Faculty & Staff Resources

The present von Neumann architecture in which data is cycled between memory and processors is inefficient and costs energy. In this regard, memristors or resistive switching devices which maintain (memory) and change their electrical resistance (switching/computing) in the same device can realize in-memory computing and become potential candidate for next-generation data-centric computing. An ideal oxide-based memristor requires both low switching energy (current/voltage) and good retention. Unfortunately, this has not been realized in the same device in conventional memristors using active metal cations or anions as mobile species. Furthermore, a sharp jump/drop of current over 1~2 order of magnitude is typically seen during switching in existing memristors, which is detrimental to the device for use in training machine learning and neural network for high precision neuromorphic computing. Recently, a memristor based on a new type of mobile species of Ru has realized highly desirable low-current and energy, gradual switching, and good retention simultaneously. However, the underlying mechanism has not been fully understood. This proposal aims at elucidating the mechanism of resistive switching in Ru-based memristors, and identifying new types of mobile species/host materials beyond Ru that can realize even better switching performance, which enables people to choose different materials combinations for different applications. Through integration between research and education, this proposal also aims at improving STEM selection and retention for high school and undergraduate students, and promoting K-12 outreaches through the annual “Engineers Week” in local museums and libraries in DFW area, and through the Texas Pre-Freshman Engineering Program (TexPREP).

The UTALL has been operational since thesummer of 2022 and was established with start-up funding from the university to PI Brown. TheUTALL has state-of-the-art instrumentation capable of performing the most commonly usedluminescence dating methods, as well as several unique and novel instruments of wide interest tothe geology community. Presently, however, the UTALL is operated solely by the PI andstudents. The proposed technician support would enable the UTALL to: expand access to thebroader Earth Science community, increase the scope of research applications, perform methoddevelopment work, and improve student and visitor training. Additionally, the technician wouldhelp maintain facilities, develop more accessible data archiving practices, and engage incommunity outreach activities.

The power electronics power distribution systems (PEPDS) paradigm envisions that each integrated Power Electronics Building Block (iPEBB) interfaces with a common DC bus, either directly or indirectly. Networked control allows power electronics converters to collaborate toward collective objectives. Heavily sensorized power electronics converters, ubiquitous embedded controllers, and prevalent communication protocols in the PEPDS environment offer significant advantages in creating an ultimately observable, controllable, and intelligent power distribution grid, but they inadvertently increase the attack surface. DC power electronics systems in a PEPDS environment are at particular risk, given their weak grid nature, lack of generational inertia, volatile load profiles, and compromised situational awareness due to the absence of a central control entity. Significant gaps remain in understanding quantified resiliency metrics, robust energy management, safe control synthesis, and integrity of information exchanged for DC Power Electronics Systems. We seek to minimize the knowledge gaps in the following research thrusts:   [T1] Resilience certificate via antagonistic control: We intend to treat DC power electronics systems from the perspective of a potential malicious player who would want to destabilize them. By extending the concept of antagonistic control to DC power networks, we plan to investigate resiliency certificates for a given controller, identify minimum-effort avenues for intrusion, and provide guidelines for resilience-cognizant control design.   [T2] Energy management under uncharted attack: We plan to account for unforeseen load-altering attacks using a risk-averse energy management paradigm that leverages empirical data about individual loads while considering the worst-case scenarios across all possible joint distributions compatible with empirical data.   [T3] Certified control in a contested environment: We aim to design controllers that are correct by construction and formally guaranteed to meet operational bounds guided by resiliency certificates, even in the presence of untrusted data in a contested environment.   [T4] Distributed control with tractable authentication: We intend to fortify distributed control paradigms via computationally tractable authentication methods that leverage the knowledge asymmetry between the controller and eavesdropper about specific features of the physical system.   [T5] Validation with controller/hardware-in-the-loop: The first four research thrusts explore resiliency certificates, risk aversion, formal guarantees, and data integrity, whose features are then demonstrated in this research thrust in a real-time simulation environment.   University of Texas at Arlington is a Carnegie R1 institution, a Hispanic-serving institution, and an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander-serving institution. The team has a significant research track record in power electronics, power systems, control systems, and optimization theory, with an extensive experimental setup, and is uniquely positioned to help train the next generation of cyber-aware energy workforce.

 Unfortunately, the disconnect between the logical constraints that form a model and the examples results in the user getting feedback about the holistic behavior of their model, but does not help the user understand the logical constraints themselves. This stance is supported by a recent user study that found users struggle with refining a model based on observed examples. Our vision is that a live programming environment, which interweaves writing the model and evaluating the model in tandem, is the answer to all of these challenges. If a user can witness the impact of their constraints in real time, then examples become constructive feedback. Moreover, the IDE advancements needed to establish a live development environment will bring finite morel finder IDEs in line with the state-of-the art, which all include features to aid in composition, not just enable composition. All together, these advancements can make software modeling approachable to the average software architect.

It provides a description of The University of Texas at Arlington, the Physics Department, the history and status of space physics in the department, and how a new space physics faculty position at UT Arlington will prove transformative for the space physics program at UT Arlington. The result will be a much enhanced and permanent set of space physics courses at the undergraduate and graduate level, and an expanded infrastructure for research that supports and draws from the education program. This enhanced program will be embedded in one of the largest and fastest- growing minority serving institutes in the country, with a diverse student body that will result in broader diversity in space physics.

