Spring 2025 Colloquium
Our colloquium series is held once a week in Arlington, VA for faculty, students, and guests! Speakers include academics, captains of the industry, technologists, venture capitalists, defense companies and even our very own ECE alumni. Each talk has a question-and-answer portion, so come prepared!
All colloquiums are held in-person at the Virginia Tech Research Center with a Zoom option.
| Location: | Virginia Tech Research Center, 900 N Glebe Road, Arlington, VA 22203 |
| Room: | Foggy Bottom |
| Reception: | 3:30 p.m. - 4 p.m. |
| Talk: | 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. |
February
Feb 5. Saifur Rahman '78
ECE Professor, 2023 IEEE President and CEO
Technology’s Role in Achieving a Resilient Climate
This lecture explains what carbonization is, addresses its causes and impacts. It then offers technological solutions to reduce CO2 emissions from the electric power sector which is responsible over 30% of global Carbon emissions. In order to address the reduction of carbon emissions from the electric power sector, a collaborative approach between the industrialized nation states and emerging economies is necessary.
This will involve a portfolio of solutions with low-carbon generation from wind, solar, hydro and nuclear, storage, cross-border power transfer and advanced technology focusing on energy efficiency. This talk also discusses the IEEE Climate Change program and related activities.
Professor Saifur Rahman is the founding director of the Advanced Research Institute at Virginia Tech, USA where he is the Joseph R. Loring professor of electrical and computer engineering. He also directs the Center for Energy and the Global Environment. He is a Life Fellow of the IEEE and an IEEE Millennium Medal winner. He was the 2023 IEEE President & CEO and was the president of the IEEE Power and Energy Society (PES) for 2018 and 2019. He is the founding editor-in-chief of the IEEE Electrification Magazine and the IEEE Transactions on Sustainable Energy.
He has published over 170 journal papers and has made over seven hundred conference and invited presentations. He has conducted several energy efficiency, blockchain and sensor integration projects for Duke Energy, Tokyo Electric Power Company, the US National Science Foundation, the US Department of Defense, the US Department of Energy and the State of Virginia. He has a PhD in electrical engineering from Virginia Tech.
Feb 12. Jeff Dickhart '98
Vice President & General Manager, Power Die Products, Wolfspeed
Non-traditional Career Paths in Engineering
Engineers can do anything. At most technology companies, you will find engineers in all kinds of roles. These may include positions in sales, marketing, business leadership, and of course engineering. Determining the best career path for you requires being open-minded and giving yourself an opportunity to do what you do best every single day, and you may be surprised by what role that takes on. This talk uses my career journey and learnings as a backdrop to share what I have learned about navigating these important and often difficult career decisions.
Jeff Dickhart is currently the Vice President and General Manager of the Power Die Products Business at Wolfspeed. He graduated with a BSEE in CPE from Virginia Tech in 1998 and has spent his entire career in the semiconductor industry, mostly in automotive semiconductors. He started his career at Texas Instruments and held roles in Sales, Business Development, Product Management, and eventually as the General Manager of a $600M P&L.
In 2019, he joined Wolfspeed, a worldwide leader in Silicon Carbide technology based in Durham, NC. Wolfspeed is leading the industry transition from silicon to silicon carbide. Jeff leads a business unit that is primarily focused on automotive electrification and his team is responsible for defining, developing, and releasing bare die power devices that are used in applications such as automotive inverters, EV charging systems, solar inverters, and a variety of other industrial and energy applications.
Feb 19. Matthew Gardner '08
Vice President, Electric Transmission
Title: TBD
Feb 26. Afia Habib '21
Software Engineer, Capital One
Ethical Dilemmas and Personal Values in Your Career
This talk delves into the critical role of ethics in engineering, highlighting how our personal motivations shape our professional journeys. Understanding one’s ‘why’ is essential in addressing the ethical dilemmas faced in the field, from navigating conflicts of interest to promoting sustainability.
We will discuss contemporary issues that engineers encounter, particularly in light of rapid technological advancements, and how these may unveil new ethical challenges. By anchoring our work in ethical considerations, we can forge a path toward responsible innovation that positively impacts society.
Afia is a Software Engineer at Capital One, specializing in Networking and Automation. With a strong technical foundation, she is passionate about designing and implementing innovative solutions that drive efficiency and scalability. Afia earned her B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Virginia Tech in 2021, where she served as President of the ECE Ambassadors during her senior year, fostering collaboration and mentorship within the engineering community. She was also an executive officer for the IEEE student chapter at Virginia Tech, where she helped organize events and initiatives to support student engagement in ECE.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Afia is deeply committed to social impact. She participates in local grassroots organizations, advocating for community-driven change and creating opportunities for underserved populations. She values the opportunity to contribute meaningfully both in her professional field and within her community.
March
Mar 5. Divita Vohra '17
Senior AI Product Manager, Spotify
Title: TBD
Mar. 19 Andrew Merewitz '12
Engineering Leader, Netflix
Navigating Software Engineering Career Paths
Embarking on a career in the tech industry offers a variety of paths, each with its own set of challenges and rewards. Join us for an insightful talk that explores the diverse career trajectories available to computer engineering/science graduates.
Drawing from 13 years of experience at industry giants like Bloomberg, Amazon, and Netflix, we'll delve into the nuances of individual contributor (IC) roles vs engineering management (EM) positions, and the contrasting environments of big tech companies and startups. Discover strategies for making informed career decisions, leveraging your skills, and adapting to the ever-evolving tech landscape. This session will help you feel more informed and prepared as you look to start your career.
VT Class of 2012, ECE. Bloomberg 2012-2020, Amazon 2020-2024, Netflix 2024- Present.
Current Role: Engineering Manager at Netflix.
April
Apr. 16 Sheng Yang '01
Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, Logikcull
Title: TBD