Walter Leon-Salas

Walter Leon-Salas, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor at the School of Engineering Technology at Purdue University, where he directs the tinyLab research group focused on the integration of electronic circuits with sensors and wireless communications. He received his B.Sc. in electronic engineering from Universidad Nacional de San Agustín in Peru, and his M.Sc. and Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2001 and 2006, respectively.

His educational background includes:

• B.Sc. in Electronic Engineering, Universidad Nacional de San Agustín, Arequipa, Peru
• M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2001)
• Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2006)

Dr. Leon-Salas' research focuses on low-power analog design, CMOS image sensors, solar energy harvesting, optical communications, and data compression. His work explores innovative ways to integrate electronic circuits with sensors and wireless communication systems, particularly through energy harvesting techniques that allow devices to operate with minimal external power sources. His research group has developed novel applications including Optical Frequency Identification (OFID) technology using solar cells for wireless communication, wireless soil health monitoring systems, and reconfigurable energy-harvesting CMOS image sensors.

His recent publications (2023-2025) show a strong trend toward sustainable energy applications, particularly in the areas of solar cell-based optical communications, environmental monitoring systems, and energy-efficient technologies for agricultural and high-altitude applications. His work bridges electrical engineering with environmental sustainability, food-water-energy nexus research, and practical IoT implementations.

His scientific achievements have been recognized with several prestigious awards:

• National Science Foundation CAREER Award (2011)
• Outstanding Faculty in Discovery, School of Engineering Technology, Purdue University (2014)
• Leadership Excellence Achievement Program (LEAP) Award from the Missouri Society of Professional Engineers (2011)
• Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award from UNL College of Engineering (2007)
• Best runner up live demo award at IEEE ISCAS conference (2018)

Dr. Leon-Salas actively mentors students at all levels, from undergraduates to post-doctoral researchers, and has secured significant grant funding for his research. He serves as Co-Director of the Arequipa Nexus Institute for Food, Energy, Water and the Environment and as Secretary of the IEEE Sensory Systems Technical Committee. His teaching responsibilities include Analog IC Design, Mixed-Signal IC Design, Logic Design, Advanced Digital Design, and Digital Signal Processing courses.

His tinyLab research group maintains several active projects including Optical Frequency Identification (OFID), Wireless Soil Health Monitoring, Solar Radiation Sensors, Circuit Printing, Reconfigurable Energy-Harvesting CMOS Image Sensors, RFID-based Corrosion Sensor, Optical Stimulator for Fruit Flies, and LED Lighting Testing for Airport Taxiways.