SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – Senior goaltender
Merek Pipes of the Union College men's hockey team was named a recipient of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Aerospace and Electronic Systems (IEEE AESS) Engineering Scholarship.
In the third year of the award, Pipes is the first recipient from Union College.
"I am honored to receive an IEEE AESS Engineering Scholarship for my and Professor Chandra Pappu's work in the field of joint radar and communication," said Pipes. "The work will help provide a new technology to an environment bloated with radio waves and could have innumerous transportation, communication, and military applications. This scholarship will help support my way through school and athletics, and allow continued work on a project that has developed into such a deep passion. I am incredibly grateful to the IEEE Aerospace and Electronics Systems Society for their generosity and support."
In order to be eligible for the scholarship, students must be studying electrical or electronics engineering at the undergraduate level or first professional degree, and systems engineering at the graduate level, from an accredited university, with no scholarships, and a cumulative grade point average of 2.8 or above.
"IEEE AESS is one of the prestigious societies, and receiving a scholarship to conduct this research is very prestigious," said Professor Chandra Pappu, Assistant Professor of Electrical, Computer and Biomedical Engineering at Union College. "This scholarship will encourage us to work on this critical topic of addressing joint radar communication systems. Once the results are achieved, we intend to send an article to a high-quality IEEE AESS journal."
Pipes is a computer engineering major with a minor in economics. The Cobble Hill, British Columbia native is a three-time AHCA All-American Scholar, a three-time member of the ECAC Hockey All-Academic Team, and a three-time recipient of the Thomas Van Arden Dukehart Academic Award, which is presented to the Union men's hockey player with the highest grade point average.
According to Professor Pappu, defense agencies have long desired to integrate radars with communications, thereby reducing the numerous radio frequency transmitters. Under Professor Pappu's guidance, Pipes is working on controlled chaotic signals for dual functional bistatic radar-communication systems.
"This approach relieves pressure on the scarce electromagnetic spectrum and can be used in multiple technologies, such as advanced automotive vehicles, air-traffic control, the fishing industry, and military communications," added Pappu.
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