Kathleen L Melde
- Associate Dean, Faculty Affairs
- Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Member of the Graduate Faculty
Contact
- (520) 626-2538
- Civil Engineering, Rm. 100C
- Tucson, AZ 85721
- melde@ece.arizona.edu
Biography
Kathleen L. Melde (S’84–M’95–SM’97–F’12) (previously Kathleen L. Virga) received the B.S. degree from California State University, Long Beach, CA, the M.S. degree from California State University, Northridge, CA, and the Ph.D. degree from UCLA, all in electrical engineering.
From 1985 to 1996, she worked in the Radar Systems Group at Hughes Electronics, El Segundo, CA. Her work experience includes diverse projects in the Electromagnetic Systems Laboratory and Solid State Microwave Laboratories of the Radar and Communications Sector. She has made contributions to the design and development of antennas and transmit/receive (T/R) modules for airborne phased and active arrays. She has extensive experience in modeling, fabrication and measurement of the performance of antennas, antenna arrays, high-density microwave circuits, and high-speed packaging interconnects. In 1996, she joined the faculty in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, where she is a Professor. Her current projects include tunable RF front ends for cognitive radio, high-speed electronics packaging, on-chip antennas, and computational photovoltaics. She has over 90 publications and 5 U.S. patents. She has been an expert witness and consultant in the area of RF circuits and antennas. Her research interests include applied electromagnetics, antenna theory and design, and microwave circuit design.
Dr. Melde is a member of the Antennas and Propagation Society (AP-S) and the Microwave Theory and Techniques Society (MTT-S). She is a member of the International Radio Science Union (URSI), Eta Kappa Nu, Tau Beta Pi, and Sigma Xi. She was a recipient of the 2008 IBM Faculty Award. She has been an invited keynote speaker on several occasions, such as the California State University Northridge, School of Engineering Commencement and the Conference on the Electrical Performance of Electronic Packages and Systems (EPEPS). From 1999 to 2001, she served on the Administrative Committee (AdCom) for the IEEE AP-S Society. She was an Associate Editor for the IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation and the IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters. She was the Co-Chair for the 2012 and 2013 Conferences on the EPEPS. She was on the Organizing Committee for the 2016 and 2017 Antennas and Propagation Symposiums.
Degrees
- Ph.D. Electrical and Computer Engineering
- University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States
- M.S. Electrical
- California State University, Northridge, Northridge, California, United States
- Switched Susceptance Phase Shifter
- B.S. Electrical Engineering
- California State University, Long Beach, Long Beach, California, United States
Work Experience
- University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (2019 - Ongoing)
- University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (2011 - Ongoing)
Awards
- Distinguished Service Award
- IEEE, Spring 2015
- Invited Speaker
- Annual European Conference on Antennas and Propagation, Spring 2015
- Outstanding Service Award
- Antenna Measurement and Techniques Association, University of Arizona, Spring 2014
- College of Engineering, Teaching Fellow
- College of Engineering, Fall 2012
- Fellow Grade Promotion
- Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), Fall 2012
Interests
Teaching
Antennas and microwave engineering
Research
Antennas and microwave engineering
Courses
2024-25 Courses
-
Introductory Electromagnetics
ECE 381A (Spring 2025)
