Research
Collaborative and Interdisciplinary Research
The Electrical and Computer Engineering department nourishes a vibrant research environment motivated by our dedicated faculty and graduate students. Our research programs are funded by many government agencies, including the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institute of Health (NIH), the Office of Naval Research (ONR), the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Department of Homeland Security, and numerous local and national industries.
Research activities at the ECE Department can be classified by research areas and by research centers and institutes. The department offers eight research areas of focus and is either the lead or partner of nine research centers and institutes.
Faculty also conduct research in their labs. View faculty profiles to learn about their research, including work being conducted in their laboratories. Also, view our Annual Reports and college-wide research efforts.
Quick Facts
external research awards (FY2024)
tenured/tenure-track faculty
research centers and institutes (leading or affiliated with)
Research Strengths
Our research strengths encompass the full gamut of cutting-edge ECE technologies: embedded systems and internet-of-things, robotics and cyber-human systems, networking (mobile/wireless as well as the Internet of the future), big data analytics and machine learning. Northeastern’s historic strengths in ECE include communications and digital signal processing, power and control systems, power electronics, RF/microwave magnetic materials, device technologies, and computer engineering.
Biomedical Research and Collaborations
Northeastern ECE faculty are engaged in a range of biomedical projects in collaboration with fellow world-class researchers in the Boston-area medical community. These projects span all disciplinary areas and include MEMS/NEMS sensors for biological detection; applications of wireless technology in biomedical implants; biomedical imaging hardware and signal processing; brain-computer interface technologies; disease detection and tracking; and many more.
Recent News
Patent for Automated Posture Detection Systems for Early Childhood Diagnosis
ECE Professor Sarah Ostadabbas has received a patent for “Infant 2D pose estimation and posture detection system.”
Shrivastava Named 2026 Senior Member of the National Academy of Inventors
ECE Associate Professor Aatmesh Shrivastava has been named to the 2026 Class of Senior Members by the National Academy of Inventors (NAI).
The Technical Challenges of Integrating Robots into Human Society
ECE Professor Ravinder Dahiya published “Cognizant and Socially Aware Robotics” in Computer magazine. This article examines the current state of robotics and forecasts the near-term and midterm future landscape toward achieving humanoid robots capable of mimicking human perception, intelligence, and emotion.
Patent for a Faster and More Efficient Way to Create High Definition Images
ECE Distinguished/Khoury Professor Yun Raymond Fu was awarded a patent for “System and method for image super-resolution.”