School of Computing and Engineering - Early Career Researcher (ECR) Group
Introduction
Welcome to the School of Computing and Engineering's Early Career Researcher (ECR) Group. We are a dynamic and inclusive community dedicated to empowering young academics and making a lasting impact in our respective fields. Our vision is to foster interdisciplinary collaboration, knowledge exchange and transformative research.
Our webpage serves as a gateway to explore the innovative research, achievements and activities of our talented ECRs. Here, you will find valuable insights into our ongoing projects and collaborations. We take pride in empowering young academics and showcasing their contributions to the academic community and beyond.
At the School of Computing and Engineering, our ECR Group is a vibrant community of emerging researchers driven by innovation and collaboration. We believe in empowering young academics, providing them with a platform to showcase their talents and make a lasting impact in their respective fields.”
— Dr Livia Lantini, Lead of the SCE ECR Group
ECR group members
Group lead:
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Dr Livia Lantini
Lecturer in Civil EngineeringSchool of Computing and EngineeringLivia Lantini received the BSc (Hons) degree in Civil Engineering and the MSc degree in Infrastructure and Transportation Engineering with the Department of Engineering, Rome Tre University, Rome, Italy. In 2021 she was awarded the PhD degree in Civil Engineering by the University of West London, London, UK.
Her research focuses on the assessment of civil engineering infrastructures using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and other non-destructive testing (NDT) methods in Civil Engineering and Geosciences, as well as the health monitoring and assessment of trees using GPR.
Group members:
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Dr Atiyeh Ardakanian
Lecturer in Civil Engineering
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Dr Neda Azarmehr
Course leader for MSc Artificial Intelligence
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Dr Zhenxi (Nathan) Cui
Lecturer in Electronic and Robotic Engineering
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Dr Nadia Touileb Djaid
Lecturer in Electrical and Electronic Engineering
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Dr Eugenio Donati
Lecturer in Audio Engineering
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Dr Alireza Esfahani
Lecturer in Cyber Security
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Dr Ali Gheitasy
Senior Lecturer in Computing
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Dr Shidrokh Goudarzi
Lecturer in Computer Science
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Dr Reza Keihani
Lecturer in Civil Engineering
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Dr Umair Khalid
Lecturer in Construction Management
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Dr Shihan Miah
Lecturer in Mathematics and Statistics
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Dr Bolanle Noruwa
Lecturer in Quantity Surveying
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Dr Gerard Roma
Lecturer in Audio Engineering
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Parisa Saadati
Lecturer in IT
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Dr Nasim Dadashi Serej
Lecturer in Artificial Intelligence
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Dr Lavanya Srinivasan
Lecturer in Computer Science
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Dr Tesfaye Tessema
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
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Dr Lilong Zou
Lecturer in Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Our activities
From insightful workshops and seminars to networking events and collaborative projects, learn more about the events hosted by the School of Computing and Engineering's ECR Group.
Guest Speaker series
We have previously heard from the following speakers:
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Professor Konstantin Nikolic
Title: "Writing a Grant Application: Best Practices and Tips"Date: 20 February 2024Konstantin Nikolic, Professor in Computer Science – AI, Machine Learning and Data Management and Lead for Research and Knowledge Exchange at the School of Computing and Engineering, led an interactive lecture about writing for grants, sharing best practices and examples from his experience as a grant proposal reviewer. -
Professor Jeremy Strong
Title: "Best Practices for Academic Writing"
Date: 25 October 2023
Jeremy Strong, Professor of Literature and Film at the UWL London School of Film, Media and Design, gave a lively and interactive session about good practices in academic writing. He shared practical tips for writing effectively in an academic context.
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Francielle Carpenedo and Alexander Benham
Title: "Statutory Research Funding Support at UWL"
Date: 12 July 2023
Francielle Carpenedo and Alexander Benham, from Research and Enterprise Operations at UWL, comprehensively described the research support available at the University, from the identification of funding sources to the bid development and authorisation steps. They shared valuable tips on a wide range of available resources and sparked a lively debate among the SCE ECRs.
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John Charlton
Title: "Knowledge Exchange and Funding Opportunities"
Date: 13 June 2023
John Charlton, Head of Knowledge Exchange at UWL, provided valuable insights into Knowledge Exchange and its significance in securing research funding. He shared resources available for researchers and success stories from the School of Computing and Engineering.
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Professor Aude Bicquelet-Lock
Title: "Advancing Research and Development at UWL"
Date: 17 May 2023
Professor Aude Bicquelet-Lock, Director of Research and Development at UWL, shared insights into the University's research landscape, emphasising the importance of ECRs and their contributions. She highlighted new ECR grant opportunities and other research initiatives.
Workshops and seminars
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Seminar - Procedures for research conference attendance
Date: 20 September 2023
Our recent seminar on procedures for research conference attendance not only offered a comprehensive overview of navigating conference procedures but also provided attendees with the best tips and tricks to optimise their overall conference experience.
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Workshop - Shaping the University research strategy 2024-2028
Date: 21 November 2023
In this workshop, SCE Early Career Researchers actively contributed to refining the University's main research objectives. Through engaging discussions, ECRs provided their own perspectives, in a collaborative effort to improve the research strategy for the University's 2024-2028 trajectory.
News and announcements
Alireza Esfahani secures CyberASAP Phase 1 grant
We are thrilled to announce a major accomplishment within the ECR community as the project titled "AI-powered Automotive API Security System for Connected & Autonomous Vehicles" has successfully secured the first phase grants offered by CyberASAP.
Led by our ECR member Alireza Esfahani and supported by technical innovator Wei Jie, this project has attained a significant milestone by securing approximately £16,000 in funding for Phase 1 of this year's CyberASAP program. Running from 1 April to 31 May, this phase sets the stage for independent pursuit of groundbreaking research.
This achievement highlights ECR's commitment to driving innovation and research excellence in emerging fields. Congratulations Alireza!
Nadia Djaid triumphs with Early Teaching Career Award at UWL's 2023 Teaching Excellence Awards
Celebrating a significant win for early career researchers, our ECR Member Nadia Djaid, Electrical and Electronic Engineering Lecturer at the School of Computing and Engineering, has been awarded the Early Teaching Career Award at the 2023 Teaching Excellence Awards hosted by the Centre for Enhancement in Learning Teaching (CELT) at the University of West London.
Recognising her outstanding contributions, Nadia's achievement not only highlights her dedication to teaching but also emphasises the University's commitment to promoting excellence in education. The award includes a certificate and £750, earmarked for her professional and pedagogic development.
Congratulations to Nadia for this well-deserved recognition and for promoting ECR excellence at the University of West London!
Contact us
To find out more about the SCE ECR Group, please contact Dr Livia Lantini at livia.lantini@uwl.ac.uk.
If you would like more information about the ECR Network or have any inquiries, please feel free to reach out to us at ecrgroup@uwl.ac.uk.
Find out more
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Research Centres
Find out about our multi-disciplinary areas of expertise, research, and teaching.
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Research impact
Learn how our research has helped communities locally, nationally and internationally.
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Research degrees
Find out more about PhD and Professional Doctorate opportunities and how we will support you within our active and interdisciplinary research community.
