Article by UW ECE staff, photos by Ryan Hoover
UW ECE Professor and Chair Eric Klavins (left) with the 2024 UW ECE Awards recipients. From top left, clockwise: Shanti Garman — Chair’s Award, Niveditha (Nivii) Kalavakonda — Yang Award for Outstanding Doctoral Student, Kevin Shao — Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award, Assistant Professor Matt Reynolds — Outstanding Teaching Award, Felix Schwock and Professor Chet Moritz — Outstanding Mentorship Award, Jean Ishac — Outstanding Staff Award, Kedi Yan — Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award.
Each year, UW ECE holds an awards ceremony that honors students, faculty, and staff for their exceptional achievements and outstanding contributions to the Department. This year, the annual event was held on Tuesday, May 14, during a luncheon in the ECE building. The luncheon and awards ceremony were hosted by UW ECE Professor and Chair Eric Klavins.
“I am continually impressed by the high caliber of the students, faculty, and staff at UW ECE, and this year’s award recipients are standouts,” Klavins said. “I would like to thank all UW ECE Awards nominees and recipients on behalf of the Department for their amazing contributions and accomplishments. They represent the best of the best at UW ECE.”
The UW ECE Awards recognize exceptional teaching, research, and entrepreneurship efforts in the Department as well as outstanding mentorship, student impact, and collaborative work. Award recipients are considered by the Department to be high achievers and embody UW ECE core values, such as leadership, collaboration, and teamwork.
Learn more below about this year’s award recipients.
Yang Award for Outstanding Doctoral Student
Yang Award recipient Niveditha (Nivii) Kalavakonda (center) standing between UW ECE Professor and Chair Eric Klavins (left) and her adviser, Professor Blake Hannaford (right)
Niveditha (Nivii) Kalavakonda
This award recognizes a UW ECE doctoral student in their final year of study who has conducted outstanding research in electrical and computer engineering, as evidenced by their publications or recognized by outside researchers in their field. This year’s award recipient was Niveditha (Nivii) Kalavakonda, who received her master’s degree in electrical engineering from the Department in 2017 and is now a doctoral student advised by UW ECE Professor Blake Hannaford.
Kalavakonda received the Yang Award for researching human-robot interaction designed for healthcare environments and for building community at UW ECE through various leadership initiatives. In her research, Kalavakonda spearheaded the development of an intelligent robotic surgical assistant that can respond to voice commands and collaborate with a human surgeon. This work was supported in part by the Amazon Catalyst program. She also was named this year as one of the Husky 100 — a group of the top students at the UW. Kalavakonda is part of the UW BioRobotics Lab, which is co-led by Hannaford.
“Nivii came to the UW with an exciting background in virtual reality programming. She very quickly dove into a medical application of augmented reality, and her dissertation represents her ambitious vision of an autonomous robotic assistant for neurosurgery,” Hannaford said. “I fully expect that Nivii’s work will actually launch a new subfield, surgical human-robot interaction, as a new community within both the HRI and surgical robotics communities.”
Outstanding Mentorship Award in UW ECE
This award recognizes any member of the UW ECE community whose exemplary mentoring and advising activities made important contributions toward building a supportive culture in the Department. In 2024, there were two recipients of the award:
Outstanding Mentorship Award recipient Felix Schwock standing between UW ECE Professor and Chair Eric Klavins (left) and Schwock’s adviser, Associate Professor Azadeh Yazdan (right)
Felix Schwock
Felix Schwock is a UW ECE doctoral student and research assistant in the lab of his adviser, Azadeh Yazdan, who is an associate professor in UW ECE and in the UW Department of Bioengineering. Schwock’s research interests are in the fields of signal processing and machine learning for network data, with a focus on developing new tools for processing and analyzing signals recorded from brain networks. Since June 2021, he has been working with Yazdan on the development of a new framework for studying neural communication in the brain, which is part of his doctoral research.
