News

Improving the accuracy and applicability of large language models, like ChatGPT

Prof. Al Hero’s new method, which enhances the reliability of predictive models and promises to reduce the risk of AI hallucinations, was selected as a spotlight paper at NeurIPS 2023.

Research describing quantum-inspired computational imaging earns impact award

This Q&A with award co-recipient Alfred Hero offers a glimpse into the emerging field of single photon imaging.

The paper Quantum-inspired computational imaging received a Best Paper Award

Research to simplify big data graphs earns Best Paper Award at IEEE SSP 2023

Research by PhD student Neophytos Charalambides and Professor Alfred Hero addresses computational and storage bottlenecks for graphs used in statistical problems, signal processing, large networks, combinatorial optimization, and data analysis.
Michigan Daily: January 31, 2023

Cognitive performance variability may predict severity of viral infection, a UMich collaborative study finds

According to Prof. Al Hero, who led this portion of the research, “computerized cognitive tests could be used to measure cognitive health for data collection in future studies as well. The web-based tests could help physicians and public health authorities assess the susceptibility of a particular population to respiratory infections.”
NPR: January 24, 2023

Can simple brain quizzes predict who gets a virus?

Listen to this interview with Prof. Al Hero and collaborator Dr. Murali Doraiswamy (Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke U.) regarding their recent discovery linking cognitive performance and one’s vulnerability to getting sick.

A brain game may predict your risk of infection

When a person’s cognitive function is highly variable, they’re likely to be more infectious and have more symptoms after exposure to a respiratory virus.

Neophytos Charalambides receives Best Poster Award for research in the area of Data Science

The research can be applied to a wide range of big data applications that rely on the multiplication of two matrices in linear algebra.

Designing Synthetic Human Gut Microbiome with AI

Prof. Al Hero was interviewed and gave a presentation about his research using machine learning to improve our understanding of the human gut
August 16, 2022

Machine learning begins to understand the human gut

In this Next Byte podcast, the hosts discuss Prof. Al Hero’s recently published research that describes how machine learning can be used to better understand the human gut.

Machine learning begins to understand the human gut

The new computer model accurately predicts the behavior of millions of microbial communities from hundreds of experiments, an advance toward precision medicine.

Atkins chairs National Academies report on speeding discovery with automated research workflows

Prof. Emeritus Daniel Atkins III chaired and Prof. Al Hero served on a National Academies committee that published a new report describing the impact of artificial intelligence and automated research workflow technologies in propelling research and scientific discovery.

Teaching Machine Learning in ECE

With new courses at the UG and graduate level, ECE is delivering state-of-the-art instruction in machine learning for students in ECE, and across the University

Immune to hacks: Inoculating deep neural networks to thwart attacks

The adaptive immune system serves as a template for defending neural nets from confusion-sowing attacks

Katie Bouman talks legacy of the black hole imaging project and favorite U-M memories

Before Bouman became the face of the project that brought us the first ever image of a black hole, she was wowing ECE professors with design projects and hoarding Domino’s pizza with her HKN family.
Phys.org: April 29, 2020

Catching nuclear smugglers: Fast algorithm could enable cost-effective detectors at borders

PhysOrg spread the word about Hero’s work with Sara Pozzi and others. The research was published in Scientific Reports.

Catching nuclear smugglers: fast algorithm could enable cost-effective detectors at borders

The algorithm can pick out weak signals from nuclear weapons materials, hidden in ordinary radiation sources like fertilizer.

Could a smartwatch identify an infection before you start spreading it?

A wrist-worn device detected disrupted sleep 24 hours before study participants began shedding flu viruses.

Alfred Hero named Fellow of Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM)

Hero was elected “for contributions to the mathematical foundations of signal processing and data science.”

Using machine learning to detect disease before symptoms manifest

Prof. Alfred Hero speaks to ECE about his work using data to predict the transmission of infectious disease among people who are pre-symptomatic or asymptomatic and how it relates to COVID-19.

Machine Learning takes over the EECS Atrium

Students in EECS 545: Machine Learning, taught by Prof. AL Hero, presented their final projects in a poster session sponsored by KLA.

Machine Learning and Systems: A conversation with 2020 Field Award winners Al Hero and Anders Lindquist

Hero and Lindquist took a few minutes to talk about the impact of machine learning on Signal Processing and Control Systems, and what they plan to do about it

Alfred Hero Receives 2020 IEEE Fourier Award

Hero’s research in signal processing has explored theoretical foundations and applications including personalized health imaging and information networks.

Elizabeth Hou recognized for her research on detecting anomalies in traffic networks

PhD candidate Elizabeth Hou was awarded an honorable mention for her presentation at the Michigan Student Symposium for Interdisciplinary Statistical Sciences on her research that could help monitor nuclear nonproliferation.

