NSF Convergence Accelerator Track I: Energy-efficient MetaConductors for Convergence of Sustainable Electronics (E-MC2 of Sustainable Electronics) (co-PI)

Award total $750,000 (Kim share: $150,201)

Due to a decades-long lack of onshore manufacturing capability and supply chain inequality, the United States (US) suffers from a critical shortage of semiconductor chips and electronic parts. Consequently, the US electronics industry is currently in an unsustainable situation and faces a major economic and national security threat. The goal of this work is to explore Energy-efficient MetaConductors for Convergence of Sustainable Electronics (E-MC2 Sustainable Electronics) for future society and develop manufacturing technologies to translate metaconductors to commercial use to meet the signal/power integrity requirements for modern high-speed, broadband electronic applications. E-MC2 Sustainable Electronics will generate multiple key areas of intellectual property in the manufacturable metaconductor technology space, establishing the US as the leader in both technology and accelerating technology transfer to launch startups and adoption by industry, thus contributing to the growth of the economy and job creatio Through domestic and international collaboration with local government (Osceola County, Florida), academia (Seoul National University, Korea Institute of Energy Technology), and the private sector (Cisco, Intel, Apple, Applied Materials, Samsung, and SkyWater), the multidisciplinary team will: design sustainable metaconductors, investigate their scalable manufacturing processes, and create and implement an integrated education and workforce development program. The outcome of the inclusive educational activities will be a diverse, well-trained, and globally competent workforce in semiconductor manufacturing and related fields. The team’s unique collaboration with an advocacy group will facilitate dissemination of knowledge to the general public in addition to conventional venues such as professional conferences and journal publications.

NSF IUSE Level 3: Collaborative Research: Innovating Quantum-Inspired Learning for Undergraduates in Research and Engineering (INQUIRE) (PI)

Award total $2,000,000 (UF share: $1,250,000; Kim share: $229,776)

The overarching goal of this project is to advance knowledge of the learning process for undergraduate students from multiple STEM disciplines in studying quantum information science and technology, and then to develop new online modules and a scalable learning paradigm for effectively teaching quantum fundamentals. The scope includes both software and hardware aspects and encompasses related engineering and science disciplines. The project team plans to study the technical and cognitive entry barriers to quantum science and engineering, create modules for teaching quantum fundamentals, develop experiential learning tools, and seamlessly integrate new tools and modules into existing undergraduate engineering curricula. The research team will investigate the conditions under which improved student learning of quantum science and engineering occurs and further study the effectiveness of the created tools and approaches. The new quantum engineering learning platform and curriculum developed in this project should advance engineering and science education and workforce development in this emerging technology frontier. The NSF IUSE: EHR Program supports research and development projects to improve the effectiveness of STEM education for all students. Through the Engaged Student Learning track, the program supports the creation, exploration, and implementation of promising practices and tools.

US Department of State, IDEAS (Increase and Diversify Education Abroad for U.S. Students): US-Korea Global Design Thinking Alliance for Community College Students (PI)

Award total $35,000 (Kim share: $35,000)

The University of Florida’s U.S.-Korea Global Design Thinking Alliance for Community College Students program addresses low study abroad participation of science, technology, engineering and mathematics students through the creation of a new faculty-led study-abroad program to South Korea. This 12-week immersive summer program is for students in the University of Florida’s Gator Engineering at Santa Fe College program, taught by University of Florida faculty for community college students. By connecting students with global engineering opportunities, the University of Florida builds U.S. students’ intercultural competencies and equips them with skills for the modern workforce. The University of Florida is using its IDEAS Grant funding to conduct site visits and establish and strengthen partnerships with South Korean universities, research institutions, and companies for this program.

NSF IRES Track I: Future Mobility for Smart City (PI)

Award total $299,945 (Kim share: $96,957)

This IRES project addresses the fundamental research question: How and to what extent a digital infrastructure (e.g., sensors and data science) can enhance human life from an urban mobility perspective? A three-level approach will be emphasized in exploring and delving into the data analytics, optimization techniques, and model building using various tools (e.g., GIS, Unity3D). This innovative and holistic research approach will advance knowledge of the relationship between digital infrastructure and physical infrastructure, and ultimately provide the essential digital infrastructure layout to further support physical infrastructure – a much-needed fundamental information to build a smart city. Furthermore, this will allow our students to capture and understand the importance of a holistic and multidisciplinary approach. Seoul National University’s Smart City Engineering Program provides a state-of-the-art research environment for sustainable and smart cities, with leading experts in engineering, planning, science, and policy, as well as world-class lab and testbed equipment and facilities. Upon completion of this IRES project, we expect students will achieve: (i) Elevated interest and intellectual growth in the immediate and related fields of future mobility for sustainable and smart cities (e.g., big data analyses, code development, design and programming of a multimodal system); (ii) increased awareness of diversity within and across cultures in problem solving in engineering; (iii) confidence in the ability to work as a member of a cross-cultural engineering team; and (iv) diverse and knowledgeable worldview. For information, visit: nsfsmartcity.org

NSF IRES Track I: Collaborative Research: Interdisciplinary Research in Korea on Applied Smart Systems (IRiKA) for Undergraduate Students (PI)

