RESEARCH INTRESTS My main research interests are in the Applied Electromagnetics area, which includes Antenna Design, RF MEMS Microwave Devices, and Novel Electromagnetics Materials (Electromagnetic Bandgap (EBG) Structures/Metamaterials). The novel satellite/wireless communications and Radar application are employing wide impedance bandwidth antennas to support high data transfer rate with enhanced radiation pattern characteristics and complex polarization properties for the uninterrupted transmit/receive functions.   Therefore, in meeting the demand of the novel antennas and microwave components; it becomes mandatory to pursue a dedicated antenna research.   Similarly, for the design and development of antennas and microwave devices for Ka-band to millimeter waves and beyond operating frequencies, novel micro-nanofabrication techniques are expected to play an important role. The applications of low loss RF MEMS phase shifters and microwave components with improved performance will attribute to the realization of cost effective and high performance fixed beam and phased array antennas.  With the advent of EBG structures and most importantly METAMATERIALS, the research area of Applied Electromagnetics has become further interesting.  The antennas and microwave devices can be created on these structures to get enhanced performance. However, the realizations of above research goals demand for extensive simulation and analysis studies before they can be fabricated and experimentally verified. Thus, my general Research Interests in Applied Electromagnetics area can be classified as: Reconfigurable Antennas and Arrays Planar Ultra-wide Bandwidth (UWB) Antennas and Arrays Dielectric Resonator Antennas (DRA) and Arrays Feeds for Reflector Antennas Wideband Microstrip Antennas/Arrays Beam Steering Antennas/Smart Antennas Radio-Frequency-Identification (RFID) Antennas Microwave Power Dividers/Couplers/Filters RF MEMS Phase Shifters Computational Electromagnetics Novel Electromagnetic Materials (Metamaterial/Electromagnetic Bandgap Materials) for antenna and microwave applications Remote Education Antenna Laboratory (REAL): Antenna Kits for teaching undergraduate antenna course ANTENNA RESEARCH LABORATORY AT SDSU Following instruments, fabrication materials, and software are available for antennas and microwave device analysis, simulation, optimization and measurement with the possibility of future expansions: Antenna Radiation Pattern Measurement System upto 18GHz from Orbit/FR Anechoic Chamber from Orbit/FR Vector Network Analyzer upto 40GHz from Anritsu CST's Microwave Studio Antenna measurement system in an ANECHOIC chamber. Network Analyzers up to 40GHz Test Fixture Antenna measurement demonstration kits Power meters, VSWR meters, EMI measurement, and RF Signal Generators Ansoft HF Lab Package (full wave analysis tools) PCAAD, LINC2 and PUFF for microwave component analysis Different substrate materials, wires, and connectors and access to PCB milling machine Sponsored Research Projects: National Science Foundation (NSF) ($400,000.00 as PI), CAREER Award: Novel Reconfigurable Aperture Antennas and Arrays for Compact Multifunctional Antenna Solutions, from August 2009 to July 2014 (Current) NextGen Aeronautics ($200,000.00 as SDSU PI), DARPA SBIR, Phase II program: Platform Independent Omni-Directional Antennas (IODA “YODA”) after invitation from DARPA for two years (Current) NextGen Aeronautics ($28,000.00 as SDSU PI), DARPA SBIR, Phase I program: Platform Independent Omni-Directional Antennas (IODA “YODA”), fromFebruary 2009 to October 2009 (Completed) National Science Foundation (NSF) ($136,844.00 through Statement of Work to Carnegie Mellon University’s PI Prof. D. Stancil and SDSU Co-PI Prof. M. Gupta): Remote Education Antenna Laboratory (REAL). The project was completed from December 2006 to March 2009 