Research
Research Centers

Our department has close collaborations with multiple research centers. The first three centers listed below are led by electrical and computer engineering faculty, while the others are Northwestern-wide initiatives. These multidisciplinary centers serve as a focal point for research, teaching, and outreach.

Center for Photonic Communication and Computing

The Center for Photonic Communication and Computing at Northwestern University conducts leading edge, fundamental science and engineering research for the development of advanced optical communication and computing systems. This center is directed by Prem Kumar.

Center for Quantum Devices

Since its founding in 1991, the Center for Quantum Devices at Northwestern University has evolved from only a mere vision into a concrete world-class research laboratory, with the mission to pursue academic excellence and high-level research in compound semiconductor science and nanotechnology. This center is directed by Manijeh Razeghi.

Center for Ultra-scale Computing and Information Security

The Center for Ultra-scale Computing and Information Security conducts highly innovative research in many synergistic areas of ultra-scale computing and information technologies, and it fosters and enables interdisciplinary research in computing technologies that scale to these levels. This center is directed by Alok Choudhary.

Center for Optimization and Statistical Learning

The Optimization Center’s members conduct research in theory and algorithms for optimization, develop models for novel application areas, and create optimization software and modeling tools. This center is directed by Jorge Nocedal.

Center for Engineering Sustainability and Resilience 

The Center’s advisory board and affiliated faculty hold interdisciplinary backgrounds from Northwestern’s McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, Segal Design Institute, and Center for the Commercialization of Innovative Transportation Technology. The Center for Engineering Sustainability and Resilience is directed by Bill Miller and Jennifer Dunn.

Center for Engineering and Health

The Center for Engineering and Health, a member center of the Institute for Public Health and Medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, looks to develop methodologies and tools to improve health delivery for better care at our affiliated hospitals and beyond. It is a joint venture of Feinberg and Northwestern Engineering. This center is directed by Sanjay Mehrotra and Karen Smilowitz.

Center for Deep Learning

The Center for Deep Learning’s mission is to act as a resource for companies seeking to establish or improve access to artificial intelligence (AI) by providing technical capacity and expertise, allowing the center’s members to achieve proof of concept or deployment. This center is directed by Diego Klabjan.