an research engineer

The average hourly rate amongst freelance Research Engineers is $73/hr .

Freelance rates in Research Engineering range between $34 and $92 for the majority of freelancers.

Considering a freelance rate of $73/hour, a freelancer would charge $584/day for an 8-hour working day.

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What does a Research Engineer do?

Research Engineers are responsible for a wide range of duties, including researching and developing new technologies and prototypes, and finding solutions to improve techniques, procedures, and technologies.

• Responsibilities
• Skills And Traits
• Comparisions
• Types of Research Engineer

Research engineer responsibilities

Research engineers are crucial in driving innovation and advancement in their respective fields. They are responsible for designing software for efficient data analysis, managing research and development projects, and creating software verification test procedures. Alessandra Bryant PhD, LMFT, Assistant Professor, Marriage and Family Therapy at Fairfield University, emphasizes the importance of "research proficiency" for research engineers, stating that "as the field progresses, we need innovative thinkers to keep advancing our knowledge." A research engineer's role often involves applying research to power electronics and renewable energy systems, as well as recovering failing projects by resolving complex technical issues.

Here are examples of responsibilities from real research engineer resumes:

• Lead and organize the whole system debugging, test, and integration.
• Prepare research proposals for the synthesis of small molecules to attain designate department goals.
• Lead a team of software QA test engineers in the prioritization and assignment of tasks and the solving of technical problems.
• Develop several LabVIEW applications used for data acquisition and logging.
• Balance multiple embed system design and prototyping projects relate to jet engine diagnostics and prognostics.
• Utilize high dexterity to assemble fuel cell hardware.
• Manufacture hydrofoils by using CNC machining and carbon fiber pressure molding.
• Used torch7 & python for research and torch7 & OpenCV for deployment.
• Initiate re-design using Java to replace Max/MSP JavaScript objects to reduce maintenance efforts.
• Work with principle investigator on the study of microbes find in the rhizosphere.
• Analyze lipid extracts using fluorescent microscopy, GC, LC-MS and HPLC techniques.
• Express telomerase protein in culture human cells and quantify enzyme activity by reverse transcriptase PCR.
• Design and implement an automate robotic work cells, CNC gantry system machinery and fixtures.
• Develop and implement crystallization methods of complex metal hydrides to be used for XRD analysis.
• Design and build prototypes of windows with an interior thin mechanical shade for improve energy efficiency.

Research engineer skills and personality traits

We calculated that 18 % of Research Engineers are proficient in Python , Java , and Software Development . They’re also known for soft skills such as Listening skills , Mechanical skills , and Creativity .

We break down the percentage of Research Engineers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

Developed software for statistical signal processing applications in Python and C++.

Translated use case models (in UML) into Java code utilizing Rational XDE (Eclipse) and Rational Rose Suite

Pursued funded research into distributed, networked computing with the emphasis on innovative software development and debugging tools.

Designed and developed software programs to convert proprietary hydrocarbon intensity data into SEG-Y formatted data using C under UNIX.

Identified and documented defects in the c++ production code.

Performed calibration, efficiency tests, and thermodynamic data analysis for gas-fired heating units; data used to develop governmental standards.

Most research engineers use their skills in "python," "java," and "software development" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential research engineer responsibilities here:

Listening skills. The most essential soft skill for a research engineer to carry out their responsibilities is listening skills. This skill is important for the role because "mechanical engineers often work on projects with others, such as architects and computer scientists." Additionally, a research engineer resume shows how their duties depend on listening skills: "involved in event/listener effort using java.util.eventlistener. "

Mechanical skills. Many research engineer duties rely on mechanical skills. "mechanical skills allow engineers to apply basic engineering concepts and mechanical processes to the design of new devices and systems.," so a research engineer will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways research engineer responsibilities rely on mechanical skills: "prepared laboratory equipment and specimens for bio-mechanical testing. "

Creativity. This is an important skill for research engineers to perform their duties. For an example of how research engineer responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "mechanical engineers design and build complex pieces of equipment and machinery." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a research engineer: "maintain laboratory equipment, specimen records, inventory, standard operating procedures in accordance to laboratory safety and compliance. ".

Math skills. A big part of what research engineers do relies on "math skills." You can see how essential it is to research engineer responsibilities because "mechanical engineers use the principles of calculus, statistics, and other advanced subjects in math for analysis, design, and troubleshooting in their work." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical research engineer tasks: "utilized matlab, simulink, minitab and other software for mathematical modeling and control of manufacturing processes. "

Problem-solving skills. Another crucial skill for a research engineer to carry out their responsibilities is "problem-solving skills." A big part of what research engineers relies on this skill, since "mechanical engineers need good problem-solving skills to take scientific principles and discoveries and use them to design and build useful products." How this skill relates to research engineer duties can be seen in an example from a research engineer resume snippet: "provide solutions using dod architecture framework (dodaf) guidlines. "

See the full list of research engineer skills

The three companies that hire the most research engineers are:

• Meta 140 research engineers jobs
• Siemens 58 research engineers jobs
• Pacific Northwest National Laboratory 45 research engineers jobs

Choose from 10+ customizable research engineer resume templates

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Research engineer vs. product development engineer.

A Product Development Engineer is responsible for creating and testing new product designs. They collaborate with market researchers to evaluate market needs, existing competition, and potential costs.

While similarities exist, there are also some differences between research engineers and product development engineer. For instance, research engineer responsibilities require skills such as "python," "c #," "software development," and "c." Whereas a product development engineer is skilled in "product design," "prototype," "fea," and "ul." This is part of what separates the two careers.

