WNCG Launches Industrial Affiliates Program, Builds Staff

The Wireless Networking and Communications Group (WNCG) is a recently formed research center at the University of Texas at Austin. The group includes 13 faculty members and over 60 students in varying areas of wireless research: propagation and antennas, modulation and coding, signal processing techniques & implementation, sensor, ad-hoc networks, network security, and network architectures, software, and protocol performance. Since the inception of the group in September of 2002, there has been an explosion of growth and a great deal of research and program changes underway. The purpose of this monthly newsletter, Bits and Bytes, is to serve as the portal to all the latest events and achievements happening in WNCG. The newsletter will be accessible from the "News" section of the WNCG website, located at www.wncg.org, and past editions will be conveniently archived in the same location.

WNCG has already experienced a pattern of dynamic growth, which is manifested in both our new Industrial Affiliates Program and our internal staff.

The Industrial Affiliates Program provides an opportunity for industrial sponsors to profit from WNCG's research, facilities, and personnel, while allowing WNCG to benefit from industry support and interaction. Funding received from affiliate members enables the group to expand and improve in areas where state and other fiscal sources may be limited. The program provides corporate stakeholders with cutting-edge, pre-competitive knowledge from the entire WNCG faculty and student body, and research direction involving areas of pressing industry need and concern. The Industrial Affiliates Program expedites the transfer of WNCG students, research results, and innovations to industry.

In just the past few months, the following companies have already joined our Industrial Affiliates Program:

• Metrowerks
• Motorola
• National Instruments
• SBC
• Texas Instruments

WNCG is looking forward to a productive, mutually beneficial relationship with our current and future corporate sponsors.

Also critical to the success of WNCG's program are the three new staff members who have joined the group since December of 2002. As a team, they are providing invaluable administrative support to the WNCG as a whole.

Jennifer Wright joined the group in December, having recently relocated from Boston. She provides administrative support to Professor Ted Rappaport, director of WNCG. "In just my first few months, it has been amazing to see how much we've grown. There is a lot of enthusiasm," comments Jenn.

As a longtime University of Texas employee, Fiscal Manager Yvonne Murray brings in-depth knowledge of the system with her to WNCG. With 10 years of experience in UT's Office of Sponsored Projects, she will handle contracts, grants, and all financial information for the group.

Katherine McCann is not a stranger to WNCG, having worked as an administrative temp last fall before coming on full time with the group in March as the Public Affairs Representative. Ready to get the word out about the program, Katherine will be handling all publicity and conferences for WNCG, including the newsletters, website, and Industrial Affiliate benefits. She observes, "There is so much going on here, and we need to let people know what we have to contribute. I feel we're in a perfect position to have a profound impact on the wireless industry."

In the next few months, the fourth floor of the Engineering Science Building (ENS) will be completely renovated and upgraded, and 45 new student office cubes will be provided through generous donations from Motorola.

According to WNCG founding director Ted Rappaport, "All the ingredients are in place to build a world-class center of excellence in wireless networks at UT. The faculty, staff, and students in WNCG are first-rate, and the UT administration has been extremely helpful. All systems are go to make some great things happen at UT."

From their newly renovated office space in ENS 431, the staff has already begun to shape the face of WNCG. "I'm thrilled to be getting in on the ground floor of this exciting research activity at UT," says Yvonne. The others share her enthusiasm, and the staff is dedicated to achieving and exceeding the potential of WNCG.