2023-24 Courses
-
Antenna Theory+Design
ECE 484 (Spring 2024) -
Antenna Theory+Design
ECE 584 (Spring 2024) -
Dissertation
ECE 920 (Spring 2024) -
Dissertation
ECE 920 (Fall 2023)
2022-23 Courses
-
Antenna Theory+Design
ECE 484 (Spring 2023) -
Antenna Theory+Design
ECE 584 (Spring 2023) -
Dissertation
ECE 920 (Spring 2023) -
Dissertation
ECE 920 (Fall 2022)
2021-22 Courses
-
Antenna Theory+Design
ECE 484 (Spring 2022) -
Antenna Theory+Design
ECE 584 (Spring 2022) -
Dissertation
ECE 920 (Spring 2022) -
Dissertation
ECE 920 (Fall 2021)
2020-21 Courses
-
Dissertation
ECE 920 (Spring 2021) -
Dissertation
ECE 920 (Fall 2020) -
Microwave Eng I:Pasv Cir
ECE 486 (Fall 2020) -
Microwave Eng I:Pasv Cir
ECE 586 (Fall 2020) -
Research
ECE 900 (Fall 2020)
2019-20 Courses
-
Antenna Theory+Design
ECE 484 (Spring 2020) -
Antenna Theory+Design
ECE 584 (Spring 2020)
2018-19 Courses
-
Internship
ECE 593 (Summer I 2019) -
Antenna Theory+Design
ECE 484 (Spring 2019) -
Antenna Theory+Design
ECE 584 (Spring 2019) -
Dissertation
ECE 920 (Spring 2019) -
Independent Study
ECE 699 (Spring 2019) -
Internship
ECE 593 (Spring 2019) -
Research
ECE 900 (Spring 2019) -
Thesis
ECE 910 (Spring 2019) -
Dissertation
ECE 920 (Fall 2018) -
Electronic Pkg Principle
ECE 554 (Fall 2018) -
Electronic Pkg Principle
MSE 554 (Fall 2018) -
Independent Study
ECE 599 (Fall 2018) -
Internship
ECE 593 (Fall 2018) -
Research
ECE 900 (Fall 2018)
2017-18 Courses
-
Internship
ECE 593 (Summer I 2018) -
Microwave Eng I:Pasv Cir
ECE 586 (Summer I 2018) -
Antenna Theory+Design
ECE 484 (Spring 2018) -
Antenna Theory+Design
ECE 584 (Spring 2018) -
Dissertation
ECE 920 (Spring 2018) -
Honors Independent Study
ECE 299H (Spring 2018) -
Internship
ECE 593 (Spring 2018) -
Research
ECE 900 (Spring 2018) -
Dissertation
ECE 920 (Fall 2017) -
Independent Study
ECE 599 (Fall 2017) -
Internship
ECE 593 (Fall 2017) -
Microwave Eng I:Pasv Cir
ECE 486 (Fall 2017) -
Microwave Eng I:Pasv Cir
ECE 586 (Fall 2017) -
Research
ECE 900 (Fall 2017)
2016-17 Courses
-
Internship
ECE 593 (Summer I 2017) -
Antenna Theory+Design
ECE 484 (Spring 2017) -
Antenna Theory+Design
ECE 584 (Spring 2017) -
Directed Research
ECE 492 (Spring 2017) -
Dissertation
ECE 920 (Spring 2017) -
Research
ECE 900 (Spring 2017) -
Thesis
ECE 910 (Spring 2017) -
Dissertation
ECE 920 (Fall 2016) -
Electronic Pkg Principle
ECE 554 (Fall 2016) -
Electronic Pkg Principle
MSE 554 (Fall 2016) -
Independent Study
ECE 599 (Fall 2016) -
Research
ECE 900 (Fall 2016)
2015-16 Courses
-
Antenna Theory+Design
ECE 484 (Spring 2016) -
Antenna Theory+Design
ECE 584 (Spring 2016) -
Dissertation
ECE 920 (Spring 2016) -
Research
ECE 900 (Spring 2016) -
Thesis
ECE 910 (Spring 2016)
Scholarly Contributions
Chapters
- Yoo, S., & Melde, K. L. (2014). Flexible VHF Animal Collar Antenna for GPS-Aided Wildlife Tracking. In Innovation in Wearable and Flexible Antennas(p. 163).
Journals/Publications
- Hur, B., Eisenstadt, W. R., & Melde, K. L. (2019). Testing and Validation of Adaptive Impedance Matching System for Broadband Antenna. Electronics, 8(9), 1055.
- Baniya, P., Bisognin, A., Melde, K. L., & Luxey, C. (2018). Chip-to-chip switched beam 60 GHz circular patch planar antenna array and pattern considerations. IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, 66(4), 1776--1787.
- Baniya, P., Yoo, S., Melde, K. L., Bisognin, A., & Luxey, C. (2017). Switched-beam 60-GHz four-element array for multichip multicore system. IEEE Transactions on Components, Packaging and Manufacturing Technology, 8(2), 251--260.
- Sain, A., & Melde, K. L. (2016). Impact of Ground via Placement in Grounded Coplanar Waveguide Interconnects. IEEE Transactions on Components, Packaging and Manufacturing Technology, 6, 136-144.
