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Michael Grady

Mike Grady was an undergraduate at Auburn University in 2007 when he watched the South Florida Bulls upset the Auburn Tigers in football. This unexpected loss put USF on Grady's radar. After completing his masters at Auburn, Grady learned more about USF's reputation in wireless and microwave research at conferences. He decided to enroll at USF for his PhD in electrical engineering. Grady's research at USF has been successful, including developing a device to non-invasively measure subsurface temperatures and an internship at NASA. He now serves as an inspiration to others and hopes to help more students through his work.

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20 M ike Grady had heard little to nothing about the University of South Florida before that fateful night, September 8, 2007. Grady was an undergraduate at Auburn University and was one of the thousands packed into Jordan- Hare Stadium for what most of the Auburn faithful believed would be an easy win by the Tigers over the visiting South Florida Bulls. At least thats what we thought, recalled Grady, who will soon receive his PhD in electrical engineering from USF. Grady and the rest of the Auburn crowd watched in disbelief when then USF quarterback Matt Grothe hit Jessie Hester with a 14-yard touchdown pass in overtime to lead the Bulls to the stunning 26-23 upset of the Tigers. I was in shock that they actually won and thats what put USF on my radar, Grady said with a laugh as he recalled that night nearly seven years ago. Grady finished his undergraduate degree at Auburn in 2008 then went on to receive his masters in electrical engineering in 2010. That completed a seven year journey for a young man from Birmingham, Alabama, who took an early interest in math and science and helped set his educational path by winning math competitions. Even back then, I knew that I liked math and science, Grady remembered. Auburn recognized Gradys potential and achievement and offered him a scholarship. His undergraduate and masters years were supplemented with a lot of internship experience at well- known companies such as BE&K, NorthStar Communications, Milliken and Co., a Georgia textile company and a post-masters research internship at Corning in New York. I really enjoyed that time with Corning, Grady pointed out. That was a lot of fun and a great experience. It all led up to a calling from the University of South Florida. I learned more about USF from the IEEE WAMICON conference, Grady said. It started at USF and has really grown in scope. It was through conferences such as WAMICON that I began to really think about USF for my doctoral studies. He did more than think about it. Grady packed his bags and headed to Florida. The Tampa Bay area is really a great place and that helped me make the decision, he recalled. USF has a great reputation for wireless and microwave research, and that was another deciding factor Grady said of his decision to enroll. Gradys work at South Florida has been nothing short of remarkable. The majority of his most recent research has been in the development of a biomedical radiometer, a device that will be used to non-invasively, wirelessly, and accurately measure subsurface temperatures well beneath the skin of the human body. It will help with the early diagnosis of pressure sores, Grady explained. This USF research experience also lead to a rare opportunity with a research internship at NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. He recently was selected as one of two winners from a nationwide pool of applicants to receive the IEEE Auburn Universitys Loss is USFs Gain by Tom Edrington 20
21 Microwave Theory and Techniques (MTT-S) Graduate Fellowship for Medical Applications for 2014. The purpose of the prestigious award is to recognize and provide financial assistance to graduate students who show great promise in applying microwave engineering towards medical applications. Grady will be honored at the International Microwave Symposium that will be held in Tampa this coming June. I give a lot of thanks to Dr. Thomas Weller and Mr. Bernard Batson for all their help, Grady said, acknowledging both his USF research advisor who is a professor and chair in the Department of Electrical Engineering and his USF fellowship coordinator. When he earns his doctorate, Grady can see himself moving on to the corporate world. Theres a good chance that will be the direction I go, Grady said. I would like to get out there and use what I have learned, he said. Grady also believes he can be an inspiration to minority students who aspire to higher education. He likes to speak to groups whenever he can. He enjoys showing what is possible. Its all about paying it forward, he reminded. A lot of people have helped me along my journey and it is important for me to do the same when I find myself in a position to help, Grady said. An example of this can be seen in an educational YouTube video titled Mario Teaches Microwaves which explains RF engineering to students at the high school level. The corporate recruiters already have Grady on their radars. I wouldnt be surprised if I ended up working for a defense contractor, he predicted. In the meantime, there is still research to perform and tasks to accomplish on the road to his Ph.D. Hopefully, this December or the spring of 2015 at the latest I will graduate, Grady said, looking forward to the day when he will come to the end of one journey then immediately start another. Yes, its been a long time since that night at Jordan-Hare, Grady said, smiling as he thought about what led him to USF. Sorry we lost, but glad I found USF. USF has a great reputation for wireless and microwave research. Michael Grady

