Shivendra Panwar is a Professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering, and the director for the Center for Advanced Technology in Telecommunications (CATT). CATT is a program that combines Data Science, Wireless Networks, and Cybersecurity from academic and industry research to tackle New York state’s most pressing economic issues. CATT’s grant was recently renewed by the state of New York, and in the past, the CATT grant has assisted CDS faculty research from Claudio Silva, Juliana Freire, and others.
What did you study in school? How did you get to what you study now?
I studied Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. In the early 80’s when I was doing my undergraduate research, I started getting interested in what is now called the internet and wireless communications. From there I went on to study networks in the fields of computer and data networks.
Within the fields of computer and data networks, what sort of projects are you working on?
In the field of mobile networks, I’ve worked on a video streaming technology called Streamloading, as well as protocols and architectures that support 5G networks. I’ve also been working on full duplex communications, a technology that allows radios to transmit and receive information on the same spectrum, at the same time.
Could you talk about the CATT grant and your involvement?
CATT is a New York state sponsored program that works to improve existing technology and infrastructure through university and industry partnerships in the fields of economic development, technology transfer, workforce training, entrepreneurial support, and research & development. Data science is one of the three ares we are focusing on, in addition to wireless networking and cybersecurity.
I got involved in the mid-1980s, and I’ve been the center’s director since 1996.
How have you gone about ensuring funding for the CATT program? What advice would you give to somebody looking to secure a CATT grant or a similar grant?
It’s important to contribute towards the state of New York’s goals for technologically based economic development. You need to have a grasp on what the major economic issues facing the state are, and find companies with emerging technologies that can help combat or understand these problems in a meaningful way. Start with a couple of companies and find out how they can fit into your proposal. Then build up a business case for your project.
What are some of the tangible impacts that the CATT grant has made in the past?
We have made a positive impact of over $330 million to the New York state economy, and we have created several hundred jobs.
What projects has the CATT grant worked on in the past?
Medical imaging has been one of the most exciting projects we’ve helped develop, as well as several projects in the field of forensics.
As for the field of data science, we’ve developed a model for traffic planning and capacity engineering with several other organizations. The prototype includes a generic model for the simulation and analysis of different network services and architectures. It can be used for traffic planning for frame relay and asynchronous transfer mode based services.
What do you hope to accomplish with CATT in the future?
We are continually reinventing ourselves to handle the needs of the New York state economy, and various evolving industries.
Interview By Jack Lowery