In the ever-evolving world of technology and innovation, few names command as much respect and admiration as Ashutosh Sabharwal. A trailblazer, inventor, educator, and thought leader, Professor Sabharwal has transformed the way the world perceives wireless communication and digital health. His journey — from a curious engineering student at IIT Delhi to a globally recognized scholar at Rice University — is an inspiring tale of intellect, perseverance, and the relentless pursuit of innovation for humanity’s progress.
Ashutosh Sabharwal: A Journey Rooted in Excellence
Ashutosh Sabharwal’s story begins in India, where he completed his B.Tech in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi, in 1993. With an insatiable curiosity for how technology could shape human connectivity, he pursued higher studies at The Ohio State University, earning his M.S. in 1995 and Ph.D. in 1999 in Electrical Engineering.
His academic brilliance, paired with a deep passion for problem-solving, soon propelled him into a career that would redefine the very foundations of wireless communication and health technology.
Innovating the Future of Wireless Systems
At the heart of Ashutosh Sabharwal’s research lies a simple yet profound mission — to connect the world more efficiently. As the Earnest D. Butcher Professor of Engineering and Chair of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Rice University, he has been the driving force behind some of the most revolutionary innovations in wireless systems.
He is best known as the co-inventor of in-band full-duplex wireless technology, a groundbreaking advancement that allows devices to transmit and receive signals simultaneously on the same frequency. This once-impossible feat has now become a cornerstone of modern communication standards, paving the way for faster, more efficient, and reliable wireless networks.
In his quest to democratize technology, Professor Sabharwal founded the Wireless Open-Access Research Platform (WARP) — an open-source project that has empowered over 125 research groups across the globe and influenced more than 500 research publications. Through WARP, he built a global community of innovators working collectively toward advancing wireless systems.
Continuing his pursuit of excellence, he led the RENEW project, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), which developed the world’s first open-source massive MIMO platform for a city-scale national wireless testbed. This project not only demonstrated technical brilliance but also reflected his belief that knowledge should be shared openly to accelerate global progress.
He now spearheads the NSF-funded Houdini Project (houdini-sdr.org), pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in next-generation wireless technologies.
Ashutosh Sabharwal: Transforming Lives Through Digital Health
While many would be content with pioneering one field, Ashutosh Sabharwal’s vision extends far beyond communication networks. His second major research area — Digital Health — blends data science, medical innovation, and human behavior to redefine healthcare delivery.
As the co-director of the Methodist-Rice Digital Health Institute and the leader of the Rice Digital Health Initiative, he focuses on developing devices and analytical systems that uncover the complex interactions between human behavior and biology. His research has given birth to Cognita Labs, a spin-off that has developed multiple FDA-cleared medical devices, including tools for lung function testing and inhaler use monitoring — innovations that bring medical precision directly into people’s hands.
He also co-leads projects such as “See Below the Skin”, an ambitious multi-university initiative for non-invasive bio-imaging, and serves as co-PI for NSF’s PATHS-UP Engineering Research Center, aimed at developing affordable, personalized technologies for underserved communities.
Through these initiatives, Professor Sabharwal bridges technology and compassion, proving that true innovation is measured not just in patents but in the number of lives improved.
Honors That Reflect a Legacy of Impact
Ashutosh Sabharwal’s exceptional contributions have earned him global recognition. He has been elected a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), and the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) — a rare distinction reserved for those whose work has reshaped industries.
His long list of accolades includes the IEEE Jack Neubauer Memorial Award (2017), the IEEE Advances in Communications Award (2018), multiple ACM Test-of-Time Awards (2019, 2021, 2025), and the ACM MobiCom Community Contribution Award (2019). Each recognition is a testament to his consistent excellence, creativity, and lasting influence on science and society.