Dr. Zahrasadat Alavi

Assistant Professor
Office: OCNL 319
Campus Zip: 888
Phone: (530) 898-4489
E-mail:  zalavi@csuchico.edu

Ph.D. University of Wisconsin Milwaukee
Digital image processing and analysis, computed tomographic imaging,
FTIR micro-spectroscopic imaging, and advance control systems.

• Education

  University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Electrical Engineering                                                  PhD.,2015

  University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Electrical Engineering                                                 M.Sc.,2012

  Amirkabir University of Technology, Engineering                                                              M.Sc.,2009

  Amirkabir University of Technology, Electrical Engineering                                                 B.Sc.,2007

• Experience

  Assistant Professor

  Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, California State University Chico, Chico, CA (August 2017- present)

  Assistant Professor

  Department of Industrial Technology, Electrical and Instrumentation Program, Los Medanos College, Pittsburg, CA (July 2016- August 2017)

  Adjunct Professor

  Department of Computer Science, Diablo Valley College, Pleasant Hill, CA (January 2016-July 2016)

  Adjunct Professor

  Department of Engineering, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA (January 2016-July 2016)

  Engineering Content Developer

  CENGAGE Learning, Boston, MA (September 2015-July 2016)

  Instructor

  Department of Electrical Engineering,  University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (January 2014-May 2015)

  Graduate Teaching and Research Assistant

  Department of Electrical Engineering,  University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (September 2010-December 2013)

• Research and Grants

  Research:

  My research interests include different areas of digital image processing and analysis, computed tomographic imaging, and control systems, stability analysis and systems simulation.

   I have been involved in microscopic sample chemical and morphological identification employing image processing and analysis of Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopic data. I have developed various analysis algorithms for 2D and 3D images, obtained from their hyperspectral data, as well as implemented reconstruction and visualization algorithms for the mentioned 3D chemical images.

  In the field of control systems, I am interested in simulating advanced linear and nonlinear systems, and designing and implementing controllers such as adaptive and optimal controllers.

  Grants:

  • Chico STEM Connections Collaborative (CSC2), PI: Dr. Zahrasadat Alavi, “Plans for a Novel Metalloporphyrin based Dye Sensitized Solar Cell (Online research)”. Summer 2020, $6000, CSU Chico
  • Student Success Grant, PI: Dr. Zahrasadat Alavi, co-PIs: Dr Kathleen Meehan, Dr Webster Johnson, Dr Kevin Buffardi, Dr Kun Zhang, “Engineering Math and Projects Bootcamp to Improve Retention and Graduation Rates in Engineering and Computer Science”, Dec. 2019- May 2020, $30,000, CSU Chico Office of Undergraduate Education
  • NSF-MRI Grant, co-PI: Dr. Zahrasadat Alavi, PI: Dr Ozgul Yasar, co-PIs: Drs. Kathleen Meehan, Monica So., Nathan Anderson, “Acquisition of Raman Spectrometer to Enable Nanoscale Multi-disciplinary Research and Research Training”, August 2019- August 2020, $224,985, National Science Foundation
  • Summer 2019 Research Grant, PI: Dr. Zahrasadat Alavi, “Utilizing the FTIR Spectroscopic Imaging Lab for faculty and student research: Detection of wax artifacts in fruits, and investigating feasibility of characterizing interactions between plant roots and microbes”, Summer 2019, $5000, CSU Chico College of Engineering, Computer Science and Construction Management
  • Chico STEM Connections Collaborative (CSC2), PI: Dr. Zahrasadat Alavi, “FTIR Imaging and Applying Image Processing Techniques towards Characterization and Localization of Microscopic Sample Components.” Summer 2019, $7500, CSU Chico
  • Research, Scholarship & Creative Activity (RSCA), PI: Dr. Zahrasadat Alavi, August 2019- May 2021, $5,993 CSU Research Foundation.
  • Student Success Grant, PI: Dr. Zahrasadat Alavi, co-PIs: Dr Kathleen Meehan, Dr Webster Johnson, Dr Kevin Buffardi, Dr Joseph Greene, “Engineering Math and Projects Bootcamp to Improve Retention and Graduation Rates in Engineering and Computer Science”, Dec. 2018- Dec. 2019, $32,254, CSU Chico Office of Undergraduate Education
  • Office of Naval Research: co-Investigator: Dr. Zahrasadat Alavi, PI: Dr Kurtis Kredo, “High Speed Cost Effective Simulation and Design Techniques for PEPDS” Dec. 2018- Sep. 2022, $1,154,365, ONR
  • Summer 2018 Research Grant, PI: Dr. Zahrasadat Alavi , “Developing Control Systems Design Projects employing Tiva™ C Series LaunchPad Evaluation Kit”, Summer 2018, $5000, CSU Chico College of Engineering, Computer Science and Construction Management
  • NSF-MRI Grant, PI: Dr. Zahrasadat Alavi, co-PIs: Dr. Kathleen Meehan, Dr. Jinsong Zhang, Dr. Ozgul Yasar-Inceoglu,  “Acquisition of FTIR Spectroscopic Imaging System towards material characterization with contributions to health, clean energy generation, and efficient processing techniques”, Oct. 2018- Sept. 2019, $175,305, National Science Foundation
  • Student Learning Fee Grant, “Purchase of equipment for experiments and demonstrations in Control System based courses”, 2018-2019 AY, $15,620, California State University Chico
  • Junior Faculty-Student Scholarship Seed Grant, 2017-2018 AY, $5000, RESP, California State University Chico
  • New Faculty Research Grant, 2017-2019 AY, $5000, California State University Chico
• Recent Publications

