Jeffrey Fessler, professor of electrical engineering and computer
science, biomedical engineering and radiology, is an accomplished researcher
in the field of medical image reconstruction. His research is
multidisciplinary and his collaborations have had significant impact across
the University and beyond. Several of his algorithms have been patented, and
some have transitioned to leading medical centers and to scanner
Fessler has published more than 90 journal papers and presented his
findings at more than 200 conferences. His algorithms have been adopted
around the world by a number of research laboratories, incorporated into
commercial products and used in clinical studies.
Fessler's research lies principally in statistical signal processing,
with applications to medical imaging. He and his group have pioneered
several statistical image reconstruction algorithms for PET, SPECT, CT and
MRI scans. This work includes penetrating analyses, insightful development
of performance metrics, careful proofs of algorithm convergence, and
practical numerical algorithms, made possible by the theoretical analyses.
In the wide variety of courses he has taught, Fessler received very high
ratings from students at all levels. As a professor Fessler led a diverse
group of 12 doctoral students and co-chaired another eight doctoral theses,
while also supervising several directed study projects with other students.
A colleague notes that it is especially remarkable that someone who can
produce such practical algorithms also can do such an outstanding job
teaching high-level mathematical systems methods.
At CoE Fessler has chaired the EECS Curriculum Committee from 2002-04 and
helped guide the faculty into revising the requirements for the bachelor's
degree in electrical engineering, updating it and making it more flexible.
In service to his profession, he has been an associate editor for three
prestigious Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (IEEE)
journals, and he has played a key role in organizing international imaging
Fessler has been recognized for his contributions in research, teaching
and service by a number of honors, including the Henry Russel Award
(1999-2000) and the CoE Education Excellence Award (2004-05). He was made a
fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering in
2002. He was elected in 2006 to be a fellow of the IEEE.
Text courtesy The University Record: