Congratulations, you were recently selected to become a member of the Gobal Young Academy. Tell us about it.
Every year only about 45 people from all fields are selected globally based on expertise to join the Global Young Academy. I will start in May. The academy is an interdisciplinary group, which means we learn from each other about diverse areas. This is important for building collaborations and consortia for future research projects to address challenges and solve problems.
What is your research about?
My research is about connections too, but with technology. I am looking at wireless technologies such as 5G and 6G and I am looking at AI, with the aim of enabling them to be applied to different industries and applications.
Can you give us some examples?
We increasingly need rapid wireless connections for applications such as driverless vehicles and remote surgery. In those kinds of uses, we need to reduce the latency or lag between the infrastructure and connected devices, so that the technology responds quickly, whether there is a need to, for example, sense road conditions or operate a surgical tool remotely. This means the need to synchronise very carefully and to have ultra-low latency. There are a huge amount of applications where these synchronised ultra-fast connections will be needed.
How did you develop an interest in communications networks and wireless technologies?
I grew up in a village in south Pakistan and I decided to study electronics. In one semester we were working on wireless electronics, and I was really excited about the possibilities, so I did my Masters in Electronics in Pakistan. Then I got funding from the EU to do my PhD in Milan in Italy. Spending that time researching 5G communications networks in one of the top engineering institutes in the world was a huge turning point for me.
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When did you move to Ireland?
In 2019 I joined Connect, the Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for Future Networks and Communications at Trinity College Dublin. I worked there for about a year on applying blockchain-enabled network slicing for 5G networks. Then I moved to MTU in Cork as a senior researcher to look at how smart contracts can be used to automate industrial supply chains.
You are on the editorial boards of several journals, why do you do that work?
It takes a lot of time and it is all volunteer work, but it means you get to know and work with people around the world, which expands both your knowledge and network. I also feel as a researcher I have a responsibility to give back to the community and help to promote the communication of research findings.
How would you like to see young researchers supported?
I would like to see more opportunities for young researchers. European funding is supremely important for researchers and faculty members, but it is highly competitive, and it is very difficult for early-stage researchers to win funding.
I would like to see more policies in funding applications that insist at least one early-stage researcher is included in successful consortia. In this way researchers can build up their experience and contacts and learn how the funding system works. I think this would encourage researchers to put themselves forward for important funding calls.
And what do you like to do outside of research?
Family — especially kids — keep me busy and motivated. I also watch stand-up comedy whenever time permits. It is my way to relax my mind.
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