Biography

Dr. Mohammod Ali is a professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of South Carolina (USC). Just prior to his tenure as department chair in August 2021, he worked as a Program Director under Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) assignment at the National Science Foundation in the Electrical, Communications, and Cyber Systems (ECCS) division at the Directorate for Engineering in Alexandria, VA for 2 years. 

Prof. Ali received his B.Sc. in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka in 1987. He received his M.A.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering in 1994 and 1997, respectively from the University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

He then went to work for Ericsson Inc. in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina from 1998-2001. Prof. Ali started his academic career at USC in August 2001. He spent a year on sabbatical in 2013-2014 at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) at the Wright Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB), Ohio. In the summers of 2010 and 2011 he was a Summer Faculty Fellow at the AFRL. Prof. Ali also held a visiting appointment at the Motorola Corporate EME Research Laboratory in Plantation, Florida in the summer of 2004.

He is the recipient of the 2003 National Science Foundation Faculty Career Award, USC College of Engineering and Computing Young Investigator Award, Research Progress Award, and the Samuel Litman Distinguished Professor Award. He has graduated 23 students (12 Ph.D.) and is the author/coauthor of one book and over 200 publications and 8 granted US patents. His research has been funded by the Army Research Office (ARO), Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Department of Energy (DOE), National Science Foundation (NSF), Office of Naval Research (ONR), the Boeing Company, and the Mobile Manufacturer’s Forum (MMF). His research interests include conformal antennas, meta-materials and metasurfaces, reconfigurable antennas, wireless power transfer, and wireless sensors.

Research Interests

• Conformal Antennas in Aerospace Applications – broadband, load bearing, reconfigurable antennas and phased arrays. 3D printing and additive manufacturing of antennas and RF structures.
• Wireless power transfer and wireless sensing in infrastructure – wireless sensor design using RF/electromagnetic principles, such as interdigitated sensors for dielectrometry (cable insulation damage detection, moisture variation detection), and surface wave sensors for time frequency based reflectometry. Near and far field wireless power transfer for sensors in difficult to reach areas.
• Antennas for Mobile Wireless Communications – Multiband or wideband antenna design for mobile wireless communications for handhelds, wearables, and base stations. Frequency and pattern reconfigurability, Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO), Specific Absorption Rate (SAR), platform integrated antennas.
• Reconfigurable Antennas for mm-Wave – high performance phased array antennas for the handheld and wireless access points for 5G mm-Wave communications. Antenna design for Internet of Things (IoT).
• Metamaterials and metasurfaces for Antennas and Signals – broadband metamaterials for conformal aircraft antennas, broadband absorption materials, cross-talk reduction in printed circuit boards. 

Education

• Ph.D. Electrical Engineering, University of Victoria, BC, Canada, 1997
• M.A.Sc. Electrical Engineering, University of Victoria, BC, Canada, 1994
• B.Sc. Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), 1987

Book

• Ali, Reconfigurable Antenna Design and Analysis, Artech House, Dedham, MA, 2021.

