Dr. Ajay K. Poddar

The Humanitarian Projects, supported by the IEEE North Jersey Section AP/MTT Chapter, IEEE AP-S SIGHT, and IEEE AP-S COPE, are initiatives to foster multidisciplinary technological innovation among students and early-career professionals. These projects provide financial support and structured mentorship to teams developing solutions that align with IEEE's mission of "advancing technology for humanity." Emphasis is placed on applications that incorporate state-of-the-art antenna and wireless technologies, including but not limited to artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), virtual reality (VR), and other emergent technologies. A particular focus is directed toward deploying high-speed wireless networks, critical for next-generation mobile communication systems. These systems aim to achieve enhanced data throughput, minimized latency, and robust connectivity.

Biography:

Ajay K. Poddar is an IEEE Fellow and a member of IEEE Eta Kappa Nu, recognized globally for his exceptional contributions to electrical engineering, electronics, and communications. He earned his undergraduate degree from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, followed by a Doctorate (Dr.-Ing.) from the Technical University of Berlin, and a Post-Doctorate (Dr.-Ing. habil.) from Brandenburg Technical University Cottbus, Germany. As Chief Scientist at Synergy Microwave Corp. in New Jersey, USA, Dr. Poddar leads advanced research in signal generation and processing electronics, RF-MEMS, and metamaterial-based antennas, sensors, and electronics. His work supports various applications, including industrial, medical, and space technologies. Dr. Poddar is also profoundly engaged in academia. He is a visiting professor at the University of Oradea (Romania) and IIT Jammu (India), and a guest lecturer at the Technical University of Munich (Germany), actively sharing his expertise with students and researchers worldwide. .Earlier in his career, Dr. Poddar served as a Senior Scientist with India’s Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) under the Ministry of Defense from 1991 to 2001, during which he also held a visiting professorship at the University of Pune. Dr. Poddar received numerous accolades reflecting his profound impact on science and engineering, to name a few recent awards: 2023 RCA Armstrong Medal for outstanding contributions to radio and wireless communications, 2018 IEEE MGA Innovation Award for exceptional volunteer service and humanitarian projects, 2015 IEEE IFCS Cady Award for advancements in frequency-controlled electronics and timing devices, 2015 IEEE Region 1 Award for scientific leadership and service, 2009 IEEE Region 1 Award for leadership in microwave systems research and development.

Dr. Poddar has significantly shaped the scientific and engineering landscape with over 350 published papers, six technical books/chapters, and more than four dozen patents. He has mentored numerous Ph.D. students globally and served as editor for several technical journals, while actively contributing to scientific committees and professional societies. Dr. Poddar currently holds several key leadership roles in IEEE, including: Chair, IEEE AP-S Global Chapter Activity Committee; Vice Chair, IEEE AP-S COPE; Chair, IEEE North Jersey Section Awards & Nominations Committee; Member, IEEE MTT-S and AP-S SIGHT Committee. Under his leadership, over 200 IEEE chapters have been established worldwide, enhancing collaboration and community engagement. He is also actively involved in humanitarian initiatives through IEEE SIGHT, IEEE Smart Village, and projects addressing global challenges such as climate change.

Email:

Address:New York, United States

Dr. Victor Lawrence

The Humanitarian Projects, supported by the IEEE North Jersey Section AP/MTT Chapter, IEEE AP-S SIGHT, and IEEE AP-S COPE, are initiatives to foster multidisciplinary technological innovation among students and early-career professionals. These projects provide financial support and structured mentorship to teams developing solutions that align with IEEE's mission of "advancing technology for humanity." Emphasis is placed on applications that incorporate state-of-the-art antenna and wireless technologies, including but not limited to artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), virtual reality (VR), and other emergent technologies. A particular focus is directed toward deploying high-speed wireless networks, critical for next-generation mobile communication systems. These systems aim to achieve enhanced data throughput, minimized latency, and robust connectivity.

Biography:

Victor B. Lawrence is a globally renowned engineer, visionary inventor, and trailblazer in telecommunications whose work has fundamentally reshaped the digital world. Over the past five decades, his pioneering contributions have powered the evolution of global communications—from the early days of data modems to the high-speed, fiber-optic networks that now span the globe.

Lawrence began his influential career at Bell Laboratories, becoming Vice President of Advanced Technologies. At Bell Labs, he led groundbreaking developments in modem design, digital subscriber line (DSL) technology, asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), IP switching, and digital audio/video systems. These innovations dramatically increased data transmission's speed, security, and reliability, laying the groundwork for modern Internet, broadband, and mobile communication networks.