Schwock received his master’s degree from UW ECE and was advised by UW ECE Professor Les Atlas and Shima Abadhi, who is an associate professor of oceanography at the UW and an adjunct associate professor at UW ECE. At the end of his master’s degree, Schwock received the UW Graduate School Distinguished Thesis Award.
“Felix’s exceptional research achievements, leadership qualities, and dedication to mentorship and service make him an exemplary candidate for the Outstanding Mentorship Award in the ECE Department,” Yazdan said. “His contributions have significantly enriched our academic community, and I am confident that he will continue to inspire and empower future generations of scholars in the field.”
Outstanding Mentorship Award recipient Professor Chet Moritz (right) standing next to UW ECE Professor and Chair Eric Klavins (left)
Professor Chet Moritz
Chet Moritz is a C.J. and Elizabeth Hwang Endowed Professor in Electrical & Computer Engineering at the UW with joint appointments in rehabilitation medicine, physiology, and biophysics. He is also co-director of the Center for Neurotechnology. Moritz is well-known as an international leader in the field of neural engineering. At the UW, he directs the Restorative Technologies Laboratory, which focuses on developing technologies to address symptoms of spinal cord injury, stroke, and cerebral palsy. Current research in Moritz’ lab includes multiple studies of electrical stimulation to restore hand function for people with spinal cord injury and stroke, improving walking for children with cerebral palsy, and optogenetic stimulation to guide neuroplasticity and recovery in an injured spinal cord.
“Dr. Chet Moritz’s mentorship has been pivotal in our professional development, significantly contributing to our success in securing funding, refining teaching methodologies, and managing our research laboratories,” wrote professors Azadeh Yazdan and Amy Orsborn, who both hold joint appointments between UW ECE and the UW Department of Bioengineering. “We wholeheartedly endorse his nomination for the Outstanding Mentorship Award, recognizing the transformative impact of his mentorship not only on our careers but also as a beacon of inspiration for future generations of female academics and underrepresented individuals in academia.”
Outstanding Staff Award
Outstanding Staff Award recipient Jean Ishac (right) next to UW ECE Professor and Chair Eric Klavins
Jean Ishac
This award recognizes a staff member who demonstrates exceptional commitment to UW ECE and whose service has made a lasting impact on the Department. The 2024 recipient was Jean Ishac, who is a finance manager in the research management division of the Department.
“Jean’s management of post-award procedures has been exemplary, handling numerous proposals and awards with precision and care. His leadership ensures that timely support and assistance are consistently available, significantly advancing our ability to secure and manage funding,” said UW ECE Associate Teaching Professor Rania Hussein. “In my opinion, this level of dedication is critical and has had a tangible, positive impact on our ability to secure and manage funding effectively.”
Outstanding Teaching Award
Oustanding Teaching Award recipient Matt Reynolds (right) next to UW ECE Professor and Chair Eric Klavins (left)
Professor Matt Reynolds
This award recognizes a UW ECE faculty member who has demonstrated exceptional, positive impact on students and in the Department. The 2024 recipient is UW ECE Associate Professor Matt Reynolds. His research interests include millimeter-wave sensing and imaging, radio-frequency identification (RFID), energy efficiency at the physical layer of wireless communication, and the physics of sensing and actuation. Reynolds has also co-founded several startup companies, including, most recently, ThruWave, which uses innovative, human-safe millimeter-wave imaging technology to see inside closed boxes and packages to scan for contraband, such as illegal drugs. Reynolds holds 76 issued U.S. patents and has over 88 pending patent applications.
“Professor Reynold’s commitment to student success extends beyond the classroom. His well-organized course materials on Canvas, comprehensive office hours, and additional review sessions are just a few examples of how he supports his students’ academic journeys,” said UW ECE Associate Teaching Professor Rania Hussein. “His dedication is evident in the meticulous care with which he plans and executes all aspects of his course. The positive impact of his teaching approach is clearly reflected in the attentive and engaging demeanor of his students. I enjoy listening to his lectures, and I walk away learning tips to implement in my own teaching.”
