OU to train scientists in next generation of radio technology

By Dave Groves, staff writer

Through the support of a $95,000 grant, awarded by the U.S. Congress and administered by the U.S. Department of Education, Oakland University will begin training a new generation of high-tech scientists to incorporate cutting-edge technology into radio frequency electronics.

Over the past six years, Oakland researchers have completed work that has led to the acquisition of four patents on miniature sensor and signal processing technologies. Likely applications of these advances include military systems, such as missile defense and radar, unmanned aerial vehicles and soldier communications; and consumer electronics including mobile wireless systems, multifunction vehicle antennas, cell phones, GPS systems and handheld computers.

“Wherever you have electronics that use any kind of radio frequency, this has applications,” explained Gopalan Srinivasan, a professor of physics and a research project director with OU’s newly-established Institute of Radio Frequency Electronics and Nanoelectronics.

He noted that in addition to supporting the purchase of equipment for ongoing institute studies, the grant will allow graduate and post-doctoral students to continue researching, developing and engineering the new technology for use in market-ready products.

“Hopefully with this, they can go and get jobs in the high-tech industry, which is what Michigan needs,” Srinivasan said. “Any money that comes in to help us train students is good news, so I’m really appreciative for what we’ve been given.”

By licensing the technology to existing companies and perhaps startup ventures, Oakland also hopes to help stimulate commerce and foster job creation in a new, knowledge-based Michigan economy. Already the university has entertained preliminary interest in potential military and consumer electronics applications.

Srinivasan said continuing research at the institute will focusing on taking recent advances in the field from miniature scale to nanoscale, which in turn is likely to lead to new, practical applications and opportunities for commercialization.

For more information on the technology and ongoing research at OU, contact Srinivasan via e-mail at srinivas@oakland.edu.