Christos Christodoulou received his Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering from North Carolina State University in 1985. He served as the chair of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department from 1999 to 2005 and Dean of the School of Engineering from 2017-2023.
He is an IEEE Fellow, a member of URSI, Commission B, and a Distinguished Professor at UNM. He is the recipient of the 2010 IEEE John Krauss Antenna Award for his work on reconfigurable fractal antennas using MEMS switches, and has been inducted in the Alumni Hall of Fame for the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, at North Carolina State University, in 2016.
He was appointed as an IEEE AP-S Distinguished Lecturer (2007-2010) and served as an associate editor for the IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation for six years. He served as a co-editor for a special issue on “Reconfigurable Systems” in the IEEE Proceedings (March 2015), a co-editor of the IEEE Antennas and Propagation Special issue on “Synthesis and Optimization Techniques in Electromagnetics and Antenna System Design” (March 2007), and for the Special issue on “Antenna Systems and Propagation for Cognitive Radio” in 2014. Since 2013 he has been serving as the series editor for Artech House Publishing company for the area of Antennas and Propagation.
He has published over 600 papers in journals and conferences, written 18 book chapters, co-authored 9 books, and has several patents. Over his academic career he has served as the major advisor for 40 Ph.D and 75 M.S. Students.
His research interests are in the areas of modeling of electromagnetic systems, machine learning in electromagnetics, high power microwave antennas, reconfigurable antennas for cognitive radio, and RF/Photonics.
Derek Doyle
Derek Doyle received a B.S ('07) and M.S('08) in Mechanical Engineering from New Mexico Institute of mining and Technology and his PhD ('15) in Electrical Engineering from University of New Mexico.
His background involves working on structural health monitoring techniques for future space systems and electromagnetically tailored materials for tailored EM structures. He is also working in Advanced Manufacturing approaches to tailor material properties of complex components that include reconfigurable aspects to their operational capabilities.
Dr. Doyle is currently the Energy Responsive structures lead for the structures group at the Air Force Research laboratory, Space Vehicles Directorate.
Robert Richard
Dr. Richard is currently an associate research professor at UNM as well as founding partner and Chief Scientist at Acme. . In these roles he provides subject matter expertise; Design, Test, Implementation, and Deployment Leadership to various branches of the Air Force Research Lab at Kirtland AFB and numerous commercial clients.
During his previous work he was an engineer, scientist, and principle investigator with such organizations as Duke University, Dynacs, Boeing, Schafer, and AFRL, Dr. Richard has repeatedly played critical roles in major programs primarily relating to national defense. These efforts have been in conjunction numerous other affiliations such as DARPA, MDA, ARL, NASA, JTO, AFSOC, NAVSEA, and NAVAIR to name just a few. This work has resulted in extensive experience in a broad range of technology topics.
These range from high level Matlab proficiency, acquisition-pointing-tracking systems, vibration-emulation-characterization-mitigation-control systems, acoustics, all aspects of high power laser weapons systems, 3D modeling/dynamic structural analysis, high frequency RF and laser comm systems, cognitive logic-neural nets-genetic algorithms, swarm logic, and most recently, alternative prototyping techniques such as additive manufacturing.
Emil Ardelean
Dr. Ardelean joined the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering as a Research Professor in May of 2016. He is Cofounder, Partner and Chief Engineer of Acme Solutions, LLC. He is affiliated with the US Air Force Research Laboratory as a contractor since 2003.
He received his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Duke University, Durham, NC, in 2003, his MS in Energy Management and Mechanical Engineering from International Technological University, Paris, France, in 1994, and his BS in Mechanical Engineering from Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, Romania in 1992.
His expertise includes mechanical design and manufacturing, modeling and analysis of dynamic systems, finite element analysis, mechanics of materials and materials testing, design of experiments, etc. He is also interested in non-conventional manufacturing, renewable energies, and more recently in RF communications. He holds three patents.
When not working Dr. Ardelean is a family man, but whenever possible enjoys the outdoors, being an avid runner and skier. He also likes riding motorcycles and bicycles, and likes to travel whenever possible.
