Yijun Zhou - Interview
Yijun Zhou
PhD Student, Advisor: Prof. Volakis
Hi everyone! My name is Yijun and I've been with ESL for more than 3 years.
1. Why did you choose to join ESL?
I chose ESL because I like antennas, which are the most front end of the communication system. And ESL is also in the most front end of the whole EM community, leading the most state-of-art researches. That's why I chose ESL. (ESL has the complete set of measurement equipment, the powerful simulation code and most important, the resourceful professors and research scientists. Furthermore, ESL has a large and strong alumni network, which brings lots of opportunities for research and career development.)
2. What do you like most about being part of ESL?
I like ESL particularly because it's so versatile. There are so many projects going on here. You can always find one that you're interested in. (The research in ESL almost covers every area of electromagnetism, from hardware to software, from theories to applications. I can learn a lot from different projects. We even have projects in cooperation with other departments such as material and chemical department, which makes the research more fun and challenging. )
3. What project are you currently working on?
Currently, I'm working on developing small GPS antennas and arrays. Size reduction is always a sign of innovation and improvement. Not only that, we also want our antenna to work at more frequencies and higher gain and also have features like anti-jamming, so on and so forth. (Material design is one of the approaches to achieve the goal. We also work with the material department and apply the polymer technology and nanoparticles to create novel materials for the antenna.)
4. What is it like being a GRA at ESL?
The most different part of being a GRA is: you are not only a student who receives the information; you have to be an information provider, and so you have to be reliable and responsible.
