AUA’s Engineering Research Center Celebrates Decade of Collaboration With Siemens

5 min read

YEREVAN, Armenia — In 2023, the Engineering Research Center (ERC), housed in the American University of Armenia’s (AUA) Zaven P. and Sonia Akian College of Science and Engineering (CSE), celebrated 10 years of collaboration with leading industrial technology company, Siemens.

The ERC traces its history to the founding of the University. When AUA was established in 1991, it housed three master’s programs: business administration, industrial engineering and systems management, and earthquake engineering. The latter two were housed in the College of Engineering, which was the first and only college structure to exist in the University until the introduction of the undergraduate programs in 2013. AUA President Emeritus Dr. Armen Der Kiureghian served as dean of the College of Engineering for the first 15 years of its existence.

Today, the ERC has undertaken numerous projects in conjunction with industry. Notable partnerships include Siemens, Samsung, ServiceTitan, and Picsart, among others. The vision for the Center is a flexible, bottom-up aggregate defined by the researchers working there. The nature of the research conducted in the ERC is project-to-project, facilitated by the adaptability of its researchers.

“Our currency at AUA is in producing peer-reviewed journal articles, white papers, proposing policies that are adopted by the Armenian government, and proprietary information for companies. We’ve made a great impact through the ERC; it’s all about how you define ‘research,’” says CSE Dean Dr. Aram Hajian, adding, “We have attained much better alignment in the last 10 years in terms of harmonizing our research with our students and the degree programs we offer.” 

In 2012, AUA initiated a collaborative relationship with electronic design automation (EDA) leader Mentor Graphics, which is now part of Siemens. Since then, Siemens has provided the ERC with annual research grants. “They have faith in us, confidence and respect for our past productivity and alignment with the company’s goals,” explains Dr. Hajian. Scientists working out of the Center, together with their counterparts at Siemens, tackle 1-2 research topics per year, based on the availability of relevant researchers. This has yielded a fruitful partnership that has produced publications and improved upon certain established processes.

“We believe that such collaboration is mutually beneficial and helps bring academia and industry closer to each other,” says Sedrak Sargisian, senior director of engineering, Calibre, Siemens Digital Industries Software. “Industry gains access to top researchers on topics that are interesting and important for our technology and product development, while academia gains access to the most modern integrated circuit tools, design, and manufacturing technologies — real problems that require solutions. Siemens gains the necessary scientific expertise, and AUA receives funding that supports its researchers and students. The best outcome of such collaboration is expected solutions that we can later incorporate in our products.” The combined efforts of Siemens and ERC researchers has also led to joint publications, such as “Pressure calculation using obstacle problem for CMP modeling” by Davit Piliposyan, Dr. Ruben Ghulghazaryan, CSE Adjunct Associate Professor Dr. Mikayel Poghosyan, and B.S. in Computer Science Program Chair Dr. Hayk Nersisyan, published in the Journal of Physics: Conference Series.

Indeed, the Siemens-AUA collaboration has recently expanded beyond the ERC. In 2022, AUA and Siemens signed the Extended Collaboration Agreement for six years, extending the relationship between both parties beyond research collaboration and into seminars, collaborating on refining curriculum related to both technical aspects and soft training. For example, every year, Siemens’ top architect and C++ expert, Fedor Pikus, conducts a workshop/lecture at AUA. In addition, Siemens has supported the creation of executive leadership training at the University, even enrolling its own managers in the six-month-long course throughout the last two years. In June 2023, a group of 12 AUA students, several faculty members, and Dr. Michael Kouchakdjian, director of the Entrepreneurship and Product Innovation Center at AUA, visited the Siemens EDA campus in California. The tour expanded the global awareness, knowledge, and understanding of the University’s most talented students by providing them with exposure to cutting-edge technology companies, accomplished entrepreneurs and technologists, and the innovative concepts of the Silicon Valley ecosystem, including the EDA industry.

“Having a relationship built on trust is essential for our partnership. I would like to acknowledge the instrumental and positive contributions from Dr. Hajian’s side,” adds Sargisian. “It has been a privilege for me to join the CSE Advisory Board, whose purpose is to provide advice, suggestions, and recommendations to the College leadership through regular meetings and further engagement as appropriate.” 

“We are very appreciative that Siemens believes in us and has supported higher education activity and research,” notes Dr. Hajian. He believes that one of the most constructive ways the Armenian private sector can interface with universities in the country is by supporting faculty and students in doing cutting-edge research that is relevant and directly applicable to industry. The ERC welcomes direct engagement with the private sector. Dr. Hajian suggests that by sponsoring research, the private sector can promote academia-industry collaboration. This builds a constructive, mutually beneficial relationship, as the sponsoring party also has the advantage of automatically identifying best-matched students to hire after graduation.

One such example is AUA alumna Yeva Gabrielyan (BSCS ’19, MSCIS ’22), who has been working at the ERC as a member of the research team for CSE Assistant Professor Dr. Varduhi Yeghiazaryan’s “Fully Automated GPU-based Parallel Analysis of Pre-Clinical Multidimensional Hyperspectral Datasets” project, which was funded by an Afeyan Research Grant Dr. Yeghiazaryan won in 2023. The research revolves around the analysis of hyperspectral medical images. The team aims to develop a model geared toward effectively segmenting ablated regions within hyperspectral images of atrial tissue. For this purpose, the research team is currently focusing on graphics-processing-unit-accelerated, deep-learning-based procedures. Their ultimate goal is to devise a framework that will be used in a clinical setting. 

Gabrielyan reflects on her enriching experience in the ERC, noting the advantages it has offered her: “One of the greatest advantages lies in the opportunity to remain deeply engaged with academia while actively contributing to research. You don’t always get opportunities like this if you’re working in industry. What I personally enjoy most is the collaborative nature of our work. Being part of a team that brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds such as biology, data science, and computer science has been immensely fulfilling. The exchange of ideas within this interdisciplinary setting not only broadens my perspective, but also enhances the depth of our research endeavors.”

Alongside her work in the ERC, Gabrielyan is a senior data scientist at Denovo Sciences, a drug discovery company co-founded by AUA alumnus Mher Matevosyan (MSE ’18) that uses AI for developing novel therapeutics. Her research at ERC complements the skills needed to execute her job. 

“My experience in the ERC has helped me enhance my research skills,” says Gabrielyan. “My current job requires us to always be on the cutting edge in investigating state-of-the-art methods. Something I have learned from ERC is how to stay ahead and up to date with recent developments in the field of interest. Another important skill I have acquired from my experience at ERC is the ability to communicate and present my research to individuals who are not experts in my immediate field. I believe this is an important asset for those involved in scientific research.”

Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, affiliated with the University of California, and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission in the United States. AUA provides local and international students with Western-style education through top-quality undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values.