Research engineer vs. Mechanical design engineer

A mechanical design engineer specializes in designing various mechanical devices that will be vital in developing machinery or large structures. One of their primary responsibilities revolves around conducting thorough research and analysis, establishing layouts and prototypes, producing progress reports, and working alongside fellow engineers and skilled professionals. Typically assigned in an office setting, a mechanical design engineer must visit construction sites or factories to test and observe equipment qualities. Furthermore, during production, there are instances when a mechanical engineer must coordinate with suppliers, contractors, and clients.

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, research engineer responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "python," "c #," "java," and "software development." Meanwhile, a mechanical design engineer has duties that require skills in areas such as "mechanical design," "gd," "creo," and "fea." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

Research engineer vs. Design engineer internship

When it comes to a design engineer internship, an intern is primarily responsible for performing support tasks while under the supervision and directives of a manager or a more experienced engineer. Their duties typically revolve around processing documents, updating records and populating databases, responding to inquiries and correspondence, running errands, sharing insights, and even participating in designing projects. Furthermore, as an intern, it is essential to report to the supervising manager and adhere to the company's policies and regulations.

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, research engineers are more likely to have skills like "c #," "software development," "c," and "research projects." But a design engineer internship is more likely to have skills like "level analysis," "verilog," "powerpoint," and "design reviews."

Research engineer vs. Product design engineer

A Product Design Engineer designs new products that customers will want to purchase. They are responsible for designing, modeling, and testing prototypes for products.

Types of research engineer

• Project Engineer
• Design Engineer
• Mechanical Engineer
• Mechanical Design Engineer
• Product Engineer

Updated June 25, 2024

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

What a Research Engineer Does FAQs

How much do engineering researchers make, how much money does a ph.d. engineer make, search for research engineer jobs, what similar roles do.

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Researcher vs. Engineer: What Are the Differences?

Learn about the two careers and review some of the similarities and differences between them.

A career in research or engineering can be both exciting and rewarding. If you’re interested in pursuing one of these paths, it’s important to understand the key differences between them. Researchers and engineers both work with data and solve problems, but their day-to-day tasks and responsibilities vary. In this article, we compare and contrast these two professions, and we offer advice on choosing the right path for you.

What is a Researcher?

Researchers conduct studies and experiments to increase scientific knowledge in a particular field. They work in a variety of settings, including colleges and universities, government agencies, private companies, and nonprofit organizations. Researchers typically specialize in a particular area of study, such as biology, chemistry, physics, or psychology. They develop research proposals outlining the goals and methods of their proposed studies. They also design and carry out experiments, collect data, and analyze the results to see if they support or disprove their hypotheses. Researchers may also write papers or give presentations to share their findings with other scientists and the general public.

What is an Engineer?

Engineers are problem-solvers who apply science and mathematics to develop economical solutions to technical problems. Their work is the link between scientific discoveries and the commercial applications that meet societal and consumer needs. Many engineers develop new products. Others develop processes that improve production or management. They work in a variety of industries, including transportation, manufacturing, construction, and power generation.

Researcher vs. Engineer

Here are the main differences between a researcher and an engineer.

Researchers and engineers share some job duties, such as designing projects, creating plans and conducting tests. However, engineers typically have more technical responsibilities than researchers. For example, an engineer might use the research to determine the specifications for a project and then create blueprints, schematics and other documents to guide the implementation of the project.

Researchers often have more administrative duties than engineers. For example, a researcher might be responsible for managing teams of data analysts or other staff who help with research projects. Researchers also usually have to write reports about findings and submit them to colleagues and clients.

Job Requirements

To become a researcher, you need at least a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, such as science, engineering or mathematics. However, many research positions require a master’s degree or higher. Additionally, researchers must be able to think critically and solve problems. They must also have strong communication skills to present their findings to colleagues, clients or the public.

Engineers need at least a bachelor’s degree in engineering, but many jobs require a master’s degree or higher. Engineers must be able to think critically and solve problems. They must also have strong communication skills to present their findings to colleagues, clients or the public. In addition, engineers must be licensed by the state in which they practice.

Work Environment

Researchers and engineers typically work in different environments. Researchers often work in an office or laboratory setting, where they can focus on their research projects without distractions. They may also travel to conduct interviews with people who have firsthand knowledge of the topic they’re researching.

In contrast, engineers usually work in a more industrial environment, such as a factory or construction site. This is because many engineering jobs involve building new structures or machines that require them to be present during the construction process.

Both researchers and engineers need to have excellent problem-solving skills. This is because a large part of their job involves finding solutions to problems that people or businesses are facing. For researchers, this may involve conducting experiments or collecting data to find the root cause of a problem. For engineers, this may involve using their technical knowledge to develop a product or system that will address a problem.

Both researchers and engineers also need to be able to effectively communicate their findings. Researchers typically write reports detailing their research methods and results. Engineers often create designs or prototypes of their products and then present these to their team or clients. In both cases, being able to clearly explain their work is essential for getting buy-in from others.

Finally, both researchers and engineers need to be creative in their thinking. This is because they often need to come up with new ideas or approaches to solve problems. For researchers, this may mean thinking of new ways to collect data or designing experiments that will yield accurate results. For engineers, this may mean coming up with innovative product designs or developing new manufacturing processes.

The average salary for a researcher is $69,622 per year, while the average salary for an engineer is $89,577 per year. The salary for both positions can vary depending on the type of research or engineering you do, your level of experience and the company at which you work.

