Jing Yang
(Photo: Submitted)
Jing Yang, the newest assistant professor in the department
of electrical engineering, examines and models the underlying structure of
diverse kinds of complex networks. These include traditional
electrical engineering examples: wireless communications, power grids and data
centers. But Yang is also interested in biological networks, such as the human
brain, and social networks.
In one of her current research projects, Yang is studying
the way new energy harvesting technology could affect mobile communication networks.
Mobile devices that use solar or thermal energy would have prolonged battery
lifetime and be much more environmentally friendly. However, the energy
harvesting feature also brings new challenges to the design of these mobile
communication systems, as energy derived from ambient sources tends to be
unregulated, intermittent and small. Yang is developing theoretical models and
practical solutions that will help these companies design devices and
transmission technologies that can take advantage of new energy sources more
effectively and efficiently.
Data centers, such as the collections of servers that store
information for large internet companies, are another important aspect of our
communications system. Yang is helping these centers develop energy policies
that will make them more efficient, using models and simulations to find new
energy saving approaches.
Yang is also using graphical and mathematical models to map
complex biological and social systems. These models employ points called nodes,
which are connected by lines called edges. A graphical model of the human
brain, for example, might represent different parts of the brain as nodes, and the
edges connecting them would illustrate the relationships among the parts. Yang
is also using this type of model to show relationships within social groups.
Examining networks with these models can reveal relationships and patterns that
were not evident before, and they could have broad applications in fields such as medicine and social policy.
Yang received a doctoral degree in electrical and computer engineering
from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering and
information science from the University of Science and Technology of China.
Before coming to Arkansas, she was a postdoctoral research associate at the
University of Wisconsin-Madison.
“I was impressed by the environment,” she says of her
decision to join the University of Arkansas faculty. “People are friendly. The
department is supportive of teaching and research.”