professor with superpowers
UW ECE Associate Teaching Professor Mahmood Hameed has a superpower — his unique ability to connect with students. He is known for his exceptional ability as an educator and his passion for teaching.
UW ECE alumna Thy Tran (BSEE ‘93) will be honored guest speaker for the 2025 UW ECE Graduation Ceremony, which will take place in the Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion on Wednesday, June 11, from 7 to 9 p.m. Tran is Vice President of Global Frontend Procurement at Micron Technology.[/caption]
The University of Washington Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering is proud to welcome UW ECE alumna Thy Tran (BSEE ‘93) as honored guest speaker for our 2025 Graduation Ceremony. Tran is Vice President of Global Frontend Procurement at Micron Technology, a worldwide leader in the semiconductor industry that specializes in computer memory and storage solutions. She recently transitioned from her prior role as vice president of DRAM Process Integration, where she led a global team in the United States and Asia to drive DRAM (dynamic random-access memory) technology development and transfer into high-volume manufacturing fabrication facilities. Tran has over 30 years of semiconductor experience working in the United States, Europe, and Asia, including leading roles at two semiconductor fabrication facility startups. This year’s Graduation Ceremony will take place in the Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion on Wednesday, June 11, from 7 to 9 p.m. The event will be presided over by UW ECE Professor and Chair Eric Klavins.
“We are looking forward to having Thy as our honored guest speaker at Graduation this year,” Klavins said. “She has had a long and successful career in the semiconductor industry and is an international leader in her field. She understands the value of resilience and persistence first-hand, and I know there is much she can share with our graduates at this event.”
Tran joined Micron in 2008 and led several DRAM module development programs, including advanced capacitor, metallization, and through-silicon-via, or TSV, integration before taking on the DRAM Process Integration leadership role for several product generations. Her technical contribution has been integral to Micron’s DRAM Technology Development Roadmap and played a significant role in helping Micron achieve DRAM technology leadership. Prior to Micron, Tran worked on logic and SRAM (static random-access memory) technologies at Motorola and SRAM at WaferTech, now known as TSMC Washington. She also worked at Siemens (which later spun off Infineon and Qimonda), where she held several leadership roles in DRAM technology development transfer, and manufacturing.
In addition to receiving her bachelor’s degree from UW ECE, Tran is a recent alumna of the Stanford Graduate School of Business’s Executive Program and the McKinsey Executive Leadership Program. She is a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, known as IEEE, and a member of the Society of Women Engineers. She also serves as a strategic advisory board member for UW ECE as well as for the International Semiconductor Executive Summit and Mercado Global. She is a recipient of Global Semiconductor Alliance’s 2023 Rising Women of Influence award.
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[post_content] => Adapted from an article by Danielle Holland, UW Undergraduate Academic Affairs / Photos by Jayden Becles, University of Washington
[caption id="attachment_37906" align="alignright" width="600"]
UW ECE undergraduate Mary Bun studies multitasking in fruit flies to offer valuable insights into disorders like Parkinson’s disease. Her work is inspired by neural engineering research led by UW ECE Professor Chet Moritz, who holds joint appointments in UW Medicine.[/caption]
Mary Bun selects a three-day-old Drosophila fruit fly from the incubator and moves to her custom-built behavioral rig. She places the fly in a circular arena beneath a hidden camera and pulls the cloth curtain shut.
The rig’s design is both elegant and practical, featuring a black box, a top-down camera for video capture and a custom computer program Bun coded to control the experiment. With the lights off in the Ahmed Lab, the black box blocks any external light. Bred for this experiment, the fly’s neurons are activated by light, and even the slightest outside interference could skew the results. With a click, a red light triggers the neurons, causing the fly’s wings to extend. The camera captures the motion, measuring each subtle angle as the wings vibrate and contract.
Seated at her workstation, Bun watches the footage stream on her computer, her software controlling both the camera and the light stimulation. The rig’s sleek design, a product of her engineering expertise, reflects her dedication. “Every part of this setup has a purpose,” she says, her eyes fixed on the fly’s delicate movements. “This is a platform for discovery. There’s so much more to uncover.”
[caption id="attachment_37911" align="alignleft" width="400"]
A test tube containing one of the fruit flies Mary Bun studies in the Ahmed Lab[/caption]
Mary Bun’s fascination with how things work began long before middle school. Driven by a natural curiosity for problem-solving, she knew early on that, like her brothers, she would apply to the Transition School at the University of Washington’s Robinson Center, the Center’s one-year college preparatory program for high-achieving students.
“I wanted a challenge,” Bun recalls. “The traditional high school experience didn’t feel like it would push me enough. I needed something more.” The Transition School provided an immersive environment with advanced coursework, allowing her to transition early to the UW. “I could move quickly and start thinking about research much earlier.”
Bun’s time wasn’t just academic — it helped her find a community of other highly motivated peers. “Fifteen is such a critical period in your life,” she says. As she began her college journey, “the world had been turned upside down” with the coronavirus pandemic. During the pandemic, Bun found support in her cohort, navigating the challenges of remote learning and isolation together. “The Transition School gave me the tools to succeed, but it was the people who made it meaningful.”
A spark for neural engineering
[caption id="attachment_37916" align="alignright" width="600"]
Bun works on the rig she built for her research, left, and, right, the rig is ready to roll. She uses optogenetics (a technique that uses light to activate specific neurons) to study how fruit flies perform tasks like walking and vibrating their wings at the same time.[/caption]
In an Engineering 101 course, Bun was captivated by UW ECE Professor Chet Moritz’s work on neural stimulation devices for spinal cord injury rehabilitation. “I found it fascinating that we could externally influence the nervous system to help people,” she says.
Driven by this newfound passion, Bun pursued a double degree in electrical engineering and psychology. As a junior, she took on her first research opportunity in the lab of Dr. Sama Ahmed, where she applied her academic knowledge alongside her practical engineering skills.
“My first two years were about finding my footing,” she recalls. “But once I joined the lab, everything clicked. I realized how much I loved the process of discovery — asking questions, designing experiments and seeing results come to life.”
Bun’s research in the Ahmed Lab centers on an important question: How do neural circuits manage multitasking? Using optogenetics — a technique that uses light to activate specific neurons — she studies how fruit flies perform tasks like walking and vibrating their wings at the same time.
“Despite its simplicity, the fruit fly can perform surprisingly complex behaviors,” Bun explains. “By understanding how the fly brain processes multiple tasks, we can start to uncover fundamental principles about how more complex brains, like ours, might work.
Designing pathways
[caption id="attachment_37920" align="alignright" width="400"]
Bun reviews the movement she captured with her self-made rig. She studies multitasking in fruit flies to learn more about complex movement in people.[/caption]
Under Dr. Ahmed’s guidance, Bun began constructing her behavior rig, a device she designed and built from scratch to observe and analyze fly behavior. The rig integrates hardware and software to capture high-speed video of flies responding to light stimulation, enabling Bun to measure precise movements, like wing extension and walking patterns. “Building the rig was one of the most rewarding parts of my research,” she says. “It allowed me to apply my engineering skills and coursework to solve a real scientific problem.”
Bun’s work challenges the traditional approach of studying behaviors in isolation. “Most research looks at one behavior at a time,” she says. “But in the real world, animals — and humans — are constantly juggling multiple tasks within different states and environments. I wanted to explore how the brain handles that.”
