Our research groups

Microelectronics Research Group

The Microelectronics Research Group (MRG) is a world-leading research and development group delivering solutions, new knowledge and education in advanced microelectronics, optoelectronics, micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS), nanotechnology, Very-large-scale integration (VLSI), photonics and microsystems technology, with particular focus on sensors in all areas. It is carrying out fundamental research, of international excellence in quality, by being responsive to the needs of industry, and by demonstrating and transferring technology from theory to practice.

Key members:

• Prof Lorenzo Faraone
• Prof Brett Nener
• Prof Wen Lei
• Prof Dilusha Silva
• Prof Gia Parish
• Emeritus Prof John Dell
• Assoc Prof Martin Hill
• Prof Adrian Keating
• Gurpreet Singh Gill
• Gilberto Umana-Membreno
• Hemendra Kala
• Jarek Antoszewski
• Mariusz Martyniuk
• Michal Zawierta
• Nima Dehdashti
• Adjunct Assoc Prof Roger Jeffery
• Wenwu Pan
• Adjunct Assoc Prof Gino Putrino
• Adjunct Assoc Prof Kevin Fynn
• Prof Yinong Liu
• Fahia Munna
• Farhad Foroozandeh
• Jega Thisan Gurusamy
• Yan Liu
• Zekai Zhang
• Jesse Fletcher
• Oleg Bannik
• Damini Rangaswamy
• Aayushi Nanda
• Kanwal Zakir
• Daniel Morley
• Karen Kader
• Ken Fogden
• Renjie Gu

Power And Clean Energy (PACE) Research Group

The Power and Clean Energy (PACE) research group is devoted to the study of integrating clean energy generation systems (i.e., solar PV, wind turbine generators, fuel cell plants etc.) into power grids. Our research scope encompasses renewable energy sources, Smart grids, power electronics (especially FACTS devices), dynamic simulation and estimation of power systems, identification and design of Micro grids, network efficiency optimization, and electric vehicles. Our research work entails a wide spectrum of core electrical power engineering knowledge, including Control and Signal Processing techniques and modern Communication technologies.

Key members:

• Prof Tyrone Fernando
• Prof Herbert Iu
• Dr Chris Townsend
• Dr Xinan Zhang

Signal Processing and Recognition Lab (SpaRLab)

The SPaRLab is addressing important issues in audio, speech and video signal processing for detection, enhancement and recognition. Using the latest advances in signal processing (including deep learning) our lab has been researching the problems of our modern technological world: biometric security and anti-spoofing systems, acoustic event detection of dangers and faults, using vocal and facial features for clinical and behavioural analysis, and spoken language understanding for improved human communication.

Key  member:

Prof Roberto Togneri

Optical and Biomedical Engineering

The Optical+Biomedical Engineering Laboratory (OBEL) conducts research in biomedical engineering at the interfaces of optics, photonics, biology, biotechnology, and medicine; a field often termed 'Biomedical Optics' or 'Biophotonics'. The group's research is directed towards new optical techniques and applications in medicine and the life sciences, with emphasis on biomedical imaging (optical-coherence tomography, holography and multi-photon microscopy), optical biopsy (propagation of diffuse light in tissues), and the therapeutic use of lasers.

Key member:

• Prof Barry Cense

Control Systems Research Group

Control methods are used whenever some quantity, such as temperature, altitude or speed, must be made to behave in some desirable way over time. For example, control methods are used to make sure that the temperature in our homes stays within acceptable levels in both winter and summer. Current research topics of the group include model/controller reduction, filter design techniques, robust control and singular systems.

Key member:

• Prof Victor Sreeram

Signal Processing for Wireless Communication Laboratory

In the Signal Processing for Wireless Communications Laboratory (SPWCL), we pioneer in research into “CT scan” of the atmosphere (e.g. drones, rain, and cloud) using microwave signals from Low Earth Orbit satellites; design and analyse innovative transceiver architectures and signal processing algorithms for terrestrial wireless communication systems; and design signal processing algorithms for underwater acoustic communications with moving transceivers.

Key member:

• Prof David Huang
• Dr Felix Shen

Robotics and Automation

The Robotics and Automation Laboratory has been active for more than a decade doing research on all types of autonomous mobile robots, including intelligent driving and walking robots, autonomous underwater vehicles, and unmanned aerial vehicles. Other work includes the design of embedded controllers and embedded operating systems, and other simulation systems.

Key members:

• Prof Thomas Bräunl
• Dr Kai Li Lim
• Kieran Quirke-Brown

Renewable Energy Vehicle Project (REV)

The UWA Renewable Energy Vehicle Project (REV) hopes to “revolutionise personal transport” by building zero emission vehicles, powered by electricity from renewable sources, charged from any plug point and viable to both the performance and commercial markets.

REV is tackling the problems created by rising fuel prices and vehicle pollution head-on.

Key members:

• Prof Thomas Bräunl
• Adj Prof David Harries
• Kieran Quirke-Brown

BRITELab

The primary focus of BRITElab is the development of optical coherence elastography (OCE) techniques. OCE is an emerging imaging modality that maps depth-resolved mechanical properties of tissues at high resolution. 

Key members:

Dr Brendan Kennedy

Dr James Anstie

Dr Peijun Gong

Dr Renate Zilkens