John Papapolymerou

John Papapolymerou (Greek: Ιωάννης Παπαπολυμέρου; born Ioannis Papapolymerou) is a Greek-American electrical engineer specializing in radio frequency (RF), microwave, millimeter-wave, and terahertz circuits, antennas, and packaging for wireless communication systems, sensors, and radars. He is the interim dean of the Michigan State University College of Engineering, an MSU Research Foundation Professor, and director of the MSU Space Electronics Initiative.^[1] He is a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).^[2]

Papapolymerou received a diploma (B.S.) in electrical engineering from the National Technical University of Athens, Greece, in 1993. He then moved to the United States to pursue graduate studies at the University of Michigan, where he earned an M.S. in electrical engineering in 1994 and a Ph.D. in electrical engineering in 1999.^[2][3]

After completing his doctorate, Papapolymerou joined the University of Arizona as an assistant professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering from 1999 to 2001.^[4]

In 2001, Papapolymerou joined the faculty of the Georgia Institute of Technology School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, where he rose through the ranks from assistant professor (2001–2005) to associate professor (2005–2009) to full professor (2009–2013).^[4] From 2013 to 2015, he held the Ken Byers Professorship.^[5]

At Georgia Tech, Papapolymerou led the Microwave Circuit Technology Group, where his team developed lightweight System-on-a-Package phased arrays, RF MEMS reconfigurable antennas and filters, silicon micromachined terahertz filters and multipliers, and microfluidic power amplifiers.^[2] He also served as associate director of the Georgia Electronic Design Center from 2011 to 2015.^[5]

In August 2015, Papapolymerou was appointed chair of the Michigan State University Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and MSU Foundation Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering.^[2] He served as department chair for nine years, during which he worked to expand the department and increase interactions with industry.^[1]

In July 2024, Papapolymerou transitioned from his role as department chair to become the inaugural director of the MSU Space Electronics Initiative, a multidisciplinary industry-based research center focused on the design and testing of electronic devices, circuits, and systems for space applications in collaboration with MSU's Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB).^[6] In October 2024, he became interim dean of the MSU College of Engineering, where he leads eight academic departments and two academic programs.^[1]

Papapolymerou's research focuses on RF, microwave, millimeter-wave, and terahertz circuits, antennas, and packaging for wireless communication systems, sensors, and radars. His work includes the development of additive manufacturing techniques for three-dimensional RF circuits and modules, cost-effective packaged RF modules for high-power applications, and thin nanomagnetic materials for high-frequency applications.^[3]

Papapolymerou has served as editor-in-chief of IEEE Microwave and Wireless Components Letters from 2012 to 2015, the first Georgia Tech faculty member to hold this position.^[7] He also served as associate editor for IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques (2010–2012), IEEE Microwave and Wireless Components Letters (2004–2007), and IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation (2004–2010).^[4]

• CAREER Award, National Science Foundation (2002)^[2]
• Young Investigator Award, Army Research Office (2004)^[2]
• Outstanding Junior Faculty Award, Georgia Tech School of ECE (2009)^[2]
• Outstanding Young Engineer Award, IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques Society (2009)^[3]
• John Kraus Antenna Award, IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society (2010)^[8]
• IEEE Fellow (2011)^[2]
• H.A. Wheeler Prize Paper Award, IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society (2012)^[3]
• Rudolf Henning Distinguished Mentoring Award, IEEE Wireless and Microwave Technology Conference (2025)^[9]