Professors Mazumder, Toffoli Become IEEE Fellows

January 18th, 2012

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Board of Directors have named ECE Professors Malay Mazumder and Tomasso Toffoli as IEEE Fellows, effective January 1, 2012.

According to the IEEE website, Mazumder was selected “for contributions to self-cleaning solar panels, and particle size and charge distribution analysis” while Toffoli was chosen “for contributions to theory of computing including reversible computing, cellular automata, and physics of computation.”

Toffoli, who earned a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Rome as well as a Ph.D. in computer and communication sciences from the University of Michigan, said that he was very happy to be recognized by the engineering community.

“Most of my work has consisted not in trying to find an answer to questions that other people have asked, but rather in raising questions that no one else had formulated and trying to answer them because they looked important – and fun – to me,” he said of his work.

Toffoli is a member of the editorial boards of Complex Systems, the Journal of Cellular Automata, and the International Journal of Unconventional Computing.

His current research interests include fundamental connections between physics and computation; fine-grained modeling of physics-like systems technology (cellular automata machines) and methodology (programmable matter); and personal knowledge structuring.

Mazumder’s research focuses on material engineering; solar energy systems; particle technology; and electrostatic engineering. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Arkansas, is co-editor-in-chief of Particulate Science and Technology, and received the R&D Award and the Electrostatic Society of America Lifetime Achievement Award. As a longtime IEEE member, he was also excited about the honor.

“IEEE is the world’s largest technical professional association, and the diversity of its members is able to foster close connections and collaborations with colleagues in specific areas of research and scientific inquiry,” he said. “To become an IEEE Fellow is a fulfilling distinction and I feel honored to be recognized by my peers.”

Mazumder added that he is excited to represent Boston University and become a Fellow of a group that has had historical ties to prestigious scientists such as Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Edison. As part of his commitment, he hopes to continue to encourage students to become members of the professional society.

“Student engagement in meetings, presentations, and publications establishes a lifelong collaborative academic network of colleagues,” said Mazumder. “I hope to guide ECE students to join IEEE to foster such opportunities.”

Since 1963, the grade of Fellow has recognized individuals who have had an extraordinary record of accomplishments in IEEE fields of interest. The total number of IEEE Senior Members selected to be elevated to Fellow in any one year does not exceed one-tenth percent of the total voting Institute membership.

For more information, visit the IEEE website.

-Rachel Harrington (rachelah@bu.edu)