Labs & Facilities (by Department)

Contact: Jim Pankow, Wentai Luo

Location: EB 230

Modeling lab, grad student space

Contact: Samantha Hartzell

Location: EB 202H

We are particularly interested in the impacts of vegetation on the movement of water, carbon, and energy between the land surface and atmosphere, and vice versa. We study the ways in which plants have altered their hydraulic and photosynthetic strategies to survive in water-limited ecosystems, and what this means for the future of natural and agroecosystems impacted by climate change. Some examples of our research are green roof vegetation and hydrology, plant hydraulic redistribution, and dynamical systems modeling of agroecosystems.

Contact: Annette Diaz

Location: EB 130

Fluid Mechanics and hydraulics classes lab

David Yang

Our research lab aims to improve the sustainability and resilience of civil infrastructure systems. To fulfill this goal, key research areas include (a) infrastructure risk and resilience quantification under extreme events, (b) AI-assisted life-cycle asset management, and (c) risk-informed infrastructure adaptation to climate change.

Key skills needed: Coding experience (preferably Python); basic knowledge about probability and statistics; GIS experience (optional); Data processing and analysis (optional).

Contact: Arash Khosravifar, Diane Moug

Location: EB 265

Prep space for field research.

Contact: Arash Khosravifar, Diane Moug

Location: EB 260

Equipment for liquefaction susceptibility and cyclic behavior of these soils.

Diane Moug

Microbially induced desaturation (MID) is an emerging ground treatment approach to prevent earthquake soil liquefaction. MID treatment involves nutrient injection into the subsurface to stimulate native microbes. The microbes perform a denitrification reaction to produce nitrogen gas and desaturate the soil. This gas inhibits liquefaction when the soil is shaken in an earthquake. The URMP project will involve field MID treatment at a research site in northeast Portland. The project will test whether MID re-treatment is feasible and can reduce soil saturation.

Key skills needed: Problem solving. Thorough note taking and record keeping. Enter data and perform calculations in Excel. Able to lift up to 50 lbs. Able to work outdoors in a range of weather conditions.

Thomas Schumacher

Our diverse team develops tools to examine the condition of existing structures such as buildings and bridges-similar to a medical doctor assessing and monitoring a person's health. We do this non-destructively using techniques such as vibration-monitoring, ultrasonic testing, and radar testing. We also put sensors on structures to measure changes over time. Our goal is to use the information these techniques provide to help prolong the life of a structure as much as possible while maintaining safety. The ultimate goal is to avoid replacement of an existing structure if possible to save resources and minimize emissions.

Key skills needed: Enthusiasm about sustainable civil engineering; curiosity and willingness to learn; willingness to work in a laboratory or real world setting to collect data; some coding experience (MATLAB or Python) are a plus.

Contact: Annette Dietz

Location: EB 225

Process rain water captured on EB roof to be used in first floor restrooms. 

Contact: Arash Khosravifar, Diane Moug, Annette Dietz

Location: EB 270

Used in Soil Mechanics labs fall and spring terms, as well as ENVE core junior labs all three terms. Plane surveying equipment and lab sessions

Arash Khostravifar

Lab work in geotechnical lab at PSU on soils samples gathered from the Pacific Northwest. Computer work on analysis and synthesis of data on cyclic shear tests on silt soils from the Pacific Northwest. Help with a geotechnical centrifuge test at UC Davis on seismic response of a wharf structure.

Key skills needed: Training will be provided. 

Contact: Gwynn Johnson

Location: EB 210

Transformation and transport of heavy metals and other contaminants in soil, surface water, sediment, and groundwater systems; treatment of stormwater and wastewater.

Contact: Scott Wells

Location: EB 220

The Computational Imaging Lab at Portland State University designs next generation cameras and imaging algorithms. We are a diverse team of individuals with expertise in image sensors, optics, signal processing, algorithm design, computer vision and machine learning.

Atul Ingle

The Computational Imaging Lab at Portland State University designs next generation cameras and vision algorithms for challenging conditions: imaging in extremely dark or extremely bright environments, imaging high resolution 3D structures from long distances, and imaging through poor visibility like smoke and fog. We envision a future where such cameras will improve everyone’s quality of life: computer vision systems for autonomous cars that make drivers and pedestrians safer, high-precision cameras for surgical robots, and image sensors that improve accuracy of medical diagnoses.

