Dr. Zhi Ning Chen of National University of Singapore

Since the late 1990s, metamaterials have transformed our understanding of electromagnetic (EM) theory, sparking excitement about their potential in antenna technology. Yet, turning these concepts into practical antennas has been challenging due to stringent, application-specific requirements. Since 2010, our group has focused on bridging this gap, combining deep theoretical insights with antenna engineering expertise. We have overcome critical barriers—bandwidth, efficiency, and fabrication—enabling the development and commercialization of metantenna technologies, including metasurfaces and metalines, for applications ranging from RFID and WLAN to radar, cellular networks, small cells, and satellite communications. What was once “metamaterial hype” is now a reality. Our work leverages tools such as Characteristic Modes Analysis (CMA), Transformation Optics (TO), Time Reversal (TR), and advanced optimization algorithms. Recently, we have demonstrated the power of prior-knowledge-guided, deep learning-enabled generative synthesis for metasurfaces and metamaterials, paving the way for next-generation metantenna design.

In this talk, I will highlight our latest advances in metantenna technology and explore the exciting future directions of metamaterial research.

Biography:

Zhi Ning Chen received his two Ph.D. degrees in 1993 and 2003 from institutions in China and Japan, respectively. He currently serves as a Provost’s Chair Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and as Director of the Advanced Research and Technology Innovation Centre at the National University of Singapore. Professor Chen has authored or co-authored 760 journal and conference papers, along with seven books. His current research interests include electromagnetic metamaterials and metasurfaces, algorithms for generative antenna design, and wireless systems. Professor Chen was elevated to IEEE Fellow in 2007, elected Fellow of the Academy of Engineering, Singapore in 2019, and is a Fellow and Vice President of the Asia-Pacific Artificial Intelligence Association (2021). Among numerous academic and technical honors, he received the IEEE AP-S John Kraus Antenna Award in 2021 and the EurAAP Antenna Award in 2025. In addition to his research achievements, Professor Chen has played a leading role in international conferences. He served as the General Chair of the 2021 IEEE AP-S Symposium (Singapore) and is the Founding General Chair of several key conferences, including the IEEE International Workshop on Antenna Technology (2005), the Asia-Pacific Conference on Antennas and Propagation (2012), and the Marina Forum on Metantennas+X (2021)

Address:National University of Singapore, , United States