How to Stop Software Disasters Before They Start: Purdue PhD Paschal Amusuo on Formal Verification, Unit Proofing & Zero Trust In this episode of Engineering Innovations from Purdue ECE, host Kristin Malavenda interviews fifth-year PhD candidate Paschal Amusuo, a Qualcomm Innovation Fellow researching software security with formal verification and runtime defenses. Amusuo shares his path from Port Harcourt, Nigeria, to Purdue and explains how memory-safety bugs—like those behind major outages such as the 2024 CrowdStrike incident—can crash systems or enable attackers to steal or alter data. He describes how formal verification differs from testing by mathematically checking whether any input can cause failure, and how his “unit proofing” approach makes these techniques more accessible to software engineers. He also discusses zero-trust design for third-party software dependencies, daily PhD life, mentorship with advisor James Davis, real-world vulnerability disclosures, and advice for prospective PhD students focused on learning and impact.Purdue ECE: http://engineering.purdue.edu/ECE Facebook: http://facebook.com/purdueece X: https://x.com/PurdueECE Instagram: https://instagram.com/purdue.ece LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/purdue-ece YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PurdueECEPurdue University's Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, founded in 1888, is one of the largest ECE departments in the nation and consistently ranks among the best.

Explaining Trustworthy AI & Self-Driving Labs with Purdue PhD Candidate Akshita KamsaliIn this episode of Engineering Innovations from Purdue’s Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, host Kristin Malavenda interviews fifth-year PhD candidate Akshita Kamsali, who works with Professor Avi Kok on deep learning with a focus on computer vision and natural language processing. Akshita shares how her engineering background and Purdue exchange experience led her to pursue a PhD at Purdue, and how her research evolved from optics to AI. She explains her work on understanding and improving the reliability of deep learning models used in sensitive areas such as medicine and security, and discusses her Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory internship exploring large language models for multimodal “self-driving labs,” emphasizing challenges such as safety, security, transparent object sensing, accuracy, and efficiency. Akshita also reflects on the realities of the PhD journey, advising, and career plans.Purdue ECE: http://engineering.purdue.edu/ECE Facebook: http://facebook.com/purdueece X: https://x.com/PurdueECE Instagram: https://instagram.com/purdue.ece LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/purdue-ece Purdue University's Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, founded in 1888, is one of the largest ECE departments in the nation and is consistently ranked among the best in the country.

What does it take to turn a big research idea into a real device and a paper in Nature?In this episode of Engineering Innovations, we talk with Purdue ECE PhD student Connor Devitt about research that could help shape the future of 5G and 6G wireless communication. The conversation explores how tunable chip-scale filters work, why they matter for future mobile networks, and what it was like to push this project from concept to fabrication to publication. Along the way, we also get a look at the day-to-day life of a Purdue ECE PhD student, from lab work and device testing to setbacks, breakthroughs and the long road of research.Purdue ECE: http://engineering.purdue.edu/ECE Facebook: http://facebook.com/purdueece X: https://x.com/PurdueECE Instagram: https://instagram.com/purdue.ece LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/purdue-ece Purdue University's Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, founded in 1888, is one of the largest ECE departments in the nation and is consistently ranked among the best in the country.

Engineering Innovations: The Internet, but Make it QuantumHost Kristin Malavenda interviews Purdue ECE associate professor Joseph Luken about engineering “spooky action at a distance” into real technology, including quantum communication networks and the future quantum internet. Luken explains how the quantum internet would transmit qubits and distribute entanglement, why networking is essential for scaling quantum computing and sensing, and why Einstein objected to entanglement until Bell’s later experimental tests supported quantum predictions. He describes quantum key distribution (QKD), how it detects eavesdropping, and how it contrasts with post-quantum cryptography, arguing for pursuing both given the risk of future quantum attacks. Luken discusses recent industry momentum, predicts fault-tolerant quantum computing may arrive within 10 years, and emphasizes integrated photonics as critical to moving quantum systems off optics tables and reducing loss. Purdue ECE: http://engineering.purdue.edu/ECE Facebook: http://facebook.com/purdueece X: https://x.com/PurdueECE Instagram: https://instagram.com/purdue.ece LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/purdue-ece Purdue University's Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, founded in 1888, is one of the largest ECE departments in the nation and is consistently ranked among the best in the country.

