Student Lab Tours and Interviews: Photonics Integrated Circuits Group Test Laboratory - Dr Lianping Hou & Team
Photonics Integrated Circuits Group Test Lab
Rankine Building, James Watt School of Engineering, Gilmorehill Campus
Interviews with: Dr Lianping Hou, Xiao Sun (PhD student) and Weiqing Cheng (PhD student).
Date: Summer 2022
Summary
The group aims to "unlock the mysteries of science" in high power low optical linewidth and lower divergence angle distributed feedback (DFB) laser diodes (LDs); high power high-frequency semiconductor mode-locked lasers (SMLLs); multifunction photonic integrated circuits(PIC); Nanotechnology; Terahertz technology; and ultra-highly sensitive optical biosensors based on plasmonic nanostructures and ring resonators.
They collaborate with many academic institutions in China and internationally - for example, the group has worked with the Institute of Semiconductors (IOS), Chinese Academy of Science (CAS), the Institute of Optics and Electronics (IOE)(CAS), Nanjing University of Science and Technology (NJUST), University College London (UCL) and of course, the University of Electronic Science and Technology China (UESTC).
Find out more: https://uogpic.wixsite.com/opto-1
Student Lab Tours and Interviews: meLab (Microelectronics Lab) - Professor Hadi Heidari & Team
A Tour of the meLAB
James Watt School of Engineering, Gilmorehill Campus
Interviews with: Professor Hadi Heidari, Eve McGlynn (PhD student), Negin Ghahramani (PhD student), Maria Cerezo Sanchez (PhD student) and Dr Christos Giagkoulovits (Research Associate).
Date: Summer 2022
Summary
Microelectronics Lab (meLAB) aims to promote research in microelectronics design for medical and industrial applications. The research in the lab ranges from theoretical, simulation, design, fabrication and experimental work in fundamental physics, to applications of medical electronics and cryoelectronic for quantum computing.
Find out more at:
meLAB - Microelectronics Lab (meLAB) (melabresearch.com)
University of Glasgow - Research - Research units A-Z - Centre for Quantum Technology
Dr Christos Giagkoulovits
Student Lab Tours and Interviews: Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) Lab - Dr Sajjad Hussain
Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) Lab
James Watt School of Engineering
Interview with: Dr Sajjad Hussain
Date: Summer 2022
Summary
Dr. Sajjad Hussain is a Reader at the James Watt School of Engineering. Dr Hussain completed his Masters in Wireless Communications in 2006 and gained a PhD in Signal Processing and Communications in 2009. His research interests include 5G self-organizing networks, industrial wireless sensor networks, machine learning for wireless communications and technology enhanced student learning techniques. He is also Academic Champion for the University of Glasgow EON-XR Centre, which is based on campus. It looks at the learning experiences of students using emerging technologies such as virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR).The facility provides AR software to student mobile devices and headsets across numerous subjects.
Find out more:
Student Lab Tours and Interviews: Robotics Lab - Dr Guodong Zhao
Robotics Laboratory
James Watt South Building, James Watt School of Engineering
Interview with: Dr Guodong Zhao and Burak Kizilkaya (PhD student)
Date: Summer 2022
Summary
Dr Guodong Zhao works in communication and robotics. He and his 5 PhD students work in the robotics lab on a range of cutting-edge projects using state-of-the-art research platforms including a private 5G testbed at Glasgow Campus, SPOT robot from Boston Dynamics, Franka robotic arm, Shadow robotic hand, etc. Their main focus is on communications, sensing and imaging. They also sometimes collaborate with students in China. The students in China operate the robots remotely.
Much of the work carried out in the Robotics Lab harnesses the power of 5G, championed by the Scotland 5G Centre based at the School.
Find out more:
Dr Guodong Zhao
Robotics Learning and Teaching projects at the Centre for Educational Development and Innovation
Student Lab Tours and Interviews: James Watt Nanofabrication Centre - Dr Abdullah Al-Khalidi
James Watt Nanofrabrication Centre
James Watt School of Engineering
Interview with: Dr Abdullah Al-Khalidi
Date: Summer 2022
Summary
The James Watt Nanofabrication Centre (JWNC) has over £35M of state-of-the-art fabrication and metrology equipment. It is a leading centre in research and international collaboration in micro and nanofabrication technologies. The lab is a 1400 m2 cleanroom.
The professor we spoke to was Dr Abdullah-Khalidi. He has been a lecturer at the university since 2019. He completed his degree and Masters at the University of Glasgow. His main research activity is wireless communications. The researchers in the lab work closely with the nanofabrication centre.
Find out more:
Links
Student Lab Tours and Interviews: RF and Microwave Lab and Scotland 5G Centre - Dr Qammer Abbasi
RF and Microwave Lab and the Scotland 5G Centre
James Watt South Building, James Watt School of Engineering
Interview with: Dr Qammer Abbasi
Date: Summer 2022
Summary
Dr Qammer H. Abbasi (Reader, JWSE) kindly gave us a tour of some of the state-of-the-art facilities - i.e., Scotland 5G Centre's Urban testbed and the Radio Frequency and Microwave Lab. Dr Abbasi is Co-Manager for the RF and Microwave Lab, Deputy Theme Lead for Quantum Technologies at the Advanced Research Centre and Deputy Head of the Communications, Sensing and Imaging group.
The RF and Microwave Lab has state of the art facilities for RF and microwave testing, from low frequencies at 10 Megahertz to 1.1 Terahertz.
The Scotland 5G Centre works to design, develop and deploy the communications infrastructure supporting Scotland’s role as a global leader in 5G. The team at Glasgow is working with international partners for 5G related cutting-edge research as well as 5G testbeds.
Find out more:
Student Lab Tours and Interviews: Dr Lina Mohjazi
An Interview with Dr Lina Mohjazi
James Watt School of Engineering
Date: Summer 2022
Summary
Dr Lina Mohjazi is currently a Lecturer (Assistant Professor) at the School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, UK. An enthusiastic educator and an active researcher in 5G Wireless Communications, her research interests include signal processing, physical-layer optimisation and performance analysis of beyond 5G technologies, wireless power transfer, machine learning for future wireless systems, and reconfigurable intelligent surfaces. She is a Senior Member IEEE, Fellow Women's Engineering Society (WES), and 'Women in Engineering Engagement Lead' at IEEE Communications Society.
Find out more here:
Life and Future Skills Workshop: Entrepreneurship and the Circular Economy Workshop and Competition
Overview
Delivered since Academic Year 2020-2021, the workshops are delivered as extracurricular classes for final year students by Prof Boon Tan and are modelled as a hybrid between the support that Universities normally provide to students (e.g. the career office) and also the initiatives by the Government of Singapore to ‘ready’ graduating students or mid-level career switchers for a successful career in their chosen industry/field. The workshop also covers topics including on how to develop a business plan and also issues to consider when developing a business plan presentation. Foundational theories of the circular economy are introduced in the workshop and illustrated with real-life examples.
Motivation
Businesses are increasingly looking for talents who are equip with entrepreneurship knowledge and skills to help grow and expand their businesses. As such, entrepreneurship skills is one of the most sought-after skills by employees. Entrepreneurship is more than just setting up and running your own business. It requires the consideration of issues from strategic, tactical and operational perspectives, while also looking at technical, finance and HR challenges.
Building up circular economies is now a big focus for governments, businesses and also consumers. With increasing interest and scrutiny of the the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP) series, the pressure to drastically reduce pollution and waste has also further escalated. Stakeholders are looking with more interests in products and services developed and produced using the circular economy concept. With this, governments and consumers are pressuring businesses to reinforce their efforts to embed the concept into their new products and services. The hunt for talents equipped with the knowledge and skills of the circular economy concept will thus only intensify.
Objective
- Develop the notion of entrepreneurship
- Appreciate and apply the concept of circular economy in business planning
- Practise and strengthen presentation skills
- Synergize learning outcomes achieved in the programme of study
Approach
- 3-hr workshop on essentials of entrepreneurship and the circular economy workshop
- Students (in groups of 4-5) to enter the Entrepreneurship and the Circular Economy Competition (with a start-up plan on a circular economy project)
- Faculty members are invited to support the competition either as advisors or judges, which can help to create a bind between the students and staff that can lead to future research collaborations.
- A certificate of attendance will be awarded to students who attend the 3-hr workshop.
(Expected/Continued) Outcome
Attendance in the workshops has helped students to further enhance their learning of the English language skills and their confidence level. By augmenting learning acquired in the curriculum proper, these workshops also help to further consolidate student learning outcomes within the programme of study; while allowing students to strengthen and structure their career choices, including the enrolment onto postgraduate programmes (taught masters or PhD) as further preparation for their chosen profession.
By taking part in the competition, students have/can
- Put theory to practice through consolidating student learning outcomes from within the programme of study
- Opportunity to showcase their idea (new/novel or an extension from the FYP)
- Opportunity to further discuss the idea with FYP supervisors (which can lead to future research collaborations)
- Improve employability by enhancing their CV / credentials
Student Lab Tours and Interviews: Dr Wasim Ahmad
An Interview with Dr Wasim Ahmad
James Watt School of Engineering
Date: Summer 2022
Summary
Dr Wasim Ahmad is a Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in Signal Processing and Machine Learning at the James Watt School of Engineering. He is a member of the Communication, Sensing and Imaging (CSI) group, based at UoG, where his research includes applications of Signal Processing, Machine Learning and Data Analytics in the area of sound modelling, robot audition, speech-based personal profiling, assistive and healthcare technologies, assisted living (AAL), activity and gesture recognition based intelligent systems.
Find out more here:
Life and Future Skills Workshop: Discovering Self and Developing SMART Goals to Overcome a Weakness
Overview
Delivered since Academic Year 2020-2021, the workshops are delivered as extracurricular classes for 3rd year students by Prof Boon Tan and are modelled as a hybrid between the support that Universities normally provide to students (e.g. the career office) and also the initiatives by the Government of Singapore to ‘ready’ graduating students or mid-level career switchers for a successful career in their chosen industry/field.
Objective
- Develop an understanding on the various personalities
- Comprehend and create a personal SWOT analysis
- Understand and apply the concept of SMART goals to overcome a weakness or learn a new skill.
Approach
- Students to discover the difference on their own personalities from their own perspective against a DISC and/or MBTI test
- Formulate a SMART goal to overcome at least one weakness
- A certificate of attendance will be awarded to students who attend the 6-hr workshop.
(Expected/Continued) Outcome
Attendance in the workshops helps students further enhance their learning of English language skills and raise their confidence levels. By augmenting learning acquired in the curriculum proper, these workshops also help to further consolidate student learning outcomes within the programme of study; while allowing students to strengthen and structure their career choices, including the enrolment onto postgraduate programmes (taught masters or PhD) as further preparation for their chosen profession.
