Interests
- Internet of Things networks
- Satellite and UAV communications
- Machine learning for wireless communications
- Early wildfire detection
- Backscatter and wireless powered communications
Research
Prof. Durrani’s research interests have spanned many topics in communications, wireless communications and signal processing for communications. His current research interests include Internet of Things (IoT) networks, Satellite and UAV communications, Machine learning for wireless communications and early wildfire detection. He has also made significant research contributions in the areas of wireless information and power transfer, energy-harvesting-enabled wireless communications, machine-to-machine and device-to-device communication, stochastic geometry modelling of finite area networks, synchronization in communication systems and spherical signal processing.
Biography
Professor Durrani has been with the Australian National University since 2005. In 2021 he also took on the role of Associate Director Education (ADirE) for the School of Engineering. Since 2022, he has been a participant in the ANU Optus Bushfire Research Centre of Excellence. Professor Durrani completed his PhD degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia in 2004, and received his BSc (1st class honours) degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Engineering & Technology, Lahore, Pakistan in 2000.
He has co-authored 166 publications to date, including 1 edited book, 2 book chapters, 70 journal papers and 93 conference papers (including 6 invited papers). His papers have attracted +6000 Google Scholar citations at a citation h-index of 34 and citation i10-index of 79. He has been a chief investigator (CI) on six research grants, with a total funding of $1.9m, including 4 Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery grants (2 as lead CI). He has supervised 100 students including 4 Postdoctoral Research Fellows, 15 PhD students (11 graduated), 6 Master of Engineering Hons students, 31 Bachelor of Engineering Research & Development students and 44 Bachelor of Engineering Research Hons students.
Activities & Awards
Professor Durrani has been awarded multiple prizes, honours and awards for research, supervision, teaching and service. He was recognised as AI 2000 Internet of Things (IoT) Most Influential Scholars Honorable Mention over the past 10 years in 2020, 2022 and 2023. He was a recipient of the 2016 IEEE ComSoc Asia Pacific Outstanding Paper Award. He served as an Editor of the IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON COMMUNICATIONS from 2015 to 2020. He was the Chair of the ACT Chapter of the IEEE Signal Processing and Communications Societies from 2015 to 2016. He was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation for Notable Services and Contributions towards the advancement of Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the Engineering Profession in 2018. He was awarded the Special Commendation in the 2019 Australian Council of Graduate Research Award (ACGR) for Excellence in Graduate Research Supervision, 2018 ANU VC Award for Excellence in Supervision and the 2012 ANU VC Award for Excellence in Education. He has acted as external examiner for 33 PhD and 4 MPhil theses from Australia, Canada and India. Since 2014, his research, education and student achievements have been reported in 15 media stories. He is a Member of Engineers Australia, a Senior Fellow of IEEE, USA and a Senior Fellow of The Higher Education Academy, UK.