Abstract: Introduce the graduate seminar series and welcome students.
Speaker Bio: Biography: Sarika Khushalani Solanki received B.E. and M.E. degrees from India in 1998 and 2000 respectively. She received Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Mississippi State University, USA in 2006. She is currently an Associate Professor in Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering at West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, since August 2009. Prior to that, she worked for Open Systems International Inc, Minneapolis, MN as a Senior Engineer for three years. She has served as reviewer in National Science Foundation and Department of Energy and is past president of IEEE Distribution Systems Analysis Subcommittee and IEEE Career Promotion and Workforce Development Subcommittee and is editor of Transactions in Smart Grid. She is a recipient of Honda Fellowship award and NSF Career Award. Her research interests are Smart Grid, Power Distribution System, computer applications in power system analysis and power system control.
Speaker: Martin Dunlap
Date: January 27th, 2025
Time: 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Place: ESB 207
Abstract: He will introduce the services and resources available through the WVU Libraries. These library resources may be critical to your graduate research.
Speaker Bio: He joined WVU in 1998 and has spent 10+ years working in the swamps of Florida as an environmental consultant. Since then he has worked in libraries first in Cleveland, Ohio and then here at WVU in various capacities. He recently got promoted to be the Engineering Librarian at WVU.
Speaker: WVU IT
Date: NA
Time: NA
Place: At your desk
Abstract: There is an online plagiarism tutorial at https://wvu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6W3rGjsAaEenYgd
Here are the steps:
View videos.
Take a self-test.
Repeat steps for each module.
Take the Plagiarism Avoidance Test.
How do you progress through this tutorial?
View videos or read material in a module. Take a self-test after reading and viewing materials in a module. This self-test is for practice and taking it will open the next module. Repeat steps for each module, five modules in all. After viewing / reading the material in each module and taking the self-tests, take the Plagiarism Avoidance Test.
Speaker: Matthew Valenti
Date: February 10th
Time: 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Place: ESB 207
Abstract: The security requirements of 6G mobile networks are expected to be significantly more complex than those of 5G, driven by the proliferation of massive machine-type communications (mMTC), the stringent demands of secure ultra-reliable low-latency communication (sURLLC), and the frequent handovers necessitated by small cells and non-terrestrial networks (NTN). However, because 6G is anticipated to be an extension of 5G, it is important to learn from vulnerabilities in 5G to inform how security should be integrated into 6G networks. This talk begins with a review of 5G security procedures, focusing on how security contexts are initiated and handed off, as these are particularly vulnerable operations. Several known exploits are reviewed, and possible solutions considered. Many of the vulnerabilities manifest themselves during the initial stages of establishing a connection, including cell and network acquisition, registration, and authentication and key agreement. As 6G is only now beginning to be standardized, it is our hope that some of these recommendations are incorporated into the final standard.
Speaker Bio: Matthew Valenti is a Professor in the Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering at West Virginia University. Dr. Valenti's research and teaching interests are in the application areas of wireless networking, biometric identification, and cybersecurity. He received B.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Virginia Tech and an M.S. from the Johns Hopkins University. He previously worked as an Electronics Engineer at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Dr. Valenti serves as Director of the Center for Identification Technology Research (CITeR) at WVU, which is an NSF-funded Industry/University Cooperative Research Center (I/UCRC). Dr. Valenti also serves as the main point-of-contact (PoC) for the National Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) designation bestowed upon WVU by the National Security Agency (NSA). He has served as the Technical Program Chair for the 2017 IEEE Military Communications Conference (MILCOM) and the 2024 IEEE International Conference on Communications (ICC). He is recipient of the 2019 MILCOM Award for Sustained Technical Achievement in recognition to his career contributions to secure military communications. Dr. Valenti is registered as a Professional Engineer (P.E.) in the state of West Virginia and is a Fellow of the IEEE through the Communications Society.
Speaker: Brian Collins
Date: March 10
Time: 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Place: https://wvu.zoom.us/j/9188836315
Abstract: Agile methodologies have proven effective in traditional software development, but applying them to AI/ML projects presents unique challenges. This seminar delves into advanced Agile practices tailored to the dynamic and complex nature of AI/ML product development. Participants will learn how to adapt sprint cycles and Kanban approaches to accommodate experimental research, define "done" criteria for AI/ML tasks with inherent uncertainty, manage intricate data dependencies, and ensure continuous delivery despite the iterative nature of model training and evaluation. Through real-world examples and interactive discussions, attendees will gain practical insights into effectively leveraging Agile principles to accelerate AI/ML innovation and achieve high-impact business outcomes.
