Dr. Babak Ayazifar

Professor

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Biography

Babak Ayazifar joined the UC Berkeley Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences (EECS) faculty in 2005 as a Teaching Professor. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology and a Master and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). His dissertation focused on using spectral graph theory to explore how network topology influences dynamics. Ayazifar received various teaching awards, including the Harold L. Hazen Award and the Goodwin Medal at MIT, recognizing his significant contributions to teaching. He has contributed to curriculum development, mentoring, and has been actively involved in pedagogical innovations at Berkeley, earning the Outstanding Teaching Award from the Electrical Engineering Division in 2008. His research interests include education, signal processing, and developing pedagogical techniques and assessment tools, particularly in the field of graph signal processing. He has served as a Visiting Senior Lecturer at MIT and is a member of prestigious engineering honor societies. Babak has a rich professional background that includes working as a Technical Specialist with Ropes & Gray, LLP, where he managed patent prosecution within various technology domains.

Research Interests

Experience

Teaching Professor

2005-01-01 — Present

University of California, Berkeley • Berkeley, CA

Teaching and curriculum development in Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences.

Technical Specialist

2000-01-01 — 2005-01-01

Ropes & Gray, LLP • Boston, MA

Managed patent prosecution related to technologies in various fields.

Awards

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Harold L. Hazen Award

1995-01-01
#

Goodwin Medal

1999-01-01
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Outstanding Teaching Award

2008-01-01
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Mac Van Valkenburg Early Career Teaching Award

2012-01-01

Requirements for University of California, Berkeley

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
GRE Subject
Overall Score
Required:500
Overall
Required:500
TOEFL
Total
Required:90
IELTS
Overall
Required:7
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree or recognized equivalent Preparation comparable to undergraduate major at Berkeley in Mathematics or Applied Mathematics 2 full years lower-division work (Calculus, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Multivariable Calculus) 8 one-semester upper-division courses (Real Analysis, Complex Analysis, Abstract Algebra, Linear Algebra)
Application Checklist
  • Graduate Application
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Personal History Statement
  • Three Letters of Recommendation
  • Unofficial Transcripts
  • C.V./Resume
  • Course and Textbook List
Specialization Notes

The Mathematics Subject GRE is required for the Fall 2026 admissions cycle. General GRE is optional.