Key skills needed: We are looking for candidates who are not necessarily experts but are eager to learn more about computational imaging algorithms and camera sensors. Applicants should have some programming experience (e.g. Python, C++), strong verbal and written communication and time management skills. We especially encourage students belonging to historically under-served groups to apply. These groups include (but are not limited to) women, students with disabilities, socio-economically disadvantaged groups, and first-generation college students.

Primal Pappachan

DIPr Lab studies problems on the intersection of data management and privacy, aiming to enhance user control and data privacy. Specifically, I work on policy-aware data processing to create data management systems that are fast, scalable, transparent, secure, and privacy-preserving. You can explore the ongoing projects on the lab website. As an undergraduate researcher, you'll collaborate with the PI to identify and tackle meaningful problems in computer science. You'll gain hands-on experience in reading research papers, building software prototypes, conducting experiments, writing research papers, and presenting your findings to diverse audiences. For more details on lab expectations and policies, visit the lab wiki.

Key skills needed: Basic knowledge of databases, comfortable with programming, curiosity for research

Contact: Martin Siderius

Location: FAB 60-24

The mission of the NEAR-Lab is to develop knowledge of electromagnetic and acoustic wave scattering and propagation phenomenon in order to devise and evaluate advanced signal processing techniques. Applications are in the areas of radar, sonar, and biomedical.

Shravas Rao

UMRP students will work on a project related to computational complexity theory. Possibilities for the specific subfield include query complexity, which studies the number of queries to bits of the input needed to solve a computational problem, coding theory, which studies the amount of redundancy needed to add to a message to send it through a noisy channel, or matrix rigidity, which studies how many entries of a matrix need to be changed to make it low in rank. Any choice will involve research based on mathematical proofs.

Key skills needed: Linear algebra, comfort with mathematical proofs

Joshua Mendez

Two projects are currently available in my lab: 1) Mars is a dry, dusty place. As humans plan for crewed missions to the red planet, we must understand the effects of dust--regolith--on the engineering systems that will keep crews alive and productive. As noted in NASA's Mars Science Goals, Objectives, Investigations, and Priorities, we need to quantify how dust influences the electrical properties of surfaces on which it accumulates (in particular circuit boards). Additionally, because regolith can itself be electrified through frictional interactions with surfaces ("static electricity"), we need to explore whether such charging could lead to electrostatic discharge (ESD) hazards in Mars' low pressure CO2 atmosphere. This project will use the Mars Atmospheric Simulator in the Environmental Testing Lab to quantify the electrification and discharge of Martian regolith simulants as they interacts with a variety of synthetic materials under simulated Martian conditions.

Key skills needed:  Any of the following: General purpose programming (Python, C++), circuit board design, PCB manufacture, mechanical CAD, machining, barista experience.

Malgorzata Chrzanowska-Jeske, Director
FAB 60-17 

One of the labs main projects focuses on exciting 3D VLSI technology that enables easier integration of memory, analog, digital, RF, optical, MEMS, BioMEMS, sensors, and possibly bio-systems into one small package. From analysis of tiny carbon nanotube constructs to exploring the challenges of process and environment in current CMOS and future nanotechnologies, the lab is taking the important steps toward more compact and complex devices.

The Electronics Prototyping Lab (EPL) is a lab for rapidly prototyping electronics projects. The EPL hosts workshops, has a student store with components and supplies, rents lockers, hosts industry workshops and talks, and has a ton of equipment for you to use in your work either for classes or for your independent ideas.

General contact: epl@pdx.edu

Garrison Greenwood, Director
FAB 70-06 

The purpose of this lab is to investigate how hardware can self-adapt, via autonomous reconfiguration, to compensate for failures or a changing operational environment. The methods used rely heavily on the use of evolutionary algorithms, which emulate natural selection as found in nature, to modify reconfigurable hardware. The emphasis of current work is to explore reconfiguration as a fault recovery method for autonomous hardware.

