J. Sebastian Gomez-Diaz and Zubair Shafiq Named 2023 Chancellor’s Fellows
Two College of Engineering faculty members are among the 13 honored as Chancellor’s Fellows UC Davis announced Tuesday (Feb. 14).
J. Sebastian Gomez-Diaz, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, and Zubair Shafiq, associate professor of computer science, represent the College of Engineering in the 2023 class.
“Our newest fellows represent the very best of UC Davis and I congratulate them,” Chancellor Gary S. May said in announcing the new fellows. “The knowledge, expertise and excellence these faculty demonstrate across a range of disciplines positively impacts our university’s mission of research, teaching and public service.”
Each fellow receives $25,000 in unrestricted funds for their research or other scholarly work. UC Davis has named 191 faculty members as Chancellor’s Fellows over the program’s 23-year history, with philanthropic support from the UC Davis Annual Fund, Davis Chancellor’s Club and the UC Davis Parents Fund.
Shafiq’s work addresses online privacy in networked systems, specifically in mobile apps and smart devices connected to the internet. He has studied how users’ online behavior is tracked and how to block that surveillance online. He also works on developing machine learning systems that can actively interfere with online surveillance.
“I am deeply honored to be selected for this recognition,” Shafiq said. “The fellowship will enable me and my research group to continue multi-disciplinary research at the intersection of technology, policy and society.”
Gomez-Diaz works on applied electromagnetics and metamaterials, including new types of devices that can emit, process, and detect microwaves, infrared or X-rays. With a wide range of applications, his laboratory uses numerical modeling and simulations, as well as fabricating and testing experimental devices.
“Overall, the research record of Professor Gomez-Diaz is extraordinary,” said Andre Knoesen, Distinguished Professor and chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Phil Kass, vice provost of Academic Affairs, noted that Chancellor’s Fellows retain their new title for five years. “But we see them making a brilliant impact on UC Davis for many years beyond that,” he said.
