Mission

The NEAR-Lab focus is on the modeling and analysis of electromagnetic and acoustic wave phenomenon for development of advanced signal processing techniques. The understanding of wave scattering provides a basis to devise and evaluate advanced signal processing algorithms for applications such as radar, sonar, and biomedical imaging. The NEAR-Lab was founded and is currently directed by Prof. Lisa M. Zurk.

Research

NEAR-Lab research projects have applications to a broad range of critical problems including underwater passive and active sonar systems, terahertz detection of explosive devices, port and coastal security networks, biomedical sensors for patient monitoring, and monitoring of critical environmental components such as salmon population, coral reefs and water resources.

Job Openings and Research Opportunities

There are multiple openings in the NEAR-Lab at both the graduate and undergraduate level. These are in the form of either Research Assistantships or hourly wage agreements. There is currently a need for students with some or all of the following skills: hardware and electronics development; experimentation and data collection; analysis and signal processing; or physics of wave propagation. Interested students should contact Dr Zurk at zurkl@pdx.edu (please include statement of interest, transcripts, and resume).

Affiliation

The NEAR-Lab is part of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department of the Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science at Portland State University.

Lab News:

Dr. Martin Siderius and Dr. Lisa Zurk are now officially ASA (Acoustical Society of America) Fellows. The announcement was made May 20th at ASA's meeting in Portland.

Dr. Martin Siderius has be awarded the prestigious Medwin Prize in Acoustical Oceanography. Read More

Dr Zurk chosen to attend the 2008 National Academy of Engineers Japan-America Frontiers of Education.

Undergraduate NEAR-Lab students Ai Ling Chen and Don Tornquist featured in ECE department webpage. Read More