Electrical Engineer, Programmer & Researcher

Kasra Rouhi

RF Design Engineer, and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Research spanning metamaterials, metasurfaces, machine learning, sensors, electron beam devices, and bioelectromagnetics. Passionate about bridging cutting-edge electromagnetic theory with real-world engineering and scientific discovery. Actively applying machine learning and AI (using Python, TensorFlow, and PyTorch) to accelerate the design and optimization of passive electromagnetic devices.

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01
Who I am

About Me

I am Kasra Rouhi, an RF and electromagnetic engineer currently serving as an RF Passive Design Engineer at Apple Inc., within the Advanced Technologies Group's Signal Integrity and Power Integrity EM team. My work bridges the frontier of electromagnetic theory with the precision demands of next-generation consumer hardware.

I hold a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering (with Highest Honors, ranked 1st) from the University of California, Irvine, where my doctoral research — funded by AFOSR and NSF — advanced the modeling of electron beam devices and pioneered ultrasensitive circuits exploiting exceptional points of degeneracy (EPD). Near these special operating points, eigenvalue trajectories follow fractional power-law dependencies on external perturbations, enabling sensors with orders-of-magnitude improved sensitivity.

My research spans a broad spectrum: metamaterials and metasurfaces for terahertz wave control, machine learning for accelerated electromagnetic device design, reconfigurable graphene-based structures, traveling wave tube modeling, and bioelectromagnetics. I have authored over 70 publications across high-impact journals including IEEE Transactions, Physical Review, Applied Physics Letters, Carbon, and Nature Portfolio journals.

Beyond research, I actively contribute to the scientific community as a peer reviewer for over 100 journals across IEEE, Optica, IOP Publishing, Wiley, Elsevier, Nature Portfolio, ACS, and many others. I have been recognized as a certified and trusted reviewer by multiple publishing bodies, and have served as a keynote speaker, student branch chair, and co-advisor to graduate researchers.

Kasra Rouhi
02
Academic Journey

Education & Degrees

University of California, Irvine
Sep. 2019 – Nov. 2024  ·  Irvine, CA, USA
UCI
Doctor of Philosophy — Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Circuits and Devices (Electromagnetics)
Thesis: "Advancement in The Modeling of Electron Beam Devices and Ultrasensitive Circuits"
Advisors: Prof. Filippo Capolino & Prof. Alexander Figotin
Highest Honors
Iran University of Science & Technology
Sep. 2015 – Sep. 2018  ·  Tehran, Tehran, Iran
IUST
Master of Science — Electrical Engineering
Electromagnetic Fields and Waves
Thesis: "Control of Scattering Electromagnetic Waves from Flat Surfaces by Using Controllable Metasurfaces in the Terahertz Band"
Advisor: Prof. Ali Abdolali
Highest Honors
Iran University of Science & Technology
Sep. 2011 – Sep. 2015  ·  Tehran, Tehran, Iran
IUST
Bachelor of Science — Electrical Engineering
Communications
Thesis: "Design and Simulation of Metamaterial Lenses for Bioelectromagnetic Applications"
Advisor: Prof. Ali Abdolali
Allameh Helli High School — SAMPAD
Sep. 2007 – Sep. 2011  ·  Tehran, Tehran, Iran
SAMPAD
Diploma — Mathematics and Physics
National Organization for Development of Exceptional Talents (SAMPAD)
Selective national program for exceptionally gifted students. Focused on advanced mathematics and physics in preparation for university entrance.
03
Scientific Focus & Research Area

