About

Josep Miquel Jornet is a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Northeastern University, where he also serves as the Associate Dean of Research in the College of Engineering and the Associate Director of the Institute for the Wireless Internet of Things (WIoT). He is the director of the Ultrabroadband Nanonetworking Laboratory at Northeastern. His research interests encompass terahertz communication networks, wireless nano-bio-communication networks, and the Internet of Nano-Things. Jornet has made significant contributions to these fields, co-authoring over 300 peer-reviewed publications, including a book, and holding five US patents. His work has garnered over 20,000 citations with an h-index of 65 as of April 2025. He has been awarded the NSF CAREER Award and is a Fellow of the IEEE, Class of 2024. Jornet has held leadership roles such as interim chair of the Electrical and Computer Engineering department and is actively involved in editorial duties, including serving as Editor-in-Chief of Nano Communication Networks and as an associate editor for IEEE Transactions on Communications and Scientific Reports. His educational background includes a Ph.D. from Georgia Tech, a Master’s and Bachelor’s from Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, and research experience at MIT. He is dedicated to advancing education and workforce development, co-directing master's programs in Internet of Things and Wireless and Network Engineering, and pioneering courses in nanonetworking and terahertz communications.

Research topics

• Computer Science
• Computer Security
• Telecommunications
• Physics
• Chemistry
• Computer network
• Optics
• Engineering
• World Wide Web
• Quantum mechanics
• Electrical engineering

Selected publications

• Truly Mobile Sub-Terahertz Communications Beyond6G via Just-in-Time IMU-Assisted Beam Management

  Research Square · 2026-03-25

  preprintOpen accessSenior author
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• AquaTera: Sub-Terahertz Wireless to Enable Air-Water Communication

  2026-02-25

  articleOpen access

  Wireless connectivity between aerial and underwater networks has inherently been a major challenge, as no single carrier operates well across the boundary. Traditional principles, such as radio in air and acoustics underwater, are fundamentally limited at the cross-media interface because of a stark mismatch in electromagnetic and acoustic properties, such as impedance, between the two different propagation media. To bridge this gap, we propose AquaTera, a new communication architecture that transforms the interface itself into a natural transducer to establish a direct air-to-water link. Namely, AquaTera strategically leverages over-the-air sub-terahertz wireless signals, with unique quasi-optical properties and strong absorption in water, to generate localized, rapid pressure waves. We develop the AquaTera principles of electromagnetic-to-acoustic coupling and design techniques for modulating aerial sub-terahertz signals into information-bearing underwater acoustic signals. We present the AquaTera framework and multiphysics models spanning three distinct, coupled domains, along with detailed preliminary results, and we discuss exciting capabilities of AquaTera to overcome the inherent limitations of existing technologies.

  PublisherDOI

• Nano-Bio Systems for Intra-Body Sensing, Actuation, and Communication in the Terahertz Band and Beyond

  IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials · 2026-01-01

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  The terahertz (THz) band and the optical frequency window are emerging as powerful enablers of next generation biomedical technologies, supporting high resolution sensing of biological processes, targeted intra-body actuation, and intra-body communication for coordinated functional operation. Although each modality has demonstrated significant promise individually, research efforts have largely progressed in isolation, limiting the exploration of their potential for integrated deployment. This comprehensive survey bridges these domains by presenting a unified analysis of THz and optical modalities for intra-body sensing, actuation, and communication. Building on this foundation, we articulate a vision for intra-body systems in which multiple functions are seamlessly coordinated at cellular and subcellular scales. Applications such as continuous health monitoring and closed loop therapeutic interventions illustrate the transformative potential of these integrated approaches. We outline a three-stage roadmap covering foundational modeling, in-vitro integration, and in-vivo translation, identifying critical open challenges including compact source generation, power delivery, biosensing miniaturization, and biocompatibility.

