9 a.m., June 16, 2009----Kenneth E. Barner has been named chairperson of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), Michael Chajes, dean of the University of Delaware's College of Engineering, announced today. The appointment is effective July 1.

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Barner is a professor in ECE, and he is also affiliated with the Delaware Biotechology Institute (DBI) and the multidisciplinary Biomechanics and Movement Science (BIOMS) Program.

His research interests fall primarily in the areas of signal/image processing and human computer interaction. In the latter area, his work focuses on using signal processing algorithms to display information in alternative formats -- for example, transforming images to representations that are better comprehended by individuals with color vision deficiencies or translating visual images into tactile representations to enable access by those who are blind.

His work has been funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR).

Barner is currently director of UD's Nature InSpired Engineering (NISE) programs, which provide research experiences for teachers and undergraduates. Funded by NSF, the summer programs offer broad exposure to nature-inspired engineering in areas such as biomedical imaging, tissue engineering, bio-drug delivery, natural fiber composites, groundwater system modeling, and solar power.

“We are really pleased that Ken has accepted the appointment as chairperson of ECE,” Chajes said. “He is a well-respected researcher and teacher, and we are fortunate to have him take on the challenge of leading one of our most prolific departments.”

Barner, who earned his Ph.D. at the University of Delaware, was the recipient of the Allan P. Colburn Prize in Mathematical Sciences and Engineering for the most outstanding dissertation in the engineering and mathematical disciplines. As a research engineer at the A.I. duPont Hospital for Children in the mid-1990s, he held an adjunct position at UD and joined the faculty full-time in 1998.

Barner is a member of the Nonlinear Signal and Image Processing Board; co-editor of the book Nonlinear Signal and Image Processing: Theory, Methods, and Applications; and editor-in-chief of the journal Advances in Human-Computer Interaction.

In the past, he has served as associate editor of the IEEE Transactions on Signal Processing, the IEEE Transaction on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering, and the IEEE Signal Processing Magazine.

Article by Diane Kukich