Robert H. Giles

Having received his Ph.D. in Physics at the University of Massachusetts Lowell
(UML) in 1986, techniques from Giles' doctoral work "Design of a Submillimeter
Ellipsometer and Application to the Measurement of Complex Indices of
Refraction of Materials" were used to pioneer the submillimeter-wave
polarimetric radar modeling effort at UML. As a UML researcher since 1982, Dr.
Giles has used computational techniques to provide theoretical foundation for the
behavior of materials and the design of optical devices at submillimeter
wavelengths. He has developed, implemented and published a number of
advances in submillimeter radar modeling technology. Among these advances are
the design of polarimetric measurement systems, the generation of polarization
calibration techniques, the development of material characterization methods, the
creation of scaled dielectric materials, and the fabrication of novel far-infrared
absorbing materials. As faculty in UML’s Physics Department, Giles has taught
introductory courses in physics and astronomy, as well as developing upper-level
undergraduate and graduate courses in automation laboratory research and the
physics of materials and devices.

Dr. Giles serves as Chairman of the Physics Department, as well as Principal
Investigator and Director of UML's Submillimeter-Wave Technology Laboratory
(STL). Recently receiving a five-year, $27 million renewal grant from the U.S
Army’s National Ground Intelligence Center, STL is a leader in terahertz
transmitter and receiver technologies, pioneering the design and fabrication of
broadband solid-state multiplier sources, ultrastable optically pumped lasers and
laser/microwave hybrid systems. Under the direction of Dr. Giles is a 20-member
research team, with several dozen graduate and undergraduate students, who build
and maintain a variety of high-performance solid-state and laser-based
measurement systems to generate the terahertz frequency radiation. With these
systems they have developed a wide range of material characterization techniques
and high resolution imaging systems for industry and the Department of Defense. Medical applications using the terahertz imaging systems are now also under investigation.

In January 2001, Professor Giles traveled to the Caribbean and began volunteering for charitable work among the impoverished citizens in the Southern
Department of Haiti. Since then, Bob Giles has been working toward fluency in
Creole while studying the culture and community dynamics. He continues to visit
Haiti and is coordinating a Haiti development studies research team. Currently
financing a dozen children in local area schools along with a Haitian community
member to track the daily educational progress and welfare of these children, Dr.
Giles has been encouraging the eldest of these Haitian children to explore their
academic abilities and opportunities in higher education through the use of
introductory college level science curricula. Dr. Giles has been submitting
proposals to foundational funding agencies in an effort to establish this project
team as a research center at the University.