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Research Engineer Job Description

Research engineer duties & responsibilities.

To write an effective research engineer job description, begin by listing detailed duties, responsibilities and expectations. We have included research engineer job description templates that you can modify and use.

Sample responsibilities for this position include:

Research Engineer Qualifications

Qualifications for a job description may include education, certification, and experience.

Licensing or Certifications for Research Engineer

List any licenses or certifications required by the position: CCNA, MCSA, MCSE, CITI, MIL, R&D, OSCP, FAA, ISO, CCIE

Education for Research Engineer

Typically a job would require a certain level of education.

Employers hiring for the research engineer job most commonly would prefer for their future employee to have a relevant degree such as Bachelor's and Master's Degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Science, Mechanical Engineering, Technical, Computer Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, Education

Skills for Research Engineer

Desired skills for research engineer include:

Desired experience for research engineer includes:

Research Engineer Examples

• Microsoft Word (.docx) .DOCX
• PDF Document (.pdf) .PDF
• Image File (.png) .PNG
• Design and perform data collections utilizing
• 3D reconstruction based on multi-modal sensor input from laser scans, photos, structured light etc
• Rendering & streaming of extremely large textured meshes
• Intelligent mesh & texture manipulation, segmentation & visual search tools
• Experience in prototyping in Julia and/or Matlab (or in a similar language)
• Solid research publication record
• Exploring technologies for the collection, management, and analysis of large amounts of data, applications of big data and advanced analytics related to social infrastructure issues, especially healthcare
• As part of a team, planning, preparing and executing Proof-of-Value (PoV) of solution and refining the solution based on external feedback
• Develop thermoset resin formulations for next generation composite matrix technology
• Develop techniques and knowledge of fracture behavior and provide fracture analysis expertise
• Demonstrated capability in research and development, including the conduct of gap analyses and literature reviews, experimental scoping and design, conduct of welding trials, and analysis and documentation of results
• Master of Science or Doctoral degree in Welding Engineering or a related discipline with research focused on welding, 5+ years of welding research experience
• Experience with adaptive welding control for RSW (preferred)
• BS in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering and 8 years of engineering work experience
• Expertise in linear and nonlinear control systems design, including electronic and electromechanical systems required
• Expertise in systems characterization and identification required
• Work with Universities to develop and validate crash CAE capabilities for 3D printed metal parts
• Develop multi-physics manufacturing process simulation capabilities of various joining methods and integrate with crash simulation
• Bring passion to your role as a research engineer who will become an expert with activation and thermal processing, to create adsorption media for existing market applications and future customer needs
• Lead and execute experiments from bench top to full-scale production
• Deliver creativity and critical thinking to solve open-ended problems
• Communicate high level theoretical results through monthly reports, technical memos, and presentations to a variety of audiences and stakeholders
• Balance multiple project priorities, apply practicality, assure flexibility and pitch in to help the team
• Become a cohesive member of our team
• The Deep Learning Research Engineer will work closely with other researches on enhancing and testing implementations of existing algorithms for autonomous driving (ADAS) to leverage deep learning advantages in objection detection, classification, and tracking
• Develop models for path planning and decision making for autonomous driving (ADAS) and object avoidance using deep leaning methods
• Experience with large scale data processing on Hadoop is a plus
• Familiarity with online advertising is a plus
• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering or Electrical Engineering AND 4 years of engineering work experience
• Master’s Degree in Mechanical or Electrical engineering or similar field with hydraulic system or electro-hydraulic control system design and analysis focus * 4+ years concepting, designing, simulating, or developing electro-hydraulic systems for mobile equipment
• 1 year of experience performing Li-ion battery simulations using COMSOL and MATLAB
• Develop Analyst through career mentoring
• Evaluate technology strengths of partners that are selected
• Build prototypes of DL systems to show proof-of-concepts and transfer to our business units
• Establish strong tie-ups with DL experts in academia through collaborations, joint scientific publications and publicly-funded projects
• Physically connect/re-arrange SDN switches in the topology
• Upgrade FW on all the switches
• Connect switches with the ODL controller
• Create few OVS instances and connect them to ODL
• Bring Controller up and make the GUI visible from outside
• Update Visio topology, equipment list in a google sheet
• Servers upgrade with new Mellanox FW and drivers and re-tune them
• Related experience in the cosmetics or personal care industry will be a plus
• Students with research experience through university/industrial internships and/or publications in International conferences/journals will be preferred
• Ability to perform research that is justified and guided by business opportunities
• Engineering degree from an accredited institution (chemical, materials, or mining engineering preferred)
• Bachelor’s or foreign equivalent degree in mechanical engineering, automobile engineering or a related field
• 3 years of experience in the job offered or 3 years of experience using GT-Power or WAVE to develop new 1D predictive engine models, calibrating models to existing test data, assessing new engine configurations and concepts, and troubleshooting 1D engine models developed by others
• He/She works with UP/module/Integration engineers to incorporate channel stressors, low resistive contacts and low capacitance device structures suitable at scaled geometries
• Works with PDK team on layout impact, design enablement and runs circuit simulations to bring overall value of new device architectures
• Works with external partners & universities to develop unique performance elements that can fit into advanced transistor architectures
• Lead moderate to long term projects resulting in moderate/significant business advantages to JM, including conducting research, designing and running pilot/plant trials, and performing project management functions
• Create robust, well-designed software packages, in a maintainable, optimized fashion
• Implementation of prototypes and the design of experiments to evaluate them
• Validate key algorithms and architectures associated with such prototypes, followed by written reports
• Transition prototypes into production
• Work at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Technical Center to develop a system to audit air traffic control operations for compliance with safety standards
• Work collaboratively to define the system concept, capabilities and technical approach
• Gridlab-D Federate
• Beagle Bone Black HIL Demo
• Hardware-in-the-loop Support in C2WT
• Centralized Database Design and Implementation
• Centralized DB Interface
• C2WT Metamodel and Plugins
• Design innovative ideas to improve the user experience for our search federation platform
• Responsible for developing tools and processes for automating systems engineering tasks
• Responsible for gathering user requirements and creating use cases to develop/enhance tools to support Functional safety and system engineering tasks
• Responsible for developing training documents, conduct end-user training, and willing to travel to other Ford sites to conduct training and/or provide tool support
• Maintain test equipment and instrumentation through preventative maintenance and coordinate spare parts and replacement inventories with the Laboratory Supervisor
• Perform laboratory and production process investigations/research through hands-on application work and data review.Apply basic troubleshooting skills to daily tasks to achieve improved process efficiencies and/or product quality
• Take initiative in identifying, reporting, and trouble-shooting problems or inconsistent data reporting and proactively address
• Develop relationships with the supply base to learn about latest technologies Suppliers may offer
• As part of the TTS R&D organization, you will be contributing to the development of text-to-speech technology for all types of markets and platforms with focus on Asian languages
• Evaluate state-of-the-art audio signal processing methods, such as different codecs and morphing methods
• Good communication (both written and oral) is vital
• Expert knowledge of computational mathematics and statistical techniques
• Strong scientific programming skills
• Experience in physics or related fields
• Extensive experience with the processing and analysis of real data, the construction and testing of computer models and numerical simulations
• Must be a U.S. citizen and be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance

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Types of Research

Tissue engineering aims to assemble functional constructs that restore, maintain, or improve damaged tissues or whole organs. This research area combines principles from materials science, engineering, biology, and medicine to create new tissues and organs that can replace damaged or diseased tissues in the body. Tissue engineering typically involves using biocompatible scaffolds or matrices, which serve as a support structure for cell growth and development, and applying biochemical and biophysical cues to stimulate cell growth and differentiation. Researchers in this field work to develop new biomaterials and tissue engineering strategies, to create functional tissues and organs that can be transplanted into patients to restore normal function.

Focus Areas

• Cell sourcing
• Bioreactor design
• Vascularization strategies

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Why is research important to an engineer?

Mohammad Solayman

Research is an essential part of an engineer’s work because it helps to generate new ideas, design innovative solutions, and improve existing technologies. In this essay, we will discuss the importance of research in the engineering field.

Engineering is a diverse field that requires constant innovation and problem-solving. Engineers are responsible for designing, building, and maintaining a wide range of systems and structures, from roads and bridges to aircraft and medical equipment. In order to do this effectively, engineers need to stay up-to-date with the latest technological advancements, understand the needs of their clients, and develop creative solutions to complex problems. Research is one of the most important tools that engineers can use to achieve these goals.

One of the primary reasons why research is important to an engineer is that it allows them to discover new knowledge. Through research, engineers can learn about new theories, principles, and ideas that can inform the development of new technologies and solutions. For example, a civil engineer may conduct research on new materials that can be used in bridge construction. This research can lead to the development of stronger, more durable bridges that can withstand extreme weather conditions and heavy traffic.

Another important aspect of research is that it allows engineers to improve upon existing technologies. By studying and analyzing current systems, engineers can identify areas where improvements can be made. For example, a mechanical engineer may conduct research on the efficiency of an engine and develop new designs that are more efficient and use less fuel. This can lead to significant cost savings and environmental benefits.

Research is also important for developing new solutions. Engineers are often faced with complex problems that require innovative solutions. By conducting research, engineers can identify new problems and develop solutions that are more effective than existing ones. For example, an electrical engineer may conduct research on renewable energy sources and develop new technologies that can be used to generate clean energy.

In addition to these practical benefits, research is also important for staying up-to-date on the latest developments and trends in the field. Technology is advancing at an incredible pace, and engineers need to stay current in order to remain competitive. By conducting research, engineers can stay informed about new technologies, materials, and methods that can improve their work.

Research also plays an important role in meeting the needs of customers. By conducting research, engineers can better understand the needs and requirements of their clients. This can lead to the development of solutions that are tailored to their specific needs. For example, a software engineer may conduct research on user experience and develop a software application that is intuitive and easy to use.

Another important benefit of research is that it encourages innovation. Research provides engineers with the tools and knowledge necessary to think creatively and develop new and innovative ideas. By fostering a culture of innovation, engineers can create solutions that are more effective, efficient, and sustainable.

In conclusion, research is essential for an engineer to stay competitive, produce high-quality work, and meet the needs of their clients. Through research, engineers can discover new knowledge, improve existing technologies, develop new solutions, stay up-to-date on the latest developments in their field, meet customer demands, and innovate. For these reasons, research is a critical component of the engineering profession.

Written by Mohammad Solayman

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NSF announces 4 new Engineering Research Centers focused on biotechnology, manufacturing, robotics and sustainability

Engineering innovations transform our lives and energize the economy.  The U.S. National Science Foundation announces a five-year investment of $104 million, with a potential 10-year investment of up to $208 million, in four new NSF Engineering Research Centers (ERCs) to create technology-powered solutions that benefit the nation for decades to come.   

