Awards
2009 summit award® recipients
The Alberta Ingenuity Fund
Research Excellence Award
Dr. Fadhel M. Ghannouchi, P.Eng.
This award recognizes professionals in academia or industry who have conducted innovative research in engineering, geology or geophysics that has been successfully applied to improve our economic and social well-being.
Dr. Fadhel Ghannouchi, P.Eng., is an outstanding professor, researcher and Professional Engineer who is internationally known for his accomplishments in academia as well as in technology development. Dr. Ghannouchi has a worldwide reputation for excellence in research and has published more than 400 journal papers and conference proceedings. To date, he has ten patents (three pending), has pioneered more than ten techniques and methods, has trained over 60 M.Sc. and PhD students, and has founded three companies. Dr. Ghannouchi is an iCORE professor and Canada research chair (Tier 1) in intelligent radio frequency (RF) technology at the University of Calgary’s Schulich School of Engineering.
Dr. Ghannouchi is part of a network of influential academics in the areas of RF, microwave, digital signal processing and wireless and satellite communications. In 2005, Dr. Ghannouchi relocated to Alberta to reinforce and expand the expertise and visibility of the Schulich’s Electrical and Computer Engineering department in the area of microwave and wireless communications. He was instrumental in the creation of the iRadio Lab dedicated to intelligent RF radio systems.
The iRadio Lab develops both innovative enabling technologies that are applicable to intelligent and environmentally-friendly radio systems, and trains highly-qualified personnel in RF and wireless communications. The main objective of iRadio Lab’s activities is the investigation of scientific and technical problems related to the characterization and modelling of transistors, amplifiers and transmitters, and study and design of software defined radios and highly power-efficient RF amplifiers and transmitters.
Dr. Ghannouchi and the iRadio Lab have been instrumental in raising Alberta’s profile as a leading place for research and technology development in the areas of power amplifiers and radio systems. The lab has made a remarkable impact on the field of information and communications technology research. It is already staffed with more than 20 top-calibre graduate students and researchers from around the world and collaborations have been made internationally with academic institutions, industrial partners and government agencies. The iRadio Lab is sponsored by iCORE, the Canada Research Chair Program, the Canada Foundation of Innovation and TRLabs.
He has developed two new innovative technologies that have great potential to impact future software defined radio transmitter design as well as a unique software tool for nonlinear modelling of communication systems. Dr. Ghannouchi and two of his recently graduated PhD students have incorporated a new company, Green Radio Technologies, Inc., which will assist in the commercialization of innovative highly power-efficient radio technology for wireless and satellite communication systems.
Honours, Awards and Distinctions
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Distinguished microwave lecturer, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Microwave Theory and Techniques Society (2009)
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Best Research Award for the Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary (2007)
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Honorary guest professor, Ningbo University, China (2006)
Professional Affiliations and Activities
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Fellow, Engineering Institute of Canada (2009)
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Fellow, Institution of Engineering and Technology (2008)
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Fellow, IEEE (2007)
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Member, APEGGA (2005-present)
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Examiner, APEGGA Electromagnetics course (2005)
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Member, College of Reviewers of Canada Research Chairs (2005)
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Member, IEEE-MTT Technical Committee (MTT-5) on Microwave High Power Techniques (2003)
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Senior member, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (1998-present)
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Research fellowship, Japan Society for The Promotion of Sciences (1998)
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Member, Canadian Microelectronic Corporation (1995-present)
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Committee member and referee, FCAR, NSERC (Canada) grant applications (1990)
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Session chair, IEEE-sponsored conferences and symposia (1990)
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Reviewer, IEEE Transactions on MTT, I&M and E&D and other scientific journals (1990)
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Member, technical and organizing committees for IEEE-sponsored conferences and symposia (1990)
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Member, Ordre des Ingénieurs du Quebec (1983-2006)
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Workshop organizer, IEEE-sponsored conferences and symposia