Representative Publications

• Md. Nazmul Al Imran, S.W. Glass, L.S. Fifield, and M. Ali, “Flexible Fabric Based IDC Sensors for Conformal Curved Surface Applications,’’ IEEE Sensors Journal, vol. 21, pp. 812-820, Jan. 2021.
• D. Zeppettella and M. Ali, “A Broadband Directional Circularly Polarized Spiral Antenna on EBG Structure,’’ J. Electromagnetic Waves and Applications, June 2020, https://doi.org/10.1080/09205071.2020.1774927
• P.J. Czeresko, A.S. Arman, T.R. Vogler, and M. Ali, “EBG design and analysis for wideband isolation improvement between aircraft blade antennas,’’ International J. RF, Microwave, and Computer Aided Engineering, 22 Nov. 2019.
• R.H. Bhuiyan, J.M. Caicedo,  and M. Ali, “A Study of 13.5 MHz Coupled Loop Wireless Power Transfer under Concrete and near Metal,’’ IEEE Sensors Journal, pp. 9848-9855, Dec. 2018.
• M.D. Wright, W. Baron, J. Miller, J. Tuss, D. Zeppettella, and Mohammod Ali, “MEMS reconfigurable broadband patch antenna for conformal applications,’’ IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, vol. 66, no. 6, pp. 2770-2778, June 2018.  
• S. Keerthi, A. Hamad, A. Mian, J. Clifford, P. Majumdar, N. Chamok, and M. Ali, “Effect of Heterogeneity in Additively Manufactured Dielectric Structures on Radio-Frequency Response of Microstrip Patch Antennas,’’ International Journal of RF and Microwave Computer-Aided Engineering, DOI: 10.1002/mmce.21234, 2017.
• V.S. Tummala, A. Mian, N. Chamok, D. Poduval, M. Ali, J. Clifford, P. Majumdar, “Three-Dimensional Printed Dielectric Substrates for Radio Frequency Applications,” Journal of Electronic Packaging, vol. 139, no. 2, June 2017 (https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4036384). 
• N.H. Chamok, M.H. Yilmaz, A. Arslan, and M. Ali, “High-Gain Pattern Reconfigurable MIMO Antenna Array for Wireless Handheld Terminals,’’   IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, pp. 4306-4315, Oct. 2016.
• N.A Bishop, J. Miller, D. Zeppettella, W. Baron, J. Tuss, and M. Ali, “A Broadband High-Gain Bi-Layer LPDA for UHF Applications,’’ IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, pp. 2359-2364, May 2015.  
• Y. Peng, B.M.F Rahman, T. Wang, N. Chamok, M. Ali, and G. Wang, “Engineered Smart Substrate with Embedded Patterned Permalloy Thin Film for RF Applications,’’ Journal of Applied Physics, 117, 17B709 (2015).
• N.H. Chamok, T. Anthony, S.J. Weiss, and M. Ali, “Ultra-Thin UHF Broadband Antenna on A Non-Uniform Aperiodic Metasurface,’’ IEEE Antennas and Propagation Magazine, vol. 57, pp. 167-180, April 2015. 
• Md. Nazmul Alam, D. Coats, Y.-J. Shin, R. Dougal, and M. Ali, “A New Method to Estimate the Average Dielectric Constants of Aged Power Cables,’’ Journal of Electromagnetic Waves and Applications, 28:7, 777-789, 2014.
• Md. Nazmul Alam, R.H. Bhuiyan, R. Dougal, and M. Ali, “Design and Application of Surface Wave Sensors Non-Intrusive Power Line Fault Detection,’’ IEEE Sensors Journal, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 339-347, Jan. 2013.
• Md. R. Islam and M. Ali, “A 900 MHz Beam Steering Parasitic Antenna Array for Body Wearable Wireless Applications,’’ IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, vol. 61, no. 9, pp. 4520-4527, Sept. 2013.
• Md. R. Islam and M. Ali, “Temperature Rise Induced by Wire and Planar Antennas in a High-Resolution Human Head Model,’’ IEEE Transactions on Electromagnetic Compatibility, vol. 55, no. 2, , pp. 288-298, April 2013.
• Md. R. Islam and M. Ali, “Switched Parasitic Dipole Antenna Array for High-Data-Rate Body-Worn Wireless Applications,’’ IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, vol. 11, pp. 693-696, 2012.
• Md. R. Islam and M. Ali, “Ground Current Modification of Mobile Terminal Antennas and its Effects,’’ IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, vol. 10, pp. 438-441, 2011.
• Md. R. Islam and M. Ali, “Elevation Plane Beam Scanning of a Novel ESPAR Antenna for 1900 MHz Mobile Handheld Terminals,’’ IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, pp. 3344-3352, Oct. 2010.
• Md. Nazmul Alam, R.H. Bhuiyan, R. Dougal, and M. Ali, “Concrete Moisture Content Measurement Using Interdigitated Near-Field Sensors,’’ IEEE Sensors Journal, vol. 10, pp. 1243-1248, July 2010.
• R.H. Bhuiyan, R. Dougal, and M. Ali, “A Miniature Energy Harvesting Device for Wireless Sensors in Electric Power Systems,’’ IEEE Sensors Journal, vol. 10, pp. 1249-1258, July 2010.
• M.Z. Azad and M. Ali, “A Miniature Implanted Inverted-F Antenna for GPS Application,’’ IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, vol. 57, pp. 1854-1858, Jun 2009.
• A.T.M. Sayem, S. Khan, and M. Ali, “A Miniature Spiral Diversity Antenna System with High Overall Gain Coverage and Low SAR,’’ IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, pp. 49-52, 2009.
• A.T.M. Sayem, M.G. Douglas, G. Schmid, B. Petric, and M. Ali, “Correlating Threshold Power with Free-Space Bandwidth for Low Directivity Antennas,’’ IEEE Transactions on Electromagnetic Compatibility, pp. 25-37, Feb. 2009.
