FIU College of Engineering and Computing

source: Annual Report 2010-2011, College of Engineering and Computing

Department Overview

In 2010-11, the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) continued its growth and accomplishments. A large number of ECE faculty has considerable industrial experience and some maintain active consulting roles to provide current and relevant knowledge to the students in classroom and research settings. The ECE Department continues to improve the quality of the undergraduate program by reviewing and updating the curricula for both the EE and CpE programs to attract more high school graduates and transfer students.

Department Highlights

The total degrees awarded in 2010 – 2011 increased by 9%. The undergraduate enrollment in the fall 2010 increased by 12.9% compared to the previous years.    The overall enrollment for the undergraduate and graduate increased by 7%. The total undergraduate and graduate FTE for 2010 – 11 increased by 23.5%.

In this academic year, the ECE Department had 16 full-time tenured or tenured track faculty members. Fifty percent of the ECE faculty served as editors in major journals either as a Guest, Associate or member of  the Editorial Board.

In spring 2011, Dr. Sakhrat Khizroev, a well renowned Nanotechnology inventor, returned to FIU to lead a new research enterprise in Nanotechnology for Medicine (NanoMedicine).

Drs. Adjouadi and Barreto continue to lead 2 of the 4 components of the FIU Center for Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST), a multiyear project sponsored by the National Science Foundation.

ECE Professors Adjouadi and Barreto continue their collaboration with Dr. Naphtali Rishe (SCIS) in the implementation of the NSF Major Research Instrumentation project titled  “Development of an Instrument for Information Science and Computing in Neuroscience“.  Adjouadi is the principal investigator of this project that also involves collaboration with Miami Children’s Hospital and the Children’s National Medical Center.

Dr. Mohammad significantly expanded his Smart Power Grid laboratory.

Dr. Larkins made significant progress in his bio-nano sensor project.

Research and Funding

The department continues to enhance the research in the areas of energy, nano-technology and nano-medicine.

Research efforts continue to be funded through major governmental, institutional and corporate sponsors such as the National Science Foundation, the US Department of Defense, the Office of Naval Research, the US Air Force, the National Security Agency, the Department of Education, the Army Research Lab,  Miami Dade County Public Schools, Florida State University, among others.  Although the research funding in 2009-10 increased significantly from 2008-09, in 2010 – 11 it declined somewhat in comparison to previous years. The total award amount including new grants and continuing research was $2 million.

Fall Term Enrollment

Degrees Awarded

Sponsored Research Awards ($Millions)