Electrical, Computer & Energy Engineering Department News - December 9, 2024

This week’s department meeting will be on Thursday, December 12th, and will include the following:

• Announcements
• Science Talk by Bob McLeod
• Main Discussion: Discussion with OCG
• Lunch: Sandwiches 

Our seniors have been hard at work building their initial proof of concept prototypes for their senior design projects. All are welcome to our open house on Dec. 12 to see what they have been up to and a glimpse of their final EXPO projects scheduled for April 25, 2025.

Capstone Mini Expo Preview
Capstone Lab: ECEE 2B37
Thurs., Dec. 12, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

• Friday, December 13: ECEE PhD student Jooeun Lee (Popovic Group) will defend her thesis from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. in DLC 1B70.

• Friday, December 13: ECEE PhD student Nick Krull (Kuester Group) will defend his thesis from 11:15 a.m. -1:15 p.m. in ECEE 1B55. Nick's thesis is titled "Modal & Network Analysis of Perforated Wave Guiding Structures Using the GSTC Approach".

  • Abstract: In this thesis we focus our attention on the analysis of certain waveguiding structures having perforated, rather than unperforated (continuous) geometries in their composition. Perforated wave guiding structures can arise in applications where the shield or return path may be purposely perforated or simply be an approximation to an imperfect condition. Classic guided waves as well as surface waves may result. Examples include a parallel plate waveguide containing an internal perforated sheet, coaxial cable having a braided outer shield or a uStrip transmission line in the presence of a perforated ground plane.

  • Here, a form of boundary condition known as the Generalized Sheet Transition Condition (GSTC) will be applied to gain modal as well as network circuit and S-Parameter information quickly but accurately. This technique uses the concept of porosities to model the transparencies of periodic perforations. Inductance and Capacitance approximations are developed to use in the Static version of the GSTC.

  • This presentation explores the applicability of these S-Parameters given that the near field interaction is ignored in the GSTCs. Analytical results programmed into Matlab are compared against the FEM tool HFSS for the same geometries.

Join the Department of Energy Computational Science Graduate Fellowship (DOE CSGF) staff as they host an informational application webinar at 1:30 p.m. CT on Tuesday, December 10.

This 90-minute-max Zoom session (register here) will provide an overview of the program and guidance for applying, and it will serve as a forum to ask related questions in a live Q&A format. A recording will also be made available via the fellowship website.

• Figueroa Family Fellowship
  • This $1,500 scholarship is available to a student working in the sciences or engineering. The applicant should demonstrate a commitment to the achievement of a diverse student body.
  • More information can be found on our site at: https://www.colorado.edu/graduateschool/funding/awards-grants/figueroa-family-fellowship
  • Apply here: https://grad.apply.colorado.edu/register/figueroa2425
    • Deadline to apply: Dec. 9, 2024 @ 11:59pm Mountain Time
• Vaughn-Tardif Graduate Student Fellowship
  • This fellowship will consist of full support for one academic semester (either Fall 2025 or Spring 2026) and includes a monthly stipend equal to that of the current 50% GPTI salary, tuition coverage of up to five dissertation hours, mandatory fees, and coverage under the student gold health insurance plan.
  • Application (and more information): https://grad.apply.colorado.edu/register/vaughn-tardif
  • Deadline: Dec. 20, 2024, at 11:59pm Mountain Time
• We are now accepting applications for the Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fund:
  • The Will of Dolores Zohrab Liebmann created a perpetual charitable trust designated as “The Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fund” for the purpose of funding advanced education and graduate study grants, which must be carried out entirely in the United States of America. The Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fellowships are to be awarded only to candidates who have outstanding undergraduate records, have demonstrated a need for financial assistance, are citizens of the United States of America, are enrolled in accredited colleges and universities in the United States and have received baccalaureate degrees. The amount of each Fellowship will cover actual tuition costs (no fees) plus an $18,000 annual stipend to be allocated towards room, board, and ordinary living expenses, as well as any income taxes thereon.
  • Application (and more information): https://grad.apply.colorado.edu/register/dzl2425
    • Deadline to apply: January 13, 2025 @ 11:59pm Mountain Time
• Finally, our next iteration of Graduate School Travel Grants is coming up on Dec. 12 at 12:01am until Dec. 15 at 11:59pm. More information can be found on our website, where an updated link will also be posted prior to the application window.

There are two running services on this server that are unpatched for known security issues:

FlexNet CVEs

• https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-20033
  • CVSS Base: 9.8 | Impact: 5.9 | Exploitability : 3.9
  • FlexNet Publisher version 11.16.1.0 and earlier
• https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2015-8277
  • CVSS Base: 9.8 | Impact: 5.9 | Exploitability : 3.9
  • FlexNet Publisher before 11.13.1.2 Security Update 1

If these belong to you, please reach out to Robin Elliott so that we can put you in touch with somebody that can help with the patches.

The Altera License Manager is currently not functioning correctly. If you use this software, please reach out to Robin Elliott at robin.elliott@colorado.edu to begin the process of getting it updated.

If no concerns are raised by 12/18/24, these services will be discontinued.

The campus is implementing an initiative to make computing on campus more secure. CEAS is aggressively pursuing this initiative. ECEE is in the first phase of the initiative which is working with OIT to understand the scope and details of the project. This initiative entails that ECEE staff will work with every faculty member, graduate student working in labs, and each staff employee to identify every computer in use in offices and labs and record the requested information. The start date has not yet been determined. Update notices will be put in this newsletter and announcements made during department meetings. Questions about this initiative should be directed to Robin.Elliott@colorado.edu.

• Teaching Labs (Capstone, Embedded Systems, Power Lab, Optics, RF, Highspeed Measurements, Circuits) IT Support: http://itll.link/servicedesk
• Research Labs License Server Support: support@craftypenguins.net
• Research Computing: https://www.colorado.edu/rc/
• Research License Server (ecee-flexlm-2.colorado.edu): Submit a request to: support@craftypenguins.net
• IT Service Center: Contact the IT Service Center (303-735-4357 or help@colorado.edu) for help with all OIT services including email and IdentiKey, Internet connectivity and other technology-related questions.
• Buff Techs Desktop Support: OIT provides no-cost software support for laptop and desktop workstations to faculty, staff, and students. You can also register your laptop to aid in recovery in case it is lost or stolen.
• Dedicated Desktop Support: Departmental IT Support customized for your needs.
• Network Troubleshooting: Submit this form to report network connectivity issues on campus.
• Classroom Technology Problem Reporting form: Submit this form to report an issue with technology malfunctioning in a classroom (except for the ECEE classrooms – contact Bret.Moreland@colorado or 303-503-7939 for support)
• Self-Service Help Request: Submit a request directly to the ITSC using ServiceNow
• Lightboard: Contact  Andy Garcia, Andrew.Garcia-3@colorado.edu, in the Mechanical Engineering department for scheduling and technical assistance
• OIT Website https://oit.colorado.edu/support
• All other issues, contact Robin.McClanahan@colorado.edu or 303-492-6736.