Professor
Wentai Liu
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Most Helpful Review
Fall 2022 - This class needs a rework - the course description does not match this class at all. I went in thinking we would learn about various technologies and applications of research in neural engineering, but every lecture is a convoluted presentation on deriving various circuit models of electrodes. The prerequisite is Physics 1B/5C, but the circuitry is more complicated. The homework isn't that bad, but you have to sort through a bunch of slides of nonsensical proofs and the occasional cool picture of an application to get the right formulas. The final project, which involves a fair bit of signal processing and machine learning, involves NONE of what the class teaches up to that point. Professor Liu is nice though, but wouldn't recommend this class.
Fall 2022 - This class needs a rework - the course description does not match this class at all. I went in thinking we would learn about various technologies and applications of research in neural engineering, but every lecture is a convoluted presentation on deriving various circuit models of electrodes. The prerequisite is Physics 1B/5C, but the circuitry is more complicated. The homework isn't that bad, but you have to sort through a bunch of slides of nonsensical proofs and the occasional cool picture of an application to get the right formulas. The final project, which involves a fair bit of signal processing and machine learning, involves NONE of what the class teaches up to that point. Professor Liu is nice though, but wouldn't recommend this class.
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Most Helpful Review
Fall 2025 - Prof Wentai Liu is very knowledgeable and caring and he really wants the students to learn, I would say this is one of the harder classes and a good level/background on math, circuits and electrical engineering is definitely needed (I honestly don't recommend this class if you are not an EE or BioE major or at least make sure you have a decent circuit/math experience). The main thing that makes this class difficult is that you are not really ever told if there is a definite correct answer and assignments are graded more so on your thought process and approach and not necessarily on how accurate your answer is to the prof's "answer key" (you don't even get an actual answer key). The office hours are the best way to get any questions answered and the prof is very patient and puts time to help. There is a good bit of coding/programming (either matlab or python) which these days chatgpt handles with ease but still good to have some basic experience as it will make the HWs much easier. There is only like 3-4 HW problems but they very long and have many many parts (A-G part kind of thing) so make sure to start early and not leave it for last minute. Overall a very interesting class, but I wish there was a bit more clear direction on what is considered a right/acceptable answer or not. Additionally this class is curved like crazy so don't stress about not doing well or not knowing everything, make sure to participate and be engaged in the class and you be fine.
Fall 2025 - Prof Wentai Liu is very knowledgeable and caring and he really wants the students to learn, I would say this is one of the harder classes and a good level/background on math, circuits and electrical engineering is definitely needed (I honestly don't recommend this class if you are not an EE or BioE major or at least make sure you have a decent circuit/math experience). The main thing that makes this class difficult is that you are not really ever told if there is a definite correct answer and assignments are graded more so on your thought process and approach and not necessarily on how accurate your answer is to the prof's "answer key" (you don't even get an actual answer key). The office hours are the best way to get any questions answered and the prof is very patient and puts time to help. There is a good bit of coding/programming (either matlab or python) which these days chatgpt handles with ease but still good to have some basic experience as it will make the HWs much easier. There is only like 3-4 HW problems but they very long and have many many parts (A-G part kind of thing) so make sure to start early and not leave it for last minute. Overall a very interesting class, but I wish there was a bit more clear direction on what is considered a right/acceptable answer or not. Additionally this class is curved like crazy so don't stress about not doing well or not knowing everything, make sure to participate and be engaged in the class and you be fine.
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