Specialization Areas Descriptions Faculty

Area Descriptions

While not required, students within the Klipsch School may, through their choice of electives, concentrate in an area of specialization. The available areas, and a brief description of each, follow.

COMMUNICATIONS, TELEMETRY, AND SIGNAL PROCESSING Students study space communication systems, wireless systems, data transmission, and audio & video signal compression, decompression, and transformation. Students working in this area could possibly work on cell phone design, satellites, sensor design and monitoring, imaging and pattern recognition (from security to medical applications), music (filtering signals, processing signals), any type of transmission (communication) from one place to another, noise reduction, analysis of signals.
COMPUTERS The Klipsch School offers a special program for students interested in computer engineering. Students wishing to become involved in this rapidly growing field will find courses in digital logic and system design, computer architecture, data networking, integrated circuits and applications, high performance computer design, digital control and instrumentation systems, digital signal processing, operating systems, and software engineering. These courses offer the student an opportunity to obtain an in-depth knowledge of digital systems and practical experience in the design, operation, programming, and applications of digital computers. Students could expect to continue on in these areas to develop better and faster computers and interfaces.
CONTROL SYSTEMS Work in the systems area provides the student with a background in modeling, analysis, design, simulation, and control of complex systems. These systems may be associated with engineering, ecology, transportation, natural resources, environment, or other areas. Students in this area could expect to model physical systems, and work on controlling various processes.
ELECTRIC ENERGY Elective courses in power systems acquaint the student with the design, analysis, and operation of power systems. Courses are offered in high voltage transmission lines, distribution systems, rotating machines, and digital computer analysis of the steady state operation and short circuit conditions of a power system. Students in this area could expect to work in the generation, distribution and monitoring of systems which deliver power to consumers.
ELECTROMAGNETICS and Microwave Engineering Students study electromagnetic fields, wave propagation, antennas, waveguides, transmission lines, lasers, and optics. Practical experience is available in the high-frequency and antenna laboratories and anechoic chamber. Students in this area could expect to work in the design and use of antennas, and microwaves and the sending and receiving of signals.
Micro-ELECTRONICS Students study discrete analog as well as digital and analog VLSI electronics, preparing them for design, analysis, and testing of complex circuits. During the senior year, VLSI students will design a chip to be fabricated. Students in this area could expect to design chips to be used in various devices (cars, homes, computers, almost any electrical device).
PHOTONICS Students may concentrate in the fields of fiber optics, lasers, optical communications, imaging, and optical signal processing. Students could expect to work with lasers and laser applications including communications, imaging systems, and optical sensors. This could include medical and astronomical applications.
SPACE SYSTEMS ENGINEERING Elective courses prepare the student for employment opportunities in the aerospace industry. Students are introduced to the complexities of a space systems life cycle and the disciplines required to design, integrate, and operate large systems.

For specific graduate information on these areas, click on the subject areas below:

Area Faculty

Circuits and Control Systems:

Don Merrill, Emeritus Professor, PhD (University of Utah)
Robert Paz, Associate Professor, PhD (University of Illinois)
Nadipuram Prasad, Associate Professor, PhD (New Mexico State University)
Wiley Thompson, Emeritus Professor, PhD (Michigan State University)

Communications and Telemetering, and Digital Signal Processing:

Deva Borah, Assistant Professor, PhD (Australian National University)
Frank Carden, Emeritus Professor, PhD (Oklahoma State University)
Charles Creusere, Assistant Professor, PhD (University of California at Santa Barbara)
Phillip DeLeon, Associate Professor, PhD (University of Colorado)
Sheila Horan, College Associate Professor, PhD (New Mexico State University)
Stephen Horan, Professor, Frank Carden Chair for Telemetry and Telecommunications, PhD (New Mexico State University)
Lonnie Ludeman, Emeritus Professor, PhD (University of Arizona)

Computer Engineering:

Jeanine Cook, Assistant Professor, PhD (New Mexico State University)
Gerry Flachs, Emeritus Professor, PhD (Michigan State University)
Hong Huang, Assistant Professor, PhD (Georgia Institute of Technology)
Eric Johnson, Professor, PhD (New Mexico State University)
Krist Petersen, Associate Dean of Engineering, PhD (New Mexico State University)
Juris Reinfelds, Emeritus Professor, PhD (University of Adelaide)
Steven Stochaj, Associate Professor, PhD (University of Maryland)
Javin Taylor, Emeritus Professor, PhD (University of Wyoming)

Electromagnetics and Microwave Engineering:

Steven Castillo, Regents Professor and Dean of Engineering, PhD (University of Illinois)
Muhammad Dawood, Assistant Professor, PhD (University of Nebraska-Lincoln)
Russell Jedlicka, Assistant Professor, PhD (New Mexico State University)
Qing-Huo Liu, Adjunct Associate Professor, PhD (University of Illinois)
Kwong Ng, Paul W. and Valerie Klipsch Distinguished Professor, PhD (Ohio State University)

Microelectronics and VLSI:

Ray Black, Emeritus Professor, MS (Stanford University)
Paul Furth, Associate Professor, PhD (Johns Hopkins University)
David Pippen, Emeritus Instructor, MS (New Mexico State University)
Jaime Ramirez-Angulo, Paul W. and Valerie Klipsch Distinguished Professor, DSc (Stuttgart University)

Energy Systems and Electric Utility Management Program:

Abraham Ellis, Adjunct Assistant Professor, PhD (New Mexico State University)
William Kersting, Emeritus Professor, MS (Illinois Institute of Technology)
Joydeep Mitra, Assistant Professor, PhD (Texas A&M University)
Satish Ranade, PNM Chair for Utility Management, PhD (University of Florida)
Howard Smolleck, Professor, PhD (University of Texas-Arlington)

Photonics:

Charles Bruce, Professor, PhD (New Mexico State University) - joint with Physics
Michael Giles, Paul W. and Valerie Klipsch Distinguished Professor, PhD (University of Arizona)
David Voelz, Associate Professor, PhD (University of Illinois)
Mikhail A Vorontsov, Adjunct Professor, D.Sc. (Moscow State University)

Space Systems Engineering:

Charles Boehmer, Adjunct Instructor, MSAE (U.S. Naval Postgraduate School)
Gary Geyer, Adjunct Instructor, MSEE (University of Southern California)