Research Overview

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Research Focus Areas

Research in UD’s ECE department is diverse. Our interdisciplinary, diverse, modern research environment allows us to conduct fundamental and applied research in a range of subjects, from photonics to internet technologies. Faculty research can be divided into three broad areas:

Joint and secondary faculty appointments exist with Physics, Mechanical Engineering, and Computer Science. We encourage entrepreneurship through coursework and partnerships with Horn Entrepreneurship, the creative engine for entrepreneurship education and advancement at UD. We also have a strong history of intellectual property and start-up companies that grow from faculty research, facilitated by a close relationship with UD’s Office of Economic Innovation & Partnerships.

Refer to the Faculty Matrix to see the faculty who perform research in each of these areas.

Computer Engineering

Computer engineering at UD focuses extensive efforts on the design of computer processors and computing systems. In the area of processors, UD has made significant design contributions to processors that allow hundreds of thousands of processors to be incorporated into a single system. In the area of computing systems, UD research and education encompasses many topics, ranging from new ways to develop software to critical issues of system security. Moreover, as a pioneer in the development of the Internet, UD computer engineering continues to excel in areas such as wireless networking, network-based computing and information retrieval.

Subareas at UD are:

  • Computer systems
  • Cybersecurity
  • Network science
  • Software engineering

Related: Supercomputing Research Labs

Nanoelectronics, Electromagnetics & Photonics

Nanoelectronics, electromagnetics and photonics at UD encompass a broad spectrum of research activity ranging from exploring the fundamental nature of electronic materials to developing new photonic and nanoelectronic devices and systems. We have a large and dynamic group of faculty and graduate students engaged in a wide range of cutting-edge research programs, from solar cell research aimed at harvesting the sun’s energy at record-breaking efficiencies, novel light emitting devices, and new systems of millimeter and terahertz imaging. The departments’ extensive state-of-the-art clean rooms and nanofabrication facilities are available to all graduate students. Graduates go on to successful careers in academia, industry and government laboratories. 

Related: UD’s Nanofabrication Facilities

Signal Processing, Communications & Controls

Signal processing, communications & controls at UD involve the manipulation, communication, processing and exploitation of information. The applications include coding and modulation for communications, resource allocation in wireless communication systems, sensing, radar, digital television, human-computer interaction, noise mitigation, robotic surgery, regulation of cellular processes, modeling of dynamic behavior of diseases including HIV and cancer, medical treatment and applications in guidance and tracking. Research in this area combines applied mathematics, signal acquisition and display, and computer software. UD’s ECE department boasts a strong group of both young and experienced faculty in this area. Graduates go on to jobs in academia, government and industry.