Through the Office of Undergraduate Research, Bun received support in identifying funding opportunities for her innovative research. With their assistance, she applied for and was awarded the Mary Gates Research Scholarship in 2023 and the 2024-25 Levinson Emerging Scholars Award. This prestigious award supports students conducting creative research projects in biosciences under the guidance of UW faculty and recognizes scholars who demonstrate exceptional motivation and independence in their research. Bun is also a 2024-25 recipient of the Stephanie Subak Endowed Memorial Scholarship from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Far-reaching impact
[caption id="attachment_37923" align="alignright" width="400"]
Bun, in the red light of the rig she made to study multitasking in fruit flies.[/caption]
Bun’s research, which explores how the brain prioritizes and processes information during multitasking, has significant implications. By understanding how the brain seamlessly combines some behaviors, her work could offer valuable insights into disorders like Parkinson’s, which affect cognitive function, potentially paving the way for new treatment approaches.
Bun will present her research as a Levinson Scholar at the Office of Undergraduate Research’s 28th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium. Her time with the Office of Undergraduate Research and in the Ahmed Lab has been transformative, fueling both her research and growth as a scientist.
“Dr. Ahmed gave me the freedom to take full ownership of my project,” Bun said. In the Ahmed Lab’s collaborative, non-hierarchical environment, undergraduates are treated as integral members of the team, and Bun has thrived in this setting. She designed the behavior rig from the ground up, conducted her own experiments and even began writing a paper on the methods the lab developed.
Building on this experience, Bun plans to pursue a Ph.D. to study neural engineering after graduation.
“Research has taught me to embrace challenges and think creatively,” she says. “It’s not just about finding answers — it’s about asking the right questions and pushing the boundaries of what we know.”
Learn more about biosystems research at UW ECE on the Biosystems webpage. The original version of this article is available on the UW Undergraduate Academic Affairs website.
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[post_content] => Step inside the Washington Nanofabrication Facility, where tiny tech is transforming research in quantum, chips, medicine and more.
Story by Chelsea Yates, UW College of Engineering | Photos by Mark Stone, University of Washington
[caption id="attachment_37673" align="aligncenter" width="1124"]
Researchers wear full-body clean suits in the WNF to prevent contamination. The air in this environment is 1,000 times cleaner than in an operating room.[/caption]
Imagine a high-tech workshop where scientists and engineers craft objects so small they can’t be seen with the naked eye — or even a standard microscope. These tiny structures — nanostructures — are thousands of times smaller than a strand of hair. And they are essential for faster computers, better smartphones and life-saving medical devices.
Nanostructures are at the core of the research happening every day in the Washington Nanofabrication Facility (WNF). Part of the Institute for Nano-Engineered Systems at the UW and located in Fluke Hall, the WNF supports cutting-edge academic and industry research, prototyping and hands-on student training. Like many leading nanofabrication centers, it is part of the National Science Foundation’s National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure, a network that shares expertise and resources.
[caption id="attachment_37730" align="alignright" width="627"]
UW ECE MSEE student Katharine Lundblad, UW ECE undergraduate student Enrique Garcia, and WNF staff member Cameron Toskey follow the gowning process prior to entering the clean room to prevent particles from people or clothing from contaminating the wafers.[/caption]
Inside the WNF, which is the largest publicly accessible full-service cleanroom in the Pacific Northwest, researchers work in an ultra-clean environment. They wear full-body clean suits to prevent contamination. This protection isn’t necessarily for the workers but for the environment — the items being made are so small that a speck of dust, strand of hair or drop of sweat could ruin them. The air is 1,000 times cleaner than an operating room, and parts of the facility are bathed in yellow light to protect ultraviolet and blue light-sensitive materials.
Unlike many university nanofabrication labs, which were started by small academic research teams, the precursor to the WNF was founded by the Washington Technology Center as an incubator for companies working in nanotechnology R&D and prototyping. This early investment secured advanced tools from the start. In 2011, the UW took full ownership, and after a six-year, $37 million investment, transformed the WNF into a fully operational cleanroom with over 100 specialized processing and characterization tools.
Today it is critical for advancing semiconductor and quantum research.
A hub for semiconductor innovation
Semiconductor chips power everything from cars to smartphones. The WNF provides the expertise needed to design, build and test these chips, which contain millions of microscopic transistors controlling electricity flow. These components are so small they must be inspected at the nanoscale. Researchers use advanced techniques like photolithography and etching to carve precise patterns on silicon wafers, layering materials to form semiconductors.
[caption id="attachment_37735" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
WNF staff member Darick Baker, along with UW ECE students Katharine Lundblad and Jared Yoder, look on as UW ECE undergraduate student Enrique Garcia follows an initial alignment step prior to photolithography exposure on the AB-M machine, where the wafer is exposed to UV light through a mask that transfers the pattern from the mask to the wafer. This alignment step is necessary to ensure that the mask is well aligned to the wafer for pattern transfer.[/caption]
Primarily a Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) fabrication facility, the WNF enables the creation of microscopic devices that integrate mechanical and electrical components to sense, control and actuate on a micro scale — generating macro-scale effects. MEMS devices, including microsensors, microactuators and microelectronics, are fabricated using techniques similar to those used for integrated circuits. Car airbags rely on MEMS accelerometers, while smartphones use MEMS microphones and filters. In addition to MEMS, the WNF has recently begun fabricating chips and integrated circuits for photonics and trains students in critical semiconductor manufacturing skills — essential for expanding U.S. chip production.
“Remember the pandemic-era chip shortage that made buying a car or smart appliance difficult? If we manufacture more chips domestically, then we’ll be less reliant on importing them from other countries,” says WNF Director Maria Huffman. “Chips are critical not just for consumer goods but also for telecommunications — data transmission and processing, 5G networks and IoT connectivity — as well as national security, military systems and supply chain resilience.”
[caption id="attachment_37675" align="aligncenter" width="1049"]
Yellow lighting in parts of the facility protects light-sensitive materials, such as those used on the silicon wafer shown here.[/caption]
Enabling quantum research
Quantum technologies rely on nanoscale precision to explore and harness quantum phenomena. Quantum computers, for example, use qubits — basic units of quantum information — often built using superconducting materials. The WNF enables researchers to create some of these components with extreme accuracy, depositing ultra-thin layers of materials and fabricating structures at the atomic level.
Quantum systems depend on materials with special properties, such as superconductors — materials with zero electrical resistance — or 2D materials like graphene. Nanofabrication facilities allow researchers to customize the size, shape and composition of these materials. Quantum sensors also rely on nanofabrication for their development. They are used in applications such as ultra-precise timekeeping—including quantum clocks—and advanced navigation systems.
Collaboration on the nanoscale
[caption id="attachment_37737" align="alignleft" width="624"]
UW ECE undergraduate student Jared Yoder inspects the wafer during one of the alignment processes.[/caption]
Nanofabrication facilities like the WNF enable groundbreaking research, from next-generation semiconductors to quantum technology. But maintaining such a facility isn’t cheap — the WNF relies on grants, industry partnerships and user fees to stay at the cutting edge.
“Advancing tomorrow’s technologies isn’t possible with decades-old equipment,” says Huffman. “We need to be cutting edge to drive cutting-edge innovation.” Industry partners like Micron and Intel have contributed funding, Meta has donated equipment, and many others pay to use the facility for R&D and prototyping.
“Generally, companies aren’t resourced to build their own experimental spaces or disrupt or stop their production lines to try something new,” explains Darick Baker, the facility’s engineering and business development manager. “This is where the WNF can help.”
[caption id="attachment_37674" align="alignright" width="418"]
Advanced techniques like photolithography and etching create intricate patterns on silicon wafers like this one. A single 4- or 6-inch wafer can hold dozens of chips, depending on their size.[/caption]
Beyond industry use, the WNF is deeply invested in education. With support from Micron and Intel, it was one of the first in the Pacific Northwest to pilot introductory semiconductor short courses, which have since been replicated at other universities. This spring, the WNF is hosting hands-on classes where undergraduates — from UW engineering students to veterans in a Bellevue College technical training program — will build basic functional devices on silicon wafers.
