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Our postdoctoral researchers are the powerhouse of the Optical Networks Group. They actively progress our research and guide other members of the team, working together to transform the future of optical communications. They are essential to the success of ONG – theÌýdiligence, creativity and teamwork that goes into every output comes from them, and we are so thankful for their efforts. Get to know more about our postdocs below.Ìý

Ruijie Luo

Dr Ruijie Luo joined the team in December 2019 as aÌýpostdoctoral researcher as part ofÌýthe TRANSNET Programme.ÌýHe enjoys the all-levels approach (from devices to systems) to ONG research and getting to collaborate with colleagues across different institutions.ÌýBeforeÌýÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍøÌýRuijie was pursuing his PhD at Tsinghua University in Beijing, working on synchronised control mechanisms for optical networks and their applications to improve the speed of lightpath configuration to support high-dynamic applications.Ìý

What are you currently researching?

I work on: Intelligent Network Architectures and Topologies as part of the TRANSNET Programme, workingÌýclosely with Robin Matzner, Ottino Alessandro, Georgios Zervas, Polina Bayvel, here at Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø, alongside Yi-Zhi Xu and David Saad at Aston.ÌýWe look at optical network topology design, dynamic routing and resource assignment, throughput estimation, etc. My role includes developing ideas, methodologies, building platforms for these research topics, coordinating researchers, and writing corresponding communication materials to improve the impact of our research.

Top papers:Ìý

Ìý(Journal of Optical Communications and Networking) Ìý(ECOC 2020).

What is your favourite research tool or piece of equipment?

Robin and I built a network toolbox which means everyone can conduct network simulations without duplicating basic work. It is efficient to run it on servers, which significantly accelerates our research.

What motivates you as a postdoc?

The desire of exploring unknown principles in optical networks, developing intelligent optical networks to support future communication applications, and working with a group of talented researchers to improve my own skills.

What do you like to do outside of work?

I like travelling, swimming, table tennis, badminton, pop music, and attending parties.

Describe postdoc life in three words?

Explore. Pursue. Enjoy.

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Dr ´¡²Ô²¹²õ³Ù²¹²õ¾±¾±²¹Ìý³Õ²¹²õ²â±ô³¦³ó±ð²Ô°ì´Ç±¹²¹Ìýhas been a member of the Optical Networks Group sinceÌýOctober 2020Ìýafter completing her PhD at theÌýAston Institute of Photonic Technologies where sheÌýinvestigatedÌýmodulation schemes for optical communication based on the nonlinear Fourier Transform.Ìý

AnastasiiaÌýcurrently holds a Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowship and isÌýworking on developing analytical and numerical models for signal propagation, and especially nonlinear distortion, in ultrawideband transmission.Ìý

Related paper:Ìý
Ìý(Journal of Lightwave Technology)ÌýÌý

What interests you most about the field of optical communications?Ìý

To me,Ìýit’sÌýsoÌýimpressive and inspiringÌýto seeÌýthe reach of photonicsÌýboth globally in terms of research and its impact on the modern world.ÌýIt’sÌýgreatÌýthatÌýengineers and physicistsÌýare working together toÌýsolve challenging tasks, pushing the boundaries ofÌýtoday'sÌýtechnologies.Ìý

What is your favourite research tool or piece of equipment?ÌýÌý
Ìý
I am not an experimentalist, so mine would be a piece ofÌýresearch software. I am a great fan of Wolfram Mathematics,Ìýit’sÌýhelpful forÌýa huge rangeÌýof tasks – fromÌýcalculatingÌýslow converging functions to drawing a map of aÌýresearch project's collaborators.ÌýÌý

What is the secret to a successful postdoc?Ìý

I believe successÌýcomes from building confidence in moving on, setting ambitious tasks, going for inspirational collaborations. And most of all, writing convincing proposals. Writing, writing, writing.Ìý

