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26 Jul 2006 09:30:54
University of Bedfordshire researchers will be leading the way in the development of the next generation of wireless broadband technology, thanks to a €917K funding win.
The Centre for Wireless Network Design (CWIND), part of the University’s Department of Computing and Information Systems, has secured the cash to develop the new European Grid-enabled Automatic Wireless Network Design (GAWIND) project.
The funding, from the European Marie Curie scheme, will enable the University to employ five additional post-doctorate research fellows, helping to further broaden its expertise in the fast growing area of wireless communication technology.
“This grant win illustrates the level of expertise within the Department and we are delighted to be involved in such an important research programme,” said Vice Chancellor, Professor Les Ebdon. “One of our aims is to increase our research provision and we are well on our way to achieving this.”
The GAWIND project will be assisted by two other partners, Politecnico di Milano in Italy and the University of Applied Sciences of Fribourg in Switzerland, but the University of Bedfordshire will be leading the research. Expert evaluators, who chose to award the funding to the University, said in their report: “The research topics are of the highest importance, timely and relevant.”
Dr Jie Zhang, founding director of CWIND, said: “The research funding we have won in the last six to seven months has been beyond our expectations and has allowed us to increase our academic staff and post-doctorate students by 15.
“We now have the research funding to build a world-leading research group in wireless network planning and optimisation.
“Broadband communication has been one of the fastest growing areas and one of the most important research topics in recent years. Network planning and optimisation plays a vital role in the roll-outs and expansion of broadband wireless networks and the University will be at the centre of that.
“This brings our total funding to around £1.5m, making the Centre one of the highest-funded in the field of wireless network planning and optimisation.”
Dr Zhang, a reader in Wireless Communication, obtained his PhD from East China University of Science and Technology in 1995.
He joined the Department of Computing and Information Systems in 2002 as a Senior Lecturer and was promoted to Reader in 2005.
Prior to this he was instrumental in developing the network planning tools for GSM and 3G mobile communication networks. He studied at University College London as a postdoctoral Research Fellow, and as a postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Department of Engineering Science at Oxford University.
Since joining University of Bedfordshire, Dr Zhang and his team have developed an excellent reputation for their research in wireless communication network planning and optimisation.
To find out more, visit www.beds.ac.uk/departments/computing
Latest news» 2006» Jul» €917K funding brings more top researchers to Bedfordshire
