I design the antennas, metasurfaces and lenses that steer radio waves for 5G/6G, satellite and sensing systems — turning electromagnetic theory into hardware that works in the real world.
I am a Lecturer in Applied Electromagnetics at Loughborough University and a Royal Academy of Engineering Industrial Research Fellow. My work sits at the meeting point of fundamental electromagnetics and practical engineering: designing reconfigurable antennas, metasurfaces and bespoke dielectric lenses that control how radio waves are radiated, steered and shaped.
My research underpins the next generation of wireless infrastructure — beam-steering antennas for 5G and 6G base stations, reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS) for smart radio environments, optically transparent antennas, orbital-angular-momentum systems, and lens-based solutions for satellite communications on the move. Much of this is built and measured in the lab, not just simulated.
Before academia I worked as a Future Communications Systems Engineer at the Satellite Applications Catapult and as a research engineer at CSIR-CEERI in India, giving me a strong feel for how research translates into industrial products and deployable systems.
Beyond my own group, I collaborate widely across academia and industry, and I take on selected consultancy and design engagements where deep antenna and RF expertise can de-risk a product or unlock a new capability.
My research themes span the components that let modern radio systems direct energy precisely — antennas, metasurfaces and lenses — across frequencies from sub-6 GHz to millimetre-wave.
Fixed-frequency and reconfigurable beam-steering using corrugated substrate-integrated waveguides and leaky-wave antennas for 5G/6G base stations and V2X links.
Holographic and reconfigurable intelligent surfaces for smart radio environments — including time-modulated EM skins, fault-tolerance and security of RIS-enabled networks.
Bespoke graded-index, homogeneous and Luneburg lenses — with a simplified design methodology for travelling-wave antennas and full 360° beam coverage.
OAM beam generation with circular leaky-wave antennas and metasurfaces, opening additional capacity for high-throughput wireless links.
Transparent conductors and substrates for antennas and metasurfaces that disappear into glass, vehicles and displays — including carbon-nanotube and mesh approaches.
Lens antennas for satcoms-on-the-move, integrated sensing & communications (ISAC), and leaky-wave sensors for real-time monitoring such as road-traffic management.
I partner with companies — from start-ups to established manufacturers — that need specialist electromagnetic engineering. Whether you are designing a new antenna, validating a concept, or stuck on a stubborn RF problem, I bring research-grade depth and hands-on, industry-aware delivery.
Custom antenna, array, metasurface and lens design from specification to validated prototype — across sub-6 GHz and millimetre-wave bands.
Full-wave EM simulation and design optimisation in CST Studio Suite, Ansys HFSS and ADS, with design methodologies tailored to your manufacturing constraints.
Anechoic-chamber and network-analyser characterisation, troubleshooting of underperforming hardware, and independent verification of antenna performance.
Technical feasibility studies, IP scoping and brainstorming for new RF products and non-terrestrial / 6G concepts before you commit budget.
Bespoke dielectric lenses and additively-manufactured RF structures — a research speciality that can unlock low-cost, high-performance beam control.
Joint grant proposals, KTPs and funded research partnerships that give your team access to university facilities and expertise.
Tell me about your challenge and I'll come back with how I can help and what an engagement could look like.
This list is pulled automatically from Google Scholar and refreshed weekly. The full record is also on the Loughborough repository.
IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society
Wiley Electronics Letters
Royal Academy of Engineering
Loughborough University
Loughborough University
Electronics Weekly
IEEE Computer Society
I supervise PhD and MSc students working on antennas, metasurfaces, dielectric lenses and reconfigurable intelligent surfaces. If you are curious, rigorous and excited about building hardware that shapes radio waves, I'd like to hear from you.
Send a short email with your CV, a paragraph on the research that excites you, and your funding situation. I'll let you know if there's a good fit and what openings are available.
Email me about supervision ↗Whether you're an industry partner exploring consultancy, a researcher looking to collaborate, or a prospective student — I'd be glad to hear from you. The fastest way to reach me is by email.
in.aakash.bansal@ieee.org