“Industry needs people in many roles to be trained to work with nanomaterials — not just engineers and scientists but technicians, maintenance workers and more,” Baker says.
Whether advancing semiconductor research, unlocking quantum potential or training future innovators, collaboration is key. At the WNF, researchers, students and industry partners work side by side, tackling nanoscale challenges to shape the future in big ways.
Want to become a WNF user?
Discover more about the services, equipment and learning opportunities available to students, faculty and industry professionals.
Get involved!
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[caption id="" align="alignright" width="513"]
The eye-tracking glasses, made by Pupil Labs, allow researchers to precisely monitor where subjects look when encountering autonomous systems, helping create more personalized safety parameters.[/caption]
Adapted from story by Amy Sprague / UW A&A; Photos by Dennis Wise / University of Washington
The future of building trustworthy autonomous systems may lie in wearing glasses. A&A Assistant Professor Karen Leung, with co-Principal Investigator Anat Caspi, director of the Allen School’s Taskar Center for Accessible Technology, has received a $300,000 National Science Foundation grant to explore how specialized eyeglasses could help autonomous vehicles and robots better understand and adapt to human comfort levels. Undergraduate researchers Senna Keesing (A&A), Marc Alwan (CSE) and Kyshawn Warren (UW ECE) are carrying out the research in Leung’s Control and Trustworthy Robotics Lab (CTRL).
This work stems from a simple observation: people aren't identical in their comfort levels around autonomous systems. "I've watched how people interact with autonomous systems in their daily lives," Leung shares. "What makes one person perfectly comfortable might make another quite nervous. We need to bridge this gap."
The research team’s approach involves specialized eyeglasses that observe how individuals scan their environment. These insights help autonomous systems understand each person's unique safety preferences and adapt accordingly. Picture an autonomous wheelchair that learns whether its user prefers to give other pedestrians a wide berth or is comfortable with closer encounters – all while maintaining core safety standards.
[caption id="attachment_37637" align="aligncenter" width="1184"]
UW ECE student Kyshawn Warren (left), and UW students Senna Keesing and Marc Alwan pose with the specialized equipment used to study human-robot interactions. The sensor-equipped helmets track movements and speed, while eye-tracking glasses monitor gaze patterns. Top right: Marc Alwan models the eye-tracking. Bottom right: The customized hard hats with the Lab’s logo have sensors mounted to the top that track movement.[/caption]
The research tackles a crucial challenge in autonomous mobility: earning public trust. Traditional autonomous systems operate with fixed safety parameters, potentially making some users uncomfortable while frustrating others with overcautious behavior. Leung's team aims to create more nuanced systems that can recognize and respond to individual comfort levels.
Beyond wheelchairs, this research could transform how delivery robots navigate college campuses or how autonomous vehicles interact with pedestrians in urban environments. The project combines advances in computer vision, human behavior understanding, and adaptive control systems.
The NSF grant, jointly supported by the Dynamics, Controls, and System Diagnostics and Mind, Machine, and Motor Nexus Programs, underscores the project's interdisciplinary significance. Leung's team is particularly focused on including diverse perspectives in their research, actively engaging underrepresented groups in robotics and fostering collaboration between computer vision, controls, and robotics researchers.
[caption id="attachment_37645" align="alignleft" width="439"]
Karen Leung, A&A Assistant Professor and Anat Caspi, Director of the Allen School’s Taskar Center for Accessible Technology[/caption]
"We're not just developing technology. We're working to create autonomous systems that truly understand and respect human preferences. That's the key to building trust."
Kyshawn Warren models the eye-tracking glasses, which register real-time gaze data on a connected smartphone. Warren is a 4th-year undergraduate in the UW ECE Combined BS-MS program, with a research focus on computer vision for robotic applications and computing, including embedded systems and ASIC design.[/caption]
Below, Kyshawn Warren monitors a demo of the cameras and accompanying data collection. Warren's involvement in this project mainly includes utilizing the scene images and gaze location to determine what objects within a person’s view they consider to be safety critical for their navigation, and then tracking those objects as they remain within the person’s view.
"This research has been an eye-opening experience that has given me much insight into how much our brain does subconsciously and how we can visualize these things in a way that computers can learn from and apply for autonomous systems," says Warren. "Moving forward, my research lab and I will be working on implementing what we have learned, in addition to a path-planning algorithm, onto an autonomous system such as a wheelchair so that there can be autonomous navigation with human preference in mind."
UW ECE Professor Maryam Fazel is a program co-chair for the 2025 International Conference on Machine Learning, which will be held from July 13 to 19 in Vancouver, Canada. She is one of four faculty members from universities across the United States and Canada, who together are overseeing all aspects of peer-review of the paper submissions and of producing the event. Photo by Ryan Hoover / UW ECE[/caption]
Artificial intelligence is all over the news these days. This powerful technology comes with a bright promise to usher humanity into a new era of better health, connectivity, and prosperity. But it also holds the dark potential to disrupt economies, damage social systems, and perhaps even plunge our world into information chaos. With so much at stake, it might be encouraging to know that scientists and engineers recognize these serious issues with artificial intelligence and are tackling them right now, from every perspective imaginable.
A case in point resides within a subset of artificial intelligence that doesn’t get as much public attention — machine learning, a field of study aimed at developing statistical algorithms that can learn from data and perform tasks without explicit instructions. Machine learning is at the core of artificial intelligence. For example, machine learning enables large language models like ChatGPT, computer vision in self-driving cars like those at Waymo, and algorithms that underpin popular social media platforms like TikTok.
The upcoming 2025 International Conference on Machine Learning, which will be held from July 13 to 19 in Vancouver, Canada, is dedicated to the advancement and improvement of this branch of artificial intelligence. With well over 15,000 attendees expected this year, the ICML is the oldest, second-largest and fastest-growing conference of its kind in the world. Over 12,000 research papers focused on machine learning have been submitted to the conference as well as 350 “position papers,” which are designed to bring attention to urgent issues in machine learning, such as privacy, safety, algorithmic biases, and intellectual property concerns. Conference attendees will examine and discuss these topics in detail, a process that builds groundwork for solutions to some of the most urgent and complex problems that artificial intelligence and machine learning present today.
Register to attend the 2025 International Conference on Machine LearningUW ECE Professor Maryam Fazel is a program co-chair for this year’s Conference. She is one of four faculty members from universities across the United States and Canada, who together are overseeing all aspects of peer-review of the paper submissions and of producing the event. Fazel holds the Moorthy Family Career Inspiration Development Professorship, is the UW ECE Lytle Lectureship chair, and is director of the Institute for Foundations of Data Science at the UW, which brings together data science experts and tools from the mathematical, statistical, and algorithmic foundations of machine learning to address contemporary data science challenges. “It is a privilege for me to be a chair of this Conference. I’m trying very hard to make ICML the best it can be, serve all the communities that are involved, and contribute to the growth of the field,” Fazel said. “I’m also looking forward to the productive discussions we will have about issues and challenges related to artificial intelligence and machine learning.” I sat down with Fazel to learn more about this year’s ICML and how it will be contributing to the development of machine learning and artificial intelligence.
