04/07/2026
By Danielle Fretwell

The Francis College of Engineering, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, invites you to attend a Doctoral Dissertation defense by Jotham Kasule on: "Printed Flexible High Density and High Frequency Connectors with Active Components Integration."

Candidate Name: Jotham Kasule
Degree: Doctoral
Defense Date: Wednesday, April 8, 2026
Time: 3:30 - 5:30 p.m.
Location: ETIC 445

Committee:

  • Advisor: Alkim Akyurtlu, Professor (Associate Chair), Electrical & Computer Engineering, UMass Lowell
  • Co-Advisor: Jay Weitzen, Professor (Department Chair), Electrical & Computer Engineering, UMass Lowell
  • Craig Armiento, Professor Emeritus, Electrical & Computer Engineering, UMass Lowell
  • Corey Shemelya, Associate Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering, UMass Lowell
  • Mary Herndon, Senior Engineering Fellow, Raytheon Technologies (RTX)

Abstract: 

Printed electronics research has focused on demonstrating circuits but not the means to provide interconnections to those circuits. This dissertation presents a reimagined connector solution with a separable interface for microwave components and subsystems and that can integrate into additive Manufacturing (AM) processes. The optimized novel design, additive fabrication, and RF characterization of a planar compact connector assembly was developed. The connector is capable of increasing I/O density by transmitting multiple signals (RF, DC and Digital) within a single AM-printed assembly. There is a huge gap in the interdisciplinary domain of printed connectors with a separable interface, and this work is inherent towards advancement of fully printed electronics for next-generation wearable, embedded, and conformal RF systems. The studies conducted in the dissertation include (1) the printed flexible high-density and high-frequency microwave connector, (2) an embedded and active component integration in the printed connector, (3) the printed connector-antenna system integration and lastly (4) high speed digital signal transmission in the printed connector.