PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (October 14, 2022) — Dr. Xiangfang (Lindsey) Li, Ph.D., associate professor in the department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU), was awarded $400,000 by the National Science Foundation HBCU-UP program for her project “Targeted Infusion Project: Infusing 5G and IoT Learning and Practice into Electrical and Computer Engineering Curriculum.”
Xiangfang Li, Ph.D.
Dr. Li and her team are excited about the opportunity this funding provides the PVAMU Electrical and Computer Engineering department.
“5G and IoT hold great promise for the smart world in the future, it is undeniable that the fundamental shift in technology will impact the broader economy, even more in the post-COVID world. The team from the Electrical and Computer Engineering department at PVAMU is proposing a multi-factorial change to the ECE curricula that are tailored to PVAMU by infusing 5G and IoT learning and practice into current curricula,” said Li.
The collaborative project includes three co-principal investigators from the Electrical and Computer Engineering department at PVAMU: Xishuang Dong, Ph.D., assistant professor; Lijun Qian, Ph.D., the AT&T endowed professor; and Kelvin Kirby, Ph.D., professor.
Fifth-generation (5G) refers to the emerging wireless communications paradigm. 5G is classified by high speed, high capacity, low latency, and very pervasive connectivity via mobile devices. It is quickly becoming the essential foundation for supporting technology in both industry and society.
The Internet of Things (IoT) connects various objects around us — from smartphones and smartwatches to smart refrigerators, health and fitness trackers, home security systems, etc. There are around 4 billion people on the planet connected by billions of devices. To keep those connections strong, 5G and IoT are tightly intertwined. 5G enables the massive integration required by the IoT to keep society’s homes, offices, and future innovations connected.
“Engineering educators play a critical role in supplying countless industries with an engineering workforce that is up-to-date on cutting-edge technology,” said PVAMU Vice President of Research & Innovation Magesh Rajan, Ph.D., P.E., MBA. “This project will greatly enhance the current PVAMU ECE department curricula by infusing 5G and IoT learning and practice into the current program and courses offered. This funding will allow the team to design novel hands-on lab modules and create new courses.”
“With the support from National Science Foundation and the teams’ joint effort, the project strives to intrigue students’ learning passion by systematically designing/redesigning Electrical and Computer Engineering curricula at PVAMU through incorporating state-of-the-art technologies and much-needed practical skills. Eventually, the project will attract and nurture more minority engineers who are motivated, capable, and ready for the post-COVID ‘digital industries,’” said Li.
The project outcomes, such as the created courses, modules, and learning materials, will be held on a dedicated website and be made available for other educators to use at PVAMU, neighboring community colleges, and other HBCUs through summer workshops, seminars, etc.
Jenna Craig