Villanova University Names Engineering Professor Robert Caverly, PhD, as Recipient of 2020 Outstanding Faculty Research Award

Robert Caverly, PhD, Electrical and Computer Engineering Professor, was selected by the University as the recipient of its 2020 Outstanding Faculty Research Award.

VILLANOVA, Pa. – Villanova University has selected Robert Caverly, PhD, Electrical and Computer Engineering Professor, as the recipient of its 2020 Outstanding Faculty Research Award for his impressive scholarship and reputation in microwave control circuitry. The award recognizes a faculty member who demonstrates the highest standards of excellence in research, scholarship and contributions to their field.

Dr. Caverly serves as Director of the Microwave and Electromagnetics Laboratory and teaches courses in Engineering Electromagnetics and Microwave Theory and Techniques at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. His research interests include characterization of semiconductor devices such as PIN diodes and FETs (field-effect transistors) in the microwave and radio frequency control environment. From 2014–2016, he traveled the world as a Distinguished Microwave Lecturer, an IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques Society (MTT-S) appointment for those recognized as experts in their fields. With his lecture on “RF Aspects of Magnetic Resonance Imaging,” Dr. Caverly was among a select few to be invited to this prestigious and key service for the MTT-S. He is also involved in analog and digital CMOS (complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor) VLSI (very-large-scale integration) design, an area where he has taught a number of workshops nationally and internationally, as well as courses at Villanova.

The author of more than 100 journal and conference papers and two books, CMOS RFIC Design Principles and Microwave and RF Semiconductor Control Device Modeling, Dr. Caverly also serves as editor-in-chief of the IEEE Microwave Magazine and served as general chair of the 2020 IEEE Radio and Wireless Week series of conferences (RWW2020).

In 2019, Dr. Caverly was elevated to Life Fellow status of the IEEE “for contributions to modeling and design of radio frequency switching devices.” This special honor is reserved for individuals who have distinguished themselves through their sustained and lasting contributions to the organization. In 2020, he was recognized with the Engineering Alumni Society’s Award for Teaching Excellence.

“True to Villanova’s teacher-scholar model, Dr. Caverly is an internationally recognized scholar who for years has also mentored and engaged countless Villanova students at both the undergraduate and graduate level,” said Amanda Grannas, PhD, Associate Vice Provost for Research at Villanova University. “He is an innovative researcher and dedicated teacher, and we congratulate Dr. Caverly on this much deserved award.”

A College of Engineering faculty member since 1997, Dr. Caverly earned his master’s and bachelor’s degrees in electrical engineering from North Carolina State University and his PhD from The Johns Hopkins University.

“I am very honored to receive the Villanova University Outstanding Faculty Research Award,” said Dr. Caverly. “I am grateful for the recognition of my rewarding academic and professional career in electrical and computer engineering. It has been my privilege to work with Villanova’s wonderful students, faculty and staff.”

“Dr. Caverly has had an impressive career that is richly deserving of the honors and recognition he has received in the past year,” says Randy Weinstein, Interim Dean of the College of Engineering. “After nearly 40 years, when some might be resting on their laurels, he continues to demonstrate exemplary leadership in the field of radio frequency and microwave devices.”

With the traditional Faculty Scholars Dinner postponed due to COVID-19, family and colleagues honored Dr. Caverly during a Zoom dinner celebration.

In order to be eligible for the Outstanding Faculty Research Award candidates must have an established national and international scholarly reputation in their field; be full-time, tenured full professors; have held a tenure track faculty position at Villanova for at least 10 years; and be formally nominated by full-time Villanova faculty members.

Outstanding Faculty Research Award recipients are traditionally honored at a Faculty Scholars Dinner in April, but that event was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Caverly was instead surprised by an appearance and remarks from Dr. Grannas during a pre-planned online Zoom dinner with his family. In addition, several of Dr. Caverly’s colleagues in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering also took part in the call during which they talked about his first publication and how he became interested in electrical engineering. His son, Will, reports that the virtual event ended with a virtual toast to Caverly’s success. Dr. Caverly will be formally presented with his award when the University reopens.

About Villanova University: Since 1842, Villanova University’s Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition has been the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University's six colleges—the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Villanova School of Business, the College of Engineering, the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, the College of Professional Studies and the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. Ranked among the nation’s top universities, Villanova supports its students’ intellectual growth and prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them. For more, visit www.villanova.edu.