About
Electrical Engineering PhD Candidate
- Current Role: Signal Processing STA
- Institution: MITLL
- School: University of Kansas
- Location: Lawrence KS, USA
- Graduation: May 2028
- LinkedIn:williampowers.in
- Email: williampowers@ku.edu
- Phone: +1 (620)-755-8911
I am a PhD candidate in Electrical Engineering at the University of Kansas, specializing in adaptive signal processing and its embedded implementations. I currently serve as a student technical assistant at MIT Lincoln Laboratory and as a graduate research assistant at the University of Kansas Radar Sensing Laboratory (RSL). Previously, I contributed as an FPGA developer at the Center for Remote Sensing and Integrated Systems (CReSIS). My research interests include nonlinear system modeling, robust algorithm design, and the development of AI systems that are broadly applicable and resilient within the signal processing domain.
Background
Experience
Signal Processing STA
May 2025 - Present
MITLL, Lexington, MA, United States
- Specializing in the development of space-time adaptive processing (STAP) algorithms and their real-time deployment on embedded FPGA and GPU platforms under the Advanced Sensor Systems & Test Beds Group.
- This role involves design and optimization of signal processing techniques for radar and electronic sensing applications to support advanced U.S. defense capabilities.
Graduate Research Assistant
Jan. 2024 - Present
Kansas Applied Research Labratory, Lawrence KS, USA
- Developing advanced radar waveform generation algorithms utilizing signal digital processing, random process analysis, and information theory techniques.
- Implementing a variety of frontend radar architectures using modern Software-Defined Radio and FPGA platforms.
- Applying machine learning methodologies to address classification problems and distortion modeling within the radar transmit receive framework.
Embedded Systems Developer
May 2023 - Jan 2024
CReSIS, Lawrence KS, USA
- Collaborated with a small team to develop and deploy embedded radar systems using a combination of FPGA, GPU, and CPU real-time processing techniques.
- Included hands on experience with the Xilinx embedded development platform, application of digital signal processing algorithms, and hardware implementation in C and HDL languages.
Education
Doctor of Philosophy | Electrical Engineering
May 2024 - May 2028
University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
- Focus: Adaptive Signal Processing
- Research: Novel AI/ML Signal Identification Techniques
- GPA: 4.0/4.0
Master's of Science & Electrical Engineering
May 2024 - May 2026
University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
- Focus: Embedded Signal Processing Implementation
- Research: Tx Non-linear Distortion and Optimization
- GPA: 4.0/4.0
Bachelor's of Science | Computer Engineering
Aug 2020 - May 2024
University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
- GPA: 3.82/4.0
- Academic Honors
Projects
Efficient Embedded Joint Radar/Comms (Current)
HF Adaptive-On-Transmit Beamformer Design (Current)
Publications
Skills
My technical expertise includes non-linear system modeling, machine learning, optimization theory, and adaptive signal processing as well as proficiency in the following technologies.
Contact
Location:
1575 Birdie Way, Lawrence, KS, USA
Email:
williampowers@ku.edu
Cell:
+1 (620)-755-8911