UW ECE Associate Teaching Professor Mahmood Hameed has a talent for connecting with students. He is known for his exceptional ability as an educator, the love and respect he has for his students, and his passion for teaching.[/caption]
UW ECE Associate Teaching Professor Mahmood Hameed has a superpower — his unique ability to connect with students. He also has a super-powerful memory. Hameed memorizes and can recall the name of every student in his classes who talks to him at least once. That’s right, all of them. Hundreds of students take Hameed’s courses every quarter, but years later, he still remembers the names of everyone who spoke with him. For many students, he can also remember their personal interests as well as their academic and career goals. This superb recall is but one example of Hameed’s exceptional ability as an educator, which stems from the love and respect he has for his students and his passion for teaching.
“At times, it can freak students out when three or five years later, I still remember their name and some of their interests. I’m not trying. After a while, it’s just there in my memory,” Hameed said. “I believe it is a privilege to teach. I purposefully memorize my students’ names because that’s a way of showing respect and investing in our connection.”
As his students can attest, Hameed is an extraordinary professor.
[caption id="attachment_37622" align="alignleft" width="514"]
UW ECE undergraduate Kyle Orth has taken several courses from Hameed.[/caption]
“From the moment one enters Professor Hameed’s classroom, it becomes clear that he is far more than an instructor. He strives to learn each individual’s name, creating an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect,” said UW ECE undergraduate Feier Long, who has served as a teaching assistant for Hameed. “He is a genuine mentor who inspires individuals to grow and discover their potential. He does not merely teach, he guides, encourages, and supports in a way that leaves a lasting impression on those fortunate enough to learn from him."
“Professor Hameed is an exceptional instructor. He is passionate, goes above and beyond to engage his students, and clearly wants us not only to succeed in his classes, but also to grow in our enthusiasm for the field,” said UW ECE undergraduate Kyle Orth. “He is an extremely interesting person to talk to, not only for his expertise in the field, but particularly for his eagerness to connect you to resources that will help you succeed. He loves getting to know people and has an unmatched passion for helping students understand complex topics in electrical and computer engineering.”
In 2023, Hameed received a UW ECE Outstanding Teaching Award in recognition of his contributions to the Department and the impact he has had on students. This honor, received early in his career, could make one wonder how Hameed developed his “superpowers” in the classroom. There is no doubt that some of his exceptional abilities were there from birth, but others were formed by his upbringing, environment, and journey to UW ECE.
UW ECE Professor Denise Wilson presenting Hameed with the 2023 Outstanding Teaching Award certificate in an awards ceremony held in the Allen Center Atrium.[/caption]
Hameed grew up in Southern India, in the city of Hyderabad. As a child, he became fascinated with remote-controlled toy cars that his father brought home for him to play with. He wanted to learn how the cars worked and how signals were sent through the air. This childhood fascination soon blossomed into a lasting interest in other electronic devices. He also was born into a family environment and culture that emphasized science and technology. This mix of nature and nurture pointed him toward engineering early in life.
Surprisingly, Hameed said that he wasn’t a particularly good student until college. He had trouble seeing the value and practical purpose for what he was taught in high school. Despite this fact, He attended Osmania University in Hyderabad. There, he learned first-hand the difference good teachers can make in a student’s life. At Osmania University, Hameed had instructors who took the time to show him how what he was learning was relevant to the real world. This was the missing spark. Once Hameed could connect theoretical knowledge with practical applications, he could see purpose for the work he was doing. This then motivated him to study hard and excel. In 2005, he earned his bachelor’s degree in electronics and communication engineering, graduating with highest distinction.
“When I teach something, and students are able to make connections, and things start making sense to them, I can see it in their eyes, I can see it in their face. That, to me, is rewarding.” — UW ECE Associate Teaching Professor Mahmood Hameed[caption id="attachment_37624" align="alignleft" width="1196"]
Hameed giving a lesson to EE 242 and EE 233 students during one of his popular "active group office hours" sessions. Pictured left to right: Kyle Orth, Rachel Juliet Walland, Sophie McGee, Qifeng Yang, Jiwei Zheng, Frankie Lee Reyna, Max Gonzalez, Nathan S Joslin, with Leeza Leonova seated with back to the camera.[/caption]
Hameed then chose to make a big leap, moving from India to America. He attended the University of Kansas, where he received his master’s and doctoral degrees in electrical engineering. He said he learned how to be a good teacher from the instructors there, such as professors Rongqing Hui, David Petr, and James Stiles. He worked as a lecturer for a year at the University before completing his doctoral studies in 2016 and accepting a position as lecturer at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he worked for five years. In early 2022, Hameed and his family moved to Seattle, so his wife could accept a job opportunity while he continued to work remotely.
“Leaving RPI was one of the most difficult things for me to do because the bonds that I had formed with students and faculty were very strong,” Hameed said. “But there was a promising opening at UW ECE. So, I applied, was accepted, and I started working here.”
In September 2022, Hameed joined UW ECE as an assistant teaching professor. Since then, he has built a solid reputation for excellence among students, faculty, and staff in the Department. In addition to instructing students, Hameed conducts engineering education research. He has received grants to develop hands-on activities in core classes as well as explore issues students face related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. In September 2024, he joined the UW ECE Office of the Chair as undergraduate program coordinator for the Department.
“I work with the advising team to identify areas of improvement. Given that I am well connected with students, it’s quite easy for me to get a feel for what problems are bothering them and what can be solved,” Hameed said. “We have amazing students, faculty, and staff. And, to me, it’s a family. I feel like I’m connected to the soul of the Department.”
(left) Hameed teaching the EE 233 Circuit Theory course during winter 2025 quarter; (right) Hameed talks with a group of UW ECE undergraduate students during office hours, including, left to right, Grace Liu, Grace Kara Lee, and Ayush Kulkarni (foreground).[/caption]
“Professor Hameed does a wonderful job of giving us context throughout each course of where we are headed,” Orth said. “He ties theoretical knowledge to practical examples, along with anecdotes about what sorts of real-world problems are solved with the techniques and skills we are taught in class.”
Hameed goes the extra mile for his students by providing helpful coaching and advice both in and out of class. He also constructs rigorous exams to ensure that his students’ knowledge is solid. Hameed said he realized that engineering can sometimes be a difficult field, one that requires determination and commitment for success.
“In order for me to teach my students well, I have to give them everything I have. But in order for them to know what their limits are, I have to test them in a challenging manner,” Hameed said. “Without that challenge, I’m disrespecting the student. At some time during the student’s life, there is a point where they accept that all the struggle is worth it. That’s the moment I’m after.”
Hameed said he is continually refining his teaching and mentorship techniques. He collaborates on engineering education research with the Office for the Advancement of Engineering Teaching & Learning in the UW College of Engineering. He also is planning future collaborations with UW ECE faculty who study engineering education, such as professors Denise Wilson, John Raiti, and Sep Makhsous. This spring, he will also be a part of the Washington State Academic RedShirt (STARS) resilience program by participating in Fail Forward, an event where UW leaders share stories with students about how personal failures can build resilience and help lay the foundation for future success.
Hameed answers a question from UW ECE student Stephen Wilson Ottaway, while students Rachel Juliet Walland and Sophie McGee wait their turns to speak with Hameed.[/caption]
When asked what advice he might offer undergraduate students, Hameed said that he would like to see students focus more on the learning experience, rather than on their grade point average. He emphasized that success in engineering is not necessarily about good grades or high intelligence, but rather, it is about the amount of time and energy a student is willing to put into learning. He also expressed a hope that his teaching and mentorship will enable students to succeed in their own careers and then use their skills to do good in the world. Judging from what his students say, he is well on his way to achieving this goal.
“If I could start over my entire ECE journey, I would gladly take all my core classes with Professor Hameed. He is an invaluable asset to the Department, and his mentorship has profoundly enriched my academic journey,” Long said. “His enthusiasm and passion go beyond teaching — he genuinely cares about helping students recognize and reach their full potential. I will always be grateful for the impact he has had on me and my education.”
