Empowering Connectivity: Wearable Antennas for Wi-Fi and 5G Applications & Career Navigation: Academia or Industry (IEEE AP-S Distinguished Lecturer Technical Talk)
A technical talk titled “Empowering Connectivity: Wearable Antennas for Wi-Fi and 5G Applications and Career Navigation: Academia or Industry (Personal Experience)" will be held on October 10th at The College of New Jersey. 2025 IEEE AP-S Distinguished Lecturer, Dr. Sima Noghanian, will deliver the talk. This talk explores wearable antennas for 5G and Wi-Fi, highlighting their pivotal role in enabling ubiquitous and reliable wireless connectivity. As a long-time and valued member of Academia and industry, Dr. Noghanian will also address the important question of career navigation and available paths for engineers in the modern world.
The proposed event is anticipated to have a significant impact on multiple fronts. The event will serve as a platform for expanding students' exposure and interest in this field. Dr. Noghanian will also share her valuable academic and industry experience. Additionally, it will provide valuable networking opportunities for professional development among participants, further strengthening their influence in the field.
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- The College of New Jersey
- Ewing, New Jersey
- United States 08618
- Building: ARMSTRONG HALL
- Room Number: 136
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- Co-sponsored by IEEE AP-S Technical Committee on Wireless Communications
- Starts 02 October 2025 04:01 AM UTC
- Ends 10 October 2025 04:00 AM UTC
- No Admission Charge
Speakers
Dr. Noghanian
Empowering Connectivity and Career Navigation
A Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), primarily operating through Wi-Fi technology, is one of the major technologies that provide wireless connectivity. 5G is another technology that promises a significant increase in data transmission speed. The goal of this talk is to highlight some of the key aspects of wearable antennas designed for applications in Wi-Fi and 5G, emphasizing their significance in enabling continuous, reliable connectivity for various wearable devices used in diverse applications and industries.
With the focus on wearable wireless devices, there is a need for wearable antennas in the WiFi or 5G bands (especially the sub 6 GHz band) that can seamlessly be integrated into clothing. Such antennas should be small. However, the performance of small antennas may be significantly affected by the lossy human tissue in their vicinity. On the other hand, radiation directed toward the body can cause a high Specific Absorption Rate (SAR), necessitating a reduction in input power to comply with the standard SAR levels. Some of the factors that need careful consideration are the performance of the antennas under bending, crumpling, and stretching. The other factors are the cost, availability, washability, and endurance under extreme and harsh conditions. Some wearable antennas may be integrated as parts of the clothing, such as buttons or zippers, while others may be embedded into the surface area of the clothes.
This talk explores wearable antennas for 5G and Wi-Fi, highlighting their pivotal role in enabling ubiquitous and reliable wireless connectivity.
Navigating Between Academia and Industry - A Personal Journey
Undoubtedly, a question that resonates with every student is the career choice between academia and industry. There are multiple career options ahead of any graduate student. Some of them are traditional jobs such as becoming a professor or an engineer, and some may be different. Regardless of the chosen trajectory, certain fundamental skills are key to success and resilience in any career. While specific skills vary according to the job. In this presentation, I will draw from personal experience and offer insights into this critical decision-making process. By sharing personal anecdotes and lessons, it is aimed to shed light on the symbolic relationship between academia and industry, illustrating how navigating between these two encourages innovation, enriches professional growth, and shapes a dynamic, multi-faceted career trajectory.
Biography:
Dr.Sima Noghanian is currently a Distinguished Hardware Engineer at CommScope Ruckus Networks. She is also an Antenna/RF consultant with StrokeDx and Neuspera Medical. Dr.Noghanian received a Ph.D. from the University of Manitoba, and a Post-Doctoral Fellowship from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, which she took at the University of Waterloo. From 2002 to 2018 she served as an Electrical Engineering faculty in: the Sharif University of Technology, Iran (2002), the University of Manitoba, Canada (2003-
2008), and the University of North Dakota, USA (2008 – 2018). She also served as the Chair of the Electrical Engineering Department at the University of North Dakota (2014 – 2016). She was an Electromagnetic Application Engineer with PADT Inc. (2019 – 2020) and a Principal Antenna Design Engineer at Wafer LLC (2020 – 2021).
Dr. Noghanian is a senior member of IEEE, a fellow of the Applied Computational Electromagnetics Society (ACES), and a senior member of URSI and USNC-URSI Commissions B and K. Dr. Noghanian currently serves as the Associate Editor of IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, IEEE Open Journal of Antennas and Propagation, IEEE Antennas and Propagation Magazine, IET Microwave, Antennas and Propagation, and Frontiers in Antennas and Propagation. She is an Area Editor of Elsevier's International Journal of Electronics and
Communications. She is an elected member of the IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society (AP-S) Administration Committee for 2023-2025 and a Distinguished Lecturer of IEEE AP-S 2024- 2026. She serves as the chair of the AP-S Technical Committee on Antenna Measurement
(TCAM), and the vice-chair of the AP-S Constitution and Bylaws Committee. She is currently the Chair of USNC-URSI Commission K.