Engineering

Electrical engineering student awarded fellowship from international society

Mohammadreza Abbasi, electrical engineering doctoral student, received a highly competitive graduate fellowship from the Microwave Theory and Technology Society. Credit: Provided by Wooram Lee . All Rights Reserved.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) recently awarded Mohammadreza Abbasi, an electrical engineering doctoral student in the Penn State School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, the Microwave Theory and Technology Society (MTT-S) Graduate Fellowship. Abbasi is the first Penn State student to receive this fellowship, which includes an award of $6,000 to be presented at the annual IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium on June 15-20 in San Francisco. 

“I am truly honored to be selected as a recipient of the MTT-S Graduate Fellowship,” Abbasi said. “Receiving this fellowship is incredibly rewarding, as it recognizes my efforts in advancing millimeter-wave circuit design for next-generation communication and sensing applications. I feel deeply grateful for this recognition and the opportunities it brings.” 

The MTT-S society is an international organization consisting of more than 13,000 members and 200 chapters worldwide. The society focuses on the advancement of microwave theory — the study and development of technology like satellites, radar and medical devices that use electromagnetic waves to function — and helps researchers from around the world connect and innovate technology.  

Only a handful of students from around the world are chosen for the fellowship each year. Selected students demonstrate IEEE’s core values of fostering technological innovation and excellence, while distinguishing themselves as outstanding up-and-coming researchers in microwave engineering. 

“Mohammadreza joined my research group in January 2022 and has worked on several high-impact research projects since then,” said Wooram Lee, associate professor of electrical engineering and Abbasi’s academic adviser. “I have observed Mohammadreza’s impressive development as he has evolved into a remarkably skilled, efficient and adaptable researcher. I am confident that his impact on the research field will continue to grow, marked by even more substantial achievements in the future.” 

Abbasi earned his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Shiraz University, Iran, and his master’s degree in electrical and electronics engineering from the University of Tehran, Iran. Abbasi’s research interests include radio frequency and millimeter-wave integrated circuit design. 

Although early in his career as a researcher, Abbasi has already earned various awards and recognitions for his work. IEEE presented him with a Best Paper Award at the 2023 IEEE Radio Frequency Integrated Circuits Symposium for his paper, “A D-band Calibration-Free Passive 360° Phase Shifter With 1.2°RMS Phase Error in 45 nm RFSOI.” Abbasi also has received other graduate fellowships, including the Harry G. Miller Fellowship in Engineering and the AT&T Graduate Fellowship Award, both from the Penn State College of Engineering. 

According to Abbasi, the IEEE MTT-S Graduate Fellowship will support his ongoing research on developing high-frequency integrated circuits, particularly for 6G wireless networks and high-resolution radar systems. He said he believes the fellowship, alongside mentorship at Penn State, will enable him to further innovate performance, efficiency and integration in wireless technologies. 

Last Updated February 7, 2025

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