IEEE celebrates Hao Xin, alum Aycan Erentok

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers honored two members of the University of Arizona electrical and computer engineering community with awards – Hao Xin, professor and Thomas R. Brown Endowed Fellow, received the John Kraus Antenna Award, and alumnus Aycan Erentok won the Industrial Innovation Award.

The IEEE and the IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society annually recognize individuals who advance technology or have made meaningful contributions to society.

Pioneering antennas

The John Kraus Antenna Award recognizes those who have made significant advancements in antenna technology. Xin’s work on 3D-printed Luneburg lens antennas and radar systems improved imaging and sensing for industrial applications.

His research also spans microwave, millimeter-wave, and terahertz antennas, devices, and circuits used in wireless communication and sensing. He develops specialized hardware that transmits, receives, and manipulates electromagnetic waves across a broad range of frequencies – technology that powers everything from high-speed wireless networks to advanced radar and imaging systems. His projects include electromagnetic bandgap crystals, metamaterials, carbon nanotube devices, solid-state circuits, and active antennas.

“This award is deeply meaningful because it recognizes work that I have pursued for many years out of genuine curiosity and a desire to contribute something lasting to the field,” Xin said. “It affirms the importance of the research we are doing at the U of A and highlights the strength of our engineering and science programs.”

Xin has been a leading voice in 3D printing for electromagnetic systems since 2007. He authored more than 350 refereed publications and holds more than 20 patents in areas including microwave and millimeter-wave technologies, ferrofluidic nanoparticle-based power harvesting and carbon nanotube devices. His inventions aid faster and more efficient electronics that support modern communications and sensing.

“None of this work happens in isolation. I’ve been fortunate to collaborate with exceptional colleagues and to mentor students whose creativity and persistence continually push our ideas forward,” he said.

Setting industry standards

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Erentok earned his bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in electrical and computer engineering at the U of A, where he built expertise in electromagnetics theory, antennas and microwave engineering. He applied that knowledge in industry, creating antenna designs for modern wireless products – from mobile devices and wearables to electric vehicles and robotics. That approach led to miniaturized, high-performance antenna systems that integrate into devices while reducing size, weight, and complexity.

"This recognition motivates me to keep pushing boundaries in wireless integration and enabling seamless connectivity for autonomous driving, AI-driven hardware and robotics," the Industrial Innovation Awardee said.

Erentok led antenna development for the Nokia X3-02 and C3-01, two products that set industry standards for ultra-thin and metal-body mobile phones. At Intel, he led development of the TAG Heuer Connected Modular 45 smartwatch, which supported Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and NFC within an all-metal chassis and earned the Red Dot: Best of the Best Award in 2018. 

At Tesla, where he joined in 2017 as senior staff of antenna engineering, that design philosophy evolved into body-integrated antenna systems – hidden antennas embedded into the vehicle's structure – that support wireless connectivity across the company's vehicle platforms. Erentok pioneered the approach on the Model Y before scaling it across Tesla's full lineup. The systems not only enable connectivity but also open new possibilities in product design, manufacturing, and reliability.

“It's an honor to represent the Wildcats – hopefully this inspires students to pursue bold ideas."