Grant Heileman
Grant Heileman is currently a Ph.D student working on the application of rapid prototyping and functional materials as applied to RF design. He is currently using the Voxel 8 3D printer; focusing on manufacturing RF liquid crystal devices
Ultimately, he hope that printed designs can be resilient enough to replace functional components and revolutionize the industry
Outside of school, he enjoys snowboarding, gardening, and spending time outside.
Hamide Seidfaraji
Hamide Seidfaraji received the B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in electrical engineering from Tehran Polytechnic, Tehran, Iran, in 2005 and 2009, respectively. In 2017, she recived her Ph.D. from The University of New Mexico (UNM).
She was a Graduate Research/Teaching Assistant with our Applied EM Group who is now working at SpaceX.
Her current research interests include theoretical electromagnetic, theory and applications of metamaterials, high power microwave (HPM) sources, HPM passive devices, metamaterial-based high power microwave device such as backward wave oscillators and Antenna designing.
Marios Patriotis
Marios Patriotis received his Dipl.-Ing. degree in electrical and computer engineering from Democritus University of Thrace, Greece, in 2016. Afterwards he joined UNM perusing his PhD degree in Electrical Engineering with emphasis on Applied Electromagnetics.
His research currently involves reconfigurable antennas at Ka-band.
Xuyuan Pan
Xuyuan Pan received the B.S. degree in electronic engineering from Xidian University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China, in 2011, and the masters degree in electrical engineering from the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA, in 2012. He graduated with a PhD in 2018 from the University of New Mexico.
He currently works at Motorola.
David Hensley
David Hensley received the B.S. degree in electrical engineering from Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA, in 2004 and the M.S. degree in electrical engineering from the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA in 2011.
He joined the United States Air Force (USAF) in 2010 and is currently a Captain stationed in Las Vegas, Nevada. Prior to joining the Air Force, he was employed as an RF Test Engineer at L-3 Communications, Salt Lake City, UT, USA. David’s first assignment in the USAF was at Kirtland Air Force Base, Albuquerque, New Mexico. While there he began (and continues) his doctoral studies under Dr. Christos Christodoulou.
David’s civilian career has provided him with technical expertise on high power amplifiers, diplexers, traveling wave tubes, antennas, frequency synthesizers, voltage regulators, and several other RF assemblies and components.
His military career has enabled him to work on and manage experimental satellite programs, research and characterize the W/V band for future satellite communications, and gain invaluable experience supporting and maintaining radar systems.
His current research interests include wireless power transfer, antenna arrays, and high power microwave antennas.
Arjun Gupta
Arjun has been investigating machine learning and artificial intelligence and their applications to communications, signal processing and electromagnetics during his time at the University of New Mexico. His research interests lie in supervised, semi-supervised and unsupervised learning algorithms using machine and deep learning methods and statistical signal processing. His dissertation focuses on spatio-temporal signal processing for sensor arrays using machine learning and deep learning techniques and comparing them to the conventional statistical spatio-temporal signal processing algorithms.
David Murrell
David Murrell received his BS degree in engineering physics and MS degree in applied physics from the Colorado School of Mines in 2007 and 2009, and his PhD in optical science and engineering from the University of New Mexico in 2014 studying quantum dot mode locked lasers.
He is a researcher at the AFRL Space Vehicles directorate located on Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. His current research interests include microwave communications links, optoelectronic systems, and solid-state power amplifier development.
Joseph Costantine
Joseph Costantine is an Associate Professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering at the American University of Beirut (AUB)
Prior to joining AUB, Dr. Costantine was an Assistant Professor at California State University, Fullerton
He received the bachelor’s degree in electrical, electronics, computer and communications engineering from the second branch of the Faculty of Engineering, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon, in 2004, the Master’s degree in computer and communications engineering from the American University of Beirut, in 2006, and the Ph.D. degree from the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA, in 2009, where he also completed a postdoctoral fellowship in July 2010.