Branimir Pejcinovic, Director
FAB 60-23

The goal of the IC Design and Test Laboratory is to foster innovative research and education in the area of integrated circuit design and test. Our lab is dedicated to two main research areas: a) high-frequency/high-speed measurements, and b) device and materials characterization, modeling and design. State-of-the-art equipment is available, including VNA-s, TDR-s, automated noise measurements, semiconductor parameter analyzer, pulsed-DC, probe stations for on-wafer measurements, and others. We cover frequencies up to 40 GHz, and in collaboration with the Terahertz Lab, we have extended that to 700 GHz. Device characterization and modeling projects, including examination of InSb and SiGe transistors, use these measurements in conjunction with software such as TCAD, Keysight IC-CAP and ADS, Tektronix IConnect, among others.

Marek Perkowski, Director
FAB 70-09 

In the Intelligent Robotics Laboratory we design and program mobile, stationary and humanoid robots on levels of mechanical, electrical and software design. Many of our robots have new types of controllers. Theoretical research is dedicated to applying machine learning and data analysis algorithms to solve practical problems in electrical and computer engineering, especially in Data Mining, robot vision, robot motion, robot theatre  and human-robot interface (such as emotion recognition). The laboratory is also involved in the research on quantum and reversible computing as well as nano-technologies such as quantum dots and memristors. In a related research we develop new quantum algorithms, for instance those used in robotics, thus defining a new research area of “Quantum Robotics”. Of laboratory interests are also highly parallel robotics algorithms on GPU platform and emulation of problem-solving architectures with FPGAs and VELOCE emulator from Mentor.

Jonathan Bird, Director
FAB 25-04
 
This laboratory focuses on investigating novel magnetomechanical devices for energy conversion applications.

The current research focus is on:

• Designing magnetically geared electric machines for wind and ocean renewable power generation applications.
• Electrical machines for transportation applications
• Computational electromagnetic modelling

Jonathan Bird

The Magnetomechanical Energy Conversion (MEC) laboratory focuses on investigating novel magnetomechanical devices for energy conversion applications. The current research focus is on: Designing magnetically geared electric machines for wind and ocean renewable power generation applications; Electrical machines for transportation applications; Computational electromagnetic modelling; Variable stiffness magnetic springs.

Key skills needed: Interest in magnetics. Project involves dynamic modelling of a variable stiffness test setup (for resonant ocean power generation). Experience with 3-D printing would be a plus. Willingness to learn and not give up.

Martin Siderius, Director

FAB 60-24, 25-01 

The mission of the NEAR-Lab is to develop knowledge of electromagnetic and acoustic wave scattering and propagation phenomenon in order to devise and evaluate advanced signal processing techniques.  Applications are in the areas of radar, sonar, and biomedical.

Robert Bass, Director
FAB 25-00

Research within power engineering lab pertains to electrical power systems, particularly distributed & renewable assets and the overlaying smart grid technologies that link them together.  Current and past projects include analyzing AMI data to evaluate the efficacy of utility-sponsored mini-split heat pump installations; evaluation of power quality at PSU’s “Electric Avenue” EV charging stations; development of LCOE metrics for energy storage systems; optimization of heat pumps coupled with a thermal mass for residential demand response programs; development of a SQP optimization algorithm for multi-unit hydropower powerhouses; and, aggregation and analysis of synchrophasor data from distribution feeder circuits.   The lab is also investigating the design of antenna-coupled cryotrons - superconducting power switches controlled via GHz RF radiation.

Andrew Greenberg

Interdisciplinary aerospace engineering projects focused on amateur rockets, liquid fuel rocket engines, and nanosatellites. In particular, I'm looking for ECE students for satellite communications and firmware development, ME students for thermal and fluids for rocket engines as well as for attitude control systems, and CS students for satellite communications and high-reliability software engineering.

Key skills needed: ECE: ECAD and/or C firmware development. ME: MCAD and thermal/fluids classes. CS: Python and embedded Linux.

Bob Bass

Distributed energy resource aggregation, distribution system modeling, electric vehicle charging impacts on distribution systems, grid service dispatch using aggregated DER, volt/VAr control and conservation voltage regulation within distribution feeders.

Key skills needed: Scripting (python), RaspPi experience

Contact: Branimir Pejcinovic

Location: FAB 60-06

The Terahertz (THz) Lab was established to measure and characterize the behavior of semiconductor devices and exotic materials in the high GHz to low THz frequency regime. The facility contains a CM Summit 12000B probe station, a 40 GHz VNA with Virginia Diodes 700 GHz extenders, a Picometrix T-Ray system, and various support instrumentation, along with computation workspaces.

