Tuna Altay

Supported technical exercise sessions on optical communication systems, covering electromagnetic wave propagation, guided-wave structures, signal transmission, modulation, detection, and system level performance analysis. Guided students through analytical design and evaluation problems involving component behavior, loss mechanisms, bandwidth limitations, noise effects, and link-performance trade-offs.

Performed electro-thermal simulations in CST Microwave Studio for THz photoconductive devices, analyzing laser- and bias-induced heating, substrate effects, and device thermal behavior to support design optimization. Designed fabrication masks and supported cleanroom lithography workflows for microdevice realization. Contributed to semiconductor integration and bonding processes relevant to high-frequency/THz device fabrication and thermal management.

Worked on the rework and performance optimization of broadband Microwave Power Modules, including both the RF signal chain and associated analog driver and bias networks. Analyzed and optimized RF components within the modules to ensure proper gain, linearity, and impedance matching across wide frequency ranges.

Designed a range of broadband passive microwave components focusing on layout, simulation, and optimization across wide frequency bands. Developed and tested Wilkinson Power Dividers, Attenuators, Coupled-Line Directional Couplers, and Equalizer circuits, achieving target specifications for return loss, isolation, and insertion loss.

Gained knowledge about power electronics and DC-DC converters. Conducted research on electronic components suitable for use in power electronics. Designed, analyzed, and simulated a Buck Converter, subsequently implemented and tested it on a stripboard.

Made mathematical modeling of control systems in Simulink. Used Simulink and MPLAB to program dsPIC33CH128MP508 and PIC32MZ2048EFH144 microcontrollers. Gained knowledge about MATLAB App Designer.

Assisted sophomores with their circuit theory laboratory experiments.

GPA: 1.88 / 1.0 (German Scale) Thesis – Split-Block Rectangular Waveguide Liquid Crystal Phase Shifter at Ka-Band: Ongoing. Specialized in Microwave Engineering, THz Systems and RF Systems for Particle Accelerators.

GPA: 3.32 / 4.0 (Turkish Scale) Thesis – Electronically Configurable Antennas: Designed and implemented a microstrip patch array antenna operating at 2.4 GHz, integrated with a PIN diode-based switching circuit to enable reconfigurable radiation patterns. Specialized in Analog and RF Electronics, Microwave Engineering, and Antenna Design.