Jimenez and Satam Join SIE

The Department of Systems and Industrial Engineering announces two new hires as we enter the new academic year. 

Diana Saldana Jimenez joins SIE as an assistant professor of practice. She earned her PhD in computer science from the University of Tijuana, then went on to serve as a program director for computer engineering at the Autonomous University of Baja California. She has also worked as a professor at Arizona Western College and as a faculty member and researcher in the UA College of Applied Science and Technology. While she has conducted research into virtual reality and augmented reality, her role as a professor of practice for the college’s newest major is focused on fostering student success.

“I applied for the software engineering position because I like the program and it is related to my area of study,” said Saldana Jimenez, who co-advises the Western Engineering, Science and Technology Club. “I am looking forward to helping students find their career goals.”

Pratik Satam has been hired as an assistant professor. Satam received his PhD in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Arizona and has worked as a research assistant professor in the department for the last three years. He first came to the UA to work with Salim Hariri, a leading researcher in autonomic computing and security research. His research is centered on computers and computer networks, the Internet of Things and cyberphysical systems. Now, he looks forward to forming his own research group and working with students to address modern problems.

“In today’s day and age of smart devices, we are connected to the internet all the time. From our Google Homes, to self-driving cars, to connected Industrial Control Systems, technology is evolving at very fast pace, a trend that will continue in the 5G and beyond era (in the near future),” he said. “The critical component powering this evolution is software. Thus, I see software engineering playing an important role in the future.”

These three join 14 other new faculty at the University of Arizona College of Engineering for the new academic year.