Outstanding Teaching Assistant
This award recognizes a student who demonstrates an outstanding contribution to teaching at UW ECE. This year, there were many nominations and two award recipients:
Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award recipient Kedi Yan (right) next to UW ECE Professor and Chair Eric Klavins
Kedi Yan
Kedi Yan is a UW ECE doctoral student advised by Joshua Smith, who is a professor in UW ECE and in the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering. Yan is studying advanced wireless power transfer techniques under Smith and has advanced knowledge and expertise in electromagnetic, microwave, and radio-frequency technologies as well as printed circuit board, or PCB, design, and 3D printing. His abilities as a teacher and as a mentor are admired by students and faculty alike.
“In short, of all the educators I’ve known and taught with, Kedi is by far the most determined to make certain that students understand intuitively a body of challenging formal material all the way down deep,” said UW ECE Affiliate Professor Evan Goldstein. “He greatly inconveniences himself to achieve this. He is among the very most urgently earnest people I have known. And he’s by far the most beloved TA I have seen.”
Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award recipient Kevin Shao (right) standing next to UW ECE Professor and Chair Eric Klavins (left)
Kevin Shao
Kevin Shao graduated this year from UW ECE with his master’s degree in electrical engineering. He was nominated by several people and was praised for his ability to create rapport and connect students with the classroom material and the instructor.
“Kevin’s exemplary dedication, adaptability, and commitment to student welfare have left a positive mark on my educational experience, and I’m sure, has also positively influenced many others,” said UW ECE undergraduate student Perry Chien. “Kevin’s passion for teaching, coupled with his proactive approach and genuine care for student success, make him a worthy candidate for the Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award.”
Chair’s Award
The Chair’s Award this year went to two outstanding UW ECE doctoral students, who among their many achievements and contributions to the Department, have supported greater diversity, equity, and inclusion through leadership and by co-chairing special events, such as WomXn at the Forefront of ECE Research, which is known as WAFER. This day-long event showcases research by women and nonbinary people in electrical and computer engineering and related fields and discusses their experiences in academia and the workplace.
“Ph.D. students Amber Chou and Shanti Garman displayed exceptional leadership in conceptualizing and realizing WAFER, drawing in many of our students, staff, and faculty to not only focus on these important issues, but also build community within our Department,” said UW ECE Professor and Chair Eric Klavins. “Their efforts exemplify the role of doctoral students in our Department, excelling not only in research, but also in creating a positive setting for others to succeed.”
Chair’s Award recipient Shanti Garman (right) standing next to UW ECE Professor and Chair Eric Klavins (left)
Shanti Garman
Shanti Garman is a UW ECE doctoral student who works in the Sensor Systems Lab and is advised by Joshua Smith, a professor in UW ECE and in the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering. Garman’s research projects include wireless power transfer for lunar and planetary missions, radio-frequency energy harvesting from high-power sources on Earth, and modulated noise communication. She uses established electromagnetics and antenna theory to investigate new systems and methodologies for Earth- and space-based wireless power transmission and ultra-low-power wireless communications. Garman also teaches a course about antennas in the Department’s Professional Master’s Program.
Amber Chou
Chair’s Award recipient Amber Chou
Amber Chou is a UW ECE doctoral student studying human-machine interaction. She is advised by UW ECE Associate Professor Sam Burden. Chou’s research is at the intersection of neural engineering and human-computer interaction. She is interested in integrating physiological sensing, including peripheral neural signals, eye movements, and gestures, to understand motor control in human-machine interaction. She leverages control theory, data-driven algorithms, and insights from experiments to enhance the usability of multimodal interfaces for applications in assistive technology and rehabilitation.
UW ECE congratulates all award nominees and recipients. Thanks for your outstanding efforts and contributions to the Department and to the University!