#EngineerChange
August 2020

UCLA Computer Scientists Set Benchmarks to Optimize Quantum Computer Performance
Their research has revealed that improving quantum-compilation design could help achieve computation speeds up to 45 times faster than currently demonstrated.

Learning vs. Doing: How the Brain Interprets Observation and Action
UCLA study shows understanding of shared neuron circuits in the brain may help improve movement for paraplegics in the future.

Smartwatch Tracks Medication Levels to Personalize Treatments
UCLA engineers and their colleagues have demonstrated that drug levels inside the body can be tracked in real time using a custom smartwatch that analyzes sweat.

Computer Scientist's COVID-19 Predictor Featured on CBS8-San Diego
Watch UCLA computer science assistant professor Quanquan Gu on CBS8-San Diego, as he shares the latest COVID-19 prediction based on his machine-learning models, which are used by the CDC and public health officials.

computer science assistanat professor Quanquan Gu

Mathieu Bauchy, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering

Glass Scientist Receives National Science Foundation Award for Early Career Faculty
Mathieu Bauchy, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, has received an NSF CAREER award, the agency’s highest honor for early career faculty members.

Professor Wins Lifetime Achievement Award for Work on Communication Networks
Computer science professor Lixia Zhang has been recognized by the Association for Computing Machinery for her lifetime contribution to the field of communication networks.

UCLA Center Awarded Contract to Research Seismic Threats to Water Distribution
The UCLA Natural Hazards Risk and Resiliency Research Center has received a contract to conduct a seismic risk assessment of water distribution infrastructure in Southern California.

UC to Lead Group Awarded $25M by NSF to Launch Quantum Computing Institute
The National Science Foundation announced a five-year, $25 million award to UC Berkeley, UCLA and other universities to create a new institute to study quantum computation.

UCLA physics professor Eric Hudson will co-direct the new NSF institute.

STUDENT HIGHLIGHTS

Bioengineering Student Receives National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship
Bioengineering graduate student Trinny Tat has received a prestigious National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship.

Materials Engineering Major Signs with Premier UK Professional Soccer Club
Jessie Fleming, a materials engineering major and starter on the UCLA Women’s Soccer Team, has started her professional career with Chelsea FC Women, one of the world's top clubs.

Jessie Fleming, a materials engineering major and starter on the UCLA Women’s Soccer Team

ALUMNI NEWS

Disney Imagineering Executive Shares Career Arc
The first summer edition of the Sugar Distinguished Speaker Series featured a webinar with Craig Russell ’80, a project integration executive for Walt Disney Imagineering.

A Pair of NASA Trailblazers

NASA Astronaut Selected for Second Space Flight
NASA announced that astronaut Megan McArthur '93 will head to space for the second time as the pilot for the SpaceX Crew-2 mission aboard the International Space Station in spring 2021.

JPL Engineer — From Fleeing Cambodia to Helping Build Mars Rover
The Long Beach Press-Telegram featured alumna and JPL engineer Ny Sou Okon, a Cambodian refugee who's now part of the newest Mars rover engineering team.

Center for Excellence in Engineering and Diversity: Empowering Students at UCLA and Beyond

Three UCLA Samueli School of Engineering alumni who were part of the Center for Excellence in Engineering and Diversity (CEED) as students share how the organization made a major impact on their careers.

(Left to right) Hugo Castrejon, Chris Clark and Christian Duncan

EVENTS
October 1 | Fall Quarter Instruction Begins

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Los Angeles, CA 90095
samueli.ucla.edu