Firas Fatani is an electrical engineer and researcher specializing in wireless sensing technologies, flexible electronics, and intelligent systems. His work focuses on advancing the design and integration of low-cost, battery-free, and printed microwave devices for health, environmental, and industrial monitoring applications. He is particularly interested in bridging electromagnetic design, material science, and data intelligence to develop innovative sensing platforms that enable smarter and more connected systems.
Biography
Firas Fatani is a Ph.D. candidate in Electrical and Computer Engineering at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), where he conducts his research in the Integrated Microwave Packaging Antennas & Circuits Technology (IMPACT) Lab under the supervision of Professor Atif Shamim. His research focuses on printed, flexible, and battery-free microwave biosensors for non-invasive health monitoring through sweat analysis. By combining RF and microwave engineering with electrochemical sensing and Internet of Things (IoT) integration, his work advances the development of next-generation wearable and wireless diagnostic platforms.
Throughout his doctoral studies, Firas has demonstrated strong leadership in interdisciplinary research, product innovation, and academic collaboration. He has authored several high-impact publications, including ACS Sensors—where his research was featured on the journal cover—IEEE Sensors Journal, and Scientific Reports. His conference contributions include presentations at IEEE Sensors 2024 (Kobe, Japan), IEEE Sensors 2025 (Vancouver, Canada), and the APS March Meeting. His ongoing projects explore multi-analyte sensing, data fusion, and AI-assisted signal interpretation for wireless biomedical systems.
Firas holds a Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from KAUST, specializing in IoT systems, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering with High Honors from the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE). MSOE is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the nation’s leading engineering institutions—ranked #10 in undergraduate engineering programs and #2 among regional universities in the Midwest.
Before pursuing his Ph.D., Firas gained international industrial experience in the manufacturing and IoT sectors. He served as an Electrical and Controls Engineer at C&D Technologies Inc. in the United States, where he introduced process automation and quality improvements in large-scale battery manufacturing. In Saudi Arabia, he contributed to smart infrastructure initiatives as an IoT consultant at NEOM’s Food Sector Technology team and as a PLC Controls Engineer at Red Sea Farms, designing AI-assisted automation systems for sustainable agriculture.
Beyond academia, Firas co-founded FreshSense, a startup that developed patented smart flexible sensors for food safety and inventory optimization. The venture was a finalist in the TAQADDAM Innovation Accelerator and secured pilot implementation with Radwa Farms.
He is a recipient of the King Abdullah Scholarship Program for undergraduate study abroad and the KAUST Fellowship for both his master’s and doctoral research. Firas has represented KAUST in multiple national and international events and is an active IEEE member. His academic excellence, industrial insight, and entrepreneurial spirit position him at the intersection of research innovation and real-world technology translation.
Research Interests
Firas Fatani’s research focuses on advancing wireless sensing, flexible electronics, and intelligent systems for next-generation connectivity and health technologies. His work combines electromagnetics, materials engineering, and data science to create innovative, low-cost, and battery-free sensing platforms for real-world applications in healthcare, environmental monitoring, and smart infrastructure.
Specific research interests include:
- Wireless and battery-free sensing systems
- Printed and flexible electronics for wearable and environmental applications
- Additive manufacturing and hybrid fabrication for RF and sensor integration
- Data analysis and machine learning for intelligent sensing and signal interpretation
- Internet of Things (IoT) architectures for scalable sensor networks
- Electromagnetic modeling and RF component design
- System-level integration of sensors, materials, and data analytics
- Translational applications of wireless technologies across biomedical and industrial domains
About
Firas Fatani is a Ph.D. candidate in Electrical and Computer Engineering at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), working in the Integrated Microwave Packaging Antennas & Circuits Technology (IMPACT) Lab. His research focuses on developing printed, flexible, and battery-free microwave biosensors for non-invasive health monitoring through sweat analysis.
Firas’s work bridges microwave engineering, biosensing, and the Internet of Things (IoT). He has authored several publications in leading journals, including ACS Sensors—where his research was featured on the journal cover—and the IEEE Sensors Journal. His projects span wearable sensors, wireless health systems, and AI-driven data interpretation for biomedical applications.
Beyond research, Firas has strong industrial experience with international companies in manufacturing and IoT innovation, complemented by entrepreneurial success as co-founder of FreshSense, a startup developing smart sensing solutions for food safety and supply-chain monitoring.
Firas holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering with High Honors from the Milwaukee School of Engineering (ranked #10 nationally in undergraduate engineering by U.S. News & World Report), and both M.S. and Ph.D. fellowships from KAUST. His contributions reflect a commitment to advancing next-generation sensing technologies that connect science with societal impact.