Learn more about UW ECE Associate Teaching Professor Mahmood Hameed on his bio page.
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[post_content] => [caption id="attachment_37945" align="alignright" width="475"] UW ECE alumna Thy Tran (BSEE ‘93) will be honored guest speaker for the 2025 UW ECE Graduation Ceremony, which will take place in the Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion on Wednesday, June 11, from 7 to 9 p.m. Tran is Vice President of Global Frontend Procurement at Micron Technology.[/caption]
The University of Washington Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering is proud to welcome UW ECE alumna Thy Tran (BSEE ‘93) as honored guest speaker for our 2025 Graduation Ceremony. Tran is Vice President of Global Frontend Procurement at Micron Technology, a worldwide leader in the semiconductor industry that specializes in computer memory and storage solutions. She recently transitioned from her prior role as vice president of DRAM Process Integration, where she led a global team in the United States and Asia to drive DRAM (dynamic random-access memory) technology development and transfer into high-volume manufacturing fabrication facilities. Tran has over 30 years of semiconductor experience working in the United States, Europe, and Asia, including leading roles at two semiconductor fabrication facility startups. This year’s Graduation Ceremony will take place in the Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion on Wednesday, June 11, from 7 to 9 p.m. The event will be presided over by UW ECE Professor and Chair Eric Klavins.
“We are looking forward to having Thy as our honored guest speaker at Graduation this year,” Klavins said. “She has had a long and successful career in the semiconductor industry and is an international leader in her field. She understands the value of resilience and persistence first-hand, and I know there is much she can share with our graduates at this event.”
Tran joined Micron in 2008 and led several DRAM module development programs, including advanced capacitor, metallization, and through-silicon-via, or TSV, integration before taking on the DRAM Process Integration leadership role for several product generations. Her technical contribution has been integral to Micron’s DRAM Technology Development Roadmap and played a significant role in helping Micron achieve DRAM technology leadership. Prior to Micron, Tran worked on logic and SRAM (static random-access memory) technologies at Motorola and SRAM at WaferTech, now known as TSMC Washington. She also worked at Siemens (which later spun off Infineon and Qimonda), where she held several leadership roles in DRAM technology development transfer, and manufacturing.
In addition to receiving her bachelor’s degree from UW ECE, Tran is a recent alumna of the Stanford Graduate School of Business’s Executive Program and the McKinsey Executive Leadership Program. She is a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, known as IEEE, and a member of the Society of Women Engineers. She also serves as a strategic advisory board member for UW ECE as well as for the International Semiconductor Executive Summit and Mercado Global. She is a recipient of Global Semiconductor Alliance’s 2023 Rising Women of Influence award.
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[post_content] => [caption id="attachment_37945" align="alignright" width="475"] UW ECE alumna Thy Tran (BSEE ‘93) will be honored guest speaker for the 2025 UW ECE Graduation Ceremony, which will take place in the Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion on Wednesday, June 11, from 7 to 9 p.m. Tran is Vice President of Global Frontend Procurement at Micron Technology.[/caption]
The University of Washington Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering is proud to welcome UW ECE alumna Thy Tran (BSEE ‘93) as honored guest speaker for our 2025 Graduation Ceremony. Tran is Vice President of Global Frontend Procurement at Micron Technology, a worldwide leader in the semiconductor industry that specializes in computer memory and storage solutions. She recently transitioned from her prior role as vice president of DRAM Process Integration, where she led a global team in the United States and Asia to drive DRAM (dynamic random-access memory) technology development and transfer into high-volume manufacturing fabrication facilities. Tran has over 30 years of semiconductor experience working in the United States, Europe, and Asia, including leading roles at two semiconductor fabrication facility startups. This year’s Graduation Ceremony will take place in the Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion on Wednesday, June 11, from 7 to 9 p.m. The event will be presided over by UW ECE Professor and Chair Eric Klavins.
“We are looking forward to having Thy as our honored guest speaker at Graduation this year,” Klavins said. “She has had a long and successful career in the semiconductor industry and is an international leader in her field. She understands the value of resilience and persistence first-hand, and I know there is much she can share with our graduates at this event.”
Tran joined Micron in 2008 and led several DRAM module development programs, including advanced capacitor, metallization, and through-silicon-via, or TSV, integration before taking on the DRAM Process Integration leadership role for several product generations. Her technical contribution has been integral to Micron’s DRAM Technology Development Roadmap and played a significant role in helping Micron achieve DRAM technology leadership. Prior to Micron, Tran worked on logic and SRAM (static random-access memory) technologies at Motorola and SRAM at WaferTech, now known as TSMC Washington. She also worked at Siemens (which later spun off Infineon and Qimonda), where she held several leadership roles in DRAM technology development transfer, and manufacturing.
In addition to receiving her bachelor’s degree from UW ECE, Tran is a recent alumna of the Stanford Graduate School of Business’s Executive Program and the McKinsey Executive Leadership Program. She is a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, known as IEEE, and a member of the Society of Women Engineers. She also serves as a strategic advisory board member for UW ECE as well as for the International Semiconductor Executive Summit and Mercado Global. She is a recipient of Global Semiconductor Alliance’s 2023 Rising Women of Influence award.
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[post_content] => Adapted from an article by Danielle Holland, UW Undergraduate Academic Affairs / Photos by Jayden Becles, University of Washington
[caption id="attachment_37906" align="alignright" width="600"] UW ECE undergraduate Mary Bun studies multitasking in fruit flies to offer valuable insights into disorders like Parkinson’s disease. Her work is inspired by neural engineering research led by UW ECE Professor Chet Moritz, who holds joint appointments in UW Medicine.[/caption]
Mary Bun selects a three-day-old Drosophila fruit fly from the incubator and moves to her custom-built behavioral rig. She places the fly in a circular arena beneath a hidden camera and pulls the cloth curtain shut.
The rig’s design is both elegant and practical, featuring a black box, a top-down camera for video capture and a custom computer program Bun coded to control the experiment. With the lights off in the Ahmed Lab, the black box blocks any external light. Bred for this experiment, the fly’s neurons are activated by light, and even the slightest outside interference could skew the results. With a click, a red light triggers the neurons, causing the fly’s wings to extend. The camera captures the motion, measuring each subtle angle as the wings vibrate and contract.
Seated at her workstation, Bun watches the footage stream on her computer, her software controlling both the camera and the light stimulation. The rig’s sleek design, a product of her engineering expertise, reflects her dedication. “Every part of this setup has a purpose,” she says, her eyes fixed on the fly’s delicate movements. “This is a platform for discovery. There’s so much more to uncover.”
[caption id="attachment_37911" align="alignleft" width="400"] A test tube containing one of the fruit flies Mary Bun studies in the Ahmed Lab[/caption]
Mary Bun’s fascination with how things work began long before middle school. Driven by a natural curiosity for problem-solving, she knew early on that, like her brothers, she would apply to the Transition School at the University of Washington’s Robinson Center, the Center’s one-year college preparatory program for high-achieving students.
“I wanted a challenge,” Bun recalls. “The traditional high school experience didn’t feel like it would push me enough. I needed something more.” The Transition School provided an immersive environment with advanced coursework, allowing her to transition early to the UW. “I could move quickly and start thinking about research much earlier.”
Bun’s time wasn’t just academic — it helped her find a community of other highly motivated peers. “Fifteen is such a critical period in your life,” she says. As she began her college journey, “the world had been turned upside down” with the coronavirus pandemic. During the pandemic, Bun found support in her cohort, navigating the challenges of remote learning and isolation together. “The Transition School gave me the tools to succeed, but it was the people who made it meaningful.”