Christof Teuscher, Director
FAB 60-10 

The Tuescher Lab seeks to study, rethink, model, and design the implementation of computations in living and non-living systems. An understanding of the phenomena provides a basis for better, smarter, and more robust computing paradigms, architectures, devices, algorithms, languages, and systems for applications such as embedded systems and biomolecular engineering. We are interested in bold, visionary, and transformational solutions to complex and critical problems needed for the medium- and long-term sustainability of the technological future of all computing disciplines. The lab owns a fussball table and a cutting-edge GPU-enhanced PowerEdge blade compute server with 70 regular cores (hyperthreaded), over 70GB of RAM, and 896 high-performance GPU cores, offering over 1 TFlop of raw computing power to simulate advanced computing architectures and models.

Contact: ECE Department

Location: FAB 60-01

The Tektronix Circuit Design & Testing Lab is the largest teaching lab facility in the ECE Department and supports both the analog circuit courses and microprocessor design classes. The lab has thirty-three test benches, each of which is equipped with a basic set of test and measurement instruments. Each station also includes a single board computer for embedded systems development.

John Lipor, Director
FAB 25-01 

The Trillium Lab focus is on the design and analysis of machine learning algorithms, with an emphasis on adaptive and sequential methods aimed at solving problems in environmental sensing. Applications range from air and water pollution monitoring to geothermal energy prospecting. 

Xiaoyu Song, Director
FAB 89-01 

The research objective of the verification lab is to explore modeling and validation techniques for reliable cyber-physical systems. Various modeling methods of characterizing complex systems are harnessed. We focus on both dynamic and static verification methods towards establishing the correctness of safety-critical system designs in industry.

Fu Li, Director
FAB 85-04 

With over $400,000 in equipment and cash donations from Tektronix, the VIP Lab provides invaluable research opportunities to students and faculty. The equipment includes a Motion Picture Expert Group (MPEG) portable analyzer, MPEG transport stream monitors, MPEG test systems, picture quality analysis systems, and a real-time spectrum analyzer.

David C. Burnett, Director
FAB 60-24, 60-26

The Wireless Environmental Sensing Technology (WEST) lab focuses on such areas as crystal-free/crystal-less wireless communication, low power RF and mixed-signal integrated circuit design, and fieldable environmental sensing systems. Advances in these areas will facilitate creation of millimeter-scale devices and enable deployment of millions of sensor nodes across cities and regions to better understand and anticipate our rapidly-changing environment.

David Burnett

The WEST Lab undertakes research to design, develop, and deploy wireless sensor devices that can learn about the natural world and communicate those findings back to us. At the most cutting edge, this work involves chip design: the design of integrated circuits that pack billions of transistors on a single chip. The design of low-power timing systems and new methods of RF communication is particularly important. We also undertake the design of systems built using printed circuit boards and commercial sensors to get devices prototyped and collect data faster.

Key skills needed: The research in the WEST Lab can benefit from a wide array of electrical and computer engineering skills from analog and radio frequency integrated circuit design to creating new digital systems on FPGAs, to writing C code to run on microcontrollers. But the most important skills for URMP students are focus, follow-through, and communication. Make sure you commit to focusing on your project for a good amount of time each week, follow through with that commitment and communicate with the PI and others you're working with about your results and obstacles. If you exhibit those three skills, you can pick up the specific technical expertise in no time. See my website about undergraduate research for more details.

Alexander Hunt

The Agile and Adaptive Robotics lab is interested in uncovering mechanisms of how animals achieve agile and adaptive control and applying these discoveries across a variety of fields. We develop biomimetic robots and use them to test theories of neural control of locomotion and balance.

Key skills needed: Any of the following: Solidworks/3D modeling; Programming (Matlab, Python); 3D printing; Machine assembly.

Room: EB 460
Faculty Owner: Yi Xia
Contact: yxia@pdx.edu

Dr. Xia's area of research is focused on development and implementation of first-principles-based methods and machine learning approaches to simulate dynamics of phonons and electrons, and application of such to solve materials problems. Research topics include heat/charge transport phenomena, anharmonic lattice dynamics, electron-phonon interactions, and structural phase transition in thermal management, energy storage and converting materials, covering high-entropy alloys, thermoelectrics, and lithium-ion batteries.

