Summer School on Microwave and Antenna technology
- Career & Research Guidance in Microwave and Antenna 06.00PM - 07.00PM
- What Industry Expects from Microwave and Antenna Researchers? 07.00PM - 08.00PM
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Dr. Venkata Kishore of Vignan's Foundation for Science Technology and Research
Career & Research Guidance in Microwave and Antenna
Biography:
Dr. Venkata Kishore Kothapudi is a Senior Member of IEEE and Life Senior Member of the Wireless Antenna Microwave Symposium (WAMS) and an Associate Professor in the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering at Vignan’s Foundation for Science, Technology and Research (VFSTR), Andhra Pradesh, India. With over 15 years of academic, research, and industrial experience, Dr. Kothapudi specializes in RF and Microwave Engineering, Shared Aperture Antenna Arrays, Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), Wind Profiling Radar Systems, and the design of RF active and passive components for aerospace, defense, and satellite communication systems. He earned his Ph.D. in RF and Microwave Engineering from VIT University, Vellore, and completed a short-term postdoctoral research assignment in Italy, focused on millimeter-wave component development and hybrid coupler systems.
Dr. Kothapudi has held numerous leadership roles within IEEE at national and international levels. He recently served as Program Chair for the Young Faculty Laureate Program (YFLP) and Program Chair of the 3-Minute Thesis Competition at IEEE SPACE 2025, leading both initiatives alongside his dedicated team. He also serves as the IEEE Day 2025 Ambassador, representing India under the IEEE Guntur Sub-Section, Hyderabad Section, and Region 10 (Asia-Pacific). Additionally, he is a Faculty Ambassador for the upcoming IEEE IMAS 2025 and the IEEE AESS SYP Congress 2025, both scheduled to take place in Nairobi, Kenya. Within the IEEE Hyderabad Section, he currently holds the post of Secretary for the Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society (AESS). A passionate advocate for student involvement, he is the Founder and Advisor of five IEEE student society chapters at VFSTR: AESS, APS, MTT-S, GRSS, and IEEE Communications Society.
As a prolific researcher, Dr. Kothapudi has authored more than 50 SCI and Scopus-indexed journal and conference publications, filed multiple patents, and contributed chapters to Springer volumes in the field of advanced RF and radar systems. In 2025, he presented six research papers at the 46th PIERS Symposium in Abu Dhabi, where he also served as a Session Chair and Session Organizer, and was honored with the Session Organizer Award—a recognition awarded to only 10 individuals out of 110 sessions. He also served as a Session Chair at the Wireless Antenna Microwave Symposium (WAMS) 2024 held in Visakhapatnam, India, and again at WAMS 2025, organized at IIITDM Kancheepuram. Earlier, in February 2018, he received a prestigious travel grant from the Space Applications Centre (SAC–ISRO), Ahmedabad, for his contributions to radar and remote sensing research.
Dr. Kothapudi plays an active role in Ph.D. supervision and student mentorship. He currently supervises four Ph.D. scholars, one of whom was awarded the degree in August 2024, with three more ongoing. His guidance has helped numerous undergraduate students publish in IEEE and Scopus-indexed journals, and five of his mentees have secured placements at core RF/antenna companies, such as CoreIoT Technologies India Pvt. Ltd. and RAKON Pvt. Ltd. Furthermore, he mentored 10 student ambassadors for the IEEE AESS SYP Congress 2025, with one student receiving an international travel grant for participation.
Dr. Kothapudi holds multiple editorial and reviewer roles in leading journals. He is an Academic Editor for Scientific Reports (Springer Nature), where he also serves as Guest Editor for the CubeSat Technologies collection. Additionally, he is on the editorial boards of the International Journal of Antennas and Propagation, IET Circuits, Devices & Systems. He has reviewed manuscripts for over 50 SCI-indexed journals, including IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation (TAP), IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques (MTT), IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters (AWPL), IEEE Sensors Journal, as well as numerous titles published by Elsevier, Springer, Wiley, and IET.
