I received my B.S. in Electrical Engineering from UVa in 1994 during which time I also managed to sing with the Virginia Glee Club, the oldest musical organization at the University of Virginia. I then attended the University of Michigan where I completed my M.S. and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering in 1996 and 1999. My thesis, "Distributed MEMS Transmission Lines," focused on the application of RF-MEMS (radio frequency microelectromechanical systems) to microwave and millimeter-wave circuits such as phase shifters for phased-array antenna systems.

After spending 5 years in Michigan, I joined the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, DC as a research scientist. I then joined the University of Virginia in January of 2001. During my time here at UVa I have taught five different classes and built up a research group that focuses on applying micromachining techniques to microwave and millimeter-wave circuits.

• ENGR 162 - Introduction to Engineering, (Fall 2005-2007).
  • The goal of this class is to introduce the students to engineering and provide them with a hands-on design experience. In my section of this class this goal is accomplished through a semester-long Lego-robot design competition.
• ECE 309 - Electromagnetic Fields, (Fall 2001-2004).
  • The goal of this class is for the students to learn the fundamental laws that govern static and dynamic electric and magnetic fields as well as how to apply these laws to engineering problems. I redeveloped this course in the Fall of 2001 to cover mostly wave phenomena including transmission lines and plane wave propagation. While static fields are still covered, only the basics are touched upon in an effort to introduce the students to concepts that are more relevant to current engineering problems and other ECE courses. Prior to this, ECE 309 focused almost entirely on static fields, leaving dynamic fields to another course. Unfortunately, since only 309 was required, the number of students enrolled in the two courses differed by an order of magnitude - about 80 in static fields (ECE 309) and 6 in dynamic fields (2001 numbers).
• ECE 409 - Wireless Circuits, (Spring 2004-2006).
  • The goal of this class is to teach the students the basics of RF wireless circuits including antennas, circuit noise, distortion, oscillator design, circuit board layout, and test and measurement techniques. This course was developed to provide the students both a theoretical basis and hands-on experience with circuits used in wireless systems. A weekly laboratory is included in which the students use a CAD tool to layout a circuit board that is then fabricated using the department circuit board milling machine (see Appendix B). The students finish the circuit and test it in the laboratory. The lecture provides the circuit theory used in the laboratory as well as some additio nal information.
• ECE 587 - Introduction to Microsystem Design, (Spring 2003).
  • The goal of this class is for the students to become acquainted with some of the basics of microsystem design including microfabrication, system level analysis, electrostatic and magnetic actuation, dynamics, and controls. Microsystem examples that are covered in this class include MEMS air-bag sensors and ink-jet print heads. In an effort to help the students integrate together these different fields of knowledge, a final group project is used that must utilize several of these areas. Ultimately a laboratory component will be added to this course.
• ECE 556 - Microwave Engineering, (Spring 2002, Spring 2007-2008).
  • The goal of this class is for the students to learn how design circuits in the frequency range of 300 MHz to 300 GHz, the microwave and millimeter-wave frequency ranges.

Submillimeter-wave Integrated Micro-resonators for Investigation of the Dynamical Properties of Biological Molecules - funded by ARO/DTRA. This program is developing the technology to perform resonator perturbation measurements of biological molecules in the 200-400 GHz frequency range.

3-D Integrated Circuits - funded by ARO. This program is focused on developing vertical millimeter-wave interconnects between wafers.

RF-MEMS Based Double-Slug Tuner - funded by DARPA. This program has successfully developed a tunable matching network using RF-MEMS devices that can be used for impedance matching to microwave and millimeter-wave amplifiers or in load-pull measurement systems.

Millimeter-wave Integrated Fourier Transform Spectrometer - funded by NSF. This program is working on the development of a Fourier transform spectrometer operating in the 100-200 GHz frequency range. Recent research has demonstrated the usefulness of spectroscopy in this frequency range for sensing and identifying DNA. The ultimate goal of this research is the development of a portable device for detection and identification of DNA.

Micromachined Waveguide Blocks for Terahertz Applications - funded by NGIC. This program is developing multilayer micromachining processes in order to enable to fabrication of waveguide blocks for THz frequency applications.

Micromachined Standards for Calibrated Millimeter and Submillimeter-Wave Network Measurements - funded by NSF. This program is applying RF-MEMS to the development of calibration standards for millimeter and submillimeter-wave network measurements. Accurate and repeatable calibration standards are critical for obtaining precise circuit measurements at high frequencies. However, no such standards exist above 300 GHz.

Phase Modulation for Sub-millimeter Polarimeter Array - funded by NASA. This program is seeking to develop RF-MEMS switches for use in a phase switch at 100, 200, and 300 GHz. This is challenging in and of itself, however these RF-MEMS devices must also operate at 100 mK (absolute zero for all practical purposes!).

Enhanced Computer Security Using RF Signatures - funded by Barron Associates Inc. This program is seeking to improve upon computer security for sensitive software through the use of RF signatures of individual computers.

Miniature Sub-Millimeter Wave Magnetron Oscillator - funded by Microwave Technologies Inc. This program is aimed at developing a fundamental sub-millimeter wave source using micromachined parts.

• 2006 New Faculty Teaching Award, Charles L. Brown Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Viriginia
• 2004 Faculty Educational Innovation Award, Charles L. Brown Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Virginia
• 2003 NSF CAREER Award for "Development of an Integrated Millimeter-wave Fourier Transform Spectrometer."
• 2000 Microwave Prize -- "For a significant contribution to the field of endeavor of the IEEE MTT Society in the paper entitled, "Distributed MEMS True-Time Delay Phase Shifters and Wide-Band Switches."
• 1st Place, Student Paper Competition, 1999 International Microwave Symposium, for presentation on "Optimization of Distributed MEMS Phase Shifters."
• 1998 Outstanding Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Graduate Student Award, University of Michigan.
• 2nd Place, Student Paper Competition, 1997 International Microwave Symposium, for presentation on "An Octave Bandwidth Monopulse Processor."
• Eta Kappa Nu Electrical Engineering National Honor Society