Room: FAB 83B

Faculty Owner: David Turcic

Contact: turcicd@pdx.edu 

The controls research lab does research in the areas of feedback control, high speed dynamics, and mechatronics. Projects range from industrial automation to modeling and optimizing sports equipment to autonomous navigation. Current research projects include modeling and validation of high strain rate nonlinear collisions, and autonomous indoor navigation for industrial automation.

Room: EB 590 & 595

Faculty Owner: Alex Hunt

Contact: ajh26@pdx.edu

The Agile and Adaptive Robotics lab is interested in uncovering mechanisms of how animals achieve agile and adaptive control and applying these discoveries across a variety of fields.

By studying and developing models and controllers that mimic the structure and function of animal abilities, we work to discover how the wide range of adaptability that is seen in animal locomotion and movement is achieved.

These models and controllers have potentially significant impacts in a variety of fields including physical therapy and rehabilitation, diagnosis and treatment of diseases, and robotic and artificially controlled systems.

Room: EB 575
Faculty Owner: Elliott Gall
Contact: gall@pdx.edu 

The Healthy Buildings Research Laboratory (HBRL) conducts research to improve the sustainability of built environments. Core areas focus on human-building interactions, including the intersection of indoor and urban environmental quality, human exposure to air pollution, of building energy use.

The HBRL houses extensive facilities for both fundamental research and applied measurements. This includes equipment for both laboratory and field use under these five fundamental categories:

• Indoor environmental quality measurement and data logging capabilities
• Computational resources for building energy, internal/external CFD and urban climate modeling
• Energy performance measurements & logging for equipment and buildings
• Fundamental thermal property (conductivity, emissivity, reflectivity, and transmissivity) characterization of building materials
• Infrared instruments for envelope thermal performance and moisture assessments

This lab provides support for various faculty research, student projects and academic courses. The Instrumentation and equipment for research and lab experiments are built in the lab by faculty, students and MME's Development Engineer.

The MME Manufacturing Lab provides support for various faculty research, student projects, and academic courses. The Instrumentation and equipment for research and lab experiments are built in the shop by faculty, students, and MME's Development Engineer Greg Fahlgren.

Students are introduced to the lab in their sophomore year when they take ME 240, Survey of Manufacturing Process. During their senior year, students use the lab to build their mini-projects and to fabricate their capstone projects. Every other year, a course in CNC programming is offered. 

Equipment

• Conventional Lathes and Milling Machines
• 2 and 3 axis CNC Milling Machines and CNC Lathe
• Brake and Shear (Sheet Metal capability)
• Welding (Mig, Tig and Acetylene torch)
• Plastic Injection Molding
• Precision Surface Grinding
• 3D Printing Rapid Prototyping Machine
• Laser Cutter (60 and 400 Watts)
• CNC Programming (Master Cam X9)
• Plasma Cutter

The Manufacturing Lab contains a supply of materials, such as Multipurpose Aluminum (various thickness/width/length), etc., that students may purchase for use. These materials are not tied to a specific class; they are simply available to save students a trip to the store. 

You can purchase materials through the Materials Store Purchase Request Form. The Materials Store is only open to MCECS students.

Room: EB 475
Faculty Owner: Jun Jiao
Contact: jiaoj@pdx.edu

The bioengineering lab aims to integrate nanomaterials into biomedical applications. Currently, structural variations of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes coated with alumina are being studied for efficiency of antigen delivery to dendritic cells (immune cells) as a therapeutic vaccine against cancer.

In collaboration with ATI specialty alloys, coloration defects in zirconium sponge are being investigated. Advanced techniques for computationally refining images gathered with in situ observation of metal oxide phase transformations using the transmission electron microscope are also being enhanced.

Nanoparticulate adjuvants and delivery systems towards new generation vaccines are being investigated, in collaboration with OHSU. In addition, photocatalytic materials and reactors are being developed for the  optimization of semiconductor quantum yield.

