David Ricketts

David Ricketts is a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at North Carolina State University (NC State). He holds a Ph.D. from Harvard University and bachelor's/master's degrees from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Prior to academia, he spent 8 years in industry developing over 40 integrated circuits for mixed-signal, RF, and power management applications.

His research bridges physics, materials science, and circuit design to explore the ultimate capabilities of microelectronic devices and their integration into high-performance systems. Key focuses include nano/micro-integrated circuits for analog/high-speed applications, metamaterials, wireless power transfer, and additive manufacturing for millimeter-wave components.

• Education:
  • Ph.D. in Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University (2006)
  • B.S./M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Ricketts has pioneered innovations like the NC State Rabbit Radar (a DIY FM-CW radar) and sweat-powered BLE backscatter sensors. His work frequently explores practical applications of theoretical physics, such as using magnetoquasistatic fields for football tracking and 3D-printed waveguides for microwave systems.

Notable awards include the NSF CAREER Award (2013) and the William F. Lane Outstanding Teaching Award (2021). His publications emphasize hands-on education, reconfigurable metamaterials, and high-efficiency wireless power systems. He leads projects funded by the Chancellor’s Innovation Fund for applications like wireless EKGs and rapid antibody tests.

Research groups under his guidance focus on labs like the Monteith Research Center, where additive manufacturing and electromagnetic systems are actively explored. His work often bridges academic research with industrial relevance, leveraging both theoretical rigor and practical prototyping.