Abstract: Wireless communication networks and applications have evolved to become a vital part of the nation’s economic growth and productivity. The burgeoning Internet of Things (IoT) is expected to add billions of connected devices worldwide to the already formidable number of smartphones, tablets, and wearable devices. In order to support this unparalleled growth in devices and traffic, ubiquitous wireless connectivity at speeds covering the range from megabits per second (Mb/s) to gigabits per second (Gb/s) and with improvements in coverage, reliability, and latency will be required, as will corresponding innovation higher up the stack to orchestrate and utilize the devices and the network. In this seminar, Dr. Nandagopal will talk of critical research directions related to these challenges, and funding programs in NSF aimed at researchers addressing them.

Short Bio: Dr. Thyaga Nandagopal serves in the Directorate of Computer & Information Science and Engineering (CISE) of the National Science Foundation. He has been with the Foundation since February 2012. He manages wireless networking and mobile computing research within the Networking Technologies and Systems (NeTS) program at NSF. He also serves as the co-chair of the Wireless Spectrum Research and Development Senior Steering Group (WSRD SSG), which co-ordinates spectrum-related research and development activities across the Federal government. He is spearheading the $400 million NSF Advanced Wireless Initiative that was announced on July 15, 2016, as part of an White House effort in this space. As part of this effort, he manages the Platforms for Advanced Wireless Research (PAWR) program that aims to create four advanced wireless research platforms in cities across the United States over the next five years. Dr. Nandagopal received his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering in 2002 from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He was at Bell Labs from 2002 to 2012. His research interests have spanned several areas over these years: wireless ad hoc/mesh networks, RFID/sensor networks, internet routing architectures and protocols, cloud computing, and energy-efficient networks. Dr. Nandagopal is an IEEE Fellow.