Academic Faculty
Dr. Morris Cohen
Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Email: mcohen@gatech.edu
Office: Van Leer 511
LinkedIn
Morris Cohen received his B.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University in 2003 and 2010, respectively, and served as a research scientist there until August 2013. From September 2012 until August 2013, Dr. Cohen was appointed as AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow at the National Science Foundation. In Fall 2013, he joined the faculty in the School of ECE at Georgia Tech, where he is now Professor, and Associate Director of the Center for Space Technology and Research. He was selected for the NSF CAREER award in 2017 and received the ONR Young Investigator Award in 2015. He is the winner of the 2014 Santimay Basu Prize by the International Union of Radio Science, an award given once per three years to an early career scientist. He is an author of more than 100 journal publications and 240 conference presentations. He served as an Associate Editor for Radio Science and as President of the Atmospheric and Space Electricity Section of the American Geophysical Union. He utilizes a “flipped classroom” model for teaching, which increases student engagement and peer interaction, and won Georgia Tech’s CTL/BP Junior Faculty Teaching Excellence Award in 2018. He enjoys hiking, cooking, traveling, and building pizza ovens.
Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Email: mcohen@gatech.edu
Office: Van Leer 511
Morris Cohen received his B.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University in 2003 and 2010, respectively, and served as a research scientist there until August 2013. From September 2012 until August 2013, Dr. Cohen was appointed as AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow at the National Science Foundation. In Fall 2013, he joined the faculty in the School of ECE at Georgia Tech, where he is now Professor, and Associate Director of the Center for Space Technology and Research. He was selected for the NSF CAREER award in 2017 and received the ONR Young Investigator Award in 2015. He is the winner of the 2014 Santimay Basu Prize by the International Union of Radio Science, an award given once per three years to an early career scientist. He is an author of more than 100 journal publications and 240 conference presentations. He served as an Associate Editor for Radio Science and as President of the Atmospheric and Space Electricity Section of the American Geophysical Union. He utilizes a “flipped classroom” model for teaching, which increases student engagement and peer interaction, and won Georgia Tech’s CTL/BP Junior Faculty Teaching Excellence Award in 2018. He enjoys hiking, cooking, traveling, and building pizza ovens.
Research Faculty
Kevin Whitmore
LinkedIn
Kevin began as an undergraduate student on the VIP team `Lightning from the Edge of Space’ in Spring 2017. He stayed at Georgia Tech for his MS degree, graduating in 2019, and then joined the LF Radio Lab as a full-time research engineer. He manages the group’s field site operations, and his research interests are in novel time varying antenna technology and demonstrations.
Kevin began as an undergraduate student on the VIP team `Lightning from the Edge of Space’ in Spring 2017. He stayed at Georgia Tech for his MS degree, graduating in 2019, and then joined the LF Radio Lab as a full-time research engineer. He manages the group’s field site operations, and his research interests are in novel time varying antenna technology and demonstrations.
Graduate Students
Evan Worthington
PhD Student, ECE
Joined: Spring 2015
Evan works full-time at GTRI while completing his PhD dissertation on transionospheric VLF propagation and ionospheric remote sensing.
PhD Student, ECE
Joined: Spring 2015
Evan works full-time at GTRI while completing his PhD dissertation on transionospheric VLF propagation and ionospheric remote sensing.
Nathan Opalinski
LinkedIn
PhD Student, ECE
Joined: Fall 2015
Nathan investigates VLF-radio based imaging and detection inside shielded/metallic boxes.
PhD Student, ECE
Joined: Fall 2015
Nathan investigates VLF-radio based imaging and detection inside shielded/metallic boxes.
Roderick Gray
LinkedIn
PhD Student, ECE
Joined: Summer 2019
Roderick’s research interest is power grid remote sensing and situational awareness with non-contact VLF measurements.
PhD Student, ECE
Joined: Summer 2019
Roderick’s research interest is power grid remote sensing and situational awareness with non-contact VLF measurements.
Liam Smith
LinkedIn
PhD Student, ML-ECE
Joined: Fall 2020
Liam is a PhD student from Rochester, NY. He received his BS degrees in Computational Mathematics and Electrical Engineering with a minor in Physics as well as his MS in Electrical Engineering with a focus on Signal Processing at RIT. His current research focuses on applying physics-supported machine learning techniques to improve ionospheric forecasting, specifically in regards to electron density.
PhD Student, ML-ECE
Joined: Fall 2020
Liam is a PhD student from Rochester, NY. He received his BS degrees in Computational Mathematics and Electrical Engineering with a minor in Physics as well as his MS in Electrical Engineering with a focus on Signal Processing at RIT. His current research focuses on applying physics-supported machine learning techniques to improve ionospheric forecasting, specifically in regards to electron density.
