Eric Michielssen named Louise Ganiard Johnson Professor of Engineering

Eric Michielssen has been named the Louise Ganiard Johnson Professor of Engineering in recognition of his outstanding reputation and contributions in the areas of research, education, and leadership. In addition to being a professor in Electrical & Computer Engineering, he is Associate Vice President for Advanced Research Computing and Director of the Michigan Institute for Computational Discovery and Engineering (MICDE).

Eric is an international leader in the field of computational electromagnetics (CEM), which involves the development and application of computer algorithms to simulate the generation, propagation, and interaction of electromagnetic radiation with matter. Eric specializes in the development of fast-solution methods and optimization algorithms, two unique ways of approaching CEM analysis and design problems. He has applied his techniques to the characterization of semiconductor and microelectronic devices, photonic crystals and optical phenomena, aircraft scattering, and terrain detection, to name but a few.

For example, his group has been developing numerical tools for analyzing and modeling the electromagnetic interference that occurs when communicating between ground stations and satellites in space. The goal is to alleviate the communications blackout that occurs in certain circumstances when vehicles are traveling through the earth’s atmosphere.  Also, in collaborative work with Professors Luis Hernandez-Garcia and Tony Grbic, he developed an improved method for non-invasive brain probing using transcranical magnetic stimulation. This research is expected to result in improved treatment for depression and other mental illness. 

Eric’s research on fundamental algorithms is found in the codes and simulations of countless other researchers as well as commercially available simulators. His more than 500 journal and conference publications have been cited more than 10,500 times, with an h-index of 43.  Fourteen of his students and postdocs now hold faculty positions.

Eric received the 2014 IEEE Antenna and Propagation Society Chen-To Tai Distinguished Educator Award,  “In recognition of being an outstanding educator, mentor and role model for the next generation of faculty members.” He significantly revamped three courses at Michigan, and consistently receives very high evaluations from students. Eric serves as Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Numerical Modeling, and served on the National Academy’s Committee on Mathematical Foundations of Uncertainty Quantification, Validation, and Verification. He is an IEEE Fellow.

About the Professorship

The Johnson family have been generous supporters of the College of Engineering and its students. In addition to the Louise Ganiard Johnson Professorship, they have supported the Class of 1931E Fund, the G.Lawton and Louise G. Johnson Professorship, the Clyde Johnson Memorial Scholarship Fund, and the Clyde Johnson Fellowship Fund.