Abstract – Over the last 20 years, there have been significant research and development activities on Radio Frequency Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (RF-MEMS) devices, circuits and systems. RF-MEMS has been recognized as an emerging technology for revolutionizing future RF designs, promising superior performance, significant size/weight reduction and lower cost. At the same time, the RF-MEMS community has faced ever-increasing competition from existing players in the market. In this seminar, we will review the fundamentals of RF-MEMS design and fabrication, discuss its weaknesses and strengths, present state-of-the-art results and propose future research directions.

Dr. Xiaoguang “Leo” Liu received the Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Zhejiang University, China in 2004 and the Ph.D. degree from Purdue University, USA in 2010. He was a postdoctoral research associate with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University. He joined the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, Davis, in November 1, 2011. Dr. Liu has extensive experience in MEMS design, fabrication and measurement. His research interests include novel MEMS/NEMS devices, RF MEMS and high-Q tunable components for reconfigurable radio frontends, microwave, millimeter wave and THz electronics and antennas. Dr. Liu has published more than 35 refereed conference and journal papers. As a student, he was awarded the graduate fellowship from IEEE Antenna and Propagation Society.

Abstract – There's massive innovation now in materials, products, processes, technologies and systems. In this interdisciplinary talk, Sudeep will share how Cradle to Cradle® design (C2C), eliminates the concept of waste and keeps the technical and biological materials flowing in a macro-integrated manner. Waste=Food. This global circular economy is regenerative by design and worth $1Trillion per year. C2C is a systematic methodology, a robust framework, a professional practice, and a certification standard for well-designed and engineered products. This is especially relevant since the people of California recently passed the Safer Consumer Products Act to address the safety of all consumer products and now the regulations kick in this Fall. Sudeep will present many examples of elegant C2C innovations in the world of industrial business to create inspiring new materials and products.

Dr. Sudeep Motupalli Rao is a chemical engineer who worked in the field in water and wastewater treatment for steel plants in India as well as R&D of hybrid material coatings at UNM/Sandia National Labs in New Mexico. He worked in the semiconductor industry for a few years in surface metrology and global team development. He spent a few painful yet blissful years in the NGO world. Design is his passion. He enjoys teaching while learning. He has a bachelors degree in Chemical Engineering from the Rural Engineering College in India, a Masters degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of New Mexico and an interdisciplinary PhD in Engineering from UNM. Go Lobos, the real ones!