Jeremiah Lightner
LinkedIn
PhD Student, ECE
Joined: Fall 2022
Jeremy is a Ph.D. student from Lilburn, GA. He received his BSEE from Georgia Tech. After his undergrad, he was a Radar/RF Research Engineer in ATAS (Aerospace, Transportation & Advanced Systems Laboratory) at the GTRI primarily working with high-power vacuum tube amplifiers and antennas. His current research interest is in VLF and HF emissions and scattering from lightning.
PhD Student, ECE
Joined: Fall 2022
Jeremy is a Ph.D. student from Lilburn, GA. He received his BSEE from Georgia Tech. After his undergrad, he was a Radar/RF Research Engineer in ATAS (Aerospace, Transportation & Advanced Systems Laboratory) at the GTRI primarily working with high-power vacuum tube amplifiers and antennas. His current research interest is in VLF and HF emissions and scattering from lightning.
Matthew Strong
LinkedIn
PhD Student, ECE
Joined: Fall 2023
Matthew is developing D-region ionopsheric diagnostics using VLF data streams.
PhD Student, ECE
Joined: Fall 2023
Matthew is developing D-region ionopsheric diagnostics using VLF data streams.
Augustus Richter
LinkedIn
PhD Student, ECE
Joined: Fall 2024
Gus is a Draper Scholars Fellow, studying denoising and separation algorithms for VLF data
PhD Student, ECE
Joined: Fall 2024
Gus is a Draper Scholars Fellow, studying denoising and separation algorithms for VLF data
Mel Tamhane
LinkedIn
PhD Student, ECE
Joined: Fall 2024
Mel is studying ionospheric diagnostics with VLF, and the impacts of geophysical phenomena on the lower ionosphere.
PhD Student, ECE
Joined: Fall 2024
Mel is studying ionospheric diagnostics with VLF, and the impacts of geophysical phenomena on the lower ionosphere.
Nikki Dengel
LinkedIn
MS Student, ECE
Joined: Fall 2024
Nikki is studying how VLF waves can be used to remotely sense acoustic and gravity waves over a wide continental-scale area
MS Student, ECE
Joined: Fall 2024
Nikki is studying how VLF waves can be used to remotely sense acoustic and gravity waves over a wide continental-scale area
Felipe Sandoval
LinkedIn
PhD Student, ECE
Joined: Fall 2024
Felipe is building and applying new ionospheric remote sensing instrumentation
PhD Student, ECE
Joined: Fall 2024
Felipe is building and applying new ionospheric remote sensing instrumentation
Undergraduate Students
PhD Student Alumni
Joseph Ellis
LinkedIn
Graduated Summer 2024
Thesis: Detection and Characterization of Ionospheric Sporadic-E: A Machine Learning Approach
Joined the US Space Force after graduation
Graduated Summer 2024
Thesis: Detection and Characterization of Ionospheric Sporadic-E: A Machine Learning Approach
Joined the US Space Force after graduation
Shweta Dutta
LinkedIn
Graduated Summer 2024
Thesis: Topside Ionospheric Modeling using Machine Learning
Joined GTRI after graduation
Graduated Summer 2024
Thesis: Topside Ionospheric Modeling using Machine Learning
Joined GTRI after graduation
David Richardson
LinkedIn
Graduated Summer 2023
Thesis: Unifying VLF Transmitter and Lightning-driven D-Region Ionosphere Remote Sensing
Joined Sandia National Labs after graduating
Graduated Summer 2023
Thesis: Unifying VLF Transmitter and Lightning-driven D-Region Ionosphere Remote Sensing
Joined Sandia National Labs after graduating
Charles Topliff
LinkedIn
Graduated Spring 2023
Thesis: Towards Comprehensively Modeling the Earth-Sun Magnetic Interaction Using Machine Learning
Joined Morgan Stanley after graduating
Graduated Spring 2023
Thesis: Towards Comprehensively Modeling the Earth-Sun Magnetic Interaction Using Machine Learning
Joined Morgan Stanley after graduating
Nikhil Pailoor
LinkedIn
Graduated Fall 2022
Thesis: Evaluating the role of lightning-induced electron precipitation towards radiation belt electron loss
Joined Los Alamos National Labs after graduating
Graduated Fall 2022
Thesis: Evaluating the role of lightning-induced electron precipitation towards radiation belt electron loss
Joined Los Alamos National Labs after graduating
Edward Slevin
LinkedIn
Graduated Spring 2022
Thesis: Broadband Electrically-Small VLF/LF Transmitter Realized by Rapidly Time-Varying Antenna Properties
Joined MITRE Corporation after graduating
Graduated Spring 2022