"NSF's Engineering Research Centers ask big questions in order to catalyze solutions with far-reaching impacts," said NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan. "NSF Engineering Research Centers are powerhouses of discovery and innovation, bringing America's great engineering minds to bear on our toughest challenges. By collaborating with industry and training the workforce of the future, ERCs create an innovation ecosystem that can accelerate engineering innovations, producing tremendous economic and societal benefits for the nation."  

The new centers will develop technologies to tackle the carbon challenge, expand physical capabilities, make heating and cooling more sustainable and enable the U.S. supply and manufacturing of natural rubber.  

The 2024 ERCs are:  

• NSF ERC for Carbon Utilization Redesign through Biomanufacturing-Empowered Decarbonization (CURB) — Washington University in St. Louis in partnership with the University of Delaware, Prairie View A&M University and Texas A&M University.   CURB will create manufacturing systems that convert CO2 to a broad range of products much more efficiently than current state-of-the-art engineered and natural systems.    
• NSF ERC for Environmentally Applied Refrigerant Technology Hub (EARTH) — University of Kansas in partnership with Lehigh University, University of Hawaii, University of Maryland, University of Notre Dame and University of South Dakota.   EARTH will create a transformative, sustainable refrigerant lifecycle to reduce global warming from refrigerants while increasing the energy efficiency of heating, ventilation and cooling.    
• NSF ERC for Human AugmentatioN via Dexterity (HAND) — Northwestern University in partnership with Carnegie Mellon University, Florida A&M University, and Texas A&M University, and with engagement of MIT.  HAND will revolutionize the ability of robots to augment human labor by transforming dexterous robot hands into versatile, easy-to-integrate tools.     
• NSF ERC for Transformation of American Rubber through Domestic Innovation for Supply Security (TARDISS) — The Ohio State University in partnership with Caltech, North Carolina State University, Texas Tech University and the University of California, Merced.   TARDISS will create bridges between engineering, biology, and agriculture to revolutionize and on-shore alternative natural rubber production from U.S. crops.  

Since its founding in 1985, NSF's ERC program has funded 83 centers (including the four announced today) that receive support for up to 10 years. The centers build partnerships with educational institutions, government agencies and industry stakeholders to support innovation and inclusion in established and emerging engineering research.  

Visit NSF's website and read about NSF Engineering Research Centers .  

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Lee utilizes diverse research experiences for implementing multi-agent systems

Solving problems is at the heart of all research. But researchers usually endure multiple failures before enjoying the satisfaction of finding a solution. And while the solution may not be the perfect answer, discussions with colleagues and collaborators often provide valuable feedback.

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Assistant Professor Junsoo Lee has only been at the Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing since 2022, but he has already made an impression with colleagues and students on working toward solving challenging problems.

Lee grew up in South Korea with an interest in aerospace engineering. However, at the time he was applying to universities, there were only 10 aerospace engineering programs (combined with mechanical engineering) in the country. He began his studies at Seoul National University in 2009, but his education was interrupted by required military service. His time in the military reignited his interest in aerospace.

“I was an Air Force translator between the Korean and U.S. forces. I met different people in the U.S. Air Force and my unit, where most of the soldiers were studying at foreign institutions. I also had a chance to see many aircraft such as F22 and U2 surveillance. This led to my interest in studying abroad for a higher degree,” Lee says. 

Upon completing his military service, Lee returned to the university and began his research in system dynamics and control, which refers to analysis and modeling of a system that leads to designing a control system to guarantee optimality, robustness, and its stability.

“My motto is that everything needs feedback. “Naturally, I became interested in control because it's all about feedback since a sensor reads the signal and tries to change the actions,” Lee says. 

Lee later earned his master’s degree in aerospace engineering at Seoul National University before coming to the U.S. to pursue his Ph.D. in aerospace engineering at Georgia Tech. Since his area of research heavily focuses on theory, he also pursued a master’s in applied mathematics, which is the foundation for his current research in systems control.

“System dynamics and control is not only specific to mechanical or aerospace systems. Not only do engineers in other disciplines use system modeling and control but also people in psychology or medicine use dynamics and control,” Lee says. “For instance, there is a rising interest in feedback control from medical researchers on how to automate the medical system, such as the ICU, in the future.”  

The one keyword to represent Lee’s research is multi-agent systems. In an engineering perspective, this could refer to multiple satellites in space instead of one large satellite. While the small satellites have limited capacity, they can communicate with each other and achieve a common goal that is beyond a single agent’s capability.

According to Lee, multi-agent systems translate into swarm system, where 100 or more agents are involved.

“For example, if you have 1,000 agents, you cannot have a one central unit telling each one what to do. They need to make their own decisions based on limited information,” Lee says. “The question is, ‘How can we make sure that our multi agent swarm system works as a team and not breakdown?’”

Lee is working with his undergraduate research assistants on several multi-agent system projects. One is related to an extended autonomous mission. Instead of a short, automated mission with a duration of 20-to-60 minutes, the project is a 24-hour mission to determine which decision-making protocols are needed, and the best communication protocols and methods for controlling the system with minimal interaction with the human operator. Lee believes that this process could also be applied to a smart farming system.

“Crops cannot grow in a few hours. It requires a three-to-six month ‘mission.’ When the farmer starts the system, they don't have to worry about it for an extended period,” Lee says.

