Juan Alvarez

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 398MA, Introduction to Modern Communication with Python and SDR
• 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

• 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
• Response to Failure and Success in Engineering
• Improving study skills in undergraduate students.

Selected Articles in Journals

• J. Alvarez, M. Gara, E. J. Janse van Rensburg, and A. Rechnitzer ''Atmospheric Collapse in Self-Avoiding Walks: A Numerical Study using GARM," J. Stat. Mech., (2009) P12005.
• J. Alvarez and S. G. Whittington, ''Force-extension relations in adsorbing polymers subject to a force," J. Stat. Mech., (2009) P04016.
• J. Alvarez and C. E. Soteros, "Higher Order Morita Approximations for Random Copolymer Localization," Journal of Mathematical Chemistry, 45 (2009) 238-256.
• J. Alvarez and E. J. Janse van Rensburg, ''Directed Paths in a Layered Environment," J. Phys. A: Math. Theor, 41 (2008) 465003.
• J. Alvarez, E. J. Janse van Rensburg, C. E. Soteros, and S. G. Whittington, ''Self-avoiding polygons and walks in slits," J. Phys. A: Math. Theor, 41 (2008) 185004.
• J. Alvarez, E. Orlandini, C. E. Soteros, and S. G. Whittington, ''Higher Order Morita Approximations for Random Copolymer Adsorption," J. Phys. A: Math. Theor , 40 (2007) F289-F298.
• Juan Alvarez and Bruce Hajek, ''Kernel representations for flux and concentration in ion channel models with time-varying concentrations," J. Chem. Phys., Vol. 125, pp. 164703, 2006.
• Juan Alvarez and Bruce Hajek, ''Equivalence of trans paths in ion channels,'' Phys. Rev. E, Vol. 73, pp. 046126, 2006.
• Juan Alvarez and Bruce Hajek, "A queue with semi-periodic traffic", Advances in Applied Probability, Vol. 37, No. 1, pp. 160-184, March 2005.
• Juan Alvarez and Bruce Hajek, " On the use of packet classes in communication networks to enhance congestion pricing based on marks ", IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control, Vol. 47, Issue 6, pp. 1020-1026, June 2002.

Refereed Conference Papers and Presentations

• Gertner, Y., & Alvarez, J., Fowler, M., & Evans, C., & Amos, J. R. & , WIP: Students’ reflections on their Sense of Belonging and Motivation in a CS Discrete Math course., accepted to 2025 ASEE Annual Conference.
• Gertner, Y., & Alvarez, J., Fowler, M., & Evans, C., & Amos, J. R. & , WIP: Students’ metacognition and how it relates to their performance in conceptual problem-solving introductory Engineering courses., accepted to 2025 ASEE Annual Conference.
• Ye, Z., & Gladstone, J., & Cromley, J., & Alvarez, J., WIP: Students’ Emotional and Study Strategies Responses to ECE Exam Success and Failure, accepted to 2025 ASEE Annual Conf.
• 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, 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, 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, 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?, 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, 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.