Rosalind Agasti, Graduate Research Student, Advanced Radar Research Center (ARRC), University of Oklahoma
I AM...a Microwave Researcher and here to Connect with the Great Minds of this Community!
What made you want to work in this industry?
As an undergraduate, I took an elective course on antennas with my undergraduate advisor. This was the first application-based EM course I had taken and was utterly in awe of how we can communicate wirelessly across the world, and even in space! As a part of the class, I did a project on understanding the communication module of the Mars rovers Perseverance and Curiosity, which taught me the immense engineering and EM fundamentals needed to push the boundaries of next generation communication systems.
To pursue this interest further, I went to graduate school and did a thesis on tunable filtering antennas. Since then, there is no looking back!
What is your favorite part of your job?
As a graduate student researcher, I love to dive into a project to its roots and start from the theory, while finishing at a fully developed prototype. I also enjoy mentoring students and motivating them to pursue a career in electromagnetics.
I primarily work on the RF hardware side of the communication systems, so it is always a great joy to fabricate and measure the devices I design. As most of us would know, when the measured results match the simulated target, there is no greater joy!
What are you most excited about for IMS2026?
I have been attending IMS since I have been working on this industry, which is about 5 years. It is always exciting to meet everyone who is a part of the IMS family! I am excited to see them again this year.
I have also been a part of the alumni and organizing committee for Project Connect at IMS. I am excited to meet and interact with the cohort of 2026!