Lee is also involved in a project working with one of his other students on solving an optimization problem utilizing a particle smarm intelligence. One of the techniques currently being considered  is particle swarm optimization, a bio-inspired algorithm that searches for optimal solutions in multidimensional spaces.

“Each particle represents a possible solution or an agent in an unknown environment,” Lee says. When they have limited sensing capabilities in an unknown environment, such as military vehicles deployed in hostile areas that need to communicate an enemy presence or hazards. We’re trying to figure out how we can optimize this control scheme.”

Travis Knight , chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, says that Lee takes the chaos of multi-agent systems and brings them to consensus in ways that are fascinating and wildly complex.

“Dr. Lee’s research on swarm control is like the proverbial problem of trying to herd cats but doing so with mathematical precision. It’s impressive how he wrangles unpredictable dynamics into something organized and stable,” Knight says.

Lee believes in the importance of bridging people from different backgrounds and providing leadership. This is apparent in his research and work with students.

“To be a good researcher, you need to be a good leader. Most of the time when you have your own group with students or postdocs, it's not just technical work. You need to create a working environment and chemistry where students can speak freely and express their feelings,” Lee says. 

Moving forward, Lee intends to extend his work with students on undergraduate research projects and mentor them to provide an opportunity to decide which area is the best fit.

“Students should take advantage of the research infrastructure and resources that the university has. After starting in my faculty position, I realized that I needed students to work with because it's time consuming, ” Lee says. “If we can cultivate a culture of good undergraduate research, then we have a good pool of students who are willing to do the research and help us realize our ideas of future research.”

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The complexity of software and hardware systems calls for today’s computer engineers to be experts in power consumption, security and reliability — not just functionality. As a Masters of Computer Engineering student with the Electrical and Computer Engineering department, you’ll be working on hardware, software and networking systems for the computers of today and tomorrow. Gain the training through our program you’ll need to enter and advance in the computer engineering and information technology fields, along with gaining management opportunities and sourcing lucrative positions at larger firms.

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• Have at least a  2.7  undergraduate grade point average in the last sixty semester units or ninety quarter units attempted.
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Please check the "Prerequisite Courses" accordion item for more information on Mathematics, Physics, and Electrical Engineering courses required for the program.

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• 24 units of course work applicable to the M.S. degree, of which at least 15 units must be 500/600-level ECE courses. Select a minimum of 12 units of Electrical and Computer Engineering courses and a minimum of 6 units of Computer Science courses plus 6 units selected from Electrical and Computer Engineering or Computer Science courses.
• 6 units of ECE 698(Thesis) and a successful oral defense of the thesis before the thesis committee.

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• 27 units of coursework applicable to the M.S. degree, of which at least 18 units must be 500/600-level ECE courses. Select a minimum of 12 units of Electrical and Computer Engineering courses and a minimum of 6 units of Computer Science courses plus 9 units selected from Electrical and Computer Engineering or Computer Science courses.
• 3 units of ECE 698 (Graduate Project) culminating in a comprehensive report.

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The 30 units of coursework in the graduate program must form a cohesive plan of graduate study that consists of suggested and courses from Electrical and Computer Engineering and Computer Science. The 30 units may include one graded unit of ECE 699A (Internship) as an elective course. Any additional enrollment in ECE 699A can only be taken on a Credit/No Credit (CR/NC) basis and will not be included in the 30 units required for the degree.

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Application forms can be accessed through  Cal State Apply  and are submitted online. The code number for the MSCompE is  562445M . Application deadlines for admission are set by the Office of Admissions .

All applicants, regardless of citizenship, whose preparatory education was principally in a language other than English must receive a minimum score of 550 on the paper-based, 213 on the computer-based or 79/80 on the Internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or a score of 6.5 or higher on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Besides TOEFL and IELTS, CSUN currently accept other tests such as Duolingo. All acceptable English language tests and minimum scores are listed on the  International Prospective Students  page.

Continuing students in either Post Baccalaureate or Graduate status may change their objective and seek admission to a MS in Computer Engineering by filling out a change of objective form that can be obtained from the Office of Admissions and Records.

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For details on the above, students are advised to attend one of the ECE graduate orientation meetings to meet with the Graduate Coordinator. Prior to the formation of their Graduate Committee, graduate students are advised by the Graduate Coordinator. After the formation of their Graduate Committee, graduate students are advised by their Committee Chair. All courses taken towards the MS degree must be approved by the Committee Chair and the Graduate Coordinator. 

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• ECE 520/L System on Chip Design and Laboratory (3/1)
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• ECE 620 Advanced Switching Theory (3)
• ECE 621 Computer Arithmetic Design (3)  or ECE 622 Digital Systems Structure (3)

and a minimum of 6 units of 500 or 600-level Computer Science (COMP) elective courses in the following list:

• COMP 522 Embedded Applications (3)
• COMP 528 Mobile Computing (3)
• COMP 528L Mobile Computing Lab (1)
• COMP 529/L Advanced Network Topics and Lab (2/1)
• COMP 541 Data Mining (3)
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• COMP 560 Expert Systems (3)
• COMP 565 Advanced Computer Graphics (3)
• COMP 587 Software Verification and Validation (3)
• COMP 620 Computer System Architecture (3)

If students choose to do the Graduate Project (3 units of  ECE 698C ), the remaining 7 units must either be from Electrical Engineering or Computer Science courses.

If students choose to do the Thesis (6 units of  ECE 698C ), the remaining 4 units must be either from Electrical Engineering or Computer Science courses.

All graduate programs in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering must be approved by the faculty advisor and the Graduate Coordinator.