Research Interests

Metamaterials
Metamaterials & Metasurfaces
Engineering artificial electromagnetic materials and two-dimensional surfaces with precisely tailored properties for advanced wave manipulation and control. Research spans beam shaping, reconfigurable wavefront engineering, real-time terahertz wave control, frequency-selective surfaces, and tunable material integration. These engineered structures enable unprecedented independent control over the amplitude, phase, and polarization of electromagnetic waves, with broad applications in sensing, wireless communications, high-resolution imaging, electromagnetic stealth, holography, and beam focusing across microwave, terahertz, and optical frequency regimes.
Machine Learning
Machine Learning
Applying artificial intelligence and deep learning techniques to accelerate the design, optimization, and inverse synthesis of electromagnetic structures and devices. Neural network architectures serve as surrogate models that replace computationally intensive full-wave simulations, enabling rapid exploration of vast design spaces for antennas, metasurfaces, and photonic devices. This data-driven approach bridges the gap between theoretical electromagnetic modeling and practical hardware engineering, uncovering high-performance device configurations that conventional parameter-sweep methods would fail to identify within reasonable time frames.
Sensors
Sensors
Designing ultrasensitive sensing systems that exploit exceptional points in coupled resonator circuits and wave-guiding structures. These operating points arise when both eigenvalues and eigenvectors simultaneously coalesce. Near these special operating points, eigenvalue trajectories follow fractional power-law dependencies on external perturbations, producing dramatically amplified frequency shifts in response to tiny physical changes. This approach enables sensors with orders-of-magnitude improved sensitivity compared to conventional designs, with potential applications spanning chemical detection, mechanical perturbation sensing, gyroscopes, and precision measurement across both radio-frequency and optical domains.
Electron Beam Devices
Electron Beam Devices
Developing advanced small-signal analytical models for traveling wave tubes using serpentine and helix waveguide slow-wave structures, extending the classical Pierce model to account for dispersive frequency-dependent parameters and space-charge effects. Research investigates exceptional degeneracies in beam-wave interaction systems, multi-stage sever configurations, and parametric modeling validated against particle-in-cell simulations. These vacuum electronic devices remain critical for high-power microwave amplification in satellite communications, radar systems, and directed-energy applications where solid-state amplifiers cannot match the required power levels.
Reconfigurable Materials
Reconfigurable Materials
Investigating tunable electromagnetic devices built on field-effect materials whose properties can be actively controlled by external stimuli. Graphene, a single-atom-thick carbon lattice, is the primary platform: its surface conductivity responds continuously to gate voltage or chemical doping, enabling real-time control of terahertz wave reflection, transmission, and phase for orbital angular momentum generation, programmable beam steering, and multi-channel communications. Vanadium dioxide undergoes a reversible metal-to-insulator phase transition under thermal excitation, enabling switchable multifocal metalens designs. Indium tin oxide offers voltage-tunable permittivity at near-infrared frequencies, complementing graphene in photonic reconfigurable architectures.
Bioelectromagnetics
Bioelectromagnetics
Applying engineered electromagnetic fields and metamaterial lens designs to biomedical applications including targeted hyperthermia treatment, biosensing, and high-resolution imaging. Research explores how artificially structured materials can focus and reshape electromagnetic energy on the subwavelength scale, enabling non-invasive diagnostic techniques and localized therapeutic interventions. Investigations span the interaction of electromagnetic fields with biological tissues across microwave and terahertz frequency ranges, with an emphasis on safe exposure levels, field penetration depth, and the design of applicators optimized for specific clinical scenarios.
04
Work History

