Giuliano Manara was born in Florence, Italy, on October 30, 1954. He received the Laurea (Doctor) degree in electronics engineering (summa cum laude) from the University of Florence, Italy, in 1979. Currently, he is a Professor at the College of Engineering of the University of Pisa, Italy. From 2000 to 2011 and from 2013 to present, he has been serving as the President of the Bachelor and the Master Programs in Telecommunications Engineering at the same University. He has also served as the President of the Bachelor Program in Telecommunications Engineering at the Naval Academy of the Italian Navy in Leghorn, Italy, from 2010 to 2013. This program is jointly organized by the Naval Academy and the University of Pisa.
Since 1980, he has been collaborating with the Department of Electrical Engineering of the Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, where, in the summer and fall of 1987, he was involved in research at the ElectroScience Laboratory.
His research interests have centered mainly on the asymptotic solution of radiation and scattering problems to improve and extend the uniform geometrical theory of diffraction (UTD). In this framework, he has analyzed electromagnetic wave scattering from material bodies, with emphasis on the scattering from both isotropic and anisotropic impedance wedges. He has also been engaged in research on numerical, analytical and hybrid techniques (both in frequency and time domain), scattering from rough surfaces, frequency selective surfaces (FSS), and electromagnetic compatibility. More recently, his research has also been focused on microwave antennas with application to broadband wireless networks, the development and testing of new microwave materials (metamaterials) for electronics systems, and the analysis (theoretical and experimental) of Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID) systems with specific reference to the design of antennas operating in the near field. Prof. Manara has also conducted research on the optimal design of radio frequency coils for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) systems.
Prof. Manara has authored more than 140 papers on qualified technical journals with referees, and has presented more than 200 papers at international conferences. He served as a member of the Scientific Committee of several international conferences, as for instance: IEEE Antennas and Propagation Symposia, URSI (International Radio Science Union) General Assembly and Scientific Symposia, URSI Commission B “Fields and Waves” Electromagnetic Theory Symposia (EMTS).
Prof. Manara was elected an IEEE Fellow in 2004 for “contributions to the uniform geometrical theory of diffraction and its applications.” From 2000 to 2014, he has been serving as the Secretary/Treasurer of the Italian Society on Electromagnetics (Società Italiana di Elettromagnetismo, SIEm). From 2002 to 2008, he has been working as a member of the IEEE Italy Section Executive Committee, being responsible for students activities. He was also a member of the IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society Administrative Committee (APS - AdCom) from 2005 to 2008. From 2007 to 2009 he served as a member of the IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society Fellow Committee.
In May 2004, Prof. Manara was the Organizing Committee Chair of the URSI (International Union of Radio Science) Commission B International Symposium on Electromagnetic Theory, which was held in Pisa, Italy, May 23-27. He also served as a Convener and chaired several sessions at URSI international conferences, and URSI General Assemblies and Scientific Symposia. He has also organized and chaired several special sessions in the framework of different IEEE International Conferences. In 2007, he has been nominated National Representative for URSI Commission B in the framework of the URSI Italian Committee. In August 2008, he was elected the International Vice-Chair of URSI Commission B. Then, from August 2011 to August 2014, he served as the International Chair of the same URSI
