We are always recruiting top candidates for graduate studies in Electrical Engineering.  Positions are open at the Master’s and for Doctorates  (Ph.D.). Applicants must hold a Bachelor’s degree in either Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related field.  Financial support is available for selected Ph.D. positions.   Full details of our application process, description of our graduate programs, and fellowships and grants are listed on our department webpage.

Openings/available projects

Many of the problems that interest us are listed below.   If you would like to explore one of these topics or suggest one of your own please contact me.   I’m always open for interesting discussions.

 Multiphysics transistor design – designers are always working to improve the efficient generation of linear power and we have developed detailed simulation capabilities that enable the electron transport, thermodynamics and electromagnetic to be simultaneously simulated.  We’re now using these techniques to optimize transistor layouts at 28 GHz.   We have several interesting projects including:

1.  Development of optimization methods to determine the best die layouts and transistor design for GaN-based transistors that are being used to support 5G base-station and handset designs

2.  Improving the simulation capabilities to include complex modulated waveforms found in 5G systems.   Using this new information we can further optimize the packaged device and transistor die design.

Quantitative Visualization of Electromagnetic Fields – using electro-optic probing we can image the near-fields directly above an antenna, amplifier, power transistor or any other microwave/mm-wave device.  This gives us very interesting insights into how circuits actually operate.   We have several interesting projects including

1. EMC testing and power density estimation – our microwave device radiate and we need to make sure that they conform to emission standards.  This is becoming increasingly complicated as the communications frequency increased into the mm-wave regime (for 5G).  This project is investigating new methods to measure and simulate theses emissions.

2. High-power switch design – using multi physics simulation techniques and electro-optic field measurements can we improve the operation of a high-power microwave switch? or high-power filter.   

3. Improving the speed and characterization of beam-steerable antennas.  These antennas are increasingly employed and they need to be characterized before and after included in a new handset.   We’re developing test methodologies to speed up this characterization and to ensure that the antennas in phones and basestations work as designed.   This is extremely challenging – manufacturing lines will have to produce hundreds of millions of these to support 5G.

Microwave Measurements and Metrology – its crucial that we continue to develop our measurement methodologies and understand the associated uncertainties.   This is extremely challenging when having to work with multiphysics devices like high-power microwave transistors.    In addition to the measurement techniques we are using methods like surrogate modeling to increase the measurement speed.

Undergraduate Researchers

For undergraduate students wishing to get involved in research please contact me.    We have an exciting fellowship program that is available called Mines Undergraduate Research Fellowship (MURF).  This program is design to enhance the education of undergraduate students with an opportunity to work as research assistants on faculty-led research projects.   I’m happy to work with you on a proposal and if it is accepted you’ll become part of my research team.