Undergraduate Student Thrives in UCLA’s Rich Academic and Cultural Environments By Marlys Amundson Undergraduate Jamie Ann Burke never would have predicted that she would one day be majoring in electrical engineering at UCLA. She always knew that she wanted to be a doctor, but after a trip to view cadavers in a medical lab she realized that it was not the path for her. Instead, she discovered how much she enjoyed her programming in computing classes, and decided to pursue the computer science major. When a graduate student mentor and friend pointed out the benefits of learning both the hardware and software aspects of computer systems, she became an electrical engineering major with the computer option. Burke, who grew up in the Orange County community of Tustin, “always loved the idea of UCLA - there is so much excitement and positive energy here in Los Angeles, there is also a myriad of opportunities for involvement in student groups, research, community and cultural events.” In the summer before her junior year, Burke was introduced to research opportunities for undergraduates through the Summer Institute in Mathematics for Undergraduates (SIMU) in Humacao, Puerto Rico. After researching particle methods to solve partial differential equations for six weeks, Burke embarked on another research opportunity at UCLA through the UCLEADS program. She began working in the Embedded Systems Lab with computer science professor Deborah Estrin on localization algorithms for networked sensors in the Center for Embedded Networked Sensing (CENS). “Jamie’s contributions to the research projects in CENS are invaluable,” said CENS Education Director Sara Terheggen. “In addition to being a bright and diligent researcher, she often serves as a mentor to other undergraduates. Jamie is a true inspiration for other women in science and engineering.” Later, she assisted a team of CENS researchers who are developing a new class of aerial, suspended robotic sensors able to monitor their own performance as they move themselves along a network of cables. Her work on the project, known as Networked Infomechanical Systems (NIMS), focused on the associated hardware for embedded systems. Burke assisted in developing and interfacing a NIMS module with multi-sensing capabilities that periodically collects and transmits environmental data. She is working with electrical engineering professor Bill Kaiser, who leads the NIMS team, on a node that moves into its environment along a cable that is strung perpendicular to the ground. This vertical node also interfaces with an array of field sensors designed for long-term deployment. The team, made up of Burke, Steve Liu, and Kris Porter, is upgrading the sensor array, employing sensors like those used by biologists in field studies, and determining ways to make the NIMS architecture more mechanically reliable. Burke is also helping with the system’s software programming, which directs the sensors in selecting what data to collect. Once they are placed in the field, the sensors are designed to be primarily self-directed as they sample environmental data. “Both in Professor Estrin’s lab and Professor Kaiser’s, I learned how useful embedded systems will be in the future,” noted Burke. “They can help us monitor conditions in our environment or detect toxins in the soil or air without destroying the environment.” Not only is Burke learning to develop new systems, the experience she is gaining in the labs helps her realize the importance of the concepts in her classes. “It’s helped me become a lot more excited about my classes, too,” she said. “I’m seeing the usefulness of the material and have a new perspective on the benefits of learning the theories and their applications.” Burke’s experiences at UCLA go well beyond the classroom and laboratory. She is on the leadership team for UCLA’s Black Student Ministry and was the director of the African Arts Ensemble (AAE). Under her leadership, the organization brought artistic and cultural awareness to UCLA students and the surrounding communities. AAE sponsored an outreach project that brought inner city youth to campus to learn step dancing, drama, and poetry. At the end of the year, the students produced the show “Remembering Our Ancestors” for the community and campus. “Our outreach was educational, as well as entertaining,” noted Burke. “Art is an extremely important means of self- expression and creativity. Moreover, in engineering it is a little known fact that we use that same creativity to solve technical problems. Our new technology is art.”