Bun works on the rig she built for her research, left, and, right, the rig is ready to roll. She uses optogenetics (a technique that uses light to activate specific neurons) to study how fruit flies perform tasks like walking and vibrating their wings at the same time.[/caption]
In an Engineering 101 course, Bun was captivated by UW ECE Professor Chet Moritz’s work on neural stimulation devices for spinal cord injury rehabilitation. “I found it fascinating that we could externally influence the nervous system to help people,” she says.
Driven by this newfound passion, Bun pursued a double degree in electrical engineering and psychology. As a junior, she took on her first research opportunity in the lab of Dr. Sama Ahmed, where she applied her academic knowledge alongside her practical engineering skills.
“My first two years were about finding my footing,” she recalls. “But once I joined the lab, everything clicked. I realized how much I loved the process of discovery — asking questions, designing experiments and seeing results come to life.”
Bun’s research in the Ahmed Lab centers on an important question: How do neural circuits manage multitasking? Using optogenetics — a technique that uses light to activate specific neurons — she studies how fruit flies perform tasks like walking and vibrating their wings at the same time.
“Despite its simplicity, the fruit fly can perform surprisingly complex behaviors,” Bun explains. “By understanding how the fly brain processes multiple tasks, we can start to uncover fundamental principles about how more complex brains, like ours, might work.
Bun reviews the movement she captured with her self-made rig. She studies multitasking in fruit flies to learn more about complex movement in people.[/caption]
Under Dr. Ahmed’s guidance, Bun began constructing her behavior rig, a device she designed and built from scratch to observe and analyze fly behavior. The rig integrates hardware and software to capture high-speed video of flies responding to light stimulation, enabling Bun to measure precise movements, like wing extension and walking patterns. “Building the rig was one of the most rewarding parts of my research,” she says. “It allowed me to apply my engineering skills and coursework to solve a real scientific problem.”
Bun’s work challenges the traditional approach of studying behaviors in isolation. “Most research looks at one behavior at a time,” she says. “But in the real world, animals — and humans — are constantly juggling multiple tasks within different states and environments. I wanted to explore how the brain handles that.”
Through the Office of Undergraduate Research, Bun received support in identifying funding opportunities for her innovative research. With their assistance, she applied for and was awarded the Mary Gates Research Scholarship in 2023 and the 2024-25 Levinson Emerging Scholars Award. This prestigious award supports students conducting creative research projects in biosciences under the guidance of UW faculty and recognizes scholars who demonstrate exceptional motivation and independence in their research. Bun is also a 2024-25 recipient of the Stephanie Subak Endowed Memorial Scholarship from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Bun, in the red light of the rig she made to study multitasking in fruit flies.[/caption]
Bun’s research, which explores how the brain prioritizes and processes information during multitasking, has significant implications. By understanding how the brain seamlessly combines some behaviors, her work could offer valuable insights into disorders like Parkinson’s, which affect cognitive function, potentially paving the way for new treatment approaches.
Bun will present her research as a Levinson Scholar at the Office of Undergraduate Research’s 28th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium. Her time with the Office of Undergraduate Research and in the Ahmed Lab has been transformative, fueling both her research and growth as a scientist.
“Dr. Ahmed gave me the freedom to take full ownership of my project,” Bun said. In the Ahmed Lab’s collaborative, non-hierarchical environment, undergraduates are treated as integral members of the team, and Bun has thrived in this setting. She designed the behavior rig from the ground up, conducted her own experiments and even began writing a paper on the methods the lab developed.
Building on this experience, Bun plans to pursue a Ph.D. to study neural engineering after graduation.
“Research has taught me to embrace challenges and think creatively,” she says. “It’s not just about finding answers — it’s about asking the right questions and pushing the boundaries of what we know.”
Learn more about biosystems research at UW ECE on the Biosystems webpage. The original version of this article is available on the UW Undergraduate Academic Affairs website.
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[post_content] => Researchers wear full-body clean suits in the WNF to prevent contamination. The air in this environment is 1,000 times cleaner than in an operating room.[/caption]
Imagine a high-tech workshop where scientists and engineers craft objects so small they can’t be seen with the naked eye — or even a standard microscope. These tiny structures — nanostructures — are thousands of times smaller than a strand of hair. And they are essential for faster computers, better smartphones and life-saving medical devices.
UW ECE MSEE student Katharine Lundblad, UW ECE undergraduate student Enrique Garcia, and WNF staff member Cameron Toskey follow the gowning process prior to entering the clean room to prevent particles from people or clothing from contaminating the wafers.[/caption]
Inside the WNF, which is the largest publicly accessible full-service cleanroom in the Pacific Northwest, researchers work in an ultra-clean environment. They wear full-body clean suits to prevent contamination. This protection isn’t necessarily for the workers but for the environment — the items being made are so small that a speck of dust, strand of hair or drop of sweat could ruin them. The air is 1,000 times cleaner than an operating room, and parts of the facility are bathed in yellow light to protect ultraviolet and blue light-sensitive materials.
Unlike many university nanofabrication labs, which were started by small academic research teams, the precursor to the WNF was founded by the Washington Technology Center as an incubator for companies working in nanotechnology R&D and prototyping. This early investment secured advanced tools from the start. In 2011, the UW took full ownership, and after a six-year, $37 million investment, transformed the WNF into a fully operational cleanroom with over 100 specialized processing and characterization tools.
Today it is critical for advancing semiconductor and quantum research.
WNF staff member Darick Baker, along with UW ECE students Katharine Lundblad and Jared Yoder, look on as UW ECE undergraduate student Enrique Garcia follows an initial alignment step prior to photolithography exposure on the AB-M machine, where the wafer is exposed to UV light through a mask that transfers the pattern from the mask to the wafer. This alignment step is necessary to ensure that the mask is well aligned to the wafer for pattern transfer.[/caption]
Primarily a Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) fabrication facility, the WNF enables the creation of microscopic devices that integrate mechanical and electrical components to sense, control and actuate on a micro scale — generating macro-scale effects. MEMS devices, including microsensors, microactuators and microelectronics, are fabricated using techniques similar to those used for integrated circuits. Car airbags rely on MEMS accelerometers, while smartphones use MEMS microphones and filters. In addition to MEMS, the WNF has recently begun fabricating chips and integrated circuits for photonics and trains students in critical semiconductor manufacturing skills — essential for expanding U.S. chip production.
“Remember the pandemic-era chip shortage that made buying a car or smart appliance difficult? If we manufacture more chips domestically, then we’ll be less reliant on importing them from other countries,” says WNF Director Maria Huffman. “Chips are critical not just for consumer goods but also for telecommunications — data transmission and processing, 5G networks and IoT connectivity — as well as national security, military systems and supply chain resilience.”
[caption id="attachment_37675" align="aligncenter" width="1049"] Yellow lighting in parts of the facility protects light-sensitive materials, such as those used on the silicon wafer shown here.[/caption]
UW ECE undergraduate student Jared Yoder inspects the wafer during one of the alignment processes.[/caption]
Nanofabrication facilities like the WNF enable groundbreaking research, from next-generation semiconductors to quantum technology. But maintaining such a facility isn’t cheap — the WNF relies on grants, industry partnerships and user fees to stay at the cutting edge.
“Advancing tomorrow’s technologies isn’t possible with decades-old equipment,” says Huffman. “We need to be cutting edge to drive cutting-edge innovation.” Industry partners like Micron and Intel have contributed funding, Meta has donated equipment, and many others pay to use the facility for R&D and prototyping.
