Berker Pekoz

Title
Assistant Professor
Email
Department
Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Dept
College
College of Engineering

Office Hours

TR 1415-1515

Areas of Expertise

design, verification and testing of secure explainable AI-driven resilient cyber-physical systems for compute, sensing, communication, localization, positioning, navigation and timing in non-terrestrial networks

Berker Pekoz

Dr. Berker Peköz earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Türkiye, where he focused on signal processing methods for microprocessor-based biomedical imaging systems. He received both his Master of Science and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of South Florida. His graduate research centered on secure multicarrier mobile communication systems, including 5G networks, grounded in statistical signal processing, estimation and time-series analysis. His doctoral work introduced secure and scalable adaptive MIMO waveform design techniques to enable coexistence between ultra-reliable low-latency vehicular networks and massive machine-type communications in shared-spectrum environments. 

Dr. Peköz previously worked in Qualcomm Technologies' Wireless Research and Development division as a Senior Wireless DSP/ASIC Systems Engineer. He architected digital signal processing implementations for receiver systems supporting uplink channels in second-generation femtocell modem platforms. He developed automated verification tools that improved system resilience, performance and hardware efficiency.

He later joined CesiumAstro Space and Defense Systems as a Senior Communication Systems Engineer, where he led development of advanced wireless communication algorithms and supported satellite system technologies, including alternative positioning, navigation and timing payload concepts.

At Embry-Riddle, Dr. Peköz teaches and researches the design, verification, and testing of secure, explainable, resilient AI-driven cyber-physical systems. His work focuses on computing, sensing, communication, localization, positioning, navigation and timing for next-generation non-terrestrial networks.

  • Ph.D. - Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical Engineering, University of South Florida
  • M.S. - Master of Science in Electrical Engineering, University of South Florida
  • ELEC 307: Avionics I
  • CS 529: Computer Security
  • CS 800: Dissertation
  • EE 690: Graduate Project
  • CEC 690: Graduate Project
  • CS 700: Graduate Thesis
  • CEC 450: Real-Time Embedded Systems
  • CS 399: Special Topics In Comp Science
  • CS 527: Sys Exploit and Penetrtion Tst
  • CS399/CS599 – Secure Wireless Sensor Networks
  • CS527 – System Exploitation and Penetration Testing
  • EE307 – Avionics I
  • EE327 – Electrical Engineering FUNdamentals
  • EE395E/EE595E – Introduction to Satellite Navigation Using Software Defined Radios

Selected Journal Articles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[J7] Y. Mustafa, B. Peköz, and S. Köse, “Reed-Muller error-correction code encoder for SFQ-to-CMOS interface circuits,” IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond., vol. 36, pp. 1–6, 2026. doi:10.1109/TASC.2026.3664826.

[J6] M. Karabacak, B. Peköz, G. Mumcu, and H. Arslan, “Arraymetrics: Authentication through chaotic antenna array geometries,” IEEE Commun. Lett., vol. 25, no. 6, pp. 1801–1804, Jun. 2021, issn: 2373-7891. doi: 10.1109/LCOMM.2021.3063049.

[J5] B. Peköz, M. Hafez, S. Köse, and H. Arslan, “Reducing precoder/channel mismatch and enhancing secrecy in practical MIMO systems using artificial signals,” IEEE Commun. Lett., vol. 24, no. 6, pp. 1347–1350, Jun. 2020, issn: 2373-7891. doi: 10.1109/LCOMM.2020. 2978058.

[J4] B. Peköz, Z. E. Ankaralı, S. Köse, and H. Arslan, “Non-redundant OFDM receiver windowing for 5G frames & beyond,” IEEE Trans. Veh. Technol., vol. 69, no. 1, pp. 676–684, Jan. 2020. doi: 10.1109/TVT.2019.2953233.

[J3] B. Peköz, S. Köse, and H. Arslan, “Extensionless adaptive transmitter and receiver windowing of beyond 5G frames,” IEEE Trans. Veh. Technol., vol. 69, no. 2, pp. 1888–1902, Feb. 2020. doi: 10.1109/TVT.2019.2961915.

[J2] A. F. Demir, B. Peköz, S. Köse, and H. Arslan, “Innovative telecommunications training through flexible radio platforms,” IEEE Commun. Mag., vol. 57, no. 11, pp. 27–33, Nov. 2019. doi: 10.1109/MCOM.001.1900245.

[J1] Z. E. Ankaralı, B. Peköz, and H. Arslan, “Flexible radio access beyond 5G: A future projection on waveform, numerology & frame design principles,” IEEE Access, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 18 295–18 309, Mar. 2017, issn: 2169-3536. doi: 10.1109/ACCESS.2017.2684783.

Selected Proceedings and Presentations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[C10] C. Gaikwad, F. Senra, A. Lovell, H. Peng, B. Pekoz, and T. Yang, “Simulation results of spaceborne SSA using a comprehensive passive radar model,” in AIAA SCITECH 2026 Forum, Jan. 2026, p. 1074. doi: 10.2514/6.2026-1074.

[C9] K. Gharami, H. Aluvihare, S. S. Moni, B. Peköz, "Clone What You Can't Steal: Black-Box LLM Replication via Logit Leakage and Distillation," in Proc. 7th IEEE Int. Conf. Trust, Privacy and Security in Intell. Syst. Appl. (IEEE TPS-ISA 2025), Pittsburgh, PA, Nov. 2025, pp. 1-8.

