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UCL research graduate recognised as leading international radar engineer
23 June 2021
Dr Alexander Charlish, a scientist and team leader at Fraunhofer FKIE who undertook his PhD in UCL's Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering has recently been recognised as the leading radar engineer worldwide under 40.
Author: Robert Thompson, Institute Manager
Radar | Cognitive Radar | Alumni
Dr Alexander Charlish, who undertook his PhD at UCL's Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering and is now a scientist and team leader at Fraunhofer FKIE has recently been awarded the Fred Nathanson Memorial Radar Award.
The award, presented by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Aerospace & Electronic Systems (AES) Society since 1985, recognises world leaders of radar engineering under the age of 40 who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of the field. Alex was presented with the award during the 2021 IEEE Radar Conference for his contributions to radar resource management and cognitive radar.
Having completed his doctorate at UCL, Alex moved to the Fraunhofer Institute for Communication, Information Processing and Ergonomics (FKIE) in Wachtberg Germany, where his career advanced rapidly.
Alex is only the second British Citizen to win the award and the first Fraunhofer researcher. The previous and first British Citizen to win the award was Alex's UCL supervisor, and ICCS member, Professor Hugh Griffiths.
In speaking about the award Alex explained the importance of his work in Cognitive Radar to efficiently manage radar resources as techniques for modern radar have become more advanced and dynamic. He went on to thank the excellent team he works with at Fraunhofer FKIE and the international community of collaborators he has had the opportunity to work with.
Congratulating Alex on his achievement Prof. Wolfgang Koch, Head of Department for Sensor Data & Information Fusion at Fraunhofer FKIE, spoke about the importance of Alex's work to Europe's security and defence along with its inclusion in major programmes. Prof. Koch noted Alex's successful time at UCL supervised by Hugh Griffiths, who he referred to as the "Pope of Radar".