One of his most pivotal achievements was proving the technical feasibility of full-duplex data modems over global networks. This breakthrough became the foundation for key international telecommunications standards, democratizing access to low-cost, high-speed Internet during the early 1990s and playing a crucial role in shaping the early Internet era.

Lawrence also made transformative advances in digital video and secure communications. He led the development of HDTV and video codec technologies now embedded in consumer electronics worldwide—from TVs and smartphones to laptops. His teams engineered high-speed modems and fax chipsets that became integral to secure U.S. government communication systems, including those used by the President and senior military leaders.

A passionate advocate for global connectivity, Lawrence has worked tirelessly since 1995 to expand high-speed Internet access across Africa. His leadership in deploying submarine fiber optic cables along the continent’s coasts has significantly enhanced digital infrastructure, advancing education, healthcare, commerce, and innovation in numerous African nations.

Currently serving as a Senior Research Scientist at Stevens Institute of Technology, Lawrence remains active in mentoring the next generation of engineers and driving global technology initiatives. His dedication to innovation and equity in tech inspires researchers and policymakers alike.

His accolades are both numerous and prestigious. In 2024, he received the National Medal of Technology and Innovation from President Joe Biden—America’s highest honor for technological achievement. The R&D Council of New Jersey also awarded him the 2023 Science & Technology Medal. Lawrence is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, a Charter Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, a Fellow of both IEEE and AT&T Bell Labs, a recipient of a Primetime Emmy Award, and an inductee into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.

Dr. Lawrence holds over 50 patents, has authored over 100 technical papers, and has co-authored five books. He earned his B.Sc., D.I.C., and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of London’s Imperial College.

Victor B. Lawrence’s extraordinary career is defined by relentless innovation, transformative impact, and a vision of a world connected by technology. From revolutionizing how people communicate to empowering communities across Africa, his legacy is one of global progress and enduring inspiration.

Address:New Jersey, New York, United States

Dr. Jawad Siddiqui of Royal Military College of Canada, Queens University

The Humantrain Projects, supported by the IEEE North Jersey Section AP/MTT Chapter, IEEE AP-S SIGHT, and IEEE AP-S COPE, are initiatives to foster multidisciplinary technological innovation among students and early-career professionals. These projects provide financial support and structured mentorship to teams developing solutions that align with IEEE's mission of "advancing technology for humanity." Emphasis is placed on applications that incorporate state-of-the-art antenna and wireless technologies, including but not limited to artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), virtual reality (VR), and other emergent technologies. A particular focus is directed toward deploying high-speed wireless networks, critical for next-generation mobile communication systems. These systems aim to achieve enhanced data throughput, minimized latency, and robust connectivity.

Biography:

Jawad Yaseen Siddiqui has extensive teaching and research experience in applied electromagnetics, RF and microwave circuits, antennas, and propagation over two decades. He has taught courses at several Universities in Canada and India. 
He is a Senior Research Associate at the Royal Military College of Canada. He is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor in Queen's University, Canada's Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Department. Previously, he was an Associate Professor at the Institute of Radio Physics and Electronics, University of Calcutta, India. He has also been a Visiting Professor in the ECE 
Department at the University of Alberta, Edmonton. 
Additionally, he has worked as a research associate in the ECE Department at Queen’s University and as a postdoctoral fellow and research assistant at the Royal Military College of Canada.  He has been actively involved in several research projects funded by the Department of National Defence (DND) and Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) in Canada. 
He is the Chair of the AP-S SIGHT, a standing committee of the IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society (AP-S). He has served on several other committees within the Society. He has also been a member of the Meetings and Symposia Committee of the IEEE Microwave Theory and Technology Society (MTT-S) and served as the MTT-S representative on the IEEE Technical Activities Board (CPC) in 2021. 
He received the 2022 Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers (IETE) S.N. Mitra Memorial Award for his contributions and leadership in radio broadcast science and technology. He also received the 2015 IEEE AP-S Ulrich L. Rohde Humanitarian Technical Field Project Award for excellence in the humanitarian use of technology. He is a Senior Member of IEEE and a member of IEEE Eta Kappa Nu (HKN). He has authored 150+ publications in peer-reviewed journals and conferences.

