MinerAlert
MinerAlert
Miguel A. Loya College of Engineering students turned cutting-edge health technology into a showcase moment at the 2026 IEEE International Microwave Symposia (IMS) Student Design Competition on High-Sensitivity Biomedical Radar for Multi-Person Vital Sign Sensing in Boston. Held June 7–12, the event challenged teams to design radar systems for multi-person noncontact vital sign monitoring. Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ’s radar team answered with a top-three finish that underlines the talent, persistence and real-world impact of Loya Engineering students.
The award-winning team consisted of Eduarda Santos, a first-year Ph.D. student in electrical and computer engineering, along with incoming master's students Kristen Kazhe and Eric Lopez. Together, the three students combined their expertise in radar system design, signal processing and hardware integration to develop a high-sensitivity biomedical radar capable of monitoring the vital signs of multiple individuals without physical contact. Their third-place finish reflects months of collaboration, technical problem-solving and a shared commitment to advancing innovative technologies.
Their performance says as much about the college as it does about the team. The competition demands fluency in circuit design, printed circuit board fabrication, signal processing, antenna fundamentals, system integration and experimental validation — skills that span multiple courses and labs, not a single assignment. It also tests the habits that define successful engineers: careful planning, time management, teamwork and the persistence to troubleshoot complex systems under pressure. Simply arriving with a working prototype is an achievement. Finishing in the top three shows that Loya Engineering students are not only mastering core concepts in class but are applying them successfully in high-stakes, real-world settings.
The team’s project tackled a challenge with direct implications for patient care: using radar to monitor subtle physiological signals such as respiration, heartbeat and other physiological motion without electrodes or wearables. Unlike a typical lab exercise, the competition required them to design, assemble, debug and test their system under realistic constraints, including on-site evaluation with limited time. The experience turned equations and diagrams into a functioning device and helped students see how engineering solutions can support emerging health technologies.
Davi V. Q. Rodrigues, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the team’s faculty mentor, said the result reflects both student talent and the college’s approach to hands-on learning. “A top-three finish at this student design competition shows that our students are not only strong in theory but also capable of building and validating complex systems under real-world conditions,” Rodrigues said. “They took concepts from multiple courses, turned them into a working biomedical radar prototype and demonstrated that Loya Engineering students can compete — and succeed — on an international stage in technologies that matter for future health care.”
Department leadership says the team’s achievement captures the standard they set for all students. “Eduarda, Kristen and Eric demonstrate the level of innovation and rigor we expect from our students,” said Miguel Velez-Reyes, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. “Their success highlights the quality of research, education and mentorship in the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Electrical and Computer Engineering Department and shows how our students can contribute to technologies with real impact on people’s lives.”
For the students, the experience was as much about character as it was about circuits. “Competing on a global stage taught us that persistence is just as important as technical knowledge,” said Eduarda Santos, first-year Ph.D. student in electrical and computer engineering. “Developing our radar project and vital-sign signal processing meant solving problems we didn’t expect and fixing what didn’t work the first time. We learned to keep going, trust our preparation and support one another and to see every setback as a chance to grow as engineers instead of a reason to stop.”
IMS itself became an extension of the classroom. As a premier international event in microwave and millimeter-wave engineering, the symposia draw more than 8000 researchers, industry leaders and innovators each year. By attending technical talks, exploring industry exhibits and asking questions of professionals from academia, government labs and companies at the forefront of wireless technology, the students saw where their field is headed and how their own work fits into that landscape. Presenting and defending their design decisions gave them practice communicating complex ideas clearly. Watching how experts critique and refine research gave them insight into the standards and expectations of the broader engineering community.
The radar sensing technology the team demonstrated has the potential to change how clinicians and caregivers monitor vital signs. Noncontact systems could support continuous observation in clinical settings, rehabilitation programs, assisted living facilities, sleep studies and smart indoor environments, especially for patients who cannot easily wear sensors or tolerate direct skin contact. That includes neonates, burn patients and individuals with sensitive skin. The competition gave students hands-on experience at the intersection of radio frequency engineering, advanced signal processing and healthcare system prototyping. It also laid the groundwork for research projects they are now pursuing at Loya Engineering.
The top-three finish at one of the IMS Student Design Competition is a visible milestone, but college leaders say the true impact will unfold over time. As students build on the skills, networks and confidence they gained, they are positioned to contribute new ideas and technologies that advance wireless sensing and patient care. In the process, they are reaffirming what the Miguel A. Loya College of Engineering represents: rigorous preparation, real-world experience and students ready to compete on the international stage.