Kagan Topalli, PhD
About Kagan Topalli, PhD
Kagan Topalli, PhD, is a Senior Antenna Engineer at Astranis, with extensive experience in antenna design and research. He has held various academic and research positions, including roles at Bilkent University, The Ohio State University, and TUBITAK UZAY-Space Technologies Research Institute.
Work at Astranis
Kagan Topalli serves as a Senior Antenna Engineer at Astranis, a position he has held since 2018. In this role, he focuses on the design and integration of antennas for satellite communications. His responsibilities include ensuring electromagnetic interference (EMI) and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) for the electronic systems developed by Astranis. He utilizes advanced simulation tools such as HFSS and TICRA-POS to optimize antenna performance and design.
Education and Expertise
Kagan Topalli earned his Bachelor's degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Middle East Technical University, where he studied from 1997 to 2001. He furthered his education at the same institution, completing a Ph.D. in RF MEMS, phased arrays, and reconfigurable antennas between 2001 and 2007. His academic background provides a strong foundation for his expertise in antenna design and satellite technology.
Background
Kagan Topalli has a diverse professional background in academia and research. He worked as an Assistant Professor and Principal Investigator at Bilkent University from 2014 to 2016. Prior to that, he was a Postdoctoral Researcher at The Ohio State University from 2010 to 2012. His experience also includes roles at TUBITAK UZAY-Space Technologies Research Institute, where he served as Chief Research Scientist from 2016 to 2018, and as a Consultant in the Communication System Group from 2012 to 2016.
Research and Development Contributions
Throughout his career, Kagan Topalli has contributed significantly to various research and development projects. He has been involved in the design of RF PCBs, utilizing HFSS 3D Layout simulations to enhance performance. Additionally, he has worked on the characterization and integration of waveguides for spacecraft applications. His collaboration with the Business Development Department at Astranis has focused on customer responses that require specialized antenna solutions.
Previous Positions and Roles
Before his current role at Astranis, Kagan Topalli held several positions in research and academia. He was a Research Assistant at the METU MEMS Research and Application Center from 2001 to 2007 and later became a Research Engineer there until 2010. He also served as an Assistant Professor at TED University from 2012 to 2014. His extensive experience spans over a decade in various capacities related to antenna engineering and satellite technology.