Professional Summary

Curriculum Vitae

I am an Associate Professor at Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, a senior member of IEEE, and a honorary graduate of Starfleet Academy.

Education

Visiting Scientist, Terahertz Integrated Electronics Group, EECS, 2024

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Ph.D. in Computer Science and Applications, 2016

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

M.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering, 2011

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

B.S. in Microelectronics, 2007

Fudan University

Interests

Wireless comm., sensing, and security Biomedical sensors mmWave/sub-THz radar sensing and integration
Active Grants

5G/B5G Intelligent Reflecting Surfaces for Assured Aircraft Mission Readiness

Total: $1,949,742, UH-Contract: $362,461 (year 1), $ 354,458 (year 2), UH-PI

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Yao Zheng
Recent Publications
Projects

Introduction to Computer Engineering with R-Pi Pico W

Hands-on introduction to embedded and wireless systems using the Pico platform. Students design small prototypes integrating sensors, hardware, and software, building skills for …

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Galen Sasaki

RASRE: Reflectarray and Applications in Smart Radio Environment

This VIP project aims to investigate the fundamental principles of reflectarray operation, develop novel reflectarray architectures and control algorithms, and explore their …

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Yao Zheng

MONET: Millimeter-wave Communication and Sensing Integration

This VIP project aims to develop mmWave communication systems with integrated radar sensing functionality in cellular networks and Wi-Fi networks for drone detection, physiological …

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Yao Zheng
Courses

ECE260: Introduction to Digital Design

ECE260 is the introductory course on digital circuit synthesis, focusing on the design and implementation of combinational logic, sequential logic, and basic central processor (van …

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Yao Zheng
Recent & Upcoming Events

2025 IEEE Annual Congress on Artificial Intelligence of Things (IEEE AIoT)

Executive Summary At IEEE AIoT, we presented two works advancing AI-native Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) across aerial and human-centric sensing. The first introduces …

IEEE INFOCOM 2026 Workshop on Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC)

Executive Summary The Workshop on Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) at IEEE INFOCOM 2026 will serve as a premier forum to explore emerging research frontiers at the …

IEEE IMS 2025: ISAC for Physiological Motion Monitoring

Executive Summary This talk is part of the IMS 2025 Workshop exploring the integration of FR1/mmWave (FR2) OpenAirInterface (OAI) with advanced technologies such as O-RAN, MIMO, …

USDA-PABARC: FutureG Wireless Communication with Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces and Integrated Sensing

Executive Summary This seminar will explore the realm of future generation (FutureG) wireless communication systems, with a specific emphasis on the revolutionary capabilities of …

DoD-NSF: RIS-Assisted Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) for Drone Detection and Physiological Monitoring

Executive Summary This invited presentation discusses Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface (RIS)-assisted Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) for two critical applications: …

Facilities

Microelectronic Design, Emulation, Fabrication & Validation

Executive Summary This facility supports an end-to-end microelectronic workflow—from IC/RF front-end design and pre-silicon emulation, through fabrication handoff, to post-silicon …

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Yao Zheng

Artificial Intelligence Radio Access Network (AI-RAN) with Digital Twin

Executive Summary This lab-scale mmWave AI-Based RAN testbed integrates OAIBox, NVIDIA Aerial RAN, NI USRP X410, TMYTEK mmWave beamformers, and a high-fidelity Digital Twin …

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Xiaochan Xue

Holographic Intelligent Surface (HIS)–Enabled Smart Wireless Environment

Executive Summary This lab-scale Holographic Beamforming Surface–Enabled Smart Wireless Environment testbed enables controlled experimentation on environment-aware and RIS-assisted …

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Alvin Yang