He has authored many research papers, two books and one book chapter as well as several patents. His major research interests reside in reconfigurable antennas for IoT and compact devices, cognitive radio, RF systems for biomedical applications, RF energy harvesting and deployable antennas for small satellites.
Dr. Costantine is the recipient of many awards including the summer faculty fellowship from the space vehicles directorate in Albuquerque, NM, USA, for three consecutive years.
Youssef Tawk is an Assistant Professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at Notre Dame University (NDU), Louaize.
Prior to joining NDU, Dr. Tawk was a research professor at the University of New Mexico.
He received the bachelor’s degree in computer and communication engineering (highest distinction) from Notre Dame University, Louaize, in 2006, where he was the valedictorian of his graduating year. Dr. Tawk received the Master’s degree in electrical and computer engineering from the American University of Beirut, in 2008, and the Ph.D. degree from the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA, in 2011, where he also completed a postdoctoral fellowship.
He has authored several journal and conference papers many of which received finalist positions and honorable mentions in several paper contests. Dr. Tawk is the co-author of two books and one book chapter as well as several patents.
His research interests include cognitive radio, reconfigurable RF systems, deployable antennas, microwave engineering and mm-wave technology.
Dr. Tawk is the recipient of many awards and honors throughout his career and studies.
Firas received his bachelor degree in computer and communication engineering (CCE) from the American University of Beirut (AUB) Lebanon in June 2011. His Master’s and PhD in applied electromagnetics were received at the University of New Mexico (UNM) in July 2013 and January 2018, respectively.
He is currently a post doctoral fellow at the University of New Mexico. His research focuses on the design of high efficiency high gain circularly polarized antennas for satellite communication at W/V band. He is also part of the WTLE experiment working on modeling the wave propagation at W/V bands.
His research interests also include the design of reconfigurable antennas at millimeter wave frequencies, the design of reconfigurable slotted waveguides at W/V band and studying RF effects on human organs and tissues.
Daniel Guillette
Daniel S. Guillette was born in Los Alamos New Mexico in 1989. He received B.S. and M.S. degrees in electrical engineering from the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro, NM, in 2012 and 2014. In 2016 Mr. Guillette began a PhD degree in Applied Electromagnetics at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, in 2016.
From 2009 to 2014 he was a Teaching and/or Research Assistant with New Mexico Tech’s Electrical Engineering department. Since 2014, he has been an Electronics Engineer for the Air Force Research Laboratory’s High Power Microwave Division. His research interests include experimental and analytical efforts spanning multiple topic areas such as, IEMI, microwave signal penetration, coupling, and circuit response.
Mr. Guillette was the recipient of the NASA Fellowship Award in 2013, AFRL / RDH Civilian of the Quarter in 2016, and the AFRL / RDH Junior Scientific Achievement Award in 2016.
Eugene Hong
Dr. Hong is a research scientist, interested in experimental scientific/engineering projects.
He got his M.S. in particle physics at Korea University and Ph.D. in astroparticle physics at Ohio State University.
His main specialties are big data analysis and simulations (especially, Monte Carlo simulation development).
After the NRC post doc fellowship at Kirtland AFRL, Dr. Hong started working at Applied Technology Associates corporation to support terrestrial and satellite link experiment at Kirtland AFRL, along with Prof. Christodoulou's group in UNM.
Ralph Lyndon Gesner
Ralph Lyndon Gesner is a first year graduate student at the University of New Mexico. He is currently pursuing a master's degree in Electrical Engineering with a focus in Electromagnetics.
His research interest include, exploring the relation between visibility and weather patterns not involving precipitation, and high frequency signal attenuation along an antenna link.
Ralph is a New Mexico native and has attended UNM for his undergraduate studies from where he obtained a BS in Electrical Engineering.
Jay Vijayamohanan
Jay received his undergraduate degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Amrita University in 2017, where he worked on Photonic Crystal based Ring Resonators.
He is currently pursuing his Ph.D in electrical engineering at University of New Mexico. His research interests include direction-of-arrival estimation, array beam-forming, software-defined-radios and applying the latest machine learning techniques for electromagnetic applications.
