Elevating the Field: Rhonda Franklin Joins the IEEE Fellow Class of 2026
Rhonda R. Franklin’s elevation to IEEE Fellow (Class of 2026) recognizes a career distinguished by technical innovation, engineering education, and workforce development. Cited by IEEE for her leadership in microwave engineering education and workforce development, Franklin has successfully combined impactful research with mentoring and community building.
Franklin is the McKnight Presidential Endowed Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Minnesota. Internationally recognized for her contributions to high-frequency electronics, advanced interconnects, packaging technologies, and materials characterization, her research has helped advance the low-power, high-performance components that enable modern communication systems, including 5G networks, nanosatellites, and the Internet of Things. More recently, she has applied her expertise to engineering in medicine, developing sensing technologies for cancer and cryobiology applications.
A strong advocate for engineering education, Franklin has long recognized that preparing future engineers requires more than technical training. Through initiatives such as Project Connect and the Mentoring for the Formation of Research Careers in Engineering (M-FORCE) program, she has helped connect students and early-career professionals with mentors, career resources, and professional communities across academia, industry, and government.
Her contributions have been recognized through numerous honors, including the NSF Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), the IEEE N. Walter Cox Service Award, the IEEE Diversity and Inclusion Award, the Rudolf Henning Distinguished Mentoring Award, the University of Minnesota George W. Taylor Distinguished Service Award, and the University of Michigan ECE Alumni Distinguished Educator Award.
Beyond her technical accomplishments, Franklin is recognized for building bridges across research, education, and workforce development. Her elevation to IEEE Fellow reflects both her contributions to microwave engineering and her lasting impact on developing future generations of engineers.
What does being elevated to an IEEE Fellow mean to you? Moving forward, what does it mean?
Rhonda: Becoming an IEEE Fellow is deeply meaningful because it reflects recognition by peers that my work has contributed to the profession. Throughout my career, I have been motivated by advancing microwave engineering through research while developing future engineers through education and mentorship. This honor affirms both missions and inspires my continued service.
What motivates you and your research in microwave engineering?
Rhonda: Microwave engineering appealed to me because it combines creativity, problem-solving, and technologies that improve how people connect and communicate. I entered the field during the transition from bulky 3D waveguide components to compact planar circuits, which sparked my interest in integration and packaging. I often describe microwave systems as a language: components are words, circuits are sentences, and subsystems are paragraphs. My research focuses on connecting these building blocks to create innovative solutions while mentoring future engineers who can bridge disciplines and think at a systems level.
You were distinguished for your leadership in microwave engineering education and workforce development. Can you talk about the importance of those 2 areas?
Rhonda: Microwave engineering connects academia, industry, and government to advance technologies that benefit society. Early in my career, I saw that many students lacked awareness of opportunities across these sectors. This inspired my commitment to engineering education and workforce development. Through initiatives such as Project Connect, students discover meaningful career pathways. Developing talent is just as important as developing technology because both are essential to the future of the profession.
Why are you passionate about “engineering in medicine”?
Rhonda: Engineering in medicine allows me to apply microwave engineering expertise to technologies that directly improve people's lives. By collaborating across engineering, medicine, and science, I can translate knowledge between disciplines to creating innovative solutions.
What advice would you give young engineers today?
Rhonda: Think critically and use AI as a tool, not a substitute for learning. Follow your curiosity, focus on meaningful problems, and be patient. Expertise, impact, and leadership are built through continuous learning, persistence, and a strong foundation.
What are some of the upcoming projects that you can share?
Rhonda: I am excited about research at the intersection of AI, quantum computing, and advanced hardware systems, where energy efficiency and integration are key challenges. Through my ATP-Bio ERC work, developing educational approaches to prepare scholars to collaborate across disciplines and address complex societal challenges is also exciting.
Note: While the core ideas and final edits are my own, Gemini AI served as a collaborative partner for stylistic suggestions.