• M.Z. Azad and M. Ali, “Novel Wideband Directional Dipole Antenna on a Mushroom EBG Structure,’’ IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, pp. 1242-1250, May 2008.
• M. F. Abedin, M.Z. Azad, and M. Ali “WideBand Smaller Unit-Cell Planar EBG Structures and their Application,’’ IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, pp. 903-908, March 2008.
• M. Ali, A. T. M. Sayem and V. K. Kunda, “A Reconfigurable Stacked Microstrip Patch Antenna for Satellite and Terrestrial Links,’’ IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology, vol. 56, pp. 426-435, March 2007. 
• R.H. Bhuiyan, R. Dougal, and M. Ali, “Proximity Coupled Interdigitated Sensors to Detect Insulation Damage in Power System Cables,’’ IEEE Sensors Journal, vol. 7, no. 12, pp. 1579-1586, December 2007.
• M. Ali, M. G. Douglas, A.T.M. Sayem, A. Faraone and C-K. Chou, “Threshold Power of Canonical Antennas for Inducing SAR at Compliance Limits in the 300-3000 MHz Frequency Range,’’ IEEE Transactions on Electromagnetic Compatibility vol. 49, pp. 143-152, January 2007. 
• K.M.Z. Shams and M. Ali, “Wireless Power Transmission to a Buried Sensor in Concrete,’’ IEEE Sensors Journal, vol. 7, no. 12, pp. 1573-1577, December 2007.
•  M. Z. Azad and M. Ali, “A New Class of Miniature Embedded Inverted-F Antennas (IFAs) for 2.4 GHz WLAN Application,’’ IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, vol. 54, no. 9, pp. 2585- 2592, Sept. 2006.    
• M. Ali, G. Yang, and R. Dougal, "Miniature Circularly Polarized Rectenna with Reduced Out of Band Harmonics,'' IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, vol. 5, pp. 107-110, 2006.
• K. M. Z. Shams, M. Ali, and H.-S. Hwang, “A Planar Inductively Coupled Bow-Tie Slot Antenna for WLAN Application,’’ Journal of Electromagnetic Waves and Applications, vol. 20, No. 7, pp. 861-871, 2006. 
• K.M. Z. Shams and M. Ali, “Study and Design of a Capacitively Coupled Polymeric Internal Antenna,’’ IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, vol. 53, no. 3, pp. 985-993, March 2005.  
• M. Z. Azad and M. Ali, “A Miniaturized Hilbert PIFA for Dual Band Mobile Wireless Applications,’’ IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, vol. 4, pp. 59-62, 2005.  
• M. F. Abedin and M. Ali, “Effects of EBG Reflection Phase Profiles on the Input Impedance and Bandwidth of Ultra-thin Directional Dipoles,’’ IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, vol. 53, no. 11, pp. 3664-3672, Nov. 2005.  
• M. F. Abedin and M. Ali, “Effects of a Smaller Unit Cell Planar EBG Structure on the Mutual Coupling of a Printed Dipole Array,’’ IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, vol. 4, pp. 274-276, August 2005.
• M. Ali, G. Yang, and R. Dougal, “A New circularly polarized rectenna for Wireless Power Transmission and Data Communication,’’ IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, vol. 4, pp. 205-208, July 2005.  
• M. Ali, T. Sittironnarit, H. -S. Hwang, R. A. Sadler, and G. J. Hayes, “Wideband/Dual-Band Packaged Antenna for 5-6 GHz WLAN Application,’’ IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, vol. 52, no. 2, pp. 610-615, Feb. 2004.
• M. Ali, R. Usaha, and Y. Hu “Study and Design of Broadband Coplanar Waveguide Fed Modified Folded Slot Antenna,’’ Radio Science, Vol. 39, No. 4, pp. 1-8, Aug. 2004.     
• M. Ali, G. Yang, H.S. Hwang, and T. Sittironnarit, “Design and Analysis of an R-Shaped Dual-Band Planar Inverted-F Antenna for Vehicular Applications,” IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology, vol. 53, no. 1, pp. 29-37, Jan. 2004. 
• M. F. Abedin and M. Ali, “Modifying the Ground Plane and its Effect on Planar Inverted-F Antennas (PIFAs) for Mobile Phone Handsets,’’ IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, vol.2, issue 15, pp. 226-229, 2003. 
• M. Ali, G.J. Hayes, H.-S. Hwang and R.A. Sadler, “Design of a Multi-Band Internal Antenna for Third Generation Mobile Phone Handsets,” IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, vol. 51, no. 7, pp. 1452-1461, July 2003. 
• M. Ali, R.A. Sadler, and G.J. Hayes, “A Uniquely Packaged Internal Inverted-F Antenna for Bluetooth or Wireless LAN Application,” IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 5-7, 2002.   
• M. Ali, M. Okoniewski, M.A. Stuchly, and S.S. Stuchly, “Dual-Frequency Strip-Sleeve Monopole for Laptop Computers,” IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 47, No. 2, pp. 317-323, Feb. 1999. 
• M. Ali, and S.S. Stuchly, “Input Impedance of an Inverted-L antenna Derived Using the Induced EMF Method,” Journal of Electromagnetic Waves and Applications, Vol. 12, pp. 145-162, 1998. 
• M. Ali, S.S. Stuchly, and K. Caputa, “A Wide-Band Dual Meander-Sleeve Antenna,” Journal of Electromagnetic Waves and Applications, Vol. 10, No. 9, pp. 1223-1236, 1996. 