Thesis: Broadband Electrically-Small VLF/LF Transmitter Realized by Rapidly Time-Varying Antenna Properties
Joined MITRE Corporation after graduating
Tohid Shekari
LinkedIn
Graduated Summer 2021 (co-advised with Raheem Beyah)
Thesis: Methods to Attack and Secure the Power Grids and Energy Market
Stayed for postdoc after graduating, then joined Amazon
Graduated Summer 2021 (co-advised with Raheem Beyah)
Thesis: Methods to Attack and Secure the Power Grids and Energy Market
Stayed for postdoc after graduating, then joined Amazon
Parker Singletary
LinkedIn
Graduated Spring 2020
Thesis: Using a High-speed Plasma as a Conducting Channel to Enable a Novel Antenna Approach
Joined GTRI after graduating
Graduated Spring 2020
Thesis: Using a High-speed Plasma as a Conducting Channel to Enable a Novel Antenna Approach
Joined GTRI after graduating
Marc Higginson-Rollins
LinkedIn
Graduated Spring 2020
Thesis: Characterizing D-Region Roughness Using LF/MF Signals of Opportunity
Joined McKinsey after graduating
Graduated Spring 2020
Thesis: Characterizing D-Region Roughness Using LF/MF Signals of Opportunity
Joined McKinsey after graduating
Jackson McCormick
LinkedIn
Graduated Fall 2019
Thesis: D Region Tomography: A Technique for Ionospheric Imaging using Lightning-generated Sferics and Inverse Modeling
Stayed as postdoc after graduating, then joined Ensemble labs
Graduated Fall 2019
Thesis: D Region Tomography: A Technique for Ionospheric Imaging using Lightning-generated Sferics and Inverse Modeling
Stayed as postdoc after graduating, then joined Ensemble labs
Connie Liu
LinkedIn
Graduated Spring 2019 (co-advised with Mitchell Walker)
Thesis: Investigating physics of nanosecond-pulsed argon plasma discharges for a VLF plasma antenna
Joined SpaceX after graduating
Graduated Spring 2019 (co-advised with Mitchell Walker)
Thesis: Investigating physics of nanosecond-pulsed argon plasma discharges for a VLF plasma antenna
Joined SpaceX after graduating
Nicholas Gross
Graduated Fall 2018
Thesis: An Ionospheric Remote Sensing Method Using an Array of Narrowband VLF Transmitters and Receivers
Joined the US Air Force after graduation
Graduated Fall 2018
Thesis: An Ionospheric Remote Sensing Method Using an Array of Narrowband VLF Transmitters and Receivers
Joined the US Air Force after graduation
MS Student Alumni
Zach Perlman
Graduated Spring 2024
Thesis: Integrating LASCO Corona Images into Spatio-Temporal Attention Model for Improved Solar Wind Speed Prediction During ICMEs
Graduated Spring 2024
Thesis: Integrating LASCO Corona Images into Spatio-Temporal Attention Model for Improved Solar Wind Speed Prediction During ICMEs
Abrar Mohammed (MS in CS)
LinkedIn
Graduated Spring 2024
Joined a `stealth mode’ startup after graduating
Graduated Spring 2024
Joined a `stealth mode’ startup after graduating
Lee Thompson
LinkedIn
Graduated Fall 2017
Thesis: Broadband Electrically Short Transmitters via Time-Varying Antenna Properties
Joined SpaceX after graduating
Graduated Fall 2017
Thesis: Broadband Electrically Short Transmitters via Time-Varying Antenna Properties
Joined SpaceX after graduating
Timothy Bolton
LinkedIn
Graduated Spring 2016
Thesis: Optimal Design of Electrically-Small Loop Antenna Including Surrounding Medium Effects
Joined Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) after graduating
Graduated Spring 2016
Thesis: Optimal Design of Electrically-Small Loop Antenna Including Surrounding Medium Effects
Joined Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) after graduating
Postdoc Alumni
Jackson McCormick
LinkedIn
Completed Postdoc Fellowship Spring 2021
Joined Ensemble Labs after departing
Completed Postdoc Fellowship Spring 2021
Joined Ensemble Labs after departing
Ajeet Maurya
Completed Fulbright Fellowship Fall 2016
Joined Indian Institute of Geomagnetism after departing
Completed Fulbright Fellowship Fall 2016
Joined Indian Institute of Geomagnetism after departing
Undergraduate Thesis Alumni
Baris Volkan Gurses
LinkedIn
Graduated Spring 2020
Thesis: Ultra-Sensitive Broadband Receiver for Longwave Radio Reception
Joined Cal Tech PhD Program after graduating
Graduated Spring 2020
Thesis: Ultra-Sensitive Broadband Receiver for Longwave Radio Reception
Joined Cal Tech PhD Program after graduating