Gaurav Sharma to Lead Center for Electronic Imaging Systems
The University of Rochester's Center for Electronic Imaging Systems (CEIS) has named Gaurav Sharma, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, as the center's new director.
CEIS is one of 15 Centers for Advanced Technology (CATs) funded by the New York State Foundation for Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR). The center works to strengthen the economy by matching researchers at the University of Rochester and other regional institutions with New York State and Rochester-region businesses, including smaller companies that seek to expand their product and service offerings by partnering in innovation with CEIS academic institutions.
The businesses benefit by receiving access to cutting-edge research and technology, while the academic faculty benefit from enhanced funding for their research and seeing their research have a direct economic impact in the real world.
According to NYSTAR, Rochester's CEIS delivered a record $123 million economic impact in New York State during last year, and nearly half a billion dollars in economic impact in terms of new jobs, revenues, cost savings, capital improvements, and acquired funds since 2001.
"I am delighted to take on the role of CEIS director," says Sharma. "The center has a remarkable record of fueling economic growth in New York State through industry-university R&D partnerships. As director, however, I view this only as a foundation upon which we need to build further. I look forward to sustaining our existing partnerships with New York State companies while developing and growing new ones, all with a view to maximizing the positive impact on our state."
Sharma served as associate director of CEIS from September 2007 through June 2008 before being appointed director, succeeding Eby G. Friedman, Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Prior to joining the faculty at the University of Rochester in 2003, Sharma was with Xerox Research and Technology for 10 years, most recently in the role of principal scientist and project leader. At Xerox, he gained first-hand experience in product research and technical leadership in his areas of interest, which include color imaging, scanning, hardcopy and electronic image watermarking, multimedia security, halftoning, and networked color solutions. While at Xerox, Sharma also served as an adjunct faculty member at Rochester Institute of Technology and taught courses in electrical and computer engineering.
Sharma earned his doctorate in electrical and computer engineering from North Carolina State University and also holds a master's degree in applied mathematics from the same institution. He received his bachelor's degree in electronics and communication engineering from Indian Institute of Technology, and a masters in electrical communication engineering from the Indian Institute of Science. At the University of Rochester, Sharma also holds a secondary appointment in the Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology.
CEIS is guided by an Industrial Advisory Board (IAB), which advises the center on long-term strategies to facilitate technology transfer from academic institutions to industries. Members of the CEIS IAB include Robert Naum, chief technology officer of Applied Coatings; Ray Yingling, director of Kodak External Alliances; Albert Johnson, senior analyst at Corning; Bob Fiete, chief technologist at ITT Space Systems Division, Zoran Ninkov, professor at Rochester Institute of Technology; and Rob Rolleston, manager of the Color and Digital Imaging Laboratory at Xerox.