Professional Experience

RF Passive Design Engineer
Apple Inc. — Advanced Technologies Group | SIPI EM Team
Dec. 2024 – Present  ·  San Diego, CA, USA
Designing passive RF and electromagnetic devices for next-generation hardware products within Apple's Advanced Technologies Group. Applying advanced EM simulation and design methodologies to design challenges, bridging cutting-edge electromagnetic theory with real-world engineering. Leveraging machine learning and AI-driven optimization to accelerate passive EM device design and inverse synthesis workflows.
Research Assistant (Ph.D.)
University of California, Irvine — EECS Department
Sep. 2019 – Nov. 2024  ·  Irvine, CA, USA
Conducted doctoral research under Prof. Filippo Capolino and Prof. Alexander Figotin on AFOSR- and NSF-funded projects, advancing the modeling of electron beam devices and ultrasensitive circuits by exploiting exceptional points of degeneracy. Developed analytical models for traveling wave tubes, designed gyrator-based sensing circuits with eigenvalue sensitivity, and published extensively in high-impact journals and conferences.
EM Design Intern
Apple Inc. — PACE SIPI EM Team
Jun. 2024 – Sep. 2024  ·  San Diego, CA, USA
Designed passive electromagnetic devices using deep learning techniques within Apple's PACE EM team. Applied machine learning and AI-driven optimization methods to accelerate the design and inverse synthesis of passive EM structures for different applications.
Research Scientist
Iran University of Science & Technology — Metasurface Lab
Sep. 2018 – Sep. 2019  ·  Tehran, Tehran, Iran
Conducted research on graphene-based metasurfaces for next-generation wireless communication systems under the supervision of Dr. S. Ehsan Hosseininejad. Investigated reprogrammable digital metasurface architectures at terahertz frequencies for multi-channel near-field communications, planar lens, terahertz wave manipulation and high-speed data transmission beyond 5G.
MSc Students Research Leader
Iran University of Science & Technology — Applied EM Lab
Nov. 2017 – Sep. 2020  ·  Tehran, Tehran, Iran
Led and co-advised a group of three MSc students in the Applied Electromagnetic Lab, supervising research in tunable metasurfaces, terahertz wave manipulation, and reconfigurable intelligent surfaces. Guided students from topic formulation through numerical validation and publication, contributing to multiple peer-reviewed journal papers.
05
Academic Output