Speaker Bio: Brian Collins is a highly accomplished and innovative Technical Program Manager and Product Owner with over 20 years of experience and has delivered cutting-edge AI/ML products. He has a proven track record of leading high-performance Agile teams, driving product vision, and managing complex stakeholder relationships to achieve high-impact business outcomes. Brian's expertise lies in AI/ML product and program management, Agile leadership, strategic product roadmapping, and advanced data analysis. He has consistently demonstrated his ability to optimize processes and spearhead product strategies that result in groundbreaking user experiences. Brian holds a B.S. in Liberal Arts from The Pennsylvania State University, an M.B.A. from the University of Phoenix, a D.B.A. in Management from Argosy University, and an M.S. in Software Engineering from West Virginia University. Throughout his career, Brian has worked with leading organizations such as Amazon Artificial General Intelligence and UPMC, where he has led and contributed to the development of innovative AI/ML solutions.
Speaker: Anamitra Pal
Date: Monday, March 24th, 2025
Time: 5:00 PM
Place: ESB 207
Abstract:Due to increasing penetration of distributed energy resources, particularly in the form of roof-top solar photovoltaic, there is a genuine need to closely monitor the voltage over the entire length of the distribution feeder. Smart meters, present only at the terminal nodes of the feeder, cannot fulfill this need; they also have high reporting delays. Distribution phasor measurement units have the necessary speed, but it is cost-prohibitive to place them in bulk. Thus, monitoring voltages in real-time unobservable distribution systems is challenging. This talk will describe how the use of machine learning can help overcome this challenge by performing high-speed voltage estimation while accounting for the physical attributes and operational characteristics of modern distribution systems. To ensure trust in the machine learning-based approach, formal guarantees of performance will also be provided.
Bio:Anamitra Pal is an Associate Professor in the School of Electrical, Computer, and Energy Engineering at Arizona State University (ASU). He did his Bachelors in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, in 2008, and his Masters and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Virginia Tech in 2012 and 2014, respectively. His current research interests include data analytics with a special emphasis on time-synchronized measurements, artificial intelligence-applications in power systems, renewable generation integration studies, and critical infrastructure resilience. Dr. Pal has received the 2018 Young CRITIS Award for his contributions to the field of critical infrastructure protection, the 2019 Outstanding Young Professional Award from the IEEE Phoenix Section, the National Science Foundation CAREER Award in 2022, and the 2023 Centennial Professorship Award from ASU.
Speaker: Katherine Scott
Date: March 31
Time: 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Place: https://wvu.zoom.us/j/9188836315
Abstract: The Robot Operating System (ROS) stands as a pivotal example of how open-source software and hardware are revolutionizing robotics research, startup ecosystems, and software engineering practices. By providing a standardized framework, ROS accelerates development cycles, fosters collaboration, and democratizes access to advanced robotics capabilities. This talk will explore the profound impact of ROS, highlighting its role in enabling rapid prototyping for research, lowering barriers to entry for startups, and driving innovation across diverse software engineering domains. We will delve into specific examples of how ROS facilitates the integration of cutting-edge algorithms, sensors, and actuators, ultimately shaping the future of autonomous systems and demonstrating the broader potential of open-source methodologies in complex technological landscapes.
Speaker Bio: Katherine Scott is the developer advocate for the Robot Operating System (ROS) and Gazebo projects at Intrinsic, an Alphabet subsidiary. She is also a board member for the Open Source Hardware Association (OSHWA). Prior to working on the ROS project Katherine was the image analytics team lead at Planet Labs and 3Scan, and founder and lead software engineer for both Tempo Automation, and Sight Machine. Katherine holds a masters degree from Columbia University and electrical engineering and computer engineering undergraduate degrees from the University of Michigan.
Speaker: Kyle Hartig
Date: Monday, April 7, 2025
Time: 5:00 PM
Place: https://wvu.zoom.us/j/9188836315
Abstract: TBD
Bio: Kyle C. Hartig, is an Assistant Professor of Nuclear Engineering in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, member of the Florida Institute for National Security (FINS) at the University of Florida, and Joint Appointee with Savannah River National Laboratory. Before coming to UF, he spent a year as a Post-Doctoral Scholar at PNNL contributing to remote sensing research in support of two NNSA funded ventures. Dr. Hartig earned his Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering from the The Pennsylvania State University (PSU) at the University Park, PA campus, which was funded in part by the Nuclear Forensics Graduate Fellowship Program supported by DHS. He received his B.S. in Nuclear Engineering from Oregon State University (OrSU). He has held a number of positions within the Federal Government concerning Counterproliferation and Intelligence topics, and has authored a number of high-level internal publications.His areas of specialization includes remote sensing, nuclear nonproliferation/counterproliferation, nuclear security, and nuclear policy.