Research

Our Department of Energy project is focused on developing passive wireless sensors that can be used to measure temperature, strain, and other characteristics of materials under harsh environmental conditions, especially high temperature. The project includes studies of ceramic substrates and inks, along with the design of RFID-type wireless sensors. The PI for this project is Ed Sabolsky from WVU's Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.  You can find a press snippet here.

Energy harvesting networks are wireless networks consisting of small devices that scavenge energy from their environment. Sensors placed in a concrete bridge, for example, can sense, compute, and communicate using energy from bridge vibrations.  Reynolds' research group is studying scheduling and data throughput for these networks.

In contrast to optical astronomy, radio astronomers study of the distant universe using radio wavelengths, which are much longer than optical wavelengths.  In West Virginia, we have the largest fully steerable radio telescope in the world, the Green Bank Telescope. Reynolds is applying modern signal processing techniques, including deep neural networks, to improve the signal processing workflow for pulsar detection and other radio astronomy problems.

DNA identification has been used for years in the criminal justice system in the court room. However, various technological issues have limited its use more broadly, e.g., in investigations and booking.  Rapid DNA systems exist, but are hampered by their inability to process corrupted DNA samples. Reynolds' group is applying modern signal processing approaches to extract useful information from corrupted DNA samples.