KEYNOTE SPEAKER 1

Professor Qiang Chen

School of Engineering, Tohoku University, Japan

Title: Development of Liquid Crystal-Based Beam-Steerable Reflectarray Antennas

Abstract: This report outlines our research on the development of liquid crystal-based beam-steerable reflectarray antennas. The study addresses key challenges, including the characterization of the dielectric constant of liquid crystals at RF frequencies, the design of a bias circuit network for 2D beam steering, and the development of a unit cell with low reflection loss and fast response time.

Biography:  Dr. Qiang Chen is currently Chair Professor of Electromagnetic Engineering Laboratory with the Department of Communications Engineering, School of Engineering, Tohoku University. His primary research interests include antennas, microwave and millimeter wave, electromagnetic measurement, and computational electromagnetics.

He was the Chair of IEEE AP-S Tokyo Chapter from 2017 to 2018, the Chair of IEICE Technical Committee on Antennas and Propagation from 2019 to 2021. He served as the General Chair of ISAP2025. IEICE Fellow.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER 2

Assoc. Prof. Ir. Dr. Mohd Haizal Jamaluddin

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Malaysia

Title: MIMO Dielectric Resonator Antennas for High-Efficiency Wireless Systems: Design and Isolation Strategies

Abstract:  The increasing demand for high data rates and reliable wireless communication in emerging 5G and beyond systems has driven the need for efficient antenna solutions with enhanced capacity. While dielectric resonator antennas (DRAs) offer attractive features such as high radiation efficiency, wide bandwidth, and suitability for high-frequency applications, the use of multiple elements in MIMO configurations introduces significant challenges, particularly mutual coupling and correlation between antenna elements.

This keynote presents a comprehensive overview of design and isolation strategies for MIMO dielectric resonator antennas, emphasizing systematic approaches to mitigate coupling effects in compact configurations. The discussion begins with fundamental concepts of DRAs and MIMO systems, followed by an examination of the limitations of conventional single-antenna designs. The core of the presentation focuses on practical design techniques, including element arrangement, polarization diversity, and advanced isolation enhancement methods such as structural modification, parasitic elements, and ground-plane engineering.

A series of representative designs developed within the research group are presented to illustrate the progressive improvement in antenna performance, demonstrating significant enhancement in isolation and reduction in envelope correlation coefficient (ECC). The keynote concludes with insights into current challenges and future directions in MIMO DRA technology for next-generation wireless systems.

Biography: Assoc. Prof. Ir. Dr. Mohd Haizal Jamaluddin is an academic staff member at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), specializing in antenna design, RF and microwave circuits, and wireless communication systems. He received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from UTM and subsequently obtained his Ph.D. in Signal Processing and Telecommunications from Université de Rennes 1, France. He has an extensive research track record with over 140 indexed journal publications and more than 100 conference papers, with an H-index of 30 in Scopus. His research focuses on dielectric resonator antennas (DRA), MIMO systems, and 5G/6G antenna technologies. He has led numerous national and international research grants and has supervised multiple PhD and Master’s students in the area of advanced antenna design.Dr. Haizal is actively involved in the IEEE community and previously served as Chair of the IEEE Malaysia AP/MTT/EMC Joint Chapter, where he led the chapter to win the Best Chapter Award at the international level in 2025. His current research interests include MIMO dielectric resonator antennas, millimeter-wave systems, and next-generation wireless communication technologies.