Mark Budnik, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Mark.budnik@valpo.edu

Biography

After graduating from the University of Illinois in 1990, Professor Budnik began a sixteen year career in the semiconductor field, culminating as a Principal Engineer at Hitachi Semiconductor.  Since 2006, he has been an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at Valparaiso University.  He is the author of several engineering books and book chapters and more than twenty-five peer reviewed publications.  He is active in supporting independent student research/work projects and has mentored more than thirty such ventures. 

Education

Ph.D. - Purdue University 2006
M.S.E.E. - Purdue University 1999
B.S.E.E. - University of Illinois 1990

Areas of Specialization

Nanotechnology, embedded system design, industry collaboration, signals and systems, computational tools, K-12 outreach, engineering pedagogy, analog and digital circuit design, assistive devices

Courses Taught

• ECE 200  - Computational Techniques for Electrical and Computer Engineers I
• ECE 201  - Computational Techniques for Electrical and Computer Engineers II
• ECE 261L - Linear Circuits Laboratory I
• ECE 322  - Embedded Microcontrollers
• ECE 322L - Embedded Microcontrollers Laboratory
• ECE 360  - Signals and Systems
• ECE 490  - Embedded System Emulation
• ECE 499  - Nanotechnology Initiatives
• ECE 499  - Advanced Microcontroller Topics
• GE 497 - Senior Design I
• GE 498 - Senior Design II
• MBA 602  - Managing Technology and Innovation

Research Interests

Nanotechnology - Energy Storage
Students have the opportunity to explore the realm of one-dimensional nanometer-scale (0.000 000 001 meter) devices and see how they can be used for energy storage applications.

Nanotechnology - Education
Students have the opportunity to learn about nanotechnology and develop new teaching techniques to introduce these lessons to their peers and neighboring K-12 institutions.

Assistive therapy devices for individuals on the autism spectrum
Over the past two years, we have developed three generations of vibration therapy devices intended to minimize symptomatic behaviors of children on the autism spectrum.

Publications

• "A Power Delivery and Decoupling Network Minimizing Ohmic Loss and Supply Voltage Variation in Silicon Nanoscale Technologies", IEEE Transactions on VLSI, December 2006  (K. Roy)
• "Bridging Theory into Practice: First Steps Toward the Development of an Electrical Engineering Book of Knowledge", 2010 ASEE Conference on Industry and Education Collaboration (CIEC), February 2010 
• "Introduction to Nanotechnology: Implementation of a Cooperative Program for Gifted and Talented Elementary School Children", 2009 IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference (FIE), October 2009  (D. Beck, G. Vrabel)
• "An International, Multi-Disciplinary, Academic-Industrial Partnership for an Undergraduate Engineering Capstone Course Sequence", 2009 International Symposium on Academic Globalization (AG), July 2009 
• "A Carbon Nanotube Capacitor", 2009 IEEE Nanotechnology Materials and Devices Conference (NMDC), June 2009  (E.W. Johnson)
• "Entrepreneurship Throughout an Electrical And Computer Engineering Curriculum", 2009 ASEE Annual Conference, June 2009  (D. Tougaw, E. Johnson)
• "Encouraging Scientific Imagination in Elementary Students", 2009 ASEE Illinois/Indiana Section Conference, March 2009  (L. Sanders)
• "An Innovative Opportunity for Industry and Education Collaboration", 2009 ASEE Illinois/Indiana Section Conference, March 2009  (P. Cooke)
• “A Thin, Vertical, Parallel Plate Capacitor with Multi-Wall Carbon Nanotube Electrodes”, 2008 Proceedings of the 2008 IEEE Conference on Nanotechnology (NANO), Arlington, TX, August 2008  (J.D. Wood, E. Johnson)
• "Electrical Models for Vertical Carbon Nanotube Capacitors", Proceedings of the 2008 IEEE Great Lakes Symposium on VLSI (GLSVLSI), May 2008  (J.D. Wood, E. Johnson)
• “An Active Suppression Circuit for the Reduction of di/dt Event Supply Voltage Variation”, Proceedings of the 2008 Applied Power Electronics Conference (APEC), Austin, TX, February 2008  (J. Wood, N. Spagnuolo, K. Roy)
• "A Carbon Nanotube Capacitor Structure", 2007 International Semiconductor Device Research Symposium (ISDRS), December 2007  (J.D. Wood)
• “Motivation, Inspiration, and Economics of an International Service Project”, Proceedings of the 2007 National Capstone Design Course Conference, Boulder, CO, June 2007  (P. Johnson, K. Sevener, J. Will)
• “Managing Senior Projects – Educating Graduates and Undergraduates in a Senior Project Course", 2007 ASEE Annual Conference, June 2007  (M. Hagenberger, P. Johnson, D. Tougaw, J. Will, K. Sevener)
• "Integrating Entrepreneurship in Senior Design Projects", The 2007 National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance (NCIIA) Conference, March 2007  (D. Tougaw, J. Will, P. Johnson, M. Hagenberger)
• Fundamentals of Power Semiconductors for Automotive Applications, 2nd Edition
  -  Infineon Technologies Corporation 2008
• A Distributed Power Delivery and Decoupling Network Minimizing Ohmic Loss and Supply Voltage Variation in Silicon Nanoscale Technologies
  -  copyrighted TX6-476-829 February 25, 2007
• Fundamentals of Power Semiconductors for Automotive Applications, 1st Edition
  -  Infineon Technologies Corporation 2006
• Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
  Senior Member
• American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE)

Books

• Fundamentals of Power Semiconductors for Automotive Applications, 2nd Edition
  -  Infineon Technologies Corporation 2008
• A Distributed Power Delivery and Decoupling Network Minimizing Ohmic Loss and Supply Voltage Variation in Silicon Nanoscale Technologies
  -  copyrighted TX6-476-829 February 25, 2007
• Fundamentals of Power Semiconductors for Automotive Applications, 1st Edition
  -  Infineon Technologies Corporation 2006

Professional Affiliations

• Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
  Senior Member
• American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE)