Maryam Fazel

Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering
Adjunct Assistant Professor of: Computer Science and Engineering, Mathematics, and Statistics

Electrical Engineering Department,
University of Washington

Office: Paul Allen Center, CSE 230
Address:: University of Washington
Department of Electrical Engineering
Campus Box 352500
Seattle, WA 98195-2500
Phone: (206) 616-4781
Fax: (206) 543-3842
E-mail:: mfazel (at) ee(dot)washington(dot)edu
URL:: http://faculty.washington.edu/mfazel

I am an Assistant Professor in EE, and have Adjunct appointments in CSE, Math, and Statistics. My research interests lie in the intersection of mathematical optimization, data analysis, and control theory. Prior to joining UW EE, I was a Research Scientist at the Control and Dynamical Systems Department at Caltech. I received my PhD in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University where I was part of the Information Systems Lab. In 2009, I received an NSF Career Award and the UW EE Outstanding Teaching Award.

My entry in the Mathematics Genealogy Project.
Google Scholar page. And a citation graph from Microsoft Academic search.
My Erdos number is 3! (path)

News and Events

Dean Lytle EE Endowed Lecture by Prof. Stephen Boyd, October 28-29, 2013.
Article in the IPAM Annual Newsletter featuring our research.
UW Trends in OPtimizations Seminar (TOPS), new seminar series strating in fall 2013 on all aspects of Optimization. Organized by UW Math and EE.
West Coast Optimization Meeting (WCOM), May 3-4, 2013 on UW campus. Jointly sponsored and organized by UW Math and EE.
UW Optimization Seminar series, Spring 2013
IPAM Workshop on Structure and Randomness in System Identification and Learning, Jan 15-18, 2013. Workshop poster.
New Course: EE 546: Convex Optimization Algorithms. See Course webpage for more details. This course was first taught in Spring 2012, and will be offered again in Spring 2014.
ScienceWatch selects our paper as the Fast Breaking Paper in the area of Mathematics in 2011. Here's the link.

Research Interests

Convex Optimization; Parsimonious Modeling and Compressed Sensing; Matrix Rank Minimization; Distributed Online Optimization; Applications in large-scale data analysis and machine learning, signal processing, and system identification.

Research group

Students:

Karthik Mohan, EE (BS IIT Madras, India)

De Meng, EE (BS Zhejiang Univ, China)

Amin Jalali, EE (BS Sharif Univ of Technology, Iran)

Reza Eghbali, EE (BS Sharif Univ of Technology, Iran)

Dvijotham Krishnamurthy, CSE (BS IIT Bombay, India). Co-advised with Prof. Emo Todorov.

Alumni:

Ting Kei Pong, PhD in Mathematics, June 2011 Co-advised with Prof. Paul Tseng, Prof. Rekha Thomas.
Currently: Postdoc, Department of Computer Science, University of British Columbia.

Brian Hutchinson, PhD in EE, August 2013. Co-advised with Prof. Mari Ostendorf.
Currently: Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science, Western Washington University.

Undergraduate Researcher:

Palma London, Senior in EE, UW.

Publications

Preprints:

K. Dvijotham, E. Todorov, M. Fazel, Convex Structured Controller Design, Submitted. arxiv link.
S. Oymak, A. Jalali, M. Fazel, Y. Eldar, B. Hassibi, Simultaneously Structured Models with Applications to Sparse and Low-rank Matrices, Submitted. arxiv link.
Published in Journal or Peer-reviewed Conference:
K. Mohan, P. London, M. Fazel, D. Witten, S.-I. Lee, Node-Based Learning of Multiple Gaussian Graphical Models. To appear in Journal of Machine Learning Research (JMLR). arxiv link, Related Matlab codes (.zip file).
S. Oymak, A. Jalali, M. Fazel, B. Hassibi, Noisy estimation of simultaneously structured models: Limitations of convex relaxation. To appear in Proc. Conference on Decision and Control, Dec 2013. Longer version to be posted soon.
K. Dvijotham, E. Theodorou, E. Todorov, M. Fazel, Convexity of Optimal Linear Controller Design. To appear in Proc. Conference on Decision and Control, Dec 2013.
K. Dvijotham, E. Todorov, M. Fazel, Convex Control Design via Covariance Minimization. Proc. of Allerton Conference, Oct 2013.
M. Fazel, T. K. Pong, D. Sun, P. Tseng, Hankel matrix rank minimization with applications in system identification and realization. SIAM Journal on Matrix Analysis and Applications, 34(3): 946-977, 2013. Related Matlab codes (zip file).
B. Hutchinson, M. Ostendorf, M. Fazel, Exceptions in Language as Learned by the Multi-factor Sparse Plus Low-rank Language Model. Proc. Intl. Conf. on Acoustics, Speech, and Signal Processing (ICASSP), May 2013.
F. Fazel, M. Fazel, M. Stojanovic. Random Access Compressed Sensing over Fading and Noisy Communication Channels. IEEE Trans. on Wireless Communications, 12(5): 2114-2125, May 2013.
K. Mohan, M. Chung, S. Han, D. Witten, S.-I. Lee, M. Fazel, Structured Learning of Multiple Gaussian Graphical Models. Proc. Neural Information Processing Systems (NIPS), Dec 2012.
K. Mohan, M. Fazel, Iterative Reweighted Algorithms for Matrix Rank Minimization. Journal of Machine Learning Research (JMLR), 2012. Related Matlab codes (zip file).
B. Hutchinson, M. Ostendorf, M. Fazel, A Sparse Plus Low Rank Maximum Entropy Language Model. Proc. InterSpeech Conference, Sep 2012 (oral presentation).
M. Nabi-Abdolyousefi, M. Fazel, Mehran Mesbahi, A Graph Realization Approach to Network Identification, Proc. of Conference in Decision and Control (CDC), Dec. 2012.
F. Fazel, M. Fazel, M. Stojanovic, Compressed Sensing in Random Access Networks with Applications to Underwater Monitoring. Physical Communications Journal (Elsevier), special issue on Compressive Sensing in Communications.
F. Fazel, M. Fazel, M. Stojanovic, Random Access Compressed Sensing: An Integrated Architecture For Energy-efficient Networking. Proc. Asilomar Conf. on Signals, Systems, and Computers, Nov 2011.
B. Hutchinson, M. Ostendorf, M. Fazel, Low Rank Language Models for Small Training Sets. IEEE Signal Processing Letters. 18(9), pages 489-492, Sep 2011.
F. Fazel, M. Fazel, M. Stojanovic, Random Access Compressed Sensing in Energy-Efficient Underwater Sensor Networks. Journal on Selected Areas in Communications (JSAC), 29(9), Sep 2011.
S. Oymak, K. Mohan, M. Fazel, B. Hassibi, A Simplified Approach to Recovery Conditions for Low-rank Matrices. Proc. Intl. Sympo. Information Theory (ISIT), Aug 2011.
R. Arora, A. Kapila , M. Gupta, M. Fazel, Clustering by Left-Stochastic Decomposition. Proc. of International Conference on Machine Learning (ICML), July 2011.
F. Fazel, M. Fazel, M. Stojanovic, Design of a Random Access Network for Compressed Sensing. Proc. Information Theory and Applications Workshop (ITA), Feb 2011.
F. Fazel, M. Fazel, M. Stojanovic, Random Access Compressed Sensing in Underwater Acoustic Networks. Proc. Allerton Conference on Communications, Control, and Computing, Sep 2010.
K. Mohan, M. Fazel, Iterative Reweighted Least Squares for Matrix Rank Minimization, Proc. Allerton Conference on Communications, Control, and Computing, Sep 2010.
B. Recht, M. Fazel, P. Parrilo, Guaranteed Minimum-Rank Solutions of Linear Matrix Equations via Nuclear Norm Minimization. SIAM Review, Vol 52, no 3, pages 471-501, 2010. Arxiv link.
K. Mohan, M. Fazel, New Restricted Isometry Results for Noisy Low-rank Matrix Recovery, Proc. Intl. Symp. Info. Thoery (ISIT), Austin, TX, June 2010.
K. Mohan, M. Fazel, Reweighted Nuclear Norm Minimization with Application to System Identification, Proc. American Control Conference (ACC), 2010.
D. Georgiev, M. Fazel, E. Klavins, Model Discrimination of Chemical Reaction Networks by Linearization, Proc. American Control Conference (ACC), 2010.
K. Dvijotham, M. Fazel, A Nullspace Analysis of the Nuclear Norm Heuristic for Rank Minimization, Proc. of ICASSP 2010, Dallas, Texas, March 2010.
M. Fazel, E. J. Candes, B. Recht, P. Parrilo, Compressed Sensing and Robust Recovery of Low Rank Matrices, Proc. of Asilomar Conference, Pacific Grove, CA, Nov 2008.
N. Yamamoto, M. Fazel, Computational Approach to Quantum Encoder Design for Purity Optimization. Physical Review A, vol. 76, no. 1, July 2007. Available at http://link.aps.org/abstract/PRA/v76/e012327
B. Recht, M. Fazel, P. Parrilo, Guaranteed Minimum-Rank Solutions of Linear Matrix Equations via Nuclear Norm Minimization. Allerton Conference, Allerton House, Illinois, Sep 2007.
M. Lobo, M. Fazel, and S. Boyd, Portfolio Optimization with Linear and Fixed Transaction Costs. Annals of Operations Research, special issue on Financial Optimization, 152(1):376-394, July 2007.
D. Gayme, M. Fazel, J. Doyle, Complexity in Automation of SOS Proofs: An Illustrative Example. Proc. Conference on Decision and Control, San Diego, California, Dec 2006.
M. Fazel, D. Gayme, M. Chiang, Transient Analysis for Wireless Power Control. Proc. Globecom Conference, San Francisco, California, Nov 2006.
H. El-Samad, M. Fazel, X. Liu, A. Papachristodoulou, S. Prajna, Stochastic Reachability Analysis in Complex Biological Networks. Proc. American Control Conference, Minneapolis, Minnesota, June 2006.
A. Fakheri, M. Fazel, A Methodology for Optimization of Shell and Tube Heat Exchangers in Series . International Journal of Heat Exchangers, volume VII, number 1, June 2006.
M. Fazel, M. Chiang, Network Utility Maximization with Nonconcave Utilities Using Sum-of-Squares Method. Proc. Conference on Decision and Control, Seville, Spain, Dec 2005.
T.-M. Yi, M. Fazel, X. Liu, T. Otitoju, A. Papachristodoulou, S. Prajna, and J. Doyle, Application of Robust Model Validation Using SOSTOOLS to the Study of G-Protein Signaling in Yeast . In Proc. Foundations of Systems Biology and Engineering, Santa Barbara, California, August 2005.
M. Sharif, C. Florens, M. Fazel, B. Hassibi, Amplitude and Sign Adjustment for Peak to Average Power Reduction . IEEE trans. on Communications, volume 53, number 8, pp. 1243--1247, August 2005.
M. Fazel, H. Hindi, and S. Boyd, Rank Minimization and Applications in System Theory. Proc. American Control Conference, Boston,
Massachusetts, June 2004.
M. Sharif, C. Florens, M. Fazel, B. Hassibi, Peak to Average Power Reduction Using Amplitude and Sign Adjustment. Proc. International Conference on Communications, Paris, France, June 2004.
M. Fazel, H. Hindi, and S. Boyd, Log-det Heuristic for Matrix Rank Minimization with Applications to Hankel and Euclidean Distance Matrices. Proc. American Control Conference, Denver, Colorado, June 2003.
M. Fazel, H. Hindi, and S. Boyd, A Rank Minimization Heuristic with Application to Minimum Order System Approximation. Proc. American Control Conference, Arlington, Virginia, June 2001.
Technical reports:
M. Fazel, J. Goodman, Approximations for Partially Coherent Optical Imaging Systems. Technical Report, Stanford University, 1998.
M. Fazel, S. Boyd, T. Kailath, Electron-beam Proximity Correction Using Convex Optimization. Technical Report, Stanford University, 1997.

Teaching

2013-2014:

EE235: Continuous-time Linear Systems (Signals and Systems)
Fall 2013
Course webpage

EE/AA/ME 578: Optimization in System Sciences
Winter 2014
Course Webpage (from last time taught)

EE 546: Frontiers in Optimization: Convex Optimization Algorithms
Spring 2014
Course webpage (from last time taught)

2012-2013:

EE/AA/ME 578: Optimization in System Sciences (a.k.a. Convex optimization and its applications)
Winter 2013
Course Webpage

2011-2012:

EE/AA/ME 578: Optimization in System Sciences
Winter 2012

EE 546: Frontiers in Optimization: Convex Optimization Algorithms
Spring 2012
Course webpage

2010-2011:

EE235: Continuous-time Linear Systems (Signals and Systems)
Spring 2011

EE/AA/ME 578: Optimization in System Sciences (a.k.a. Convex optimization and its applications)
Winter 2011

2009-2010:

EE546/STAT593C: Sparse Representations: Theory, Algorithms, Applications
Spring 2010
Course Webpage

EE/AA/ME 578: Optimization in System Sciences (a.k.a. Convex optimization and its applications)
Winter 2010

2008-2009:

EE235: Continuous-time Linear Systems (Signals and Systems)
Spring 2009

EE/AA/ME 578: Optimization in System Sciences
Winter 2009

2007-2008:

EE/AA/ME/ChemE 591: Seminar series in Optimization and Engineering Applications
Spring 2008

EE/AA/ME 578: Optimization in System Sciences
Winter 2008
Course Webpage
Course Announcement

Education

Ph.D. Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, CA, March 2002
M.S. Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, CA, June 1997
B.Sc. Electrical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran, 1995

Ph.D. Thesis

Matrix Rank Minimization with Applications. Elec. Eng. Dept, Stanford University, March 2002.
Thesis: (ps file), (pdf file), (gzipped ps file)

*** Page under construction! ***
Last modified: Aug 2013