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
Navigating the Risks of Self Driving Tech
ECE Professor Taskin Padir and other experts suggest that while autonomous vehicles offer significant safety advantages over human drivers, they are not yet perfect and require transparent, responsible oversight to navigate complex real-world scenarios.
Enabling Engineering Class Inspires Interactive Keyboard to Help Individuals with Communication
ECE/Bouvé Assistant Professor Kristina Johnson teaches the Enabling Engineering class at Northeastern, which encourages students to apply engineering to empowering individuals with disabilities. The students in her class developed an interactive, adaptive keyboard to help individuals improve their communication abilities.
Two College of Engineering Faculty Members Elected to the National Academy of Inventors
Dean of the College of Engineering and ECE Professor Gregory D. Abowd and Bouvé/ChE University Distinguished Professor Mansoor Amiji have been elected to the National Academy of Inventors.
New Research Discovers Sensor That Can Detect Single Cancer Cells
ECE Associate Professor Cristian Cassella, Assistant Professors Marco Colangelo, and Siddhartha Ghosh have made a breakthrough in their research on sensors. They have been working on a sensor that can detect objects as small as single cancer cells, which will be incredibly beneficial to the future of medical technology.