AI and Visual Data Compression: Insights from Purdue ECE Professor Maggie Zhu In this episode of Engineering Innovations, host Kristin Malavenda explores the fascinating world of visual data compression with Professor Maggie Zhu of Purdue University's Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering. They discuss how AI is revolutionizing the efficiency of image and video compression, the challenges and opportunities it presents, and how these advancements impact industries ranging from healthcare to entertainment. Tune in to learn about the latest research and future possibilities in AI-driven compression. ECE: http://engineering.purdue.edu/ECE Facebook: http://facebook.com/purdueece X: https://x.com/PurdueECE Instagram: https://instagram.com/purdue.ece LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/purdue-ece Purdue University's Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, founded in 1888, is one of the largest ECE departments in the nation and is consistently ranked among the best in the country.

Understanding the Environmental Impact of AI with Dr. Yi Ding Hosted and produced by Kristin MalavendaIn this episode of Engineering Innovations, host Kristin Malavenda talks to Dr. Yi Ding, an associate professor at Purdue University's Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering. They discuss the immense energy consumption of modern AI systems like ChatGPT, which could soon account for up to 12% of US electricity usage. Dr. Ding's research focuses on the broader environmental impacts of AI, including carbon emissions, water consumption, and biodiversity. They delve into how AI models and data centers contribute to these issues and explore strategies for developing sustainable AI systems. Dr. Ding sheds light on policy implications, data transparency, and industry practices that need to change for a more sustainable future. The episode also touches on Dr. Ding's personal journey into this research and her pedagogical approach to mentoring students. 00:00 Introduction to Engineering Innovations 00:14 The Energy Cost of AI 00:32 Meet Dr. Yi Ding 01:00 Understanding AI's Energy Hunger 03:16 Inside Data Centers 04:22 Beyond Energy: Carbon, Water, and Biodiversity 08:26 Dr. Yi Ding's Research Journey 10:32 Balancing Performance and Sustainability 15:00 The Role of Policy and Regulation 16:07 Future of AI and Sustainability 22:18 Mentorship and Personal Insights 27:15 Conclusion and FarewellPurdue ECE: http://engineering.purdue.edu/ECE Facebook: http://facebook.com/purdueece X: https://x.com/PurdueECE Instagram: https://instagram.com/purdue.ece LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/purdue-ece Purdue University's Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, founded in 1888, is one of the largest ECE departments in the nation and is consistently ranked among the best in the country.

Unpacking Software Supply Chain Security with Dr. Santiago Torres AriasHosted and produced by Kristin MalavendaIn this episode of Engineering Innovations, host Kristin Malavenda speaks with Dr. Santiago Torres Arias, an assistant professor at Purdue University's Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering. The discussion examines the complexities and importance of software supply chain security, exploring the various risks and vulnerabilities present in the modern digital landscape. Dr. Torres Arias shares insights about his research projects, including the in toto framework and the Sigstore project, both designed to protect the integrity of software throughout its development and distribution. He also touches on the interplay between cybersecurity and everyday software use, the role of machine learning, and the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in tackling these challenges. Finally, they discuss practical advice for both consumers and students in the field of cybersecurity. 00:00 Introduction to Engineering Innovations Podcast00:58 Understanding the Software Supply Chain01:52 Dr. Santiago Torres Arias' Journey into Cybersecurity03:06 The Importance of Cybersecurity in Everyday Life08:07 In Toto: Securing the Software Development Lifecycle13:53 The Role of Open Source in Software Security15:54 Exploring the Evolution of Letters and Software Security16:29 Introduction to Applied Cryptography17:47 AI and Machine Learning in Supply Chain Security19:32 Balancing Technology Use and Security Awareness20:52 Future Challenges in Supply Chain Security21:55 Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Research23:26 Choosing Academia Over Industry24:37 Qualities of a Good Research Student25:53 Embracing Failure in Engineering27:15 A Journey into Engineering28:27 The Creative Side of Engineering29:06 Personal Hobbies and Decompression29:49 Conclusion and FarewellPurdue ECE: http://engineering.purdue.edu/ECE Facebook: http://facebook.com/purdueece X: https://x.com/PurdueECE Instagram: https://instagram.com/purdue.ece LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/purdue-ece Purdue University's Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, founded in 1888, is one of the largest ECE departments in the nation and is consistently ranked among the best in the country.

