Giuliano Manara

Giuliano Manara received the Laurea (Doctor) degree in electronics engineering (summa cum laude) from the University of Florence, Italy, in 1979. He is currently a Professor of Applied Electromagnetics and Microwave Engineering at the School of Engineering of the University of Pisa, Italy.

From 2000 to 2019, he has been serving as the President of the Bachelor and the Master Programs in Telecommunications Engineering at the same University. Since 1990, Prof. Manara has also been working as an adjunct professor at the Naval Accademy of the Italian Navy in Leghorn, Italy. In March 2019, he was nominated Honorary Professor of the Amity University, at the Amity School of Engineering and Technology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Sector-125, Noida Delhi/NCR, India.

Since 1980, he has been collaborating with the Department of Electrical Engineering of the Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, where, in the summer and fall of 1987, he was involved in research at the ElectroScience Laboratory. His research interests have centered mainly on the asymptotic solution of radiation and scattering problems to improve and extend the uniform geometrical theory of diffraction (UTD). In this framework, he has analyzed high-frequency electromagnetic wave scattering from perfectly conducting objects and material bodies, with emphasis on the scattering from both isotropic and anisotropic impedance wedges. He has also been engaged in research on numerical, analytical and hybrid techniques (both in frequency and time domain), scattering from rough surfaces, frequency selective surfaces (FSS), and electromagnetic compatibility. More recently, his research has also been focused on the extension of the UTD to the diffraction of evanescent waves, with specific reference to the case of inhomogeneous plane waves and complex source beams (CSBs). Moreover, he has analyzed the design of microwave antennas with application to broadband wireless networks, the development and testing of new microwave materials (metamaterials) for electronic systems. Prof. Manara has also conducted research on the optimal design of radio frequency coils for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) systems. Finally, he has extensively worked on the analysis (theoretical and experimental) of Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID) systems. In this area, he has focused attention on several aspects regarding both chipped and chipless RFID tags. Also, he has been engaged in research on the design of antennas operating in their near-field region, with applications to wireless power and data transfer. Prof. Manara has authored more than 160 papers on qualified technical journals with referees, and has presented more than 250 papers at international conferences.

Prof. Manara served as a member of the Scientific Committee of several international conferences, as for instance: IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) Antennas and Propagation Symposia, URSI (International Radio Science Union) General Assembly and Scientific Symposia (GASS), URSI Commission B “Fields and Waves” Electromagnetic Theory Symposia (EMTS).

From 2000 to 2002 he served as the Secretary of the Italian National Research Group on Engineering Electromagnetics. In 2002, he was among the founders of the Italian Society of Electromagnetics (Società Italiana di Elettromagnetismo, SIEm), and served as the Secretary/Treasurer of the Society from 2002 to 2008. Then, from 2009 to 2014 he continued to serve as the Treasurer of SIEm. From 2002 to 2008, he worked as a member of the IEEE Italy Section Executive Committee, being responsible for student activities. He was also a member of the IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society Administrative Committee (APS - AdCom) from 2005 to 2008. From 2007 to 2009 he served as a member of the IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society Fellow Committee. He has also organized and chaired several special sessions in the framework of different IEEE International Conferences. Prof. Manara was elected an IEEE Fellow in 2004 for “contributions to the uniform geometrical theory of diffraction and its applications.”

In May 2004, Prof. Manara was the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) Chair of the URSI (International Union of Radio Science) Commission B International Symposium on Electromagnetic Theory (EMTS 2004), which was held in Pisa, Italy, May 23-27. He also served as a convener and chaired several sessions at different editions of the URSI General Assembly and Scientific Symposium (GASS) and other URSI international and national conferences and flagship symposia. In 2007, he was nominated National Representative for URSI Commission B in the framework of the Italian National Committee of URSI. In August 2008, he was elected the International Vice-Chair of URSI Commission B. Then, from August 2011 to August 2014, he served as the International Chair of the same URSI Commission B. In this framework, he was the General Chair of the URSI Commission B International Electromagnetic Theory Symposium (EMTS 2013), held in Hiroshima, Japan. He is presently the Secretary of the Italian National Committee of URSI. Prof. Manara was elected a URSI Fellow in 2017. In 2021, he served as the General Vice-Chair of URSI GASS 2021, held in Rome, Italy. At the same GASS, he was elected URSI Vice-President.

In 2016, he was elected to the “Ordine del Cherubino,” the highest honor awarded by the University of Pisa to Professors, recognizing outstanding levels reached both in teaching and research activities (only 2.5% of University of Pisa professors in this “Ordine”).