Patents

• M. Ali, R.H. Bhuiyan, R. Dougal, and M.N. Alam, Non-Intrusive Cable Fault Detection and Methods, US Patent Number: 9,103,864, August 2015.
• M. Ali, J.M. Caicedo, and X. Jin, Wireless Power Transfer to Embedded Sensors, US Patent Number: US 8,913,952, granted December 16, 2014.
• M. Ali, R.H. Bhuiyan, and R. Dougal, Non-Intrusive Energy Harvesting Systems and Methods, US Patent Number: US 8,564,298 B2, granted Oct. 22, 2013.
• M. Ali, “Inverted-F antenna for flip-style mobile terminals,’’ US patent number: 6,885,880, granted April 26, 2005.
• R. Sadler, M. Ali, and G.J. Hayes, “Multi-frequency band inverted-F antennas with coupled branches and wireless communicators incorporating same,’’ US patent number: 6,563,466, 13 May 2003.
• M. Ali, “Capacitively Coupled Plated Antenna,’’ US patent number: 6,535,166, granted March 18, 2003.
• [M. Ali, “Dual-Band Antenna Having Mirror Image Meandering Segments and Wireless Communicators Incorporating Same,’’ US patent Number: 6,184,836, granted – 6 February 2001.
• R. Sadler, G. Hayes, and M. Ali, “Compact, broadband inverted-F antennas with conductive elements and wireless communicators incorporating same,’’ US patent number: 6,218,992, granted -17 April 2001.

Courses Taught

• ELCT 361 Electromagnetics
• ELCT 371 Electronics
• ELCT 564 RF Circuit Design for Wireless
• ELCT 862 Antennas and Radiation
• ELCT 864 Microwave Devices and Circuits
• ELCT 891 Industrial, Scientific, and Medical Applications of Microwaves