Selected Publications

Digital Metasurface Based on Graphene: An Application to Beam Steering in Terahertz Plasmonic Antennas (+PDF)
IEEE Transactions on Nanotechnology  ·  Vol. 18, pp. 734–746  ·  2019
A reconfigurable digital metasurface that leverages graphene's electrical tunability to perform beam steering at terahertz frequencies. The device is described as a matrix of discrete building blocks with switchable states, drawing parallels with information theory. Each unit cell is independently biased through gate voltages, enabling fast electronic reconfiguration without mechanical components. By dynamically adjusting a phase gradient along the metasurface plane, the device achieves beam steering in all practical directions. Beam widths and steering errors remain well below ten degrees and five percent in most cases, demonstrating the platform's strong promise for terahertz wireless communications and sensing systems.
Multi-Bit Graphene-Based Bias-Encoded Metasurfaces for Real-Time Terahertz Wavefront Shaping: From Controllable Orbital Angular Momentum Generation Toward Arbitrary Beam Tailoring (+PDF)
Elsevier Carbon  ·  Vol. 149, pp. 125–138  ·  2019
A new generation of multi-bit graphene-based metasurfaces capable of real-time reflected wavefront manipulation at terahertz frequencies. Each meta-atom can be independently switched among eight digital states by electronically controlling the chemical potential of individual graphene patches through applied gate voltages. The multi-bit architecture significantly improves phase resolution over single-bit designs, reducing quantization lobes and enhancing beam quality. The device can generate vortex wavefronts carrying controllable orbital angular momentum, emit multiple arbitrarily oriented pencil beams simultaneously, and realize combinations of pencil and vortex beams — all within a single reprogrammable structure.
Real-Time and Broadband Terahertz Wave Scattering Manipulation via Polarization-Insensitive Conformal Graphene-Based Coding Metasurfaces (+PDF)
Wiley Annalen der Physik  ·  Vol. 530, Issue 4, Art. 1700310  ·  2018
A multifunctional graphene-based coding metasurface for real-time and broadband manipulation of terahertz wave scattering. Each graphene unit can be dynamically switched between two digital states by varying the chemical potential through an applied bias voltage, enabling a variety of scattering patterns with different numbers and orientations of reflection beams. The structure maintains low reflection over a broad frequency range and remains polarization-insensitive across a wide range of incident angles. Its conformal design preserves scattering manipulation capabilities even when wrapped around curved and non-planar surfaces, opening new routes for wearable devices, conformal antenna integration, imaging, and electromagnetic stealth applications.
Exceptional Degeneracies in Traveling Wave Tubes with Dispersive Slow-Wave Structure Including Space-Charge Effect (+PDF)
AIP Applied Physics Letters  ·  Vol. 118, Issue 26, Art. 263506  ·  2021
Studies exceptional points of degeneracy in traveling wave tubes with a helix waveguide slow-wave structure. An extended analytical model, generalizing the classical Pierce model, accounts for dispersive frequency-dependent phase velocity, characteristic impedance, and space-charge effects, and is validated against full-wave simulations. The model captures three-mode coupling between forward and backward beam modes and the circuit wave mode, revealing precise conditions for eigenvalue coalescence. Near an exceptional point of degeneracy, the system exhibits extraordinary sensitivity to changes in the electron beam velocity, with eigenvalues following a fractional power series expansion at the degeneracy point.
Parametric Modeling of Serpentine Waveguide Traveling Wave Tubes (+PDF)
IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science  ·  Vol. 52, pp. 1247–1263  ·  2024
A fast analytical model for computing small-signal gain in serpentine waveguide traveling wave tubes, extending the classical Pierce model to account for dispersive phase velocity, characteristic impedance, and space-charge effects. The serpentine waveguide topology supports broadband beam-wave interaction and is particularly attractive for compact, high-power millimeter-wave amplifiers used in modern radar and satellite systems. The model introduces a correction factor for the non-uniform electric field distribution across the electron beam cross section, substantially improving accuracy over prior analytical treatments. Results are validated against computationally intensive particle-in-cell simulations, demonstrating robustness across wide variations in beam phase velocity, beam current, number of unit cells, and input power.
Exceptional Point in a Degenerate System Made of a Gyrator and Two Unstable Resonators (+PDF)
APS Physical Review A  ·  Vol. 105, No. 3, Art. 032214  ·  2022
Demonstrates that a circuit comprising two unstable inductor-capacitor resonators coupled via a gyrator supports an exceptional point of degeneracy with a purely real eigenfrequency. The non-Hermitian character arises from the anti-reciprocal coupling of the gyrator, enabling eigenvalue and eigenvector coalescence without requiring gain or loss media. With external perturbations, the resonance frequency follows a square-root dependence on the perturbation magnitude, offering exceptional potential for high-sensitivity sensing. The effects of small losses are investigated analytically, showing that they break the EPD and lead to instability. The fractional power series expansion near the exceptional point confirms the bifurcation behavior and the orders-of-magnitude enhanced sensitivity of the system.
Simple Reciprocal Electric Circuit Exhibiting Exceptional Point of Degeneracy (+PDF)
IOP Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical  ·  Vol. 57, No. 45, Art. 455206  ·  2024
Introduces a minimalist reciprocal electric circuit exhibiting an exceptional point of degeneracy, consisting of only four lumped elements — two inductor-capacitor loops sharing one capacitor. Unlike prior nonreciprocal circuits that require a gyrator element for eigenvalue coalescence, this circuit is fully reciprocal while achieving the same Jordan canonical form in its system matrix. The study examines how reciprocity and nonreciprocity manifest in spectral data, showing that asymmetry appears in the circuit Lagrangian and in symmetry breakdowns among eigenmodes rather than in the impedance matrix. All theoretical findings are validated through numerical simulations using commercial circuit simulator software, confirming the predicted EPD behavior.
View All Publications on Google Scholar
06
Peer Review