Before transitioning to academia, Dr. Kothapudi contributed to major national RF initiatives during his tenure at Astra Microwave Products Ltd., where he worked on S-band and C-band subsystems, and at ECIL, where he developed T/R modules and radar front-end systems. At VFSTR, he has served in key institutional roles, including Board of Research Member (2019–2024), Training & Placement Coordinator, and convener of high-impact IEEE events, student congresses, and technical workshops.
Guided by Christa McAuliffe’s timeless words, “I touch the future, I teach,” Dr. Kothapudi fuses deep technical expertise with global leadership and mentorship. Through his work, he remains committed to advancing IEEE’s mission of “Advancing Technology for Humanity”, shaping the next generation of engineers through research, education, and international collaboration.
Dr. Kothapudi strongly believes in mentoring students in all possible dimensions—academically, technically, and professionally—at both national and international levels. He takes pride in helping students explore diverse research possibilities, secure global exposure, and build impactful careers in RF, antenna, space, and radar systems. With passion and purpose, he is always ready to guide students toward their extraordinary career growth through research-driven opportunities, global networking, and continuous learning
Address:Vignan's Foundation for Science Technology and Research, , Vijayawada, Arunachal Pradesh, India
Dr. M. Lakshmi Narayana of Head R&D Unistring Tech Solutions Outstanding Scientist (Retd.), DLRL, Hyderabad
What Industry Expects from Microwave and Antenna Researchers?
Biography:
Dr. Lakshminarayana Merugu did B. Tech in Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE) from JNTU, Hyderabad; M. Tech in Microwave and Radar Engineering from IIT Kharagpur; Ph. D on Commonwealth Fellowship from Queen’s University of Belfast, United Kingdom.
Dr. Lakshminarayana joined Defence Electronics Research Laboratory, DLRL, DRDO, Hyderabad, as Scientist ‘B’ in Jan 1981, and superannuated in April 2015. He immensely contributed towards indigenous development Electronic Warfare projects. Significant assignments held include:
• As Project Director, and subsequently as Associate Programme Director, he successfully completed the indigenous development and production of Radar Electronic Warfare System for Indian Army.
• He was Project Director for indigenous development of Advanced Communication ESM Technologies, achieved some reduction of gap in self-reliance.
• He was responsible for successful flight-testing of Communication Support Measure (CSM) System on an Aircraft.
• He was Programme Director of Naval Indigenous Electronic Warfare Programme.
With 34 years of R&D experience, Dr Lakshminarayana superannuated from DRDO service in April 2015 as Scientist ‘H’ (Outstanding Scientist) & Associate Director DLRL.
After retirement from DRDO, Dr. Lakshminarayana worked as Professor in ECE & Principal of Kshatriya College of Engineering, Armoor from May 2015 till Aug 2017. From Oct 2017 he has been working as Director R&D with Unistring Tech Solutions, Hyderabad. He is engaged in development of Radar & Electronic Warfare activities and anti-drone solutions.
Dr. Lakshminarayana has more than thirty publications in National and International Conferences and Journals. He guided several M. Tech Scholars for their projects. Two Scholars were awarded Ph. D. degree under his guidance.
Dr. Lakshminarayana is a Fellow IETE, Fellow Institution of Engineers (India) (IE(I), Member of AOC, Member of ACM, and a Life Senior Member of IEEE, USA. During 1997-2006, he served IETE Hyderabad Centre as Hon. Treasurer, Hon. Secretary and Vice Chairman. During 2008 to 2019, he Volunteered IEEE Hyderabad Section as Secretary, Chairman of IEEE MTT/AP/EMC Joint Societies Chapter, Vice Chairman, Chairman and Chair Nomination Committee of IEEE Hyderabad Section. Presently he is engaged in establishing IEEE India Region Centre of Expertise (IRCoE) in Industrial Electronics.
Address:UTS, , Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India
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