  PublisherDOI

• Poster: AquaTera - Sub-THz Wireless Air-to-Water Communication Link

  2026-02-25

  articleOpen access

  We present AquaTera, a novel communication architecture that establishes direct air-to-water links by transforming the air-water interface from a barrier to conventional signals into a natural transducer. AquaTera strategically leverages over-the-air sub-terahertz (sub-THz) wireless signals to generate localized, rapid pressure waves underwater. The unique quasi-optical properties of sub-THz signals and their strong absorption in water enable this transformation. We demonstrate the AquaTera multiphysics framework and its quasi-optoacoustic principle of electromagnetic-to-acoustic coupling for modulating aerial sub-THz transmissions into information-bearing underwater acoustic signals.

  PublisherDOI

• A decade of growth: From vision to reality in nanoscale networking

  Nano Communication Networks · 2026-04-01

  article1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Monolithic Integration of a Dual-Mode On-Chip Antenna with a Ferroelectric Hafnium Zirconium Oxide Varactor for Reprogrammable Radio-Frequency Front Ends

  Electronics · 2026-02-12

  articleOpen access

  In this work, we report a dual-mode ferroelectrically programmable on-chip antenna. The antenna is built on a silicon wafer using complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) processes and exhibits two programmable resonant modes: one in the super high frequency (SHF) range and one in the extremely high frequency (EHF) range. The SHF mode resonates at 8.5 GHz and exhibits ultrawideband (UWB) behavior, while the EHF mode resonates at 36.6 GHz. Both resonance frequencies can be tuned in a non-volatile fashion by controlling the ferroelectric polarization state of a Hafnium Zirconium Oxide (HZO) varactor monolithically integrated into the feed line. This programmability arises from the ferroelectric switching of the embedded HZO film, which results in a non-volatile variation of its permittivity upon application of a voltage pulse. Ferroelectric switching occurs at approximately ±3 V and induces maximum resonance frequency shifts of 381 MHz for the SHF mode and 3 GHz for the EHF mode, corresponding to fractional frequency changes of 4.5% and 8.3%, respectively. Unlike previously reported ferroelectrically tunable antennas, our reported antenna combines full integration, CMOS compatibility, higher operating frequency, compact footprint, and non-volatile programmability.

  PublisherDOI

• Optimal Wavefronts for Maximum Ratio Transmissions Under Path Blockage Effects

  IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications · 2026-01-01

  articleOpen access

  In this paper, the optimal wavefronts for maximum ratio transmission (MRT) are investigated under path blockage effects in the near-field region. To characterize the behavior of the optimal wavefronts, a new deterministic channel model is proposed in the presence of obstacles, which describes blockage effects by the variation of the electric field based on the uniform theory of diffraction (UTD). With the proposed channel model, the linear precoder designs are formulated as optimization problems to maximize the power density at the desired point under fully digital and analog array assumptions, where the amplitude and phase distributions of the solutions characterize the optimal wavefronts to achieve MRT. The optimal precoders reveal that the proposed channel modeling must be required to optimize near-field communications systems in the presence of obstacles, which, together with electromagnetic wave simulations, confirm that linear precoding with the proposed channel model achieves MRT under any blockage effect, and the optimal wavefront varies for each blockage situation.

  PublisherDOI

• Anisotropic Wave Propagation in Intra-Body Communication Systems Using Mathieu Beams

  2025-07-13

  articleSenior author

  This paper explores the potential of Mathieu beams in enhancing intra-body optical communication within complex biological environments in the near-field. Biological tissues exhibit anisotropic properties that influence electromagnetic (EM) wave propagation, creating unique challenges for light transmission. The elliptical intensity distributions and self-reconstruction capabilities of Mathieu beams make them particularly well-suited for interacting with such anisotropic structures. The results in this paper demonstrate that, compared to Gaussian beams, Mathieu beams show superior propagation characteristics when traversing the myelinated axons in the white matter of the spinal cord, which exhibits direction-dependent scattering. This adaptability makes Mathieu beams especially advantageous in environments with anisotropic scattering properties, paving the way for the design of more efficient optical systems that can exploit these optical characteristics for improved performance.