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Northeastern remembers beloved engineering professor Marilyn Minus, 46, who ‘embodied love’

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“Marilyn loved Northeastern and she gave her heart and soul to this place,” says Andrew Gouldstone, associate chair for undergraduate affairs in mechanical and industrial engineering.

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The Northeastern University community is mourning the loss of a colleague, scholar, mentor and friend who touched so many so deeply.

Marilyn Lillith Minus, a beloved professor of mechanical and industrial engineering, died on Aug. 6 of cancer. She was 46.

Born in Freeport, Bahamas, Minus arrived at Northeastern as an assistant professor in 2010. And within a decade she had risen to professor and chair for graduate studies and research while heading a university lab whose acronym (MINUS) shared her name.

“Marilyn was an amazing and accomplished teacher, scholar and mentor to many in the Northeastern community,” said Joseph E. Aoun, president of Northeastern. “She was a dedicated university citizen and her outstanding character and empathy left a deep impression on all those fortunate enough to know her. Our community misses her terribly and we will cherish her legacy.”  

Minus was known as a devoted champion of Northeastern and worked on the university’s behalf in a variety of ways, resulting in her receiving a Dean’s Award for Meritorious Service in January.

“She was a very good leader with a lot of compassion and empathy who was able to make difficult decisions,” said Gregory Abowd, dean of Northeastern’s College of Engineering.

Northeastern hired Minus as part of a National Science Foundation grant aimed at developing women faculty in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math).

She was introduced to Northeastern at a workshop for prospective faculty.

“As soon as people saw what she was working on, they went to recruit her,” said Jacqueline Isaacs, professor and vice provost for faculty affairs in mechanical and industrial engineering at Northeastern.

Minus’ radiant smile is burned into the memories of Isaacs and Debra Franko, Northeastern’s senior vice provost for academic affairs.

“I found her to be a leader and one of the most caring of our department chairs,” Franko said. “She cared about her faculty, about her students, about her staff, and she spent so much time and energy and effort to support them, to make sure they were OK, to work with them if they weren’t OK. She was quite amazing in that way.”

Andrew Gouldstone, associate chair for undergraduate affairs in mechanical and industrial engineering at Northeastern, said Minus was known for standing up for colleagues, students and friends.

“She just embodied love,” Gouldstone said. “It’s a simple little word but for her it was about love of life, love of people and their potential, love of animals, love of cooking, love of the Earth, love of the universe, love of her mom and family, love of God — just love and gratitude.

“When you’re that focused and you have that much vision and love, it sets a template for what people can do.”

Ken Benson, who studied under Minus as a graduate student at Northeastern, called Minus a constant source of inspiration and enlightenment.

“With her understanding, command and love of the subject matter I always knew if I went to her with a question she would have the answer — turning small meetings into impromptu lessons,” Benson said. 

Minus always prioritized her students, Benson said.

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“She was someone who would listen to any problem, whether it be academic, professional or anything in between — she was always there,” he said. “She will always be someone who I will aspire to be more alike, to become a better engineer, leader, and person.”

Minus’ lab is an interdisciplinary research center focused on the study of polymer-based nano-carbon composites. True to her indomitable cleverness, she named it the Macromolecular Innovation in Nano-materials Utilizing Systems Laboratory to form the acronym MINUS.

She designed the lab’s maker spaces, floor tiles and other features on her iPad. Minus even drew up the plans for her home and took great pride in its meticulous maintenance. 

“She loved cleaning products, lawn mowers, planting and weeding her garden,” Gouldstone said. “She described her home as a house of healing.”

Minus had been diagnosed with cancer before arriving at Northeastern.

“She would beat it and then it would recur,” Isaacs said. “And then she’d beat it, and then it would recur.”

Minus’ insistence on maintaining privacy while fighting cancer was based on her refusal to let the disease define her, leaving loved ones and colleagues to recall her unrelenting “optimism and joy in the face of hurdles,” Isaacs said.

“Marilyn was very clear on what she could not control in her life, and she was more resigned and accepted to that than anybody I’ve ever seen,” Gouldstone said.

“That’s not to say that she didn’t have big dreams; but stuff that was clearly out of her hands, that many of us choose to waste time on lamenting how maybe life doesn’t treat us fairly — that wasn’t Marilyn,” he said. “Her approach was to say there’s no reason to worry about that. And that truly allowed her to focus on what was in front of her.”

There were some people who had no idea that Minus had cancer, Abowd said.

“For them it came as a complete shock, but that very quickly turned into an appreciation for the wonderful human being that she was,” he said.

Gouldstone said Minus was not fatalistic. 

“She carried a card that read, ‘Love is patient, love is kind.’ She believed, ‘There is a plan for me.’ She didn’t have time to waste on her worries at all,” Gouldstone said. “And there was never a moment of why has life treated me this way? Never, never, ever, ever.”

He said Minus loved the notion of paying it forward.

“Whenever she earned something, she would give it away,” Gouldstone said. “Whenever she got an opportunity or something good came her way, she would want to share it with as many people as possible, in the hopes that they might share it with others as well too.”

The outpouring of responses from Northeastern faculty and staff dwelled upon her “unwavering integrity and strength, near-limitless compassion, care and loyalty for anyone she led, her devotion to her family and friends, her personal and powerful faith in God, and a hope and demand that each member of our community be recognized, respected and valued, not only for their professional activities, but for their existence as a ‘whole person,’” according to an announcement of Minus’ death by Yingzi Lin, professor and interim chair of the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering.

