Nikita Mahjabeen

“I am a third year PhD candidate in Electrical Engineering at the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science. My research focuses on high frequency material characterization to help circuit designers develop solutions for 5G and beyond. Based on a recent publication, I got the opportunity to participate in a three-minute thesis (3MT) competition at 2020 International Microwave Symposium (IMS) where I was awarded the third place.

To add context about my research, every circuit is built on top of a material, hence, its properties are crucial to determine the signal performance of a device. The materials are fit into a fixture and a network analyzer test equipment is used to measure the reflected and transmitted electromagnetic waves from the material. Then the data is post-processed using an algorithm developed in MATLAB to determine the material properties.

Nowadays, most manufacturers such as Rogers Corporation provides the material properties at a single frequency of 10 GHz. With the development of 5G and beyond, most researchers are curious to know the properties at high frequency. This is where my research becomes so important. This work will help facilitate the database for wideband dielectric properties of materials up to 110 GHz which will enable various solutions for future technologies.

The contribution from my research will help revolutionize the wireless technology. The telecom and automotive industry will be able to use the high frequency materials to enable solution for 5G and upcoming 6G. Also, the aerospace industry will benefit by improving the performance of communication devices using a wide range of material solutions.

On a final note, I would like to encourage the students to be explorers. You can learn a lot by going out of your own comfort zone, trying new things and being open-minded. Simply be a ‘Fearless Engineer’.”