Email:

Address:Royal Military College of Canada, Queens University, , New York, United States

Katherine Grace August, PhD (Kit)

Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Virtual Reality (VR) have the potential to transform humanitarian technology significantly. These advanced technologies can offer innovative solutions to urgent global challenges, including disaster response, healthcare access, education equity, and social justice. They can enhance humanitarian efforts by making them more data-driven and impactful. For example, AI-powered drones with advanced sensors and algorithms can significantly improve search and rescue operations during natural disasters, reaching remote areas where traditional methods may struggle. Additionally, blockchain technology can establish a transparent and tamper-proof system for aid distribution, ensuring that resources reach those in need without corruption or inefficiency. Furthermore, immersive VR experiences can revolutionize education by providing interactive training simulations that prepare individuals for real-world scenarios, helping them develop critical skills for crises. Together, these cutting-edge innovations have the potential to reshape the landscape of humanitarian aid, creating a more responsive and practical framework for addressing the needs of vulnerable communities worldwide.

Biography:

Dr August is a biomedical, computer science, and communications engineer who is a Visiting Researcher at Stevens Institute of Technology. Formerly she was a Member of the Technical Staff at Bell Labs in Advanced Communications Technologies with 18 US patents, 50 international, 3618 Citations, active in human factors, accessibility, accommodation, rehabilitation, learning, language, hearing, speech technologies, virtual reality, search, signal processing, wireless, communication technologies, standards, and patents. Active in Humanitarian Technologies with several successful projects and programs, she volunteers on standards to improve the advancement of technology for humanity. She and her colleagues are currently involved in humanitarian initiatives, including advancing the ease of symbolic information for STEM education and careers, STEM and lifelong learning programs on AI/ML and cyber-physical systems, ‘Careers in Technology’ Webinars, Seminars, Live Events, and connecting the unconnected. Dr August was a Whitaker Scholar at ETH Zurich with research in multi-sensory experiences and brain imaging, augmented and virtual reality, and robotics. Dr August received her PhD in Biomedical Engineering at NJIT – HKN, Newark, NJ, her MS in Computer Science, MIS at Marist College, Poughkeepsie, NY, and BFA Communications Design at Parsons The New School for Design, New York, NY, and Paris, France. Dr August serves on the IEEE Standards Networked Control Board, formerly on the IEEE Humanitarian Technologies Board.

Google Scholar Link: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=v_azvz4AAAAJ&hl=en

ACTIVE IEEE SOCIETIES: IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society Membership, IEEE Communications Society Membership,

IEEE Computational Intelligence Society Membership, IEEE Computer Society Membership, IEEE Education Society Membership 

IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society Membership, IEEE Robotics and Automation Society Membership 

IEEE Signal Processing Society Membership, IEEE Society on Social Implications of Technology Membership 

IEEE Vehicular Technology Society Membership, IEEE Women in Engineering Membership, IEEE Standards Association Individual Membership 

IEEE Biometrics Council, IEEE Sensors Council, IEEE Systems Council, Digital Reality Community, IEEE SIGHT 

Email:

Address:New York, United States

Dr. Emre Tokgoz

The Humanitarian Projects, supported by the IEEE North Jersey Section AP/MTT Chapter, IEEE AP-S SIGHT, and IEEE AP-S COPE, are initiatives to foster multidisciplinary technological innovation among students and early-career professionals. These projects provide financial support and structured mentorship to teams developing solutions that align with IEEE's mission of "advancing technology for humanity." Emphasis is placed on applications that incorporate state-of-the-art antenna and wireless technologies, including but not limited to artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), virtual reality (VR), and other emergent technologies. A particular focus is directed toward deploying high-speed wireless networks, critical for next-generation mobile communication systems. These systems aim to achieve enhanced data throughput, minimized latency, and robust connectivity.

Biography:

Dr. Emre Tokgoz is a professor of computer security at the State University of New York’s Farmingdale campus and the CTO of Anubis Engines Corporate. He has 14 years of professorship experience teaching and conducting research as a mathematics, computer science, industrial engineering, and computer security professor. He is an IEEE member and IISE’s Central CT Professional Chapter president. Tokgoz directed an ABET-accredited Industrial Engineering Bachelor of Science degree program as a tenured faculty member in the School of Computing and Engineering of Quinnipiac University in Connecticut, where he served between 2014 and 2023. Tokgoz has also been actively working on various research topics with more than 100 peer-reviewed publications related to rocket engine advancement and development, network security, cryptography, systems design and improvement, STEM education, biomedical engineering, supply chain, and data science. He has five published books with Springer and more than 85 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. His project experience in both industry and academia includes manufacturing, healthcare, aerospace, and systems design.

Address:United States