“Our loss of Marilyn Minus is felt across the entirety of the department, college and university, and is huge,” Lin wrote. “Let this be recognized as a testament to the love and kinship that many of us shared with her.”

Minus relinquished her chair at Northeastern in April when she became senior vice president and chief technology officer for Hexcel, a Connecticut advanced composites technology company. 

Even as she made plans to move on, Minus continued to be invested in her Northeastern Ph.D. students, Franko said.

“Marilyn loved Northeastern and she gave her heart and soul to this place,” Gouldstone said. “She knew going to Hexcel was the right decision. But still the decision wasn’t easy.”

Minus had staved off cancer with chemotherapy sessions as recently as January 2024. 

“I’m just lucky to have known her all this time,” Gouldstone said. “There are lots and lots of people who are truly sad right now, but I know she would want them not to worry. She would want them to remember the joy they had, remember their inner strength, and pass it on to other people.”

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• Published: 26 August 2024

Robust genome and cell engineering via in vitro and in situ circularized RNAs

• Michael Tong 1 ,
• Nathan Palmer 2 ,
• Amir Dailamy 1 ,
• Aditya Kumar 1 ,
• Hammza Khaliq 1 ,
• Sangwoo Han 1 ,
• Emma Finburgh 1 ,
• Madeleine Wing 3 ,
• Camilla Hong 1 ,
• Yichen Xiang 1 ,
• Katelyn Miyasaki 1 ,
• Andrew Portell 1 ,
• Joseph Rainaldi 4 ,
• Amanda Suhardjo 1 ,
• Sami Nourreddine 1 ,
• Wei Leong Chew 5 ,
• Ester J. Kwon 1 &
• Prashant Mali   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-3383-1287 1  

Nature Biomedical Engineering ( 2024 ) Cite this article

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• Gene delivery
• Molecular engineering

Circularization can improve RNA persistence, yet simple and scalable approaches to achieve this are lacking. Here we report two methods that facilitate the pursuit of circular RNAs (cRNAs): cRNAs developed via in vitro circularization using group II introns, and cRNAs developed via in-cell circularization by the ubiquitously expressed RtcB protein. We also report simple purification protocols that enable high cRNA yields (40–75%) while maintaining low immune responses. These methods and protocols facilitate a broad range of applications in stem cell engineering as well as robust genome and epigenome targeting via zinc finger proteins and CRISPR–Cas9. Notably, cRNAs bearing the encephalomyocarditis internal ribosome entry enabled robust expression and persistence compared with linear capped RNAs in cardiomyocytes and neurons, which highlights the utility of cRNAs in these non-dividing cells. We also describe genome targeting via deimmunized Cas9 delivered as cRNA and a long-range multiplexed protein engineering methodology for the combinatorial screening of deimmunized protein variants that enables compatibility between persistence of expression and immunogenicity in cRNA-delivered proteins. The cRNA toolset will aid research and the development of therapeutics.

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All key reagents will be made available via Addgene. Source data are provided with this paper.

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Acknowledgements

We thank members of the Mali lab for discussions, advice and help with experiments. We also thank T. Long, S. Brightman and A. Sutherland for their advice on performing the ELISpot assay. This work was generously supported by UCSD Institutional Funds, NIH grants (R01HG012351, OT2OD032742, R01NS131560, U54CA274502 and DP2NS111507), Department of Defense Grant (W81XWH-22-1-0401), a Longevity Impetus Grant from Norn Group, a UC San Diego Gene Therapy Initiative Grant (GTI-2024-018), and an American Heart Association Postdoctoral Fellowship (AHA 916973). This publication includes data generated at the UC San Diego IGM Genomics Center utilizing an Illumina NovaSeq 6000 that was purchased with funding from a National Institutes of Health SIG grant (S10 OD026929). This work was performed in part at the San Diego Nanotechnology Infrastructure (SDNI) of UCSD, a member of the National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure, which is supported by the National Science Foundation (grant ECCS-2025752). Some schematics were created using BioRender.

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Michael Tong, Amir Dailamy, Aditya Kumar, Hammza Khaliq, Sangwoo Han, Emma Finburgh, Camilla Hong, Yichen Xiang, Katelyn Miyasaki, Andrew Portell, Amanda Suhardjo, Sami Nourreddine, Ester J. Kwon & Prashant Mali

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Madeleine Wing

Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA

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Conceptualization: M.T., N.P., A.K. and P.M. Experiments: M.T., N.P., A.K., A.D., H.K., S.H., E.F., M.W., C.H., Y.X., K.M., A.P., J.R., A.S., S.N. and P.M. Computational analyses: M.T. and N.P. Design: M.T., N.P., W.L.C., E.J.K. and P.M. Writing: M.T., N.P., A.K. and P.M. with input from all authors.

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Correspondence to Prashant Mali .

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The authors have filed patents based on this work. P.M. is a scientific co-founder of Shape Therapeutics, Navega Therapeutics, Pi Bio, Boundless Biosciences and Engine Biosciences. The terms of these arrangements have been reviewed and approved by the University of California, San Diego, in accordance with its conflict-of-interest policies. The other authors declare no competing interests.

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Tong, M., Palmer, N., Dailamy, A. et al. Robust genome and cell engineering via in vitro and in situ circularized RNAs. Nat. Biomed. Eng (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41551-024-01245-z

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Received : 29 January 2023

Accepted : 24 July 2024

Published : 26 August 2024

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1038/s41551-024-01245-z

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