Outside of work, he enjoys reading and playing soccer.
Nicholas Tarasenko
Nick is a Part time PhD student at the University of New Mexico and a Full time Research Mechanical Engineer at Air Force Research Laboratory, Space Vehicles Directorate, W/V-band Satellite Communications Program.
Nick is also the team lead in the design, installation and operation of the W/V-band Terrestrial Link Experiment (WTLE) that studies atmospheric propagation phenomena at 72 & 84 GHz. His personal research focuses on modeling rain attenuation at W/V band frequencies using the data provided by the different instruments in the WTLE experiment.
Nick has been happily married to his wife Lindsey for 6 years. She is truly an inspiration and positive influence on him. His passion in life is rock climbing because it is always mentally and physically challenging and it invokes a deep sense of connection with nature. Along those lines he thoroughly enjoys any activity (skiing, biking, hiking, backpacking, camping, etc.) that gets him in the mountains.
Matthew Landavazo
Matthew Landavazo is an electronics engineer for the Air Force Research Laboratory’s High Power Microwave division in the Directed Energy Directorate located on Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, NM. Matthew received his B.S. in Electrical Engineering in 2012 and M.S. in Electrical Engineering in 2016 from the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology and is currently pursuing his Ph.D in applied electromagnetics at the University of New Mexico.
Matthew has experience in the design and fabrication of space-bound electronics and instrumentation systems through his involvement and leadership in several CubeSat and nanosat projects through his undergraduate and graduate education. Matthew also has substantial experience in instrumentation and signal processing related to stellar interferometry. During his time working on the Magdalena Ridge Observatory Interferometer, he laid the foundation for mirror adjustment and feedback control for the beam relay system. Matthew also worked on signal processing aspects of closed-loop, group-delay fringe tracking for the Navy Precision Optical Interferometer as part of his graduate research.
Matthew is currently part of a team of researchers tasked with investigating the response of electronic systems to electromagnetic interference (EMI). He is responsible for devising and carrying out new experiments as well as developing novel methods to make the precision measurements required to understand this complex and multi-faceted problem. When not breaking things in the High Energy Microwave Laboratory (HEML), Matthew enjoys going on hikes, bike riding, playing video games, going to metal concerts and playing guitar.
Erica Hoeffner
Erica Hoeffner is an optical engineer with Leidos with broad experience with optical systems from the visible to long-wave infrared.
Erica received a B.S. in mathematics from Southwest Baptist University in 2010 and a M.S. in electro-optics from the University of Dayton in 2012.
She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in electrical engineering.
Jordan Keeley
Jordan Keeley is a full-time electrical engineer and part-time student at UNM. He is currently pursuing a Master's degree specializing in microwave engineering and RF propagation analysis.
He received his Bachelor's degree from New Mexico Tech, where his interests within the electronics field widened, including programming, robotics, and circuit design. After graduating in 2015, he worked as an intern at AFRL, where he was introduced to the research being done with the W/V-band Terrestrial Link Experiment (WTLE). His internship led to a full-time position with Applied Technology Associates and the rest is history.
Jordan enjoys spending time with his wife, Angie, whom he loves very much. He enjoys being in the great outdoors, whether that is hiking, camping, or riding a longboard. He also enjoys music and plays guitar and saxophone.
Oameed Noakoasteen
Dr. Noakoasteen is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) department of the University of New Mexico (UNM).
He received his Ph.D. in Engineering from UNM in 2023, his M.S. in Electrical Engineering from K.N. Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, Iran in 2013 and his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Zanjan University, Zanjan, Iran in 2009.
His research interests include Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Computational Electromagnetics, EMI/EMC, and Signal Processing.
Dr. Noakoasteen received recognition for Excellence in Graduate Research from the University of New Mexico Sigma Xi chapter in 2023.
Jesse Olson
Jesse Olson received B.S. degrees in electrical engineering and mechanical engineering from Michigan Technological University in 2017. His background includes small satellite systems engineering with a focus on structures and integration.
He currently manages the University Nanosatellite Program for the Air Force Research Laboratory, and researches reflectarray antennas for use in space.
