Prof. Raluca Ilie
M.E. Van Valkenburg Faculty Fellow in Electrical and Computer Engineering
I am an Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). I direct UIUC’s Heliospheric Research and Applications Group (HeRA) and the VR Initiative for Immersive Learning.
I study the dynamics of plasmas and electromagnetic fields in the geospace environment and I develop predictive tools that can mitigate their impacts on engineering infrastructure, such as power grids, satellites, navigation systems, avionics, air travel, telecommunications and more. My research addresses the need for predictive capabilities by developing and improving high-performance, first-principles computational models that describe and predict the conditions in the near-Earth space that can impact technological assets.
These models include magnetohydrodynamics of the magnetosphere, kinetic models of the inner magnetosphere focused on the ring current, and combined fluid-kinetic models of the polar wind. I combine these models self-consistently to reproduce the highly interconnected and non-linear interactions between these plasma systems and their response to solar wind drivers during geomagnetic storms. This research is continuously informed by data gathered in space missions - this can help not only validate the models but help us identify new physical mechanisms that need to be incorporated into these models to adequately describe the system.
You can read about the work done by the HeRA group on developing multi-physics, large-scale numerical models, pushing the envelope of our theoretical understanding of the physics of the space environment, improving our ability to interpret data from space missions (from NASA, NOAA, ESA spacecraft, and defense/security satellites) by developing specialized visualization tools that can put sparse mission data into context by combining it with data from magnetospheric models. Modeling of the space environment is one of the most computationally intensive tasks in the scientific community. We utilize super computing clusters such as the NASA Pleiades, and also develop GPU-based hardware acceleration for our existing codes.
I started the VR Initiative for Immersive Learning in 2019, through a Strategic Instructional Innovations Program grant sponsored by the Grainger College of Engineering. Virtual Reality provides a disruptive and vastly influential platform for teaching and learning, in an immersive, realistic and, most importantly, interactive 3-dimensional environment. This initiative aims to create customizable laboratory experiences for engineering education, ranging from freshmen introductory classes to advanced courses, and training working professionals in science, engineering, and medical fields.
There are many advantages for using VR as an immersive teaching tool, as it has the potential of overcoming challenges students face in traditional learning settings. Virtual reality provides the means of exploration through visuals and manipulable objects and allows learners to build knowledge on their own. In addition, the VR experiences replace the cost of hands-on labs, by recreating the experiments and experiences on virtual reality platforms. Studies show that these environments allow students to develop spatial skills, which is thought to be an early indicator of later achievement in STEM disciplines. The VR environments also increase engagement and creativity in students, as they use them independently to create their own experiences.
Research Honors
International Space Science Institute (Bern, Switzerland) - Team Leader (2020-2022)
NSF CAREER Award (2019)
NASA Heliophysics Early Career Investigator Award (2019)
The Air Force Office of Scientific Research: Young Investigator Program (YIP) (2018)
Research Area Coordinator, NSF Geospace Environment Modeling Program (2018-2024)
International Space Science Institute (Bern, Switzerland) - Team Leader (2016-2017)
International Space Science Institute (Bern, Switzerland) - Early Career Scientist (2012, 2015)
NSF Geospace Environment Modeling Postdoctoral Fellowship (2011-2013)
Teaching Honors
2021 Collins Award for Innovative Teaching
Listed on the List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by their Students, Spring 2020 (ECE 329: Fields and Waves)