  Journal papers

  • Zahrasadat Alavi, “ Hyperspectral tomographic FTIR imaging using two illumination geometries for polymer phantoms(opens in new window)”, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2015

  • Ahmad Pahlavan Tafti, Andrew B Kirkpatrick,  Zahrasadat Alavi, Heather A Owen , Zeyun Yu,  “Recent Advances in 3D SEM Surface Reconstruction”, Micron, volume 780, Page 54-66 (2015).

  • Miriam Unger, Catherine Schmidt Patterson, David Carson, Eric Mattson,  Zahrasadet Alavi, Carol J Hirschmugl, “Synchrotron-based Multiple Beam FTIR Chemical Imaging in Transmission and Reflection for Applications in Cultural Heritage”, Applied Physics A: Volume 111, Issue 1 (2013), Page 135-145.

  • Eric C. Mattson, Miriam Unger, Binod Manandhar,  Zahrasadat Alavi, Carol J. Hirschmugl, "Multi-beam synchrotron FTIR chemical imaging: Impacts of Schwarzschild objective and spatial oversampling on spatial resolution". Journal of Physics: Conference Series, volume 425, Issue 14 (2013), 142001.

  Book Chapters

  • Eric C Mattson, Miriam Unger, Julia Sedlmair, Michael Nasse, Ebrahim Aboualizadeh,  Zahrasadat Alavi, Carol J Hirschmugl, "Widefield FTIR 2D and 3D Imaging at the Microscale Using Synchrotron Radiation". In: R. Salzer, H. W. Siesler, editor. Infrared and Raman Spectroscopic Imaging. Weinheim, Germany: Wiley-VCH, 2014. Chap.15. Pp. 585-618. 2nd ed.

  Conference Papers

  • Zahrasadat Alavi, “Multi-disciplinary research and teaching by means of employing FTIR Spectroscopic Imaging System and characterization techniques”, 2020 Virtual ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Quebec, Montreal, June 22-24, 2020.
  • Zahrasadat Alavi, Kathleen Meehan, Kevin Buffardi, Webster Johnson, Joseph Greene, “Assessing a Summer Engineering Math and Projects Bootcamp to Improve Retention and Graduation Rates in Engineering and Computer Science”, 2020 Virtual ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Quebec, Montreal, June 22-24, 2020.
  • Hadil Mustafa, Kurtis Kredo II, Roy Crosbie, Richard Bednar, Zahrasadat Alavi “Real-Time FPGA Simulation of Electric Ship Power System Using High-Level Synthesis”, 2019 IEEE Electric Ship Technologies Symposium, Arlington, VA, August 14-16, 2019, pp 377-381.
  • Kurtis Kredo II, Hadil Mustafa, Roy Crosbie, Richard Bednar, Zahrasadat Alavi “Toward Automated Simulink Model Implementation and Optimization using High-Level Synthesis for FPGA” 2019 IEEE Electric Ship Technologies Symposium (ESTS), Washington, DC, pp 172-180
  • Zahrasadat Alavi, Behnam Azimi, “Application of environment noise classification towards sound recognition for Cochlear Implant Users”, Proceedings of the IEEE, 2019 6th International Conference on Electrical and Electronics Engineering (ICEEE), Istanbul, Turkey, April 16-17, 2019, pp 144-148.
  • Z. Alavi,, K. Meehan, Enhancing a Control Systems Design Course by Using Experiential Learning Model”, 2019 ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Tampa, FL, USA, Jume 15-18, 2019.
  • Zahrasadat Alavi, Arash Kialashaki, “Towards Removing Barriers Against Learning Control Systems Design: A Comprehensive Review of the Math Required for Reaching Milestones in Control Systems Design”, 2018 ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Salt Lake City, Utah, June 23-27, 2018.
  • Fatemeh Mozaffari, Azam Eidi, Leila Mohamady,  Zahrasadat Alavi, “Implementation of FMEA to Improve the Reliability of GEO Satellite Payload”, Proceedings of the IEEE 2013 Annual,  Reliability and Maintainability Symposium (RAMS), Orlando, FL,USA, pp 1-6.
  • Zahra Sadat Alavi, Mohammad Bagher Menhaj, Hossein Eliasi, “Model Reference Adaptive Control of a Nuclear Reactor”, Proceedings of the IEEE 2009, International Conference on Mechatronics and Automation, August 9-12, Changcun, China, pp 735-740.

