By Uyoyou Erezi

Nigerian PhD researcher Sunday Amatare has been honored with the Jeff and Lisa Smith Outstanding Graduate Researcher Award at the 2024 College of Engineering Academic Excellence Awards. The ceremony, held on Monday, April 22, at the Nedderman Hall Atrium of The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA), recognized exceptional graduate students for their contributions to research and innovation.

The annual ceremony, organized by the College of Engineering, recognized students at all levels across various award categories for the year.

Amatare, who is a doctoral researcher in the Transformative Wireless Systems and Technology Lab with research interests in AI/ML for wireless communications, wireless digital twins, and networked robotics, was one of only three recipients of the award, which recognizes academic excellence in research. With more than 700 students in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, being selected as one of the three awardees places him among the top 0.5% of graduate students in the department. He shared this honor with fellow researchers Lingfeng Xiang and Kiran Bolaj.

The event, attended by faculty, students, and families, also featured keynote remarks from the Dean of the UTA College of Engineering, Dr. Peter Crouch, along with addresses from various department chairs. The award presentation segment was the highlight of the morning, showcasing students who had made distinguished contributions in academics, teaching, research, leadership, and service.

Amatare’s selection for the Jeff and Lisa Smith Outstanding Graduate Researcher Award is the latest in a series of recognitions acknowledging his research achievements at UTA. 

Since beginning his doctoral program in Fall 2023, he has received an Honorable Mention at the 2024 Student Computing Research Festival (SCRF) Lightning Talk for his pioneering work in next-generation wireless communications.

His innovative research introduced RF-based robot navigation as a next-level advancement over sensor-based systems for privacy preservation in its use for users. “We need service robots that can effectively navigate any environment while preserving the private information of its users,” Amatare said.

University officials and faculty, including the Dean of the College of Engineering, praised students like Amatare for their contributions to teaching, research, leadership, and service at the university. “Your commitment to excellence in your endeavors has led to this accomplishment. I urge you all to stay motivated; this is just the beginning for you,” Crouch said during his closing remarks.

The Jeff and Lisa Smith Outstanding Graduate Researcher Award reinforces Amatare’s position as a leading voice among scholars and his commitment to bridging academia and community impact through research. He is expected to complete his PhD in Spring 2028.