duration. (Completed) University Grant Program (UGP) Award ($6,500.00, as PI): Investigations on concentric dielectric resonator antennas (DRAs) and arrays with wide bandwidth for Wireless Communications from January, 2008 to June 2009 (Completed) University Grant Program (UGP) Award ($7,645.00, as PI): Investigations on Compact Microstrip Slot Antenna Configurations for Ultra-wideband (UWB) Wireless Communications from January 2007 to June 2008 (Completed) Current Research Students: Ph. D. Students: Alberto Rodriguez Nathan Labadie M. S. (EE) Students: Alex R. Moody Ashish Tuteja Anup Kulkarni Balamurugan Sanmugam Dave R. West Elias Mireless Josh Patin Kirthika Nahalingam Manveer Kaur Brar Pankaj Dagar Rahul Bakshi Shiv K. Varanasi Tuan Q. Tran Graduated Research Students: Abhishek Singh (MS, EE) Anubhava Jain (MS, EE) Christopher Meagher (MS, EE) Justin Church (MS, EE) Kiran K. Thota (M. Eng.) Nathan Labadie (MS, EE) Sunil Rajgopal (MS, EE) INDUSTRIAL ANTENNA RESARCH PROJECTS/REPORTS (Year 2001-2006) Most significant ones are given below. A complete list can be provided on request.                Orthogonally linearly polarized Feed Horn for the Polarmetric Radar Reflector Antenna Space Based Radar (SBR) Reflector Antenna with the capability of scan in elevation plane and independent phase centers in horizontal plane Multimode Microstrip Phased Array Radar Antenna providing multi-phase centers Multimode Microstrip Patch Antennas to achieve the Beam Steering for GMTI Radar MEM Ground Plane Microstrip Transmission Line Phase Shifters for Space Ka-band (20/30GHz) Dual Circularly Polarized (LHCP/RHCP) feed horn for satellite commn. Ka-band (20 GHz) Circularly Polarized Feed Horn Antenna Cluster for Monopulse Radar Ku-band Linearly Polarized Multimode Feed Horn Antenna for the Monopulse Radar Feed Horns providing vertical and horizontal Multi-Phase Centers for the GMTI RADAR. Micro-Machined Variable Parameter Microstrip Transmission Line Phase Shifter utilizing different Circular Corrugated Membranes for Space Application. High Frequency Surface Wave Radar Miniaturized Quasi-Fractal Log-Periodic Zigzag Antenna Compact Dielectric Loaded Wire Monopole Adaptive Antenna for Digital Radio Broadcast RESEARCH PUBLICATION SINCE FALL 2006 a) Journal Papers N. Labadie, and S. K. Sharma, "A Novel Compact Volumetric Metamaterial Structure with Asymmetric Transmission and Polarization Conversion", Metamaterials Journal, Elsevier, UK (Under 2nd Stage of Review) C. Meagher and S. K. Sharma, "A Wideband Aperture-Coupled Microstrip Patch Antenna Employing Spaced Dielectric Cover for Enhanced Gain Performance", IEEE Transactions on Antennas & Propagation, USA (Under 2nd Stage of Review) G.-H. Cho, N. Labadie, and S. K. Sharma, "Design of an Embedded-Feed Type Microstrip Patch Antenna for UHF RFID Tag on Metallic Objects" IET Journal on Microwaves, Antennas & Propagation (IET MAP), UK (Accepted for publication) A. Singh and S. K. Sharma, "Investigations on Wideband Cylindrical Dielectric Resonator Antennas with Directive Radiation Patterns and Low Cross Polarization", IEEE Transactions on Antennas & Propagation, USA (Accepted for publication) S. K. Sharma, and L. Shafai, "Novel y-shape microstrip patch antenna with wide impedance bandwidths", IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters 2009, Vol. 8, pp: 468 – 471 S. K. Rajgopal, and S. K. Sharma, "Investigations on Ultra-Wideband pentagon Shape Microstrip Slot Antenna for Wireless Communications", IEEE Transactions on Antennas & Propagation, USA, Volume 57, Issue 5, May 2009, pp:1353 - 1359 L. Zhou, S. K. Sharma, and S. Kassegne, "Reconfigurable Microstrip Rectangular Loop Antennas Using RF MEMS Switches " Microwave and Optical Technology Letters (MOTL), Wiley Publications, USA, Jan 2008, Vol. 50, No. 1, pp. 252-256 C. Shafai, S. K. Sharma, J. Yip, Leili Shafai, and L. Shafai, "Microstrip