ECE and data science: a natural connection

Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) faculty and students at Michigan are part of the revolution in data science that is happening today.

New Journal! SIAM Journal on Mathematics of Data Science

Hero is a Section Editor for the new SIAM Journal on Mathematics of Data Science.

Report on the Big Data in Finance Conference

Hero chaired panel on data privacy. Read the report on the Big Data in Finance Conference, a meeting hosted by US Office of Financial Research.

Envisioning the Data Science Discipline (Interim Report)

Hero co-chaired the study for Interim report on the Envisioning the Data Science Discipline: The Undergraduate Experience, which was run by the US National Academies and funded by NSF.

Hero is Committee Chair of CATS

Hero is Committee Chair for the Committee on Applied and Theoretical Statistics (CATS), a sub-committee of the Board on Mathematical Science and Analytics (BMSA) of the US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, Medicine.

Improving communication between humans and robots in 20 noisy questions

Hero and his team may have discovered a better way to facilitate communication using a twist on the classic game of 20 Questions.

Alfred Hero illustrates common threads of complex networks in Distinguished University Professor lecture

Lecture part of highest professorial honor bestowed on U-M faculty.

Alfred Hero receives CoE Professional Leadership and Service Award

Hero is a leader in both professional and academic communities.

Alfred O. Hero receives CoE Stephen S. Attwood Award

Prof. Hero and his research group build foundational theory and methodology for data science and engineering. His recent research interests are data science, bioinformatics and personalized health, statistical signal processing and imaging, and more.

U-M Shannon Centennial Symposium Celebrates the father of information theory

Researchers from around the nation gathered at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor to celebrate the 100th birthday of alumnus Claude E. Shannon (BSE EE/Eng Math ’36, ScD hon. ’61) at the Shannon Centennial Symposium.

Prof. Al Hero editor of new book: Big Data over Networks

The book explores the principles underpinning large-scale information processing over networks and the crucial interaction between big data and its associated communication, social and biological networks.

Alfred O. Hero, III named John H. Holland Distinguished University Professor of EECS

Hero is honored for his extraordinary accomplishments that have brought distinction to himself, his students, and to the entire University.

Al Hero gets a shoutout from the court

Hero was recognized as part of a program that sheds light on the University’s most distinguished faculty.

Al Hero receives 2015 IEEE Signal Processing Society Award

This is the highest award given by the Signal Processing Society, and honors outstanding technical contributions in the field.

Michigan Institute for Data Science: Bringing the MIDAS touch to big data

MIDAS is the new focal point for the multidisciplinary discipline of data science at Michigan, and part of Michigan’s $100M Data Science Initiative.

Zhaoshi Meng receives Best Paper Award at CAMSAP 2013

This work will provide a way to efficiently reveal relationships between even distant entities in a network.

Al Hero named 2013 IEEE SPS Technical Achievement Award Winner

Prof. Hero is an internationally recognized expert in the field of signal and image processing.

Pin-Yu Chen receives Rackham Chia-Lun Lo Fellowship

Chen’s work can be used in community detection in social networks, network vulnerability assessment in communication systems, and more.

MCubed A Year Later: A record of fostering innovative research

Several of the cubes enabled research to progress to the point that faculty are applying for larger grants to continue the work.

Research that will lead to sharper photos earns best paper award

The method they developed compares favorably with the best of current techniques, while being faster and easier.

Research in distributed networks earns Notable Paper Award at AISTATS

The research provides a way to efficiently reveal relationships between even distant entities in a network.

ECE faculty are MCubing to find answers – fast

The goal of MCubed is to jumpstart novel, high-risk and transformative research projects.

Predicting your risk of illness

Imagine a future when you could predict whether or not you are at risk of becoming sick.

Next-generation Systems Information Theory

This MURI has the goal of laying the foundation for a new systems information theory that applies to general controlled information gathering and inference systems.

Breakthrough: Researchers find wide gap in immune responses of people who did or didnt get the flu after exposure

If scientists can understand what happens at the genome level that makes people more or less susceptible to viral illness, they could potentially develop therapies to prevent illness.

New techniques in medical informatics lead to improved diagnosis of MDS

The technique involves a visualization method that renders clinical flow cytometry data more interpretable to pathologists.

Al Hero receives Distinguished Faculty Achievement Award

Hero is an internationally recognized expert in the field of signal and image processing, an established leader in the professional community, and distinguished educator.

Kevin Xu awarded NSERC Fellowship

Xu is interested in identifying patterns in data that is collected over time where the underlying processes generating the data may be non-stationary.

Al Hero receives 2009 Signal Processing Magazine Best Paper Award

The paper addresses the importance of knowing where networks of sensors are located once they’ve been deployed.

Al Hero appointed the R. Jamison and Betty Williams Professor of Engineering

This professorship recognizes Hero for his impressive teaching, research, and service. Congratulations!