National Science Foundation (NSF) Expeditions in Computing Program and InTrans Program and industry partners
Jason (Jingsheng) Cong, PhD (Computer Science), Director
CDSC looks beyond parallelization and focuses on domain-specific customization as the next disruptive technology to bring orders-of-magnitude power-performance efficiency improvement. CDSC develops a general methodology for creating novel, customizable computing platforms; and associated compilation tools and runtime management environment to support domain-specific computing. Its recent focus is on design and implementation of accelerator-rich architectures, from single chips to data centers; and actively exploring the use of emerging computing technologies such as neuromorphic computing and quantum computing. It also develops highly automated compilation tools and runtime management software for customizable heterogeneous platforms including multicore CPUs, many-core GPUs, FPGAs, and quantum computers. By combining these capabilities, CDSC researchers are able to deliver a supercomputer-in-a-box or -in-a-cluster. This approach has been successfully applied to multiple application domains such as machine learning, big data analytics, medical imaging, and bioinformatics.
National Science Foundation (NSF) Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace FRONTIER Award
Amit Sahai, PhD (Computer Science), Director
The Center for Encrypted Functionalities tackles the deep and far-reaching problem of general-purpose program obfuscation, which aims to make an arbitrary computer program unintelligible while preserving its functionality. Viewed in a different way, the goal of obfuscation is to enable software that can keep secrets: it makes use of secrets, but such that these secrets remain hidden even if an adversary can examine the software code in its entirety and analyze its behavior as it runs. Secure obfuscation could enable a host of applications, from hiding the existence of many vulnerabilities introduced by human error to hiding cryptographic keys within software.
The center’s primary mission is to transform program obfuscation from an art to a rigorous mathematical discipline. In addition to its direct research program, the center organizes retreats and workshops to bring together researchers to carry out its mission. The center also engages in high-impact outreach efforts, such as the development of free massive open online courses (MOOCs).
Department of Energy (DOE) Energy Frontier Research Center
Sarah Tolbert, PhD (Chemistry and Biochemistry, Materials Science and Engineering), Director
SCALAR aims to use the power of synthetic materials chemistry to design materials, interfaces, and architectures that address long-standing problems in electrochemical energy storage systems. A vital aspect of the SCALAR program is the simultaneous design of new functional materials at the atomic, nanoscale, and electrode levels in an effort to bring about meaningful advances in battery performance. The electrochemical energy storage problems that SCALAR addresses fall into three areas: increasing capacity through multi-electron redox, improving power density by reducing resistive losses in materials and electrodes, and improving the reversibility and cycling stability of electrode materials.
SCALAR further takes advantage of the dynamic Southern California region, which houses a large number of world-class research universities. Four of them—Caltech, UC Santa Barbara, UC San Diego, and University of Southern California—and the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center national laboratory, join lead institution UCLA to make a regional hub for battery research that leverages all partners’ proximity and complementary facilities.
National Science Foundation (NSF) Engineering Research Center
Gregory P. Carman, PhD (Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering), Director; Jane P. Chang, PhD (Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering), Deputy Director
TANMS is a 10-year program, focused on miniaturizing electromagnetic devices, using a three-pillar strategy involving research, translation, and education. The research strategy engages the world’s best researchers from the five TANMS campuses (California State University, Northridge; Northeastern University; UC Berkeley; UCLA; and University of Texas at Dallas) to understand and develop new nanoscale multiferroic devices. The fundamental research activities work synergistically with the center’s 11 industrial partners to translate the advancements into applications such as ultra-efficient memory, electrically small antennas, and motors to manipulate individual T-cells. These research and translational efforts rely on a workforce of postgraduate, graduate, undergraduate, and K-12 students supporting the education mission of producing the next generation of engineering leaders. The TANMS program relies on an inclusive atmosphere where all are welcome in the center’s quest to change the world.