- Bernhard, J., Bonek, E., Christodoulou, C. G., Kunkee, D., & Melde, K. L. (2014). Guest Editorial for the Special Section on Antenna Systems and Propagation for Cognitive Radio. Antennas and Propagation, IEEE Transactions on, 62(3), 1015--1018.
- Lundgren, C., Lopez, R., Redwing, J., & Melde, K. (2013). FDTD modeling of solar energy absorption in silicon branched nanowires. Optics express, 21(103), A392--A400.
- Sain, A., & Melde, K. L. (2013). Broadband Characterization of Coplanar Waveguide Interconnects With Rough Conductor Surfaces. Components, Packaging and Manufacturing Technology, IEEE Transactions on, 3(6), 1038--1046.
- Yeh, H., & Melde, K. L. (2013). Development of 60-GHz Wireless Interconnects for Interchip Data Transmission. IEEE Transactions in Components, Packaging, Manufacturing Technology.
- Yeh, H., Hiramatsu, N., & Melde, K. L. (2013). The design of broadband 60 GHz AMC antenna in multi-chip RF data transmission. Antennas and Propagation, IEEE Transactions on, 61(4), 1623--1630.
- Yoo, S., & Melde, K. L. (2013). VHF Collar Integrated Antenna for Ground Link of GPS Based Location System. Antennas and Propagation, IEEE Transactions on, 61(1), 26--32.
- Bernhard, J., Bonek, E., Christodoulou, C., Kunkee, D., & Melde, K. (2012). IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation announces a Special Issue on Antenna Systems and Propagation for Cognitive Radio. Antennas and Propagation Magazine, IEEE, 54(3), 258--258.
Proceedings Publications
- Baniya, P., & Melde, K. L. (2019). PCB Bowing Effects on 60 GHz Switched-Beam Antenna Modules. In 2019 IEEE International Symposium on Antennas and Propagation and USNC-URSI Radio Science Meeting.
- Baniya, P., Bisognin, A., Melde, K. L., & Luxey, C. (2016, April). Impact of gain and polarization in the design of reconfigurable chip-to-chip antennas. In Antennas and Propagation (EuCAP), 2016 10th European Conference on (pp. 1-4). IEEE., 1-4.
- Giroud, X., Fajardo, N., Garrick, K. R., Kehn, B., Maggio, A., Read, C., Marcellin, M. W., & Melde, K. L. (2016, November). Wearable heart rate and fall detection notification system. In International Telemetering Conference.
- Melde, K. L., Yoo, S., & Yeh, H. (2015). On-chip antenna arrays for multi-chip RF data transmission. In Antennas and Propagation (EuCAP), 2015 9th European Conference on.
- Niu, K., Shahidullah, A., Vilarasau, A., Ringle, J., Sorrell, M., Zumehly, L., Marcellin, M. W., & Melde, K. L. (2015, October). A low cost open-air system based on an empirical path-loss model. In International Telemetering Conference.
- Vilarasau, A., Ringle, J., Shahidullah, A., Sorrell-Strong, M., Zurmehly, L., Marcellin, M. W., & Melde, K. L. (2015, October). A Low Cost Open-Air Tracking System Based on an Empirical Path-Loss Model. In Proceedings of the International Telemetry Conference, Las Vegas, NV.
- Zhou, H., Yoo, S., Melde, K. L., & Roveda, J. M. (2015, July). Introducing embedded patterned layers for improved broadband performance of high density transmission line routing. In 2015 Radio Science Meeting (Joint with IEEE International Symposium on Antennas and Propagation) 2015 USNC-URSI.
- Zhou, H., Yoo, S., Melde, K. L., Sun, J., & Roveda, J. M. (2015, June). HyNoC: An All-Direction Millimetre-Wave Wireless and Wired Reconfigurable Communication Fabric Design for Network-on-Chip. In Design Automation Conference.
- Melde, K. L. (2014, November). Time difference of arrival for small mammal tracking system,. In International Telemetering Conference, 10.
- Yoo, S., & Melde, K. L. (2014). Reconfigurable on-chip antenna arrays for multi-chip RF data transmission. In Radio Science Meeting (Joint with AP-S Symposium), 2014 USNC-URSI, 35--35.