Portland cement concrete (PCC) is the backbone of our nation’s transportation infrastructure, thus any strategy for fixing it must intimately involve PCC. Although PCC can have a service life of more than 100 years, in practice this is atypical for a variety of reasons (e.g., material degradation and delayed repair). Extending the service life of PCC is the single-most effective mechanism for reducing life-cycle costs and other socio-economic impact on the transportation built environment. The Tier-1 UTC, Center for Durable and Resilient Transportation Infrastructure (DuRe-Trans), will focus on “Improving the durability and extending the life of transportation infrastructure”. The consortium driving the Center’s mission is comprised of a multidisciplinary team of leading researchers from five universities from across the nation who will carry out an ambitious program to revitalize the nation’s transportation infrastructure, including highways, roads, airfields, bridges, tunnels, and railways. The consortium is well-qualified to address the following strategic topics: I) Durability; II) Construction; and III) Finance. The project is divided into the following Themes: I) Inspection, Maintenance and Preservation, II) Sustainability and Longevity, III) Health Monitoring, IV) Sustainable Materials and Structures for Climate Change Mitigation, V) Advanced Materials and Technologies for Construction and Retrofit, VI) Construction Methods and Management (CMM), and VII) Innovative Revenue and Finance. The Center will lead the nation’s efforts to develop and deploy the next generation of durable concrete-based materials. The performance of these materials will be rigorously tested in both laboratory and field conditions, evaluating the materials’ exposure to various environments (e.g., marine and frost). This research will support the development of standard guidelines for formulation and deployment of the next generation of durable materials. The Center will also dedicate resources for comprehensive research on advanced structural retrofitting and repair solutions for existing infrastructure. Further, the Center will develop and implement cutting-edge, in-place and remote-sensing technologies for structural health monitoring (SHM). SHM tools will provide the ability to sense and signal damage in infrastructure elements, with suitable spatial and temporal resolution with a high degree of accuracy. Such tools will be supplemented with advanced data-driven models to perform life-cycle cost analysis, asset management, and performance characterization. These data-driven models will employ state-of-the-art artificial intelligence techniques, including those based on deep learning methods for data inference, prediction, and optimization. The DuRe-Trans Center will contribute to the development of a workforce trained in interdisciplinary scholarship in order to address the nation’s complex transportation needs. The Center will fast-track the adoption of novel and durable construction materials, the development of standards for reconstruction and retrofitting of aging infrastructure, and the improvement of infrastructure safety, economic efficiency, and service life. Such efforts will help achieve the extended service life of infrastructure, which will create quality jobs, improve communities’ resilience to natural disasters, and provide sustainable industrialization and social good.

To do so, we will (1) facilitate professional development with afterschool AI facilitators to advance their critical consciousness on gendered racism; (2) implementation of gendered racial equity-focused curricula and learning environments; (3) and the co-creation with Black girls to improve gendered racial equity-focused curricula and learning environments. This multi-organizational project engages Black girls and AI facilitators across various knowledge and experiences in AI learning ecosystems. Such a focus attends to many gaps in the research literature pertaining to gendered racialized experiences of Black girls in AI learning ecosystems, specifically, (1) how systemic gendered racism impacts the engagement of this population as AI creators, (2) how Black girls’ individual and collective gendered racialized experiences in afterschool A1 learning ecosystems should inform evidence-based strategies for engaging Black girls in intersectional AI education approaches.

E.A.D.Y- Initial Certification (IC) is to Remove barriers for preservice or practicing teachers, Enrich special education teacher preparation curricula, Advance preservice or practicing teacher leadership skills, Diversify the special education teacher workforce, to Yield positive academic, behavioral, and social emotional outcomes for school-age students with disabilities. Over the course of this proposed project, Project R.E.A.D.Y-IC, we will prepare a total of 30 highly qualified practitioners at the Bachelor’s and Master’s level in special education to hold positions in high needs schools that serve school-age children with disabilities and high-intensity needs.

The RTG program naturally builds on several NSF- and DoED-sponsored mentoring and training programs in Mathematics and articulates well with institutional goals of enhancing interdisciplinary research, education, and community engagement in the area of Health and the Human Condition. Scholars will be trained in mathematical and computational methods for diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of chronic and infectious diseases. A group of 10 UTA Mathematics faculty will fully participate in all program activities, supported by collaborators from UTA Nursing, Bioengineering, Biology, and Psychology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, and UNT Health Science Center. The scholars’ training will be accomplished by joint UTA faculty comentoring from mathematics and the health sciences, RTG peers, UTA support services, and researchers from RTG partner institutions and industry scientists.

The research approach will leverage General Systems Performance Theory(developed by Dr. Kondraske) to address the following objectives: define a set of pilot basic performance resources and associated resource availability measures; define a representative pilot high-level task and associated task performance measures; empirically understand the relationship between resource availability and high-level task performance in a flight simulator; and derive a set of minimum performance resource availabilities. UTA will conduct collaborative research to advance evidence-based practice in aerospace medicine to improve the health and safety of civilian pilots by providing expertise and technical assistance to the FAA in accomplishing human factors and aerospace medical research toward achievement of the above objectives. The Period of Performance is 60 Months after award, although work may be completed prior to the end of the Period of Performance.   Note: A proposal was not submitted in response to a Request for Proposals.  The FAA has provided a Memorandum of Agreement and a Statement of Work aimed at establishing the project.