Sheriff Jolaoso is a Senior majoring in Computer Engineering. His research involves analyzing electroencephalographical (EEG) data in order to find and establish trends between humans under specific testing conditions. To learn more about Sheriff's resarch pursuits, read his research profile.

Work on projectwith Dr. Maggie Holland, Dept. of Geography and Environmental Systems (GES), evaluating conservation and development projects in Central America. 

Position description:

This undergraduate research assistant would become part of a project focused on evaluating the impact of trans-boundary conservation efforts related to the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor (MBC) in Central America.  I am conducting this research in collaboration with colleagues from Conservation International (CI) and the Independent Evaluation Group (IEG) of the World Bank.  In the fall semester, the student will assist in the dissemination of an on-line survey of Central American civil society groups.  Under my guidance, the research assistant will compile survey responses into a database format and assist in basic analysis of those responses.  The student would also communicate with universities and research centers within Central America to compile an inventory of academic research and programs that were developed as a result of the MBC.  During the spring semester, I will work closely with the research assistant to develop a geospatial analysis of conservation and development funding flows related to the MBC.  Each of these activities will contribute to a publication on the MBC, and I expect that this student will have the opportunity to contribute in a meaningful way to these final products.    

I am looking for an undergraduate student in her/his first four semesters at UMBC, with a strong interest in applied conservation, international research, and geospatial analysis.  She/he must have strong Spanish language skills (ability to read text and write short e-mail communications), and the ability to search on-line databases and compile data within simply spreadsheet programs.  Experience using GIS software is an added bonus.  This is a paid research assistantship, and would represent approximately 5-6 hours/week for the remainder of the fall semester, and 3-5 hours/week in the spring.

If interested, please send an e-mail to Dr. Maggie Holland, at: mholland@umbc.edu, no later than Thursday, October 27^th, 2011.  Please include in your e-mail a statement of your current status at UMBC (confirm that you are within your first four semesters), your interest in this project, and your experience/background.  I welcome GES majors to apply, but will also give consideration to non-GES majors who otherwise fulfill the required skillset.  

EE Graduate Seminar

Detection and Classification of Chemical, Biological, and Explosive
Materials: A Brief Overview of Several Cutting-Edge Problem Areas

Darren Emge
PI and Deputy Branch Chief
Laser Standoff Detection Branch
US Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center

11:30am-12:45pm Friday, 21 October 11, ITE 231

The detection and classification of chemical, biological, and explosive (CBE) materials is an area of extremely active research. With the advent of new sensor technologies and sensing methods there is the rapidly growing need for timely robust detection and classification algorithms. Several factors associated with emerging sensors offer novel challenges for the signal processing community. As sensor platforms become more mobile the added complexities of "on the move" standoff detection requires the use of non-stationary and adaptive methods. Ever increasing overall sensitivity introduces variations in signal response and many methods currently lack adequate performance models or ground truth. Reduction in size, weight, and power, along with real time performance, further limit approaches that can be used in addressing these issues. This presentation will provide a brief overview of several of these cutting edge problem areas and offer a glimpse into this challenging problem space.

Mr. Darren Emge earned a BS in Physics from UMBC in 1992. He then went to work for the University of Maryland Medical System, Department of Neurology. During his time at University Medical System, he developed analysis algorithms for evoked response potentials (ERP), functional magnetic resonance (fMRI), or neuronal mapping. He also supported the cognitive psychology group in the development of a pupil motion tracking system in the study of dyslexia. Mr. Emge earned the MSEE from UMBC/CSEE Dept in 2000. In 2001 He joined the US Army ECBC passive detection team investigating advanced mathematical techniques for the detection of chemical vapors based on Fourier transform infrared (FTRI) imaging. In 2003 Mr. Emge was promoted to a Principal Investigator (PI) in the laser standoff detection branch, where he currently serves as PI and Deputy Branch Chief. His current work is in the areas of the detection of small signals, detection of non-stationary signals, and the application of non-linear signal processing methods for the detection of biological and trace chemical/explosive materials.

Seminar Host: Prof. Joel M. Morris

Are you interested in technology, engineering, science or business? If so, you should apply for a merit based scholarship from the Digital Harbor Foundation Scholarship Fund!

Meet the Digital Harbor Foundation and learn more about their programs on Monday, October 24^th from 12-1pm in the University Center Ballroom Lounge. There will also be free PIZZA!

The Digital Harbor Foundation is currently accepting scholarship applications for one renewable $10,000 scholarship for a college freshman and one $5,000 scholarship for a college senior. The deadline to apply is December 9^th, 2011 and all scholarship funds will be distributed in January 2012.

CSEE processor Samuel J. Lomonaco is giving a talk on his research on quantum computing as part of the Joint Quantum Institute seminar series sponsored by UMCP and NIST. The talk will be given at 12:30pm Monday 17 October, in room 1201 in the Physics building at College Park.

Quantum knots and quantum braids: Their possible application to superfluid vortices and to topological quantum computing in optical lattices.

In this talk, we show how to reconstruct knot theory in such a way that it is intimately related to quantum physics. In particular, we give a blueprint for creating a quantum system that has the dynamic behavior of a closed knotted piece of rope moving in 3-space. Within this framework, knot invariants become physically measurable quantum observables, knot moves become unitary transformations, with knot dynamics determined by the Schroedinger equation. The same approach can also be applied to the theory of braids. Toward the end of the talk, we look at possible applications to superfluid vortices and to topological quantum computing in optical lattices.

For more information, see the entry on the Joint Quantum Institute calendar.