In his free time, you can find Jesse in the mountains: hiking, climbing, camping, and volunteering with search and rescue.
Madjid Khodier
PhD Fall 2001 - "Analysis and Design of Broadband
Antennas for the Double Quantum Well
Terahertz Detector".
Currently working as a Professor at the Jordan University of Science and technology.
George Tzeremes
PhD Fall 2004 - "Smart RF/Photonic Antennas for Ultra-
High Capacity Wireless
Communications".
Currently working with the European Space Agency (ESA), Netherlands.
Dimitrios Anagnostou
PhD Spring 2005 - "Re-configurable Fractal Antennas with
RF-MEMS Switches and Neural
Networks".
Currently working as Associate Professor, Hariot Watt University, UK
Miroslav Joler
PhD Spring 2006 - "Analysis of Parallel-Plate Blumlein Line
for Compact Pulsed-Power Systems".
Currently working as a Professor, University of Rijeka, Croatia
Luke Feldner
PhD Fall 2006 - "Reconfigurable RF MEMS Antenna
Arrays and Electrically Small Antennas".
Currently working at Sandia National Labs, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Matthew Higgins
PhD Spring 2008 - "Models for Electromagnetic Coupling of
Lightning onto multiconductor cables in
underground cavities".
Currently working at Sandia National Labs, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Mehmet Su
PhD Summer 2008 - "Proximity Field Nanopatterning for
Large Area 3D Photonic
Nanostructures: Forward and Inverse
Problem Modeling".
Currently working at Stellar Science, LTD, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Jesse Lai
PhD Fall 2008 - "Investigation into the Use of High-
Efficiency Switched Mode Class E
Power Amplifiers for High Dynamic
Range, Pulse Mode Applications.".
Currently working at Sandia National Labs, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Naga Devarapalli
PhD Summer 2009 - "Rectangular Waveguide Narrow-Wall
Longitudinal Aperture Antenna Arrays
for High Power Applications".
Currently working as a Professor at IIT, Ropar, India.
Tom Atwood
PhD Fall 2009 - "RF Channel Characterization for
Cognitive Radio using Machine
Learning Algorithms".
Currently working at Sandia National Labs, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Joseph Costantine
PhD Fall 2009 - "Design, Optimization and Analysis of
Reconfigurable Antennas."
Currently working as a Professor at American University in Beirut, Lebanon.
Junghoon Kim
PhD Fall 2010 - "A Compact RF/Photonic Antenna using a Quantum Dot Mode Locked Laser as a Source"
Currently working at Lam Research Corporation, CA.
Nan Xu
PhD Spring 2011 - "Applications of Support Vector Machines in Electromagnetic Problems"
Currently working at Google, San Diego.
Youssef Tawk
PhD Spring 2011 - "Analysis, Design and Implementation of Front-End Reconfigurable Antenna Systems"
Currently working as Professor, American University in Beirut, Lebanon
Prasanth Kumar
PhD Spring 2011 - "Electromagnetic Pulse Technology: Biological and Terahertz Applications"
Currently working at Lam Research Corporation, CA.
Ben Pulford
PhD Fall 2011 - "LOCSET Phase Locking: Operation, Diagnostics, and Applications"
Currently working with Air Force Research Labs, Kirtland AFB.
Eyad T. Al Zuraiqi
PhD Spring 2012 - "Neural Network Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) Controllers for Reconfigurable Antennas"
Currently working as Professor, Yarmouk University, Jordan
Cecil Richard Compeau
PhD Fall 2013 - "An Ultrawideband Dual-Linear Polarization Feed for Solar Microwave Observation"
Currently working as Professor, Texas State University
Julie Lawrance
PhD Fall 2014 - "Metal Plate Lenses for High Power Microwave Applications Including a Novel HPM Zoom Antenna"
Currently working at Air Force Research Labs, Kirtland AFB
Timothy Buckley
PhD Fall 2014 - "Wireless Communication System for Data transfer and Wireless Power Transmission"
Currently working at Buckley Institute of Technology, Denver, Co.
