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 Initiatives.
Quick Facts
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
Leading the Charge in Building the Next Generation of Wireless Communication
ECE William Lincoln Smith Professor Tommaso Melodia oversees the Institute for the Wireless Internet of Things at Northeastern University. With a specific focus on wireless network technologies like 5G and 6G, he is helping Northeastern lead wireless communications into the future.
Enhancing Educational Research With AI and Cloud Infrastructure Training
ECE Associate Professor Ningfang Mi, in collaboration with Yu Wang and Chiu C Tan from Temple University, Lishan Yang from George Mason University, and Chuang Wang from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, is leading a $999,969 NSF grant for “AI4EDU: Cloud Infrastructure-Enabled Training for AI in Educational Research and Assessment.”
Northeastern Researchers Participate in Inaugural ClimaTech Conference
ECE/Khoury Professor Jennifer Dy, ECE/MIE Professor Hanumant Singh, and CEE Assistant Professor Julia Hopkins took part in the inaugural ClimaTech conference, joining hundreds of energy and technology experts from around the world who gathered to explore how protecting the environment can contribute to economic growth.Â
Ensuring Safety and Evaluating Risks for Deep-Sea Missions
ECE/MIE Professor Hanumant Singh outlines the safety certifications and risk evaluations that go into deep-sea research missions in autonomous underwater vehicles. Despite last year’s OceanGate tragedy, another manned deep dive is planned to take place in the summer of 2026.