  PublisherDOI

• Thermal and SAR-Based Limits for Human Skin Exposed to Terahertz Radiation

  2025-07-28

  articleSenior author

  Terahertz technology holds strong potential for wireless communication and sensing and has become a growing focus of research in recent years. However, current safety guidelines for wireless communication do not fully address the entire terahertz spectrum, as they only cover the sub-terahertz band (<tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">$100-300 \text{GHz}$</tex>). Establishing safe exposure limits is a necessary prerequisite for the practical deployment of terahertz systems. In this paper, a COMSOL Multiphysics model was developed to analyze the thermal impact of terahertz exposure on human skin and to determine the maximum permissible power limits across the frequency range from 0.1 THz to 5 THz. The current state of terahertz wireless communication technology was also explored by analyzing a representative system to assess present capabilities and exposure safety. The results indicate that the existing power levels defined for the sub-terahertz band may no longer be adequate, either for the sub-terahertz range itself or for the broader terahertz region evaluated in this study. This research lays the groundwork for safer terahertz technology standards, facilitating its broader use in wireless communication.

  PublisherDOI

• Space-O-RAN: Enabling Intelligent, Open, and Interoperable Non-Terrestrial Networks in 6G

  IEEE Communications Magazine · 2025-12-19 · 3 citations

  article

  Satellite networks are rapidly evolving, yet most Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs) remain isolated from terrestrial orchestration frameworks. Their control architectures are typically monolithic and static, limiting their adaptability to dynamic traffic, topology changes, and mission requirements. These constraints lead to inefficient spectrum use and underutilized network capacity. Although Artificial Intelligence (AI) promises automation, its deployment in orbit is limited by computing, energy, and connectivity limitations. This article introduces Space-O-RAN, a distributed control architecture that extends Open RAN principles into satellite constellations through hierarchical, closed-loop control. Lightweight dApps operate onboard satellites, enabling real-time functions like scheduling and beam steering without relying on continuous ground access. Cluster-level coordination is managed via Space RAN Intelligent Controllers (Space-RICs), which leverage low-latency Inter-Satellite Links (ISLs) for autonomous decisions in orbit. Strategic tasks, including AI training and policy updates, are transferred to terrestrial platforms Service Management and Orchestrations (SMO) using digital twins and feeder links. A key enabler is the dynamic mapping of the O-RAN interfaces to satellite links, supporting adaptive signaling under varying conditions. Simulations using the Starlink topology validate the latency bounds that inform this architectural split, demonstrating both feasibility and scalability for autonomous satellite RAN operations.

  PublisherDOI

Recent grants

• II-New: TeraNova: An Integrated Testbed for True Terahertz Communications

  NSF · $750k · 2017–2019

• NSF-AoF: CISE Core: Small: Enabling Mobile Terahertz Communication for 6G Cellular Networks

  NSF · $457k · 2022–2025

• Collaborative Research: SWIFT-SAT: DASS: Dynamically Adjustable Spectrum Sharing between Ground Communication Networks and Earth Exploration Satellite Systems Above 100 GHz

  NSF · $425k · 2024–2026

• Collaborative Research: Control of Information Processing and Learning in Neuronal Networks through Light-mediated Programming of Genomic Networks

  NSF · $233k · 2021–2025

• CAREER: Realizing Ultra-Broadband Terahertz Communication Networks

  NSF · $102k · 2019–2020

Frequent coauthors

• Ian F. Akyildiz

  48 shared

• Vitaly Petrov

  Northeastern University

  40 shared

• Arjun Singh

  31 shared

• Sasitharan Balasubramaniam

  23 shared

• Yevgeni Koucheryavy

  22 shared

• G. R. Aǐzin

  Kingsborough Community College

  20 shared

• Chong Han

  Institute of Soil and Water Conservation

  20 shared

• Tommaso Melodia

  18 shared

Education

• Ph.D., Electrical and Computer Engineering

  Georgia Institute of Technology

  2013

• MS in Information and Communication Technologies, ETSETB

  Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya

  2008

• BS in Telecommunications Engineering, ETSETB

  Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya

  2008

Awards & honors

• National Science Foundation CAREER Award (2019)
• IEEE Fellow, Class of 2024
• Distinguished Faculty Award, 2026
• Springer Nature Editor of Distinction Award, Scientific Repo…
• Excellence in Mentoring Award, Northeastern University, Janu…