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diversity-michael-grady

  • 1. 20 M ike Grady had heard little to nothing about the University of South Florida before that fateful night, September 8, 2007. Grady was an undergraduate at Auburn University and was one of the thousands packed into Jordan- Hare Stadium for what most of the Auburn faithful believed would be an easy win by the Tigers over the visiting South Florida Bulls. At least thats what we thought, recalled Grady, who will soon receive his PhD in electrical engineering from USF. Grady and the rest of the Auburn crowd watched in disbelief when then USF quarterback Matt Grothe hit Jessie Hester with a 14-yard touchdown pass in overtime to lead the Bulls to the stunning 26-23 upset of the Tigers. I was in shock that they actually won and thats what put USF on my radar, Grady said with a laugh as he recalled that night nearly seven years ago. Grady finished his undergraduate degree at Auburn in 2008 then went on to receive his masters in electrical engineering in 2010. That completed a seven year journey for a young man from Birmingham, Alabama, who took an early interest in math and science and helped set his educational path by winning math competitions. Even back then, I knew that I liked math and science, Grady remembered. Auburn recognized Gradys potential and achievement and offered him a scholarship. His undergraduate and masters years were supplemented with a lot of internship experience at well- known companies such as BE&K, NorthStar Communications, Milliken and Co., a Georgia textile company and a post-masters research internship at Corning in New York. I really enjoyed that time with Corning, Grady pointed out. That was a lot of fun and a great experience. It all led up to a calling from the University of South Florida. I learned more about USF from the IEEE WAMICON conference, Grady said. It started at USF and has really grown in scope. It was through conferences such as WAMICON that I began to really think about USF for my doctoral studies. He did more than think about it. Grady packed his bags and headed to Florida. The Tampa Bay area is really a great place and that helped me make the decision, he recalled. USF has a great reputation for wireless and microwave research, and that was another deciding factor Grady said of his decision to enroll. Gradys work at South Florida has been nothing short of remarkable. The majority of his most recent research has been in the development of a biomedical radiometer, a device that will be used to non-invasively, wirelessly, and accurately measure subsurface temperatures well beneath the skin of the human body. It will help with the early diagnosis of pressure sores, Grady explained. This USF research experience also lead to a rare opportunity with a research internship at NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. He recently was selected as one of two winners from a nationwide pool of applicants to receive the IEEE Auburn Universitys Loss is USFs Gain by Tom Edrington 20
  • 2. 21 Microwave Theory and Techniques (MTT-S) Graduate Fellowship for Medical Applications for 2014. The purpose of the prestigious award is to recognize and provide financial assistance to graduate students who show great promise in applying microwave engineering towards medical applications. Grady will be honored at the International Microwave Symposium that will be held in Tampa this coming June. I give a lot of thanks to Dr. Thomas Weller and Mr. Bernard Batson for all their help, Grady said, acknowledging both his USF research advisor who is a professor and chair in the Department of Electrical Engineering and his USF fellowship coordinator. When he earns his doctorate, Grady can see himself moving on to the corporate world. Theres a good chance that will be the direction I go, Grady said. I would like to get out there and use what I have learned, he said. Grady also believes he can be an inspiration to minority students who aspire to higher education. He likes to speak to groups whenever he can. He enjoys showing what is possible. Its all about paying it forward, he reminded. A lot of people have helped me along my journey and it is important for me to do the same when I find myself in a position to help, Grady said. An example of this can be seen in an educational YouTube video titled Mario Teaches Microwaves which explains RF engineering to students at the high school level. The corporate recruiters already have Grady on their radars. I wouldnt be surprised if I ended up working for a defense contractor, he predicted. In the meantime, there is still research to perform and tasks to accomplish on the road to his Ph.D. Hopefully, this December or the spring of 2015 at the latest I will graduate, Grady said, looking forward to the day when he will come to the end of one journey then immediately start another. Yes, its been a long time since that night at Jordan-Hare, Grady said, smiling as he thought about what led him to USF. Sorry we lost, but glad I found USF. USF has a great reputation for wireless and microwave research. Michael Grady