[C8] A. S. Okatan, M. I. Akbaş, L. N. Kandel, and B. Peköz, "Seed-Induced Uniqueness in Transformer Models: Subspace Alignment Governs Subliminal Transfer," in Proc. 2025 Cyber Awareness and Research Symp. (IEEE CARS 2025), Grand Forks, ND, Oct. 2025, pp. 1-6. doi: 10.1109/CARS67163.2025.11337559.

[C7] A. S. Okatan, M. I. Akbaş, L. N. Kandel, and B. Peköz, "Keys in the weights: Transformer authentication using model-bound latent representations," in Proc. 2025 Cyber Awareness and Research Symp. (IEEE CARS 2025), Grand Forks, ND, Oct. 2025, pp. 1-6. doi: 10.1109/CARS67163.2025.11337776.

[C6] O. Maute, B. Roberts, and B. Peköz, “Radaround: A field-expedient direction finder for contested IoT sensing & EM situational awareness,” in Proc. 2025 IEEE Mil. Commun. Conf. (MILCOM), Los Angeles, CA: IEEE, Oct. 2025, pp. 1–6. doi: 10.1109/MILCOM64451. 2025.11310632.

[C5] Y. Mustafa, B. Peköz, and S. Köse, “Lightweight Error-Correction Code Encoders in Superconducting Electronic Systems,” in Proc. IEEE Int. Syst.-on-Chip Conf. (SOCC), Dubai, UAE, Sep. 2025, pp. 1-5. doi: 10.1109/SOCC66126.2025.11235429

[C4] Y. Mustafa, B. Peköz, and S. Köse, "Lightweight Error-Correction Code Encoder for Single Flux Quantum (SFQ)-to-CMOS Interface Circuits," in Proc. 17th European Conf. Appl. Supercond. (EUCAS2025), Porto, PT, Sep. 2025. doi: 10.13140/RG.2.2.22275.98083

[C3] Panelist, “R&D activities on acceleration of interworking between terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks for beyond 5G-based society,” Workshop at the 26th Int. Symp. Wireless Pers. Multimedia Commun. (WPMC2023), Tampa, FL, Nov. 21, 2023.

[C2] B. Peköz, S. Köse, and H. Arslan, “Adaptive windowing of insufficient CP for joint minimization of ISI and ACI beyond 5G,” in Proc. 2017 IEEE 28th Annu. Int. Symp. Personal, Indoor, and Mobile Radio Commun., Montreal, QC: IEEE, Oct. 2017, pp. 1–5. doi: 10.1109/PIMRC.2017.8292389.

[C1] M. Elkourdi, B. Peköz, E. Güvenkaya, and H. Arslan, “Waveform design principles for 5G and beyond,” in Proc. 2016 IEEE 17th Annu. Wireless and Microwave Technol. Conf., Clearwater, FL: IEEE, Apr. 2016, pp. 1–6. doi: 10.1109/WAMICON.2016.7483859.

Patents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[P7] B. Pekoz, S. Kose, and H. Arslan, “System and method for extensionless adaptive transmitter and receiver windowing,” U.S. Patent 11,050,449, Jun. 29, 2021.

[P6] B. Pekoz, Z. E. Ankaralı, S. Kose, and H. Arslan, “OFDM reception under high adjacent channel interference while preserving frame structure,” U.S. Patent 10,547,489, Jan. 28, 2020.

[P5] B. Pekoz, M. Hafez, S. Kose, and H. Arslan, “Using artificial signals to maximize capacity and secrecy of multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication,” U.S. Patent 10,644,771, May 5, 2020.

[P4] B. Pekoz, M. Hafez, S. Kose, and H. Arslan, “Using artificial signals to maximize capacity and secrecy of multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication,” U.S. Patent 10,516,452, Dec. 24, 2019.

[P3] B. Pekoz, S. Kose, and H. Arslan, “Combined minimization of intersymbol interference (ISI) and adjacent channel interference (ACI),” U.S. Patent 10,476,705, Nov. 12, 2019.

[P2] B. Pekoz, S. Kose, and H. Arslan, “Combined minimization of intersymbol interference (ISI) and adjacent channel interference (ACI),” U.S. Patent 10,348,530, Jul. 9, 2019.

[P1] B. Pekoz, S. Kose, and H. Arslan, “Network-aware adjacent channel interference rejection and out of band emission suppression,” U.S. Patent 10,511,338, Dec. 17, 2019.

Book Chapters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[B1] B. Peköz, S. Köse, and H. Arslan, “Flexibility through hybrid waveforms,” in Flexible and Cognitive Radio Access Technologies for 5G and Beyond, H. Arslan and E. Başar, Eds., Institution of Engineering and Technology, Oct. 22, 2020, ch. 4, pp. 99–142, isbn: 9781839530807. doi: 10.1049/pbte092e_ch4.

  • Scientific Advisor @ Kenyi Technologies, Inc. (2025-ongoing)
  • Senior Communication Systems Engineer & Scientific Consultant @ CesiumAstro Space & Defense Systems (2023-2024)
  • Senior Wireless DSP/ASIC Systems Engineer @ Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. (2020-2023)
  • National Academy of Inventors
  • Tau Beta Pi
  • Consortium for Space Mobility and in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing (ISAM) capabilities (COSMIC) Academia caucus