Award total $300,660 (UF share: $213,000; Kim share: $213,000)

Interdisciplinary Research in Korea on Applied smart systems (IRiKA) for Undergraduate Students will provide a cohort of five US undergraduate students per year with the opportunity to conduct research for 8 weeks at Korea’s top-ranked universities with state-of-the-art research facilities: Seoul National University, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology and Ewha Womans University. Over the lifetime of this 3-year project, 15 students will participate. Students from underrepresented groups will be recruited. The unifying research theme of IRiKA is smart systems with the subtopics of sensors, emerging electronics, and materials and process development. In addition to lab work and weekly cohort research meetings, IRiKA students will visit Korea’s government research institutions and global leaders in the tech industry such as Samsung, LG, and Hyundai. The distinctive features of IRiKA are: 1) A cohort experience bringing the US participants together; 2) Vetted and structured professional development program tailored for both US students and Korean mentors; and 3) Availability of follow-on collaborative projects in US and Korea to facilitate a sustained global network of mentorship. Students will gain formative research skills and learn how smart systems brings together interdisciplinary technological solutions for manufacturing, healthcare, energy, safety and security, transportation, and logistics. For information, visit: nsfirika.org

NSF I-Corps: A Quantitative Approach to Detecting Meltdowns in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (PI)

Award total $50,000 (Kim share: $50,000), completed

This I-Corps project involves wearable technology for predicting, detecting, tracking, and mitigating meltdowns for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). We have developed a biometric sensing suite comprising two components: The hardware portion consists of a detachable, water-resistant core unit for biosignal filtering, processing, and transmission as well as machine washable sensors that can be embedded into apparel; The software portion consists of our proprietary machine learning models for determination of when a meltdown is to occur, alerting the parent or caregiver of a high risk of a meltdown, and an assessment of mitigation techniques afterwards. Our innovation will advance autism research, as the technology has the potential to open the doors to a better understanding of behavioral phenotypes. Being able to tell what a non-verbal child is feeling can pave the way for more efficient and productive lessons for social/education development as well as broader phenotypical research. The assessment feature of our product will lead to the improvement of mitigation techniques for meltdowns. gaia’s competitive advantage is in its pre-emptive nature of care. Proof-of-concept was demonstrated, and a beta prototype will be complete by the end of Summer 2018.

2016-2017 Northwestern University Provost’s Fellowship for Digital Learning: Customized and Contextualized Asynchronous Learning (PI)

Award total $12,500 (Kim share: $12,500), completed

The project focuses on restructuring, developing, and expanding experiential learning modules for the three-part course series in the biosignals and systems analysis and experimental design that include my courses: Biomedical Signals and Electrical Circuits and Quantitative Experimentation and Design. This project aims to enhance them with asynchronous adaptive learning modules in order to: pinpoint student weaknesses and allow students to receive immediate formative feedback. We expect that the feedback, knowledge, and modules generated from this project will benefit curricula in other areas of engineering and build linkages of concepts to facilitate knowledge transfer and holistic problem solving.

NSF I-Corps L: nScope- a Lab for Every Laptop (PI)

Award total $50,000 (Kim share: $50,000), completed

This I-Corps L project from Northwestern University (NU) will focus on scaling and sustaining of an educational innovation, nScope, one of the centerpieces in the parent NSF project funded under the “Engaged Student Learning” track in the IUSE: EHR program. The nScope system is a USB-powered device that plugs into an electronics prototyping breadboard. The nScope is equipped with an oscilloscope, power supply, two function generators and two pulse generators. The hardware is accompanied by a graphical interface and an open application program interface (API) for custom control from any platform – PC, Mac, and Raspberry Pi. The current version is easy and safe for beginners, yet powerful enough for experts. The versatility makes nScope a potent educational tool for all types of STEM learners. This I-Corps for Learning project will investigate ways to increase the impact of this innovative project so that more STEM students can benefit from the capabilities of nScope. Possible paths to be explored include partnerships and collaborations with universities, community colleges, and engineering licensure boards. Tutorials or modules will be tailored to the user needs. The scaling of the innovation will investigate means of sustaining the project including potential commercial outlets.

NSF IUSE Level 1: Collaborative Research: Enhancing and Expanding Experiential Learning Modules across Disciplines and Institutions (PI)

Award total $250,000 (Kim share $158,983), completed

This project will study the adaptation, implementation, and dissemination of best practices in experiential learning in the core middle years of the engineering curriculum where students take the bulk of technical fundamentals. The study will involve two series of junior-year fundamental core engineering courses; one taught at Northwestern University’s Department of Biomedical Engineering and the other taught at the University of Florida’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. The course sequences use similar tools and teach similar topics geared towards building skills needed for success in the engineering workplace or graduate school. The differences are in methods of delivery and the types of experiential learning modules employed. the main goals of this proposal are to 1) assess each course sequence in terms of How People Learn and assess how student experiences and outcomes are linked to those attributes of each course and 2) enhance and expand effective experiential learning modules for broader adoption and implementation. The project will evaluate student learning preferences, student engagement, retention of material in subsequent courses in their respective sequences, transferrable skills between courses and learning of course concepts.