Assistant Professor in Electrical Engineering
Academic Division: Electrical Engineering
Telephone: tba
Email: it360@cam.ac.uk
Research interests
I focus on Optical Wireless Communication (OWC) to enhance our understanding of the energy efficiency of existing and emerging telecommunication systems, thereby supporting global sustainable development goals. My research intersects communication theory, advanced materials, signal processing, and photonics. Applications of OWC span from short-range indoor scenarios to underwater and long-range inter-satellite links. Therefore, research in this field requires a deep understanding of the physics of photonic devices, stochastic properties of wireless communication channels, and communication protocols. I am working on various wireless communication subjects in collaboration with multiple partners. In particular, I aim to explore and advance the following research areas:
- Low-complexity energy-efficient optical satellite communication
- Energy efficiency of hybrid radio/optical wireless networks
- Indoor optical wireless positioning enabled by advanced optics design and machine learning
Teaching activity
3B1 - Radio Frequency Electronics (Module Leader)
5B7 - Optical Wireless Technologies (Module Leader)
1P3 - Physical Principles of Electronics and Electromagnetics (College Supervision)
1P3 - Analysis of Circuits and Devices (College Supervision)
Research opportunities
I am currently seeking highly qualified PhD candidates and post-doctoral researchers with relevant background to join my research group.
Other positions
- Fellow of Selwyn College, Cambridge
- Editor of IEEE Transactions on Communications
- Editor of IEEE Communication Letters
- Academic Strategic Working Group Member of the UK Telecoms Innovation Network (UKTIN)
- Chair of Optical Networks and Systems Symposium – IEEE ICC 2026
- Chair of Future Telecommunications Workshop – IEEE INFOCOM 2025
- Chair of Workshop on Optical Wireless Communication – IEEE Globecom 2024
- Co-chair of Workshop of Optical Wireless Communication – IEEE WCNC 2023, 2024, and 2025
- Working group member of the European COST Action, CA19111 NEWFOCUS (2021-2024).
Biography
Iman Tavakkolnia received his PhD degree from the University of Edinburgh in 2018 on advanced modulation schemes for long-haul nonlinear optical fibre data links. He also received a post-graduate certificate in Academic Practice from the University Strathclyde. From 2018 to 2021, he was a Research Associate at the LiFi Research and Development Centre at the University of Edinburgh and Strathclyde. He was appointed as a Chancellor’s Fellow at the University of Strathclyde in 2021, establishing himself as an academic in the field of Optical Wireless Communication. He joined the Electrical Engineering Division at the University of Cambridge as an Assistant Professor in 2024. He also joined Selwyn College as an Engineering Fellow, Director of Studies, and Postgraduate Tutor.