The Mechanical Engineering Laboratory Team (MELT) is a group of MME students who seek to develop their ability in manufacturing, assembly, instrumentation, and testing of mechanical and electromechanical systems. Students in MELT also support the educational and research mission of the department. The goal of MELT is to create a mutually beneficial collaboration between students and the MME faculty and staff responsible for the operation of the MME shop and MME instructional and research laboratories.

Request Assistance: MELT Technicians are available to support students for various course-related projects and prototypes. With the MELT Technician's supervision and expertise, students may learn to use the equipment, such as the 3D Printer, Laser Cutter, CNC (or Conventional) Mill or Lathe, Welding, etc.   

You can purchase MELT Manufacturing services through Cashnet. Payment is due the same day the service is completed.

Raul Cal

Droplet jump in microgravity environments. Handling of fluids in space can aid in the improvement of engineering applications. Access to microgravity is possible via the use of a drop tower. The particular problem will be defined through discussions based on interests of the student.

Key skills needed:  Curious, hands-on and open to discussion/exchange/collaboration.

Room: EB 580

Faculty Owner: Derek Tretheway

Contact: tretdc@pdx.edu

Research in the Microscale Laboratory focuses on fundamental fluid  mechanics at the microscale, novel materials for microfluidic devices, optical and fluid manipulation of cells, and non-Newtonian fluid mechanics.

Research projects have included velocity measurements at the moving contact line with unprecedented resolution, the development of microfluidic channels with porous silk structures, the study of single cells optically trapped in microfluidic flows, the passive separation of fluids and particles from the increased effects of surfaceforces at the microscale, and rheological studies of polymer solutions.

Room: EB 550
Nanomaterial Synthesis Lab
Room: 560
Faculty Owner: Jun Jiao
Contact: jiaoj@pdx.edu

Dr. Jun Jiao’s nanofabrication lab is focused on the synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials including carbon nanotubes (CNTS), graphene, ceramic coatings, and supported bimetallic nanoparticles. These materials are then used in the design and  fabrication of devices for engineering applications. 

Room: EB 465
Faculty Owner: Sung Yi
Contact: syi@pdx.edu

The microelectronics industry is one of the most important industries and electronic packaging and assembly technology is one of the key  technologies to make such industry feasible. Nao-electronic packaging research lab is focused on the development of critical technologies used in the designing, testing, and fabrication for electronic devices and  systems.

Jun Jiao

URMP students joining the Jiao Lab will collaborate with graduate students to engage in research focused on nanomaterial synthesis and nanodevice fabrication. Participants will gain hands-on experience in utilizing advanced lab equipment such as the Raman Spectrometer, Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) system, Scanning Electron Microscope, and Probe Stations. These skills are integral to the ongoing research projects conducted at Jiao Labs.

Key skills needed:  Required a robust hands-on capability, complemented by coursework in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or Chemistry.

Room: EB 470

Faculty Owner: Ilke Celik

Contact: ilke@pdx.edu

Dr. Celik's research interests are developing sustainability concepts for infrastructure systems and consist of computational and experimental works. More recently, she has focused on developing sustainable energy storage systems integrated with emerging redox battery systems and assessing their sustainability trade-offs. Also, Celik has been generating ideas on incorporating transparent PV technologies with urban agricultural systems to promote nature-inspired solar panels to decentralize city energy production and food supply. 

Room: EB 585
Faculty Owner: Luke Zhu
Contact: xz3@pdx.edu

Dr. Zhu is deeply engrossed in the field of turbulence, leveraging Computational Fluid Dynamics as his main investigative tool. His research direction encompass: heat transfer and air pollutant dispersion in urban environments,  bio-inspired strategies for turbulent drag reduction, and the dynamics of large wind farms.

Wind Energy Lab Room: EB 115

Turbulence Lab Room: EB 520

Faculty Owner: Raul Cal

Contact: rcal@pdx.edu

At Portland State University, the Wind Energy and Turbulence Lab targets to answer questions dealing with fluids in the turbulent regime. A large portion of the efforts has been placed in understanding flows pertaining to wind energy, volcanic eruptions and forests to name a few.

Elucidating mechanisms in the interactions between the flow and these systems allows for the possibility of answering relevant questions as well as understanding these systems as a whole. Flow are scaled and studied in a wind tunnel setting via the use of laser-based techniques.