Dr. Raafat Mansour, a professor and University Research Chair in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Waterloo, has been selected to receive the 2026 Distinguished Educator Award from the IEEE Microwave Theory and Technology Society (MTT-S).
This prestigious international honour recognizes educators who have made exceptional and lasting contributions to the field of microwave engineering and science, while exemplifying the spirit of the late Fred J. Rosenbaum — a visionary who viewed teaching as a calling and dedicated his career to advancing the MTT-S community through mentorship and service.
Dr. Mansour’s award citation reads:
“For Outstanding Achievements as an Educator, Mentor, and Role Model of Microwave Engineers and Engineering Students.”
Dr. Mansour has inspired generations of engineers through his leadership, innovation, and commitment to hands-on education. In 2004, he founded the Centre for Integrated RF Engineering (CIRFE) at the University of Waterloo — a world-class facility featuring a class 10,000 clean room and a state-of-the-art radio frequency (RF) test and characterization laboratory. CIRFE’s unique capabilities quickly propelled Waterloo to the forefront of RF (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) MEMS research.
Under his vision, the centre launched the UW-MEMS research-oriented multi-user MEMS fabrication process. Through a partnership with the Canadian Microelectronics Corporation (CMC), CIRFE now offers UW-MEMS as a multi-project wafer (MPW) fabrication service to researchers at universities across Canada. This initiative has not only strengthened collaboration nationwide but also provided invaluable hands-on training for numerous highly qualified personnel — ensuring Canada remains a global leader in this vital field.
Dr. Mansour is a Fellow of IEEE, a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering (CAE), and a Fellow of the Engineering Institute of Canada (EIC). His remarkable career has been recognized with the 2014 Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) Engineering Medal for Research and Development and the 2019 IEEE Canada A.G.L. McNaughton Gold Medal Award.
Congratulations to Dr. Mansour on this outstanding and well-deserved recognition. His passion for discovery, mentorship, and academic excellence continues to shape the future of microwave engineering, and inspire those who follow in his footsteps.