David Surine and Thomas Zirkle are the first Notre Dame engineering students to be awarded Keysight RF [radio frequency] and Microwave Industry-Ready Student Certification from Keysight Technologies as part of the Keysight RF/Microwave Industry-Ready Student Certification program. RF and microwave engineering refers to designing the high-frequency circuits and systems that form the core of many of the systems we take for granted — wireless and satellite communications, radar, and computer networks, among many others.

A leading manufacturer of electronic measurement equipment, the Keysight student certification program is a collaboration between the company, approximately two dozen top engineering universities, and industry. It focuses on communications, radar signals, and radio frequencies — such as those used in communications, medical, and military applications — and seeks to identify, acknowledge, and reward top students for excellence in RF/microwave design, measurement, and analysis. Certification requirements include demonstrating expertise in the RF/microwave design field through course and lab work, and mastery of both computer-aided design software for RF/microwave circuit design, as well as hands-on characterization of RF/microwave circuits, including core fundamentals of accurate RF calibration and measurement.

Surine, a senior from Reisterstown, Md., has participated in a range of activities related to RF and microwave circuit theory and practice, including the Microwave Circuit Design and Measurement course and various labs experiences offered to undergraduates through the Department of Electrical Engineering. He plans to pursue a career in the defense industry upon graduation this May.

A doctoral student and Phoenix, Ariz., native, Zirkle plans to enter either the computation or microwave communication industry. “Receiving the Keysight RF/MW Industry-Ready Student Certificate is an added benefit to my time here at Notre Dame, a seal of approval that demonstrates my skill and specific hands-on experience with these technologies and cutting-edge equipment,” he says. “It is a true mark of distinction that will help open doors of opportunity.”

Not only does completion of the program establish immediate value to prospective employers, it also confirms Notre Dame’s interest in preparing students for their future contributions to the field. According to Patrick Fay, professor of electrical engineering and instructor of the microwaves course, “David and Thomas are top students. They have mastered the use of industry-leading tools and will be able to stand out in a competitive job market with the real-world measurement and design skills they have developed. As we continue in this program, we expect to be able to acknowledge other students as they also achieve excellence with the design tools, high-performance measurement instruments, software, and concepts for key industries that depend on RF and microwave expertise, such as wireless communications, defense and aerospace, networking, and many more.”