Derek Doyle
PhD Fall 2015 - "Analysis, Implementation and Considerations for Liquid Crystals a Reconfigurable Antennas Solution (LiCRAS)"
Currently working at Air Force Research Lab, Kirtland AFB
Chris Woerhle
PhD Fall 2015 - "Liquid Crystal Phase Shifters for Space Applications"
Currently working at Sandia National Labs, Albuquerque, NM.
Elizabeth Zamudio
PhD Spring 2017 - "Aluminum Zinc Oxide (AZO) Optimization Process for Use in Optically Transparent Antennas"
Currently working at Intel.
Shu Wang
PhD Summer 2020 - "Advanced Parallel Algorithms in Computational Electromagnetics"
Currently working at Nvidia Corporation.
John Argyres
John is currently pursuing his Master's degree in Computer Engineering under the CyberCorps SFS program.
He completed his undergraduate degree in Computer Science in May, 2021. During his undergraduate degree, he worked under Dr. Christodoulou at UNM, and AFRL under the Space Scholars program.
His current work involves developing systems to apply jamming and anti-jamming algorithms and techniques to MIMO antennas using software defined radios.
In his freetime, he enjoys developing iOS games, making music with friends, and reading sci-fi novels.
Erica Whitefield
Ian Chavez
Monica Jaramillo
Julie Smith
Zachary Bergstedt
Aadesh Neel
Joshua Cooper
David Krawczyk
David Krawczyk has received his Bachelor's degree and Master's degree in electrical engineering at the University of New Mexico.
His research was focused on antenna applications for space environments and using reconfigurable antenna designs. He is currently working at Sandia National Laboratories working in RF Micro Electronics.
When he is not working or studying, he is rock climbing all around New Mexico.
Jason Urvanejo
Maria Elizabeth Zamudio
Maria Elizabeth Zamudio received her B.Sc. in Telecommunications Engineering at the Distrital University F.J.C. in Bogotá, Colombia. She completed her graduate studies in the United States, where she obtained her degrees in electrical engineering at The University of New Mexico (UNM), M.Sc. in 2010 and Ph.D. in 2017
As a result of her intellectual contributions Dr. Zamudio has published 9 papers between journals and conferences. For her master thesis, she designed a reconfigurable “Filtenna” which lead to a Patent approved in May 2017. Through her research, Dr. Zamudio became a multidisciplinary expert, working not only in applied electromagnetics but also in the fabrication of nanostructures.
She worked as a research assistant in the antennas lab from January 2010 to March 2017. After her graduation, she continued research in EM and materials engineering. She participated as a session chair and as an invited speaker at the MRS Materials Research Society meeting, spring 2018. Now she is working in the Silicon Valley as a Senior Technical Staff Engineer.
Ryan Eckman
Ryan is a M.S. student in Electrical Engineering at UNM.
He obtained his bachelor's degree from The Ohio State University in 2021, and shortly after accepted a job in the Space Vehicles Directorate at AFRL in Albuquerque. His work at AFRL focuses on propagation effects at W/V-band frequencies.
His master's research is focused on satellite jamming effects in the W-band, leveraging experimental hardware from AFRL. His work includes studying the resiliency of W-band SATCOM in the presence of jamming, and potential mitigation efforts.
Eskedar Ayele
Eskedar holds an undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering from Addis Ababa University, Institute of Technology in 2016. Her professional journey began at the Ethiopian Space Science and Technology Institute, where she served as a research assistant and project engineer following her graduation.
In 2019, Eskedar completed her master's coursework at Addis Ababa University. Currently, she is pursuing her Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering at the University of New Mexico, with a primary research focus on Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface Antennas.
Outside of work, she enjoys watching movies and traveling.
Nolan Rebernick
Currently pursuing a Masters of Electrical Engineering at UNM.
Graduated in 2022 from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelors of Electrical Engineering. Masters research focuses on modeling high frequency signal attenuation through weather events and statistical analysis of satellite beacon data.
Outside of classes, I enjoy rock climbing, fly fishing, and camping.