Reviewer Experience

IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)
Open Journal of Antennas and Propagation  |  Transactions on Circuits and Systems II: Express Briefs  |  Photonics Journal  |  Internet of Things Journal  |  Photonics Technology Letters  |  Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters  |  Transactions on Plasma Science  |  Transactions on Nanotechnology  |  Lightwave Technology  |  Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics  |  Transactions on Antennas and Propagation  |  Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques  |  AP-S/URSI 2024  |  IEEE/ACM Transactions on Networking  |  Transactions on Electron Devices  |  AP-S/URSI 2025  |  Transactions on Machine Learning in Communications and Networking  |  Transactions on Power Electronics  |  Transactions on Nuclear Science  |  Sensors Journal  |  Transactions on Terahertz Science and Technology  |  Electron Device Letters  |  Microwave and Wireless Technology Letters  |  Transactions on Communications  |  Transactions on Wireless Communications  |  IEEE Access  |  Journal of Selected Topics in Electromagnetics, Antennas and Propagation  |  AP-S/URSI 2026
Wiley-VCH (John Wiley & Sons)
Certified Reviewer — IET Microwaves, Antennas & Propagation
IET Microwaves, Antennas & Propagation  |  Advanced Theory and Simulations  |  Advanced Optical Materials  |  Advanced Science  |  Advanced Functional Materials  |  Small Science  |  Advanced Materials Technologies  |  Laser & Photonics Reviews  |  International Journal of Circuit Theory and Applications  |  International Journal of Communication Systems  |  Engineering Reports  |  The Journal of Engineering  |  Advanced Materials  |  International Journal of Numerical Modelling: Electronic Networks, Devices and Fields  |  Microwave and Optical Technology Letters
Optica (formerly Optical Society of America, OSA)
Certified Reviewer — Optica Publishing Group Reviewer Course
Optics Express  |  Optics Letters  |  Optics Continuum  |  Optical Materials Express  |  Optical Society of America B  |  Photonics Research  |  Optica  |  Applied Optics  |  Lightwave Technology
IOP Publishing (Institute of Physics Publishing)
Certified Reviewer — IOP Peer Review Excellence Training Graduate Trusted Reviewer — Institute of Physics
Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics  |  Journal of Optics  |  Journal of Physics: Photonics  |  Journal of Materials Research Express  |  Nanotechnology  |  EPL (Europhysics Letters)  |  Physica Scripta  |  New Journal of Physics  |  Japanese Journal of Applied Physics  |  Engineering Research Express  |  Measurement Science and Technology
Elsevier
Nano Communication Networks  |  Photonics and Nanostructures — Fundamentals and Applications  |  Infrared Physics and Technology  |  Materials & Design  |  Results in Physics  |  Physical Communication  |  Optik  |  AEU — International Journal of Electronics and Communications  |  Physics Letters A  |  Optics Communications  |  Optics & Laser Technology  |  European Journal of Mechanics B/Fluids
ACS (American Chemical Society)
Physical Chemistry Letters  |  Omega  |  Applied Electronic Materials  |  Applied Nano Materials
Nature
Scientific Reports  |  Nature Communications
Taylor & Francis Group
Waves in Random and Complex Media  |  Electromagnetic Waves and Applications  |  Electromagnetics  |  Modern Optics  |  IETE Journal of Research
MDPI (Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute)
Nanomaterials  |  Molecules  |  Processes  |  Chemosensors  |  Sustainability  |  Photonics  |  Sensors  |  Energies  |  Crystals  |  Electronics  |  Micromachines
Other Journals
Journal of Applied Physics (American Institute of Physics)  |  Applied Physics Letters (American Institute of Physics)  |  Advanced Photonics (SPIE)  |  Advanced Photonics Nexus (SPIE)  |  Advanced Electromagnetics  |  Electromagnetic Science  |  Light: Advanced Manufacturing (Light Publishing Group)  |  Frontiers in Antennas and Propagation (Frontiers)  |  Physical Review Applied (APS)  |  Journal of Vibration and Control (SAGE)  |  Nanoscale (RSC)  |  Nanophotonics (De Gruyter Brill)  |  Frequenz (De Gruyter Brill)
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Academic Profiles

My Pages

08
On the Internet

Social Media

09
Get in touch

Let's Connect

Whether you are interested in collaborating on research, discussing new ideas, or exploring industry opportunities, I would love to hear from you. Science and engineering thrive on exchange. I genuinely enjoy connecting with curious minds from academia, industry, and beyond.

I am always open to meaningful conversations, joint projects, and new connections. Do not hesitate to reach out. I will do my best to respond promptly.

kasrarouhi@gmail.com kasra.rouhi@uci.edu