PhD candidate in Electrical & Computer Engineering at the University of Washington, advised by Prof. Matt Reynolds.
My research is in low-power wireless communication, specifically backscatter systems
that interoperate with standard Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Before my PhD, I worked for four
years as a hardware engineer at ThruWave and Thorlabs.
🎓 Defending in 2027 and looking for full-time roles starting after graduation.
2026🏆 Best Student Paper Award at IEEE RFID 2026 for ZeroScatterPico.
2026Instructor of record for EE 205: Introduction to Signal Conditioning.
2025Received my M.S. in Electrical Engineering from UW.
2024🏆 Best Paper Award at IEEE RFID-TA 2024.
Research
Backscatter devices communicate by modulating their antenna's reflection of an incident
carrier instead of running an active transmitter. A simple modulator, though, has little
control over which channels and directions that reflection lands in. I work on modulators
that select both, so backscatter can share spectrum with commercial BLE and Wi-Fi.
Frequency-selective backscatter
Using bulk acoustic wave (BAW) filters to steer backscatter onto specific Wi-Fi and BLE channels.
Spatially-selective backscatter
True-time-delay subcarrier beamforming arrays that direct BLE backscatter toward a chosen receiver.
Low-cost backscatter platforms
BLE backscatter from just a Raspberry Pi Pico's digital I/O pins, and joint radar sensing plus communication.
2.4 GHz beamforming array during a pattern sweep in an anechoic chamber.
Publications
papers · * denotes equal contribution
Patents
[Patent Title]
Kevin J. Ho, [Co-inventors]
[U.S. Patent No. / Application No.], [Status, Year] · Link
Industry Experience
Hardware Engineer · ThruWave, Inc.
Jun 2021 — Oct 2022 · Seattle, WA
Spearheaded the redesign of a mmWave imaging system's core electronics from prototype to pre-production.
Supported CAD and assembly of the imaging system's mechanical enclosures and framing.
Managed in-house parts inventory and sourced substitute components during the chip shortage.
