Jim Conrad

Jim Conrad is a Professor and Associate Chair of Undergraduate Programs in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte). He also serves as Program Coordinator for Computer Engineering. His affiliations include the William States Lee College of Engineering and IEEE, where he held leadership roles such as IEEE Board of Directors (Region 3 Director) and IEEE-USA President. Conrad holds a Ph.D. in Computer Engineering from North Carolina State University (1992), an M.S. (1987), and a B.S.C.S. from the University of Illinois (1984).

His research focuses on embedded systems, robotics, parallel processing, and engineering education. Notable projects include the ZapataBot autonomous robotic ATV, spanning phases from mechanical integration to autonomous navigation. He is the author of influential books like Embedded Systems: An Introduction Using the Renesas RX63N Microcontroller and Stiquito(tm) for Beginners.

Conrad’s professional contributions extend to IEEE leadership, teaching, and industry collaborations. He advises students in graduate programs and has led initiatives like summer robotics workshops for educators. His work bridges academic research with practical applications in autonomous systems and STEM education.