Juan Alvarez
Juan Alvarez
Teaching Assistant Professor
(217) 300-5452
3046 Electrical & Computer Eng Bldg

Education

  • Ph.D., Electrical Engineering, University of Illlinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2004
  • M.S., Electrical Engineering, University of Illlinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2000
  • Engineer (B.Sc.), Electronics and Communications, ITESM-CCM, 1997

Academic Positions

  • Teaching Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA, August 2019-present.
  • Visiting Lecturer, Zhejiang University - International Campus, October 2023.
  • Visiting Lecturer, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, January 2020.
  • Visiting Lecturer, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, July 2019.
  • Visiting Lecturer, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, July 2018.
  • Visiting Lecturer, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, July 2017.
  • Visiting Lecturer, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, August 2016.
  • Visiting Lecturer, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, January 2014.
  • Visiting Lecturer, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, January 2013.
  • Lecturer, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA, Jan. 2013 -August 2019.
  • Visiting Lecturer, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA, Jan. 2011 - December 2012.
  • Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, York University, Canada, Sept. 2007 - June 2009
  • Postdoctoral Fellow, Chemical Physics Theory Group , University of Toronto, Canada, Sept. 2007 - June 2009
  • Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Saskatchewan, Canada, Sept. 2006 - Aug. 2007
  • Sessional Lecturer, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Saskatchewan, Canada, Sept. 2004 - Dec. 2006
  • Postdoctoral Fellow, Mathematical Sciences Group, University of Saskatchewan, Canada, Sept. 2004 - Aug. 2006

Resident Instruction

  • ECE 313, Probability with Engineering Applications
  • ECE 463: Digital Communications Laboratory
  • ECE 461: Digital Communications
  • ECE 459: Communications, I
  • ECE 211: Analog Circuits & Systems
  • ECE 210: Analog Signal Processing

Research Interests

  • Response to Failure and Success in Engineering
  • Improving study skills in undergraduate students.
  • Applied probability
  • Mathematical modeling of polymers and biophysical systems; in particular: - configurational and statistical properties of lattice models for polymers - steric stabilization and sensitized flocculation of colloidal dispersions - adsorption and localization of random copolymers - ion transport

Research Areas

Selected Articles in Journals

Refereed Conference Papers and Presentations

  • Gladstone, J., & Cromley, J., & Alvarez, J., & Ye, Z., & Daukenova, A., & Shastri, P., & Sun, S. & Price, R. (2024, June), Response to Failure and Success in an ECE Course, Abstract accepted to 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Portland, Oregon.
  • Alvarez, J., & Mironenko, O., & Shao, V. (2024, June), Promoting Undergraduate Student Success through Faculty Mentoring in Engineering Education, Abstract accepted to 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Portland, Oregon.
  • Shao, V., & Mironenko, O., & Alvarez, J. (2024, June), Enhancing Understanding and Retention in Undergraduate ECE Courses through Concept Mapping, Abstract accepted to 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Portland, Oregon.
  • Gertner, Y., & Alvarez, J., & Amos, J. R. & Cosman, B. (2024, June), How do students spend their time studying in a CS Discrete Math course?, Abstract accepted to 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Portland, Oregon.
  • Amos, J. R., & Gertner, Y., & Alvarez, J. & Cosman, B. (2024, June), Enhancing Motivation and Mindset Through Reflective Pedagogy: A Case Study of a Foundational Conservation Course, Abstract accepted to 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Portland, Oregon.
  • Alvarez, J., & Amos, J. R., & Gertner, Y., & Cosman, B. (2023, June), Identifying Student Profiles Related to Success in an Analog Signal Processing Course Paper presented at 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Baltimore , Maryland.
  • Mironenko, O., & Alvarez, J. (2023, June), Assessing the Impact of Weekly In-class Pop Quizzes on Student Performance in a Fundamental ECE Course Paper presented at 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Baltimore , Maryland.
  • Gertner, Y., & Alvarez, J., & Cosman, B., & Amos, J. R. (2023, June), Identifying Student Profiles Related to Success in Discrete Math CS Courses Paper presented at 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Baltimore , Maryland.
  • Gertner, Y., & Alvarez, J., & Cosman, B., & Amos, J. (2022, August), Understanding Student Learning Profiles in Second Year Problem-Solving Engineering Classes Paper presented at 2022 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Minneapolis, MN.
  • J. Alvarez and B. Hajek, " Reversible Markov chain models for ion channels", Proceedings of the 38th Annual Conference on Information Sciences and Systems, pp. 1371-1376, March 2004.
  • J. Alvarez and B. Hajek, " Observations on using marks for pricing in multiclass packet networks to provide multidimensional QoS", Proceedings of the 2000 Conference on Information Sciences and Systems, Vol. II, pp. TP2-16 to TP2-21, March 2000.

Recent Courses Taught

  • ECE 210 - Analog Signal Processing
  • ECE 211 - Analog Circuits & Systems
  • ECE 313 (MATH 362) - Probability with Engrg Applic
  • ECE 459 - Communications Systems
  • ECE 461 - Digital Communications
  • ECE 463 - Digital Communications Lab

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