“Generally, companies aren’t resourced to build their own experimental spaces or disrupt or stop their production lines to try something new,” explains Darick Baker, the facility’s engineering and business development manager. “This is where the WNF can help.”
[caption id="attachment_37674" align="alignright" width="418"] Advanced techniques like photolithography and etching create intricate patterns on silicon wafers like this one. A single 4- or 6-inch wafer can hold dozens of chips, depending on their size.[/caption]
Beyond industry use, the WNF is deeply invested in education. With support from Micron and Intel, it was one of the first in the Pacific Northwest to pilot introductory semiconductor short courses, which have since been replicated at other universities. This spring, the WNF is hosting hands-on classes where undergraduates — from UW engineering students to veterans in a Bellevue College technical training program — will build basic functional devices on silicon wafers.
“Industry needs people in many roles to be trained to work with nanomaterials — not just engineers and scientists but technicians, maintenance workers and more,” Baker says.
Whether advancing semiconductor research, unlocking quantum potential or training future innovators, collaboration is key. At the WNF, researchers, students and industry partners work side by side, tackling nanoscale challenges to shape the future in big ways.
The eye-tracking glasses, made by Pupil Labs, allow researchers to precisely monitor where subjects look when encountering autonomous systems, helping create more personalized safety parameters.[/caption]
Adapted from story by Amy Sprague / UW A&A; Photos by Dennis Wise / University of Washington
The future of building trustworthy autonomous systems may lie in wearing glasses. A&A Assistant Professor Karen Leung, with co-Principal Investigator Anat Caspi, director of the Allen School’s Taskar Center for Accessible Technology, has received a $300,000 National Science Foundation grant to explore how specialized eyeglasses could help autonomous vehicles and robots better understand and adapt to human comfort levels. Undergraduate researchers Senna Keesing (A&A), Marc Alwan (CSE) and Kyshawn Warren (UW ECE) are carrying out the research in Leung’s Control and Trustworthy Robotics Lab (CTRL).
This work stems from a simple observation: people aren't identical in their comfort levels around autonomous systems. "I've watched how people interact with autonomous systems in their daily lives," Leung shares. "What makes one person perfectly comfortable might make another quite nervous. We need to bridge this gap."
The research team’s approach involves specialized eyeglasses that observe how individuals scan their environment. These insights help autonomous systems understand each person's unique safety preferences and adapt accordingly. Picture an autonomous wheelchair that learns whether its user prefers to give other pedestrians a wide berth or is comfortable with closer encounters – all while maintaining core safety standards.
[caption id="attachment_37637" align="aligncenter" width="1184"] UW ECE student Kyshawn Warren (left), and UW students Senna Keesing and Marc Alwan pose with the specialized equipment used to study human-robot interactions. The sensor-equipped helmets track movements and speed, while eye-tracking glasses monitor gaze patterns. Top right: Marc Alwan models the eye-tracking. Bottom right: The customized hard hats with the Lab’s logo have sensors mounted to the top that track movement.[/caption]
The research tackles a crucial challenge in autonomous mobility: earning public trust. Traditional autonomous systems operate with fixed safety parameters, potentially making some users uncomfortable while frustrating others with overcautious behavior. Leung's team aims to create more nuanced systems that can recognize and respond to individual comfort levels.
Karen Leung, A&A Assistant Professor and Anat Caspi, Director of the Allen School’s Taskar Center for Accessible Technology[/caption]
"We're not just developing technology. We're working to create autonomous systems that truly understand and respect human preferences. That's the key to building trust."
Kyshawn Warren models the eye-tracking glasses, which register real-time gaze data on a connected smartphone. Warren is a 4th-year undergraduate in the UW ECE Combined BS-MS program, with a research focus on computer vision for robotic applications and computing, including embedded systems and ASIC design.[/caption]
Below, Kyshawn Warren monitors a demo of the cameras and accompanying data collection. Warren's involvement in this project mainly includes utilizing the scene images and gaze location to determine what objects within a person’s view they consider to be safety critical for their navigation, and then tracking those objects as they remain within the person’s view.
"This research has been an eye-opening experience that has given me much insight into how much our brain does subconsciously and how we can visualize these things in a way that computers can learn from and apply for autonomous systems," says Warren. "Moving forward, my research lab and I will be working on implementing what we have learned, in addition to a path-planning algorithm, onto an autonomous system such as a wheelchair so that there can be autonomous navigation with human preference in mind." UW ECE Professor Maryam Fazel is a program co-chair for the 2025 International Conference on Machine Learning, which will be held from July 13 to 19 in Vancouver, Canada. She is one of four faculty members from universities across the United States and Canada, who together are overseeing all aspects of peer-review of the paper submissions and of producing the event. Photo by Ryan Hoover / UW ECE[/caption]
Artificial intelligence is all over the news these days. This powerful technology comes with a bright promise to usher humanity into a new era of better health, connectivity, and prosperity. But it also holds the dark potential to disrupt economies, damage social systems, and perhaps even plunge our world into information chaos. With so much at stake, it might be encouraging to know that scientists and engineers recognize these serious issues with artificial intelligence and are tackling them right now, from every perspective imaginable.
A case in point resides within a subset of artificial intelligence that doesn’t get as much public attention — machine learning, a field of study aimed at developing statistical algorithms that can learn from data and perform tasks without explicit instructions. Machine learning is at the core of artificial intelligence. For example, machine learning enables large language models like ChatGPT, computer vision in self-driving cars like those at Waymo, and algorithms that underpin popular social media platforms like TikTok.
The upcoming 2025 International Conference on Machine Learning, which will be held from July 13 to 19 in Vancouver, Canada, is dedicated to the advancement and improvement of this branch of artificial intelligence. With well over 15,000 attendees expected this year, the ICML is the oldest, second-largest and fastest-growing conference of its kind in the world. Over 12,000 research papers focused on machine learning have been submitted to the conference as well as 350 “position papers,” which are designed to bring attention to urgent issues in machine learning, such as privacy, safety, algorithmic biases, and intellectual property concerns. Conference attendees will examine and discuss these topics in detail, a process that builds groundwork for solutions to some of the most urgent and complex problems that artificial intelligence and machine learning present today.
Register to attend the 2025 International Conference on Machine LearningUW ECE Professor Maryam Fazel is a program co-chair for this year’s Conference. She is one of four faculty members from universities across the United States and Canada, who together are overseeing all aspects of peer-review of the paper submissions and of producing the event. Fazel holds the Moorthy Family Career Inspiration Development Professorship, is the UW ECE Lytle Lectureship chair, and is director of the Institute for Foundations of Data Science at the UW, which brings together data science experts and tools from the mathematical, statistical, and algorithmic foundations of machine learning to address contemporary data science challenges. “It is a privilege for me to be a chair of this Conference. I’m trying very hard to make ICML the best it can be, serve all the communities that are involved, and contribute to the growth of the field,” Fazel said. “I’m also looking forward to the productive discussions we will have about issues and challenges related to artificial intelligence and machine learning.” I sat down with Fazel to learn more about this year’s ICML and how it will be contributing to the development of machine learning and artificial intelligence.
UW ECE Associate Teaching Professor Mahmood Hameed has a talent for connecting with students. He is known for his exceptional ability as an educator, the love and respect he has for his students, and his passion for teaching.[/caption]
UW ECE Associate Teaching Professor Mahmood Hameed has a superpower — his unique ability to connect with students. He also has a super-powerful memory. Hameed memorizes and can recall the name of every student in his classes who talks to him at least once. That’s right, all of them. Hundreds of students take Hameed’s courses every quarter, but years later, he still remembers the names of everyone who spoke with him. For many students, he can also remember their personal interests as well as their academic and career goals. This superb recall is but one example of Hameed’s exceptional ability as an educator, which stems from the love and respect he has for his students and his passion for teaching.
“At times, it can freak students out when three or five years later, I still remember their name and some of their interests. I’m not trying. After a while, it’s just there in my memory,” Hameed said. “I believe it is a privilege to teach. I purposefully memorize my students’ names because that’s a way of showing respect and investing in our connection.”
As his students can attest, Hameed is an extraordinary professor.
[caption id="attachment_37622" align="alignleft" width="514"] UW ECE undergraduate Kyle Orth has taken several courses from Hameed.[/caption]
“From the moment one enters Professor Hameed’s classroom, it becomes clear that he is far more than an instructor. He strives to learn each individual’s name, creating an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect,” said UW ECE undergraduate Feier Long, who has served as a teaching assistant for Hameed. “He is a genuine mentor who inspires individuals to grow and discover their potential. He does not merely teach, he guides, encourages, and supports in a way that leaves a lasting impression on those fortunate enough to learn from him."
“Professor Hameed is an exceptional instructor. He is passionate, goes above and beyond to engage his students, and clearly wants us not only to succeed in his classes, but also to grow in our enthusiasm for the field,” said UW ECE undergraduate Kyle Orth. “He is an extremely interesting person to talk to, not only for his expertise in the field, but particularly for his eagerness to connect you to resources that will help you succeed. He loves getting to know people and has an unmatched passion for helping students understand complex topics in electrical and computer engineering.”
In 2023, Hameed received a UW ECE Outstanding Teaching Award in recognition of his contributions to the Department and the impact he has had on students. This honor, received early in his career, could make one wonder how Hameed developed his “superpowers” in the classroom. There is no doubt that some of his exceptional abilities were there from birth, but others were formed by his upbringing, environment, and journey to UW ECE.
UW ECE Professor Denise Wilson presenting Hameed with the 2023 Outstanding Teaching Award certificate in an awards ceremony held in the Allen Center Atrium.[/caption]
Hameed grew up in Southern India, in the city of Hyderabad. As a child, he became fascinated with remote-controlled toy cars that his father brought home for him to play with. He wanted to learn how the cars worked and how signals were sent through the air. This childhood fascination soon blossomed into a lasting interest in other electronic devices. He also was born into a family environment and culture that emphasized science and technology. This mix of nature and nurture pointed him toward engineering early in life.
Surprisingly, Hameed said that he wasn’t a particularly good student until college. He had trouble seeing the value and practical purpose for what he was taught in high school. Despite this fact, He attended Osmania University in Hyderabad. There, he learned first-hand the difference good teachers can make in a student’s life. At Osmania University, Hameed had instructors who took the time to show him how what he was learning was relevant to the real world. This was the missing spark. Once Hameed could connect theoretical knowledge with practical applications, he could see purpose for the work he was doing. This then motivated him to study hard and excel. In 2005, he earned his bachelor’s degree in electronics and communication engineering, graduating with highest distinction.
“When I teach something, and students are able to make connections, and things start making sense to them, I can see it in their eyes, I can see it in their face. That, to me, is rewarding.” — UW ECE Associate Teaching Professor Mahmood Hameed[caption id="attachment_37624" align="alignleft" width="1196"]
Hameed giving a lesson to EE 242 and EE 233 students during one of his popular "active group office hours" sessions. Pictured left to right: Kyle Orth, Rachel Juliet Walland, Sophie McGee, Qifeng Yang, Jiwei Zheng, Frankie Lee Reyna, Max Gonzalez, Nathan S Joslin, with Leeza Leonova seated with back to the camera.[/caption]
Hameed then chose to make a big leap, moving from India to America. He attended the University of Kansas, where he received his master’s and doctoral degrees in electrical engineering. He said he learned how to be a good teacher from the instructors there, such as professors Rongqing Hui, David Petr, and James Stiles. He worked as a lecturer for a year at the University before completing his doctoral studies in 2016 and accepting a position as lecturer at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he worked for five years. In early 2022, Hameed and his family moved to Seattle, so his wife could accept a job opportunity while he continued to work remotely.
“Leaving RPI was one of the most difficult things for me to do because the bonds that I had formed with students and faculty were very strong,” Hameed said. “But there was a promising opening at UW ECE. So, I applied, was accepted, and I started working here.”
In September 2022, Hameed joined UW ECE as an assistant teaching professor. Since then, he has built a solid reputation for excellence among students, faculty, and staff in the Department. In addition to instructing students, Hameed conducts engineering education research. He has received grants to develop hands-on activities in core classes as well as explore issues students face related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. In September 2024, he joined the UW ECE Office of the Chair as undergraduate program coordinator for the Department.
“I work with the advising team to identify areas of improvement. Given that I am well connected with students, it’s quite easy for me to get a feel for what problems are bothering them and what can be solved,” Hameed said. “We have amazing students, faculty, and staff. And, to me, it’s a family. I feel like I’m connected to the soul of the Department.”
(left) Hameed teaching the EE 233 Circuit Theory course during winter 2025 quarter; (right) Hameed talks with a group of UW ECE undergraduate students during office hours, including, left to right, Grace Liu, Grace Kara Lee, and Ayush Kulkarni (foreground).[/caption]
“Professor Hameed does a wonderful job of giving us context throughout each course of where we are headed,” Orth said. “He ties theoretical knowledge to practical examples, along with anecdotes about what sorts of real-world problems are solved with the techniques and skills we are taught in class.”
Hameed goes the extra mile for his students by providing helpful coaching and advice both in and out of class. He also constructs rigorous exams to ensure that his students’ knowledge is solid. Hameed said he realized that engineering can sometimes be a difficult field, one that requires determination and commitment for success.
“In order for me to teach my students well, I have to give them everything I have. But in order for them to know what their limits are, I have to test them in a challenging manner,” Hameed said. “Without that challenge, I’m disrespecting the student. At some time during the student’s life, there is a point where they accept that all the struggle is worth it. That’s the moment I’m after.”
Hameed said he is continually refining his teaching and mentorship techniques. He collaborates on engineering education research with the Office for the Advancement of Engineering Teaching & Learning in the UW College of Engineering. He also is planning future collaborations with UW ECE faculty who study engineering education, such as professors Denise Wilson, John Raiti, and Sep Makhsous. This spring, he will also be a part of the Washington State Academic RedShirt (STARS) resilience program by participating in Fail Forward, an event where UW leaders share stories with students about how personal failures can build resilience and help lay the foundation for future success.
Hameed answers a question from UW ECE student Stephen Wilson Ottaway, while students Rachel Juliet Walland and Sophie McGee wait their turns to speak with Hameed.[/caption]
When asked what advice he might offer undergraduate students, Hameed said that he would like to see students focus more on the learning experience, rather than on their grade point average. He emphasized that success in engineering is not necessarily about good grades or high intelligence, but rather, it is about the amount of time and energy a student is willing to put into learning. He also expressed a hope that his teaching and mentorship will enable students to succeed in their own careers and then use their skills to do good in the world. Judging from what his students say, he is well on his way to achieving this goal.
“If I could start over my entire ECE journey, I would gladly take all my core classes with Professor Hameed. He is an invaluable asset to the Department, and his mentorship has profoundly enriched my academic journey,” Long said. “His enthusiasm and passion go beyond teaching — he genuinely cares about helping students recognize and reach their full potential. I will always be grateful for the impact he has had on me and my education.”
Learn more about UW ECE Associate Teaching Professor Mahmood Hameed on his bio page.
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