Exploring the Future of Electronics with 2D MaterialsIn this episode of Engineering Innovations, host Kristin Malavenda welcomes Dr. Joerg Appenzeller, the Barry M. and Patricia L. Epstein Professor at Purdue University's Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Dr. Zeller shares his journey from studying physics in Germany to joining Purdue, delving into his fascinating research on two-dimensional (2D) materials. These materials, which are just one atom thick, have potential applications in transistors, memory, and interconnects, promising to revolutionize electronics. Dr. Zeller explains the unique properties of 2D materials, their advantages over traditional materials like silicon, and their expected adoption timeline. Additionally, he discusses the importance of interdisciplinary work, students' involvement in innovative research, and the hands-on training provided at Purdue. Tune in to learn how these groundbreaking materials could shape the future of technology.Hosted and produced by Kristin Malavenda 00:00 Introduction to Engineering Innovations Podcast01:01 Meet Dr. Yorg Zeller: From Germany to Purdue05:16 Understanding 2D Materials07:37 Graphene and Its Impact09:21 Applications of 2D Materials in Electronics12:35 Challenges and Future of 2D Materials20:39 Student Involvement and Research30:48 Career Paths and Personal Insights36:42 Reflecting on Teaching and Student Engagement38:07 Introduction to Engineering Innovations Podcast01:01 Journey to Purdue and Research in 2D Materials05:16 Understanding 2D Materials and Their Applications09:21 Challenges and Future of 2D Materials20:39 Student Involvement and Research Impact30:48 Career Paths and Personal Insights35:01 Conclusion and Podcast Wrap-Up

Revolutionizing Electric Vehicles: Dynamic Wireless Power Transfer and the Future of the GridIn this episode of Engineering Innovations, host Kristin Malavenda discusses cutting-edge research on dynamic wireless power transfer technology for electric vehicles with Professor Dionysios Aliprantis from Purdue University's Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering. The conversation explores how this technology, which enables electric vehicles to charge while driving, can help create greener highways and a more resilient energy system. Professor Aliprantis shares his journey into electrical and computer engineering, inspired by his father and uncle, and highlights the challenges and potential of dynamic wireless power transfer, particularly for heavy-duty trucks. The discussion also touches on the Grid of Tomorrow consortium, which aims to advance the electric grid and develop skilled engineers. Practical insights into the test bed for the technology and future projections for its implementation on highways are shared, along with the broader economic and environmental benefits. Kristin and Professor Aliprantis wrap up by discussing the importance of mentorship and the impact of engineering work on everyday life. 00:00 Introduction to Engineering Innovations 00:51 Meet Professor Deis: A Journey in Electrical Engineering 05:14 Dynamic Wireless Power Transfer Explained 10:29 The Future of Electrified Highways 18:26 Grid of Tomorrow Consortium 23:09 Mentorship and Personal Insights 28:25 Conclusion and FarewellPurdue ECE: http://engineering.purdue.edu/ECE Facebook: http://facebook.com/purdueece X: https://x.com/PurdueECE Instagram: https://instagram.com/purdue.ece LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/purdue-ece Purdue University's Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, founded in 1888, is one of the largest ECE departments in the nation and is consistently ranked among the best in the country.

Enhancing Software Safety: How Regular Expressions and Cybersecurity IntersectWelcome to Engineering Innovations, the official podcast of the Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Purdue University. In this episode, host KristIn Malavenda talks with James Davis, an Assistant Professor in Purdue’s Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Jamie shares his journey from a physics major to his current research focus on software safety and security. Discover the significance of regular expressions in software systems, the challenges encountered in software supply chains, and the potential cybersecurity risks associated with them. Jamie also discusses his experience working at IBM, his transition to academia, and the broad range of innovative projects at the Duality Lab. The conversation concludes with advice for young professionals in software engineering, the importance of continuous learning, and the role of mentoring in educational growth.