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 Earthshots Center
Sarah Tolbert, PhD (Chemistry and Biochemistry, Materials Science and Engineering), Director
StORE develops methods to mitigate and manage structural and volumetric changes during electrochemical cycling of sodium-ion batteries, with a goal of creating lower-cost electrode materials for grid-level applications. The rising cost of lithium limits the practicality of using lithium-ion batteries for these applications, but sodium-ion batteries offer a viable, low-cost alternative. For sodium to replace lithium in batteries, however, methods are needed to accommodate the larger size of sodium ion and overcome the detrimental effects of strain from its insertion. The center uses three synergistic research thrusts: development of metal oxides with rigid channels that can reversibly accommodate insertion of large guests like sodium ion with minimal structure change; understanding, control, and/or suppression of glide transitions in layered insertion hosts during sodium ion intercalation; and development of insertion hosts with amorphous intermediates that can plastically deform to accommodate strain.
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 focused on miniaturizing electromagnetic devices by efficiently controlling magnetism at small scales using multiferroic materials. Its research has led to advancements in ultra-efficient memory, electrically small antennas, and micron-scale actuators capable of manipulating structure once imagined only in science fiction. A key aspect of TANMS success is its strong engagement with industry, which has enabled translation of fundamental discoveries into practical applications. The center’s translational focus has expanded beyond multiferroics to the school’s broader research portfolio through its Office of Commercialization and Industrial Collaboration.
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 work that was originally funded at $3.7 million.
Lixia Zhang, PhD (Computer Science), Principal Investigator
While the Internet has far exceeded expectations, it has also challenged initial assumptions. TCP/IP architecture was designed to create a communication network where packets named only communication endpoints. Steady growth in digital media, e-commerce, social networking--and especially the recent increase in AI applications--have revealed the inherent limitations of TCP/IP architecture’s ability to meet the demands for highly secure, scalable, and resilient communications. The Named Data Networking Project explores a new Internet architecture, called named data networking (NDN), that changes the address-based, host-centric TCP/IP network into a name-based, data-centric architecture with built-in security. This conceptually straightforward shift has far-reaching impacts on how networks and applications are designed, developed, and deployed. TCP/IP architecture uses addresses to communicate without security, which was later bolted onto communication channels as an afterthought. NDN secures data directly and uses application data names to fetch data, decoupling trust in data from trust in hosts. The project follows an application-driven, experimental approach to the design and building of various applications on NDN, to promote the development and deployment of this architecture and its supporting modules; test prototype implementations; and encourage community use, experimentation, and feedback into their design.
Rajit Gadh, PhD (Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering), Director
SMERC advances next-generation electric mobility and smart grid solutions through cutting-edge research, technology development, and demonstrations. By harnessing artificial intelligence, machine learning, the Internet of Things, control systems, and data optimization techniques, SMERC tackles challenges in vehicle-to-grid integration (V1G and V2G), microgrid design, distributed renewables (solar and wind), energy storage, electric vehicle operations, and autonomous vehicle systems. SMERC fosters thought leadership and industry collaboration through strategic partnerships with electric fleets, utilities, technology firms, private-sector stakeholders, electric vehicle manufacturers, Department of Energy research laboratories, and academic institutions. These partnerships are designed to accelerate the deployment of sustainable mobility and smart grid solutions through collective work on envisioning, planning, and executing the smart grid of the future.
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.