Ken Zdunek, Ph.D.

Dr. Zdunek joined IIT in September, 2008. He conducts research in the Wireless Network and Communication Research Center (WiNCom), in the areas of dynamic spectrum access systems, wireless interference and mitigation, and efficient spectrum utilization.  He initiated the WiNCom Industry Affiliates Program.  Dr. Zdunek has over 30 years of experience in mobile communications and networking.

Prior to joining IIT, Zdunek was Vice President of Networks Research at Motorola, where he directed innovation and new product activities worldwide in the areas of IP mobility, services convergence in 3G and 4G networks, network management, network security, DOCSIS, GPON, and software engineering effectiveness.  He was responsible for technology strategy, customer engagement, external partnerships, standards, intellectual property, and project portfolio management

While at Motorola, Zdunek established the Motorola India Research Lab and was co-director of Motorola’s Center for Seamless Communications Research at Northwestern University. He was an author of Motorola’s iDENTM system deployed by Nextel, Inc., leading the group that created the iDENTM voice and IP data architecture, including the Layer 2 air interface, handover protocol, and mobile IPv4 packet data roaming approach.  Also at Motorola, Zdunek developed technology essential to GSM roaming and cellular packet data, was architect for Motorola’s SmartNetTM public safety radio system, contributed to US Federal Government and UK trunked radio standards, and architected the KDT-900TM portable voice and data system for Federal Express 

Zdunek holds 17 U.S. patents, including four Motorola Business Patents of the Year, and was named a Motorola Dan Noble Fellow.  He is on the advisory boards of the IIT Armour College of Engineering and the Northwestern University Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences. He is on the Board of Directors and a past-president of the Chicago Public Schools Student Science Fair.  Zdunek received the BS and MS degrees in electrical engineering from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, and the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology.  

Zdunek is a Fellow of the IEEE and a Registered Professional Engineer in the State of Illinois. His current research interests include:

Efficient Spectrum Utilization
Universal Internet Access
University/Industry Innovation Processes and  Open Innovation