  Presentations/ Posters

  • Kurtis Kredo, Hadil Mustafa, Zahrasadat Alavi, “High-Speed Cost-Effective Simulation and Design Techniques for PEPDS” at Office of Naval Research Virtual Controls Program Review, July. 21-22, 2020
  • Zahrasadat Alavi, “Multi-disciplinary research and teaching by means of employing FTIR Spectroscopic Imaging System and characterization techniques”, 2020 Virtual ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Quebec, Montreal, June 22-24, 2020.
  • Zahrasadat Alavi, Kathleen Meehan, Kevin Buffardi, Webster Johnson, Joseph Greene, “Assessing a Summer Engineering Math and Projects Bootcamp to Improve Retention and Graduation Rates in Engineering and Computer Science”, 2020 Virtual ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Quebec, Montreal, June 22-24, 2020.
  • Zahrasadat Alavi, “FTIR Spectroscopic Imaging Technique and its Applications” CSU Chico Department of Biology Seminar Series, September 27th, 2019.
  • Zahrasadat Alavi, Kathleen Meehan, “Enhancing a Control Systems Design Course by Using Experiential Learning Model”, 2019 ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Tampa, Florida, June 16-19, 2019.
  • Zahrasadat Alavi, Behnam Azimi, “Application of environment noise classification towards sound recognition for Cochlear Implant Users”, 2019 6th International Conference on Electrical and Electronics Engineering (ICEEE), Istanbul, Turkey, April 16-17, 2019.
  • Zahrasadat Alavi, Arash Kialashaki, “Towards Removing Barriers Against Learning Control Systems Design: A Comprehensive Review of the Math Required for Reaching Milestones in Control Systems Design”, ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Salt Lake City, Utah, June 23-27, 2018.
  • “Three-dimensional spectral imaging with synchrotron FTIR spectro-micro-tomography”, Workshop on high-pressure time-resolved synchrotron techniques, Argonne National lab, Sep 2014.
  • “Widefield FTIR spectro-microscopy and spectro–micro-tomography of phase-separated mixed polymers”, Advanced Light Source Users’ Meeting, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Oct 2013.
  • “Removing instrumental broadening from Synchrotron and Globar phase-separated mixed polymers’ FTIR Spectroscopy images”, Synchrotron Radiation Center Users’ meeting, Stoughton, Wisconsin, Sep 2013.
  • “Deconvolution on Synchrotron and Globar phase-separated PHB-PLA and PHB-PCL polymer blend films”, Biological Applications of X-ray Fluorescence Microscopy Conference, Northwestern University, Aug 2013.
• Awards and Affiliations

  Awards and Honors

  • Electrical and Computer Engineering Division Best Paper award for the 2019 ASEE Annual Conference
  • Student Poster Competition Award at BioXRM Conference, Northwestern University, Aug. 2013

  • Chancellor’s Award, Academic Excellence, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2010-2013

  Professional Activities

  • Chair of Electrical Engineering Curriculum Committee, 2020- present
  • College of ECC representative in Faculty Development Advisory Board, 2020- present
  • Scholarship Review Committee, Member, 2020- present
  • Member of Electrical and Computer Engineering Master’s Program Curriculum Committee, 2020- present
  • Electrical Engineering Curriculum Committee member, 2017-present
  • Recruited students and held an Online Summer Engineering Math and Projects Bootcamp to Improve Retention and Graduation Rates in Engineering and Computer Science major students (Summer 2020)
  • Faculty advisor of approximately 45 Electrical Engineering students (Sep. 2017- present)
  • Outreach activity for the CSU Chico College of ECC to present the college to multiple high school student cohorts (Fall 2019)
  • Held a Summer Engineering Math and Projects Bootcamp to Improve Retention and Graduation Rates in Engineering and Computer Science major students (Summer 2019)
  • Committee member for Biology Master’s Project by Anita Roman (Fall 2019- Spring 2021)
  • Committee member for EECE Master’s Project by Sourav Jena (Fall 2019)
  • Reviewer of Microscopy and Microanalysis Journal (2019- present)
  • Member and active in CSU Chico Women in STEM Group (Feb. 2018-present)
  • Reviewer of ASEE papers. (Sep. 2017-present)
  • Juror at CSU Chico Student Research Competition. (Jan. 2018-present)
  • Faculty Search Committee member, EECE Department of CSU Chico, 2018
  • Electrical and Computer Engineering Representative to the Library Committee, CSU Chico, 2017-present
  • Scholarship Review Committee Chair, EECE Department of CSU Chico, 2017-2019
  • Scholarship Review Committee member, College of Engineering, Computer Science and Construction Management of CSU Chico, 2017-2019
  • Member of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), 2012-present