- Gupta, P., Akoglu, A., Melde, K., & Roveda, J. (2013). FPGA based single cycle, reconfigurable router for NoC applications. In Circuits and Systems (ISCAS), 2013 IEEE International Symposium on, 2428--2431.
- Melde, K. L. (2013, November). Collar-integrated small mammal GPS tracker,. In International Telemetering Conference.
- Vargas, M. A., & Melde, K. L. (2013). Insertion loss characterization of tightly spaced interconnects with an embedded patterned layer. In Electrical Performance of Electronic Packaging and Systems (EPEPS), 2013 IEEE 22nd Conference on, 21--24.
- Yoo, S., & Melde, K. (2013). Light Trapping Characterization of Branched Nanowire Structures for Photovoltaics. In Optics for Solar Energy, RM4D--3.
- Yoo, S., Lundgren, C., & Melde, K. L. (2013). Computational design of photovoltaics with silicon nanowire. In Radio Science Meeting (Joint with AP-S Symposium), 2013 USNC-URSI, 52--52.
- Melde, K. L. (2012, November). Small Wearable Antenna for Animal Tracking. In International Telemetering Conference, 10.
- Sain, A., & Melde, K. L. (2012). Surface roughness modeling for CB-CPWs. In Antennas and Propagation Society International Symposium (APSURSI), 2012 IEEE, 1--2.
- Sain, A., & Melde, K. L. (2012, October). Characterizing the Impact of Conductor Surface Roughness on CB-CPW Behavior via Reduced Compuational Complexity. In Electrical Performance of Electronic Packaging and Systems (EPEPS), 2012 IEEE 21st Conference on, 260--263.
- Yeh, H., & Melde, K. L. (2012). 60 GHz multi-antenna design in Multi-Core system. In Antennas and Propagation Society International Symposium (APSURSI), 2012 IEEE, 1--2.
- Yeh, H., Hiramatsu, N., & Melde, K. (2012). 60 GHz AMC antennas in multi-processor multi-chip data transmission. In Antenna Technology (iWAT), 2012 IEEE International Workshop on, 173--176.
- Yeh, H., Melde, K. L., & Eisenstadt, W. R. (2012, October). Design and Packaging of Small 60GHz Antenna Array for MultiChip Communications. In Wireless Information Technology and Systems (ICWITS), 2012 IEEE International Conference on, 1--4.
Presentations
- Baniya, P., Bisognin, A., Melde, K. L., & Luxey, C. (2016, July/2016). Chip-to-Chip Switched-Beam 60-GHz Array Integrated with Modified Butler Feed Matrix Network. 2016 Radio Science Meeting (Joint with IEEE International Symposium on Antennas and Propagation. San Diego, California: IEEE and USNC-URSI.
- Melde, K. L. (2014, May). On Chip Antennas for Multi Chip RF Data Transmission. IEEE Phoenix Wave and Devices Section Meeting. ASU: IEEE Phoenix Wave and Devices Section.
- Melde, K. L. (2014, May). Software Defined Match Control Circuits for Real Time Antenna Tuning for Cognitive Radio. Raytheon Multifunction RF Symposium. Tucson: Raytheon.More infoInvited University Presentation at Raytheon for a Company Wide Forum
- Melde, K. L. (2014, October). On Chip Antennas for Multi Chip RF Data Transmission. IEEE Phoenix Young Professionals Society. ASU: IEEE Phoenix Young Professionals Society.
- Melde, K. L. (2013, April 2013). Software Defined Match Control Circuits for Real Time Antenna Tuning for Spectrum Sharing. Military Antennas West. San Diego CA: IDGA.More infoPresentation at a workshop/conference for working defense industry professionals in San Diego area.
- Melde, K. L. (2012, February). Interchip Antennas for Multicore Computing. University of Utah, Department of Electrical Engineering Sponsored, Distinguished Lecturer. Salt Lake City, Utah: University of Utah, Dept. of Electrical Engineering.
- Melde, K. L. (2012, October). Computational Photovoltaics for Branched Nanowire Si. Scialog. Tucson, Arizona: Research Corporation for Scientific Advancement.
Reviews
- Melde, K. L. (2013. IEEE Antennas and Propagation Magazine; Book Review of Electromagnetic Band Gap Structures in Antenna Engineering(pp 152-152).
