Susan Hagness

Charles H. Phipps Dean, Case School of Engineering
Professor, Department of Electrical, Computer, and Systems Engineering, Case School of Engineering

Teaching Information

Teaching Interests

Applied electromagnetics, computational methods in electromagnetics.

Led the development of a highly regarded, cross-disciplinary first-year curriculum at UW-Madison that introduced aspiring engineers to society’s engineering grand challenges.

Research Information

Research Interests

Computational and experimental applied electromagnetics, with an emphasis on bioelectromagnetics and the development of diagnostic and therapeutic technologies for biomedical applications. Finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) theory and applications, and microwave medical imaging, hyperthermia and ablation.

Awards and Honors

IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society Distinguished Achievement Award
2026
United States National Committee of the International Union of Radio Science Impact Award
2026
Sven Berggren Prize
2015
Royal Physiographic Society of Lund, Sweden
Physics in Medicine and Biology Citations Prize and Rotblat Medal
2011
IEEE Mac E. Van Valkenburg Early Career Teaching Award
2007
IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering Outstanding Paper Award
2007
International Union of Radio Science (URSI) Issac Koga Gold Medal
2005
IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society Early Career Achievement Award
2004
TR100 Young Innovator Award
2002
MIT Technology Review
Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineering
2000

Professional Memberships

Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Fellow, American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE)
Fellow, Arizona State University-Georgetown Academy for Innovative Higher Education Leadership, 2025-26
Fellow, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
Fellow, National Academy of Inventors (NAI)
Elected Member, United States National Committee of the International Union of Radio Science (URSI)
Member, American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE)
Member, National Academy of Engineering (NAE)
Previous Board of Directors Member, ASEE Engineering Research Council
Previous Board of Directors Member, ECEDHA
Previous Administrative Committee (AdCom) Member, IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society

Publications

Education

PhD
Electrical Engineering
Northwestern University
1998
BS with highest distinction
Electrical Engineering
Northwestern University
1993

Additional Information

U.S. Patents, Issued and Pending

  1. J. E. Bridges, A. Taflove, S. C. Hagness, and A. Sahakian, “Microwave Antenna for Cancer Detection System,” U.S. Patent No. 6,061,589.
  2. J. E. Bridges, S. C. Hagness, A. Taflove, and M. Popovic, “Microwave Discrimination Between Malignant and Benign Breast Tumors,” U.S. Patent No. 6,421,550.
  3. G. Huff, J. T. Bernhard, S. C. Hagness, and D. Laefer, “Material Movement Sensing Techniques,” U.S. Patent No. 7,482,969 .
  4. B. D. Van Veen, S. C. Hagness, E. J. Bond, and X. Li, “Space-Time Microwave Imaging for Cancer Detection,” U.S. Patent No. 7,570,063.
  5. E. J. Bond, S. C. Hagness, and B. D. Van Veen, “Surface Identification using Microwave Signals for Microwave-Based Detection of Cancer,” U.S. Patent No. 7,647,089 .
  6. D. Winters, B. D. Van Veen, and S. C. Hagness, “Time-Domain Inverse Scattering Technique for Microwave-Based Breast Cancer Detection,” U.S. Patent No. 7,809,427.
  7. S. K. Davis, S. C. Hagness, and B. D. Van Veen, “Microwave-Based Examination Using Hypothesis Testing,” U.S. Patent No. 8,050,740.
  8. E. Zastrow, S. C. Hagness, B. D. Van Veen, and J. Medow, “Microwave Hyperthermia Treatment System,” U.S. Patent No. 9,079,011.
  9. S. C. Hagness, N. Behdad, and H. Luyen, “Microwave Ablation Antenna System with Tapered Slot Balun,” U. S. Patent No. 10,492,860.
  10. Y. Mohtashami, N. Behdad, and S. C. Hagness, “Dipole Antenna for Microwave Ablation,” U.S. Patent No. 10,707,581.
  11. N. Behdad, S. C. Hagness, and H. Luyen, “Microwave Ablation Antenna System,” U.S. Patent No. 10,765,477 .
  12. S. C. Hagness, E. Aiken, J. H. Booske, H. W. Sollinger, P. F. Laeseke, and T. Alam, “In Vivo Gene Therapy Delivery Procedure and Device,” U.S. Patent No. 10,918,861.
  13. N. Behdad, S. C. Hagness, and Y. Mohtashami, “Microwave Ablation Antenna System with Reflector and Slot,” U.S. Patent No. 11,058,487.
  14. J. Booske, P. Laeseke, and S. C. Hagness, “Adaptive, Multi-Injection Port, Double Balloon Catheter for Organ-Based Local Delivery Gene Therapy,” U.S. patent application filed.