Dr. Cynthia Furse

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Cynthia Furse
Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Utah

Highlights

• The Path from Student to Scholar: Dr. Furse began her career as an undergraduate researcher, eventually transforming her early curiosity into a global legacy of innovation.
• Pioneering Safety Technology: Her work in "smart wiring" allows for the detection of electrical faults in aircraft during flight—bridging the gap between complex electromagnetics and public safety.
• Innovation & Entrepreneurship: A co-founder of LiveWire Innovation, she demonstrates how university research can evolve into successful commercial enterprise.
• Dedication to Mentorship: Having mentored over 200 undergraduate researchers, she is a champion for student-led discovery and accessible engineering education.

Biography
Dr. Cynthia Furse is a Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Utah, where she has established herself as a leading expert in the fields of electromagnetics and engineering education. Throughout her distinguished career, Dr. Furse has focused her research on the application of electromagnetic theory to solve complex, real-world problems, ranging from medical breakthroughs to critical infrastructure safety.

Research and Innovation
Dr. Furse is perhaps best known for her pioneering work in the development of system-level "smart wiring" technology. Her research has led to the creation of systems capable of locating faults in aging aircraft wiring and power distribution networks while they are still in operation, a critical advancement for transportation and utility safety. Additionally, she has made significant contributions to the field of bio-electromagnetics, including the design of antennas for medical implants and the study of how electromagnetic fields interact with the human body.

A Leader in Education
Beyond her technical research, Dr. Furse is a passionate advocate for modernizing engineering education. She is a Fellow of the IEEE, the National Academy of Inventors, and the Applied Computational Electromagnetics Society. She has been recognized with numerous awards for her teaching and mentorship, including the 2020 IEEE Chen-To Tai Distinguished Educator Award and the 2009 IEEE Harriett B. Rigas Medal. As a prominent voice in the "flipped classroom" movement, she consistently seeks new ways to bridge the gap between theoretical engineering and practical application. Over her career, she has mentored more than 200 undergraduate researchers and graduated nearly 100 graduate students.

Professional Impact
As a former Associate Vice President for Research at the University of Utah (2009-2019), Dr. Furse has a deep understanding of the research landscape and the importance of fostering innovation across disciplines. She is a co-founder of LiveWire Innovation and holds numerous patents, embodying the entrepreneurial spirit of modern research. She was also awarded the 2016 Utah Governor's Medal for Science and Technology.