Kang L. Wang, PhD (Electrical and Computer Engineering), Director
CEGN undertakes frontier research and development in the areas of nanotechnology in energy and nanoelectronics. It tackles major issues of scaling, energy efficiency, energy generation, and energy storage faced by the electronics industry. CEGN researchers are innovating novel solutions through a number of complementary efforts that minimize power usage and cost without compromising electronic device performance. The approach is based on the integration of magnetic, carbon-based, organic, and optoelectronic materials and devices.
King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) in Saudi Arabia and UCLA Samueli collaborate in CEGN under KACST’s established Joint Center of Excellence Program (JCEP) to promote educational technology transfer and research exchanges. KACST has an agreement with UCLA for research in nanoelectronics and clean energy for the next three years. KACST is both Saudi Arabia’s national science agency and its premier national laboratory. CEGN was awarded an additional $11 million through 2022 in its recent renewal effort, expanding on the work that was originally funded at $3.7 million.
National Science Foundation (NSF) Future Internet Architecture (FIA) Program
Lixia Zhang, PhD (Computer Science), Principal Investigator
While the Internet has far exceeded expectations, it has also stretched initial assumptions, often creating tussles that challenge its underlying communication model. The TCP/IP architecture was designed to create a communication network where packets named only communication endpoints. Sustained growth in e-commerce, digital media, social networking, and smartphone applications has led to dominant use of the Internet as a distribution network. Solving distribution problems through a point-to-point communication protocol is complex and error-prone.
The Named Data Networking Project investigates a new Internet architecture, called named data networking (NDN), that changes the host-centric TCP/IP architecture to a data-centric architecture. This conceptually simple shift has far-reaching implications for how we design, develop, deploy, and use networks and applications. Today’s TCP/IP architecture uses addresses to communicate; NDN directly uses application data names to fetch data. TCP/IP secures the data container and communication channels; NDN directly secures the data, decoupling trust in data from trust in hosts. The project takes an application-driven, experimental approach to design and build a variety of applications on NDN to drive the development and deployment of the architecture and its supporting modules, test prototype implementations, and encourage community use, experimentation, and feedback into the design.
The new Future Internet Architectures—Next Phase (FIA-NP) program began in May 2014. The Named Data Networking Project is now under FIA-NP funding.
Rajit Gadh, PhD (Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering), Director
SMERC performs research, develops technology, creates innovations, and demonstrates advanced technologies to enable the development of the next generation of the electric utility grid—the smart grid. SMERC is currently working on electric vehicle-to-grid integration (V1G and V2G), microgrids, distributed renewable integration including solar and wind, energy storage integration within microgrids, autonomous electric vehicles, distributed energy resources, automated demand response, cybersecurity, and consumer behavior. SMERC also furnishes thought leadership through partnership between utilities, renewable energy companies, technology providers, electric vehicle and electric appliance manufacturers, Department of Energy (DOE) research laboratories, and universities, so as to collectively work on envisioning, planning, and executing the smart grid of the future. The partnership recently launched the Energy for a Smart Grid (ESmart) Industry Consortium. It is expected that this smart grid will enable integration of renewable energy sources, allow for integration of electric vehicles and energy storage, improve grid efficiency and resilience, reduce power outages, allow for competitive energy pricing, and overall become more responsive to market, consumer, and societal needs. SMERC was a participant in the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) Regional Smart Grid Demonstration Project, which was funded by DOE at an estimated $120 million for LADWP and its partners combined. Also, a SMERC electric vehicle microgrid demonstration project was funded by the California Energy Commission.
Nanoelectronics Research Initiative National Institute of Excellence
Kang L. Wang, PhD (Electrical and Computer Engineering), Director
Successor to the Western Institute of Nanoelectronics, WINs focuses on cutting-edge research including nanostructures for high-efficiency solar cells, patterned nanostructures for integrated active optoelectronics on silicon, and carbon nanotube circuits.
Through the multidisciplinary research efforts of WINs, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) awarded UCLA $6 million to build the Western Institute of Nanotechnology−Green Engineering and Metrology (WIN-GEM) located within the Engineering building suite on campus.