What are you researching or studying, and why does it matter?
I鈥檓 researching simultaneous transmit and receive (STAR) radio systems - think of a microphone that鈥檚 also a speaker, but instead of sound, it uses electromagnetic waves. Normally, radios can鈥檛 send and listen on the same frequency without interference. My work focuses on solving that, so one system can do both things at once. This could double the data capacity of wireless systems and make communications more efficient. To make that possible, I combine low-noise analog circuit design with advanced digital signal processing to cancel out unwanted self-interference.
What brought you to USF College of Engineering for graduate school?
I grew up in Tampa surrounded by USF鈥檚 influence, but it was the Wireless and Microwave Information Systems (WAMI) Center that truly drew me in. USF鈥檚 strong focus on hands-on RF and microwave engineering aligned perfectly with my passion for analog hardware and high-frequency systems. The opportunity to work with faculty who actively bridge theory with real-world applications made it the ideal environment to continue growing as both an engineer and innovator.
Tell us about a moment when your research or coursework really excited you - when did you think "this is exactly why I'm here"?
The moment that defined my path was during Advanced Antenna Theory. That course opened the door to electromagnetic simulation and design beyond textbook antennas - I started exploring complex field structures and interactions. Seeing simulations come alive in HFSS and correlating them to physical behavior was the moment I knew I was exactly where I was meant to be. It confirmed that my passion lies in designing and understanding the invisible patterns that shape wireless systems.
When you're not in the lab or studying, what are you passionate about?
After my military service, I minored in entrepreneurship during my undergraduate studies, which broadened my view of creativity beyond circuits and equations. I became fascinated by how business, technology, and people interact - how the world constantly moves and adapts in response to itself. That dynamic, often chaotic motion reminds me of noise in an electrical system - it can be disruptive, but it also carries information. Studying entrepreneurship helped me appreciate that creativity isn鈥檛 just art or design; it鈥檚 finding order and opportunity within that noise.
Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years, and how is USF helping you get there?
In the next decade, I see myself designing ultra-stable, low-noise RF systems and software-defined radios for next-generation wireless communications. USF鈥檚 WAMI program has provided me with the technical range - from antenna design to analog circuit development - to understand systems from the device to the network level. Combined with my secondary controls background, I鈥檓 learning how to make faster and more efficient systems that bridge hardware precision with digital intelligence.
What's one piece of advice you'd give to someone considering graduate school in engineering?
Find a problem that truly inspires you - something you can鈥檛 stop thinking about. Once you know what problem you want to solve, your graduate degree becomes the roadmap to get there.
Finish this sentence: "I knew I wanted to be an engineer when..."
I knew I wanted to be an engineer when I realized that building and experimenting were what I enjoyed most - taking ideas from imagination to something you can measure and improve.
How has your military experience shaped the way you approach engineering or graduate school?
Serving as a Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratory technician taught me the physics of precision and accuracy. I worked with measurements ranging from millionths of an inch to nanowatts of power, where precision and reliability were non-negotiable. That experience trained me to approach every problem with discipline, analytical rigor, and respect for data integrity. Today, I apply those same principles in my research on high-frequency circuit design, ensuring that every result is both measurable and meaningful.