Delay Transmission Line Phase Shifters by Actuation of Integrated Ground Plane Membranes" IET Journal on Microwaves, Antennas & Propagation, UK, March, 2008, Vol. 2, No. 2, pp. 163-170. L. Shafai, S. K. Sharma, B. Balaji, A. Damini, and G. Haslam, "Performance of Reflector Antennas with Dual Mode Feed Horn Providing Multiphase Centres", IEEE Transactions on Antennas & Propagation, USA, Vol. 54, No. 11, Nov 2006, pp. 3407-3417 b)Conferences/Symposia Papers Year 2009 C. Meagher, and S. K. Sharma, “Investigations on an aperture coupled microstrip patch antenna with wide bandwidth for enhanced gain performance”, 13th International Symposium on Antenna Technology and Applied Electromagnetics (ANTEM 2009), Feb 15-18, 2009, Banff, Canada, pp. 1-4 T. Tran, and S. K. Sharma, “Single layer multimode microstrip patch antenna with circular polarization and multiple phase center properties”, IEEE Inter. Symposium on Antennas Propagation 2009 (IEEE AP-S 2009), June 1-5, 2009, Charleston, NC, USA, pp. 1-4 A. Singh, and S. K. Sharma, “Concentric cylindrical dielectric resonator antennas (DRA) with wide impedance bandwidth and directional radiation patterns”, IEEE Inter. Symposium on Antennas Propagation 2009 (IEEE AP-S 2009), June 1-5, 2009, Charleston, NC, USA, pp. 1-4 J. Church, and S. K. Sharma, “Investigations on wideband Seirpinski-fractal microstrip patch antenna with a matching network for enhanced gain performance”, IEEE Inter. Symposium on Antennas Propagation 2009 (IEEE AP-S 2009), June 1-5, 2009, Charleston, NC, USA, pp. 1-4 Year 2008 S. K. Rajgopal, and S. K. Sharma, “Performance of pentagon shape ultra-wide bandwidth (UWB) microstrip slot antennas for wireless communications”, IEEE Inter. Symposium on Antennas Propagation, San Diego, USA, July 5-12, 2008, pp. 1-4 S. K. Sharma, and P. R. S. Sodhi, “Investigations on hexagonal shape dielectric resonator antennas (DRAs) and arrays with wide impedance bandwidths”, IEEE Inter. Symposium on Antennas Propagation, San Diego, USA, July 5-12, 2008, pp. 1-4 C. Meagher, R. Olsen, R. C. Ferro, and S. K. Sharma, “Real-world Rotman Lens Prototyping and Analysis”, IEEE Inter. Symposium on Antennas Propagation, San Diego, USA, July 5-12, 2008, pp. 1-4 S. K. Sharma, and S. K. Rajgopal, “Investigations on ultra-wide bandwidth pentagon shape microstrip slot antenna backed by reflecting sheet for directional radiation”, URSI General Assembly 2008, Chicago, August 16, 2008, pp. 1-3 Year 2007 A. Y. Z. Szeto and S. K. Sharma, “RFID Based Indoor Navigational Aid for Person Severe Visual Impairments”, 29th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBC’07), August 23-26, 2007, Lyon, France, pp. 6360-6363. S. K. Sharma, and L. Shafai, “A Novel psi-shape Microstrip Antenna and U-slot Microstrip Antenna Using Additional Slots Both Providing Wide-Bandwidths”, International Symposium on Antenna Technology and Applied Electromagnetics (ANTEM 2006), Montreal, Canada, July 16-19, 2006, pp. 57-60. L. Shafai, Z. Allahpour, and S. K. Sharma, “Virtual array Synthesis using Low Gain and High Gain Antennas”, North American Radio Science Meeting, URSI-CNC/USNC, URSI 2007, July 22-26, Ottawa, Canada  S. K. Sharma, S. K. Rajgopal, and M. S. Gupta, “Development of Antenna Starter Kits for Remote Educational Antenna Laboratory (REAL) to Enhance Undergraduate Electrical Engineering Education”, North American Radio Science Meeting, URSI-CNC/USNC, URSI 2007, July 22-26, Ottawa, Canada S. K. Sharma, and L. Shafai, “Investigations of a novel psi-shape microstrip patch antenna with wide impedance bandwidths”, IEEE Inter. Symposium on Antennas and Propagation, Hawaii, USA, June 15-22, 2007, pp. 881-884. STUDENT AWARDS CLASTECH 2009, Nathan Labadie, 1st Prize CLASTECH 2008, Christopher Meagher, 2nd Prize SDSU, College of Engineering, The Deans Award to Christopher Meagher in Student Research Symposium 2008