Engineer is UTA's First RISE 100 Hire

An electrical engineer with extensive experience in vehicle autonomy is UTA's first hire under the Recruiting Innovative Scholars for Excellence initiative, or RISE 100.

Hongtei Eric Tseng, a member of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE), joins the University as a presidential distinguished professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering. He brings decades of experience in the automotive industry, largely with the Ford Motor Company, where he helped develop vehicle technology that has improved self-driving capabilities and reduced the chances of rollover accidents.

"In this dynamic era of artificial intelligence advancement, I am thrilled to join the esteemed community at UTA, an emerging research university with national prominence," Dr. Tseng says. "This community offers strong support for integrating control technology and machine learning, aligning with my goal of technology transition and contributing to students' educational journeys." His election to the NAE came in recognition of his contributions to control systems that enhance vehicle safety. With Tseng, UTA now has six members of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine among its faculty.

The RISE 100 initiative represents a substantial investment in UTA's future. Through this $60 million campaign—funded in part through the UT System's Regents Research Excellence program—the University plans to hire 100 new tenure-system faculty over the next three years. These scholars will bring expertise in areas that stand to make an impact in Texas and the DFW Metroplex, helping the University support the growth and development of the region's economy, society, and culture.

UTA recruited Tseng with key support from the Governor's University Research Initiative, which helps the state's public universities attract distinguished researchers who can help bolster Texas' higher education institutions and its economic development efforts. ₪