What are you passionate about outside of work?ÌýÌýÌýÌý

I findÌýgreat pleasureÌýin mentoring others, creating educationalÌýactivities, and advocating for a critical and analytical approach to observations and information.Ìý

If you could change one thing about postdoc life, what would it be?Ìý

The research job feels very insecure - you feel constant pressureÌýfor keepingÌýgoing, you permanentlyÌýhave toÌýthink where to go next, because your contract ends soon. It is a noticeable source of stress, and I would very much like to get rid of it.Ìý

Fabio Aparecido Barbosa

DrÌýFabio Aparecido Barbosa joined ONG veryÌýrecently (welcome, Fabio!) after completingÌýhisÌýPhDÌýat the University of Campinas (Unicamp, Brazil)Ìýwhere he investigatedÌýdigital signal processing (DSP) algorithms for coherent optical receivers employed in transmissions with probabilistic constellation shaping.Ìý

What are you currently researching?Ìý

I am working on the project ‘Beyond Exabit Optical Communications’ under the supervision of Dr Filipe Ferreira (aÌýformer TRANSNET researcher, and now aÌýUKRIÌýFuture Leaders Fellow).ÌýWe’reÌýaiming toÌýtransform optical communications to go beyond current single-mode technology limits with sustainable energy consumption per bit,Ìýone of theÌýgreatest challengesÌýin the field.ÌýIÌýam responsible forÌýthe development of DSP strategies,ÌýcodingÌýand detection methods to enable the efficient use of transmission resources.Ìý

Tell us about a memorable paper. ÌýÌý

A special paper for me isÌý‘’ byÌýProfessorÌýSebÌýSavory.ÌýThis publication was my first introduction toÌýcoherent optical communications systems, I remember reading itÌýback in 2015 during my first week as aÌýmaster'sÌýstudent atÌýUnicamp. When ProfessorÌýSebÌýSavoryÌýwroteÌýthis paper, he was a member of the OpticalÌýNetworksÌýGroup at Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø (he's now at the University of Cambridge and one of the investigators on the TRANSNET Programme).ÌýÌýÌý

ÌýWhat is yourÌýfavouriteÌýresearch tool or piece of equipment?ÌýÌý

This inherently depends on the researchÌýmomentÌýitself. Transmission experimentsÌý– thatÌýuseÌýmodulators,Ìýfibres, amplifiers,ÌýoscilloscopesÌýandÌýlots of otherÌýfunÌýpieces of equipment – areÌýalways challenging,ÌýbutÌýit’sÌýsoÌýgratifyingÌýwhen thoseÌýmomentsÌýwork because it enriches ourÌýknowledge aboutÌýresearchÌýconcepts that we (generally) startÌýbyÌýmodelling through computer simulations.ÌýÌý

Describe postdoc life in three words.ÌýÌý

Well, IÌýhave onlyÌýjust started my postdoc life,Ìýbut would describeÌýit as:ÌýPushing ScientificÌýBoundariesÌý– a great message for academic life in general.ÌýÌý

What do you like to do outside of work?ÌýÌý

I am a sportsÌýenthusiastÌý– in my spare time, I love cycling with my wife and friends, skateboarding, playing football and hiking. I am also passionate about visiting museums and historical places. InÌýaddition, I enjoy watching movies and playing video games.Ìý

Eric Sillekens

Dr Eric Sillekens is a postdoc on TRANSNET having previouslyÌýcompleted his PhD on machine learning and digital signal processing as a member of theÌýOptical Networks Group.

What interests you most about the TRANSNET Programme?

The programme brings together a vast amount of experience in the field of optical networks and complements it with novel machine learning algorithms which will transform the future of optical communications around the world.

What are you currently working on?

I am optimising our high-speed transmission testbed to make it an ideal platform to demonstrate the machine learning techniques developed by me and my colleagues at TRANSNET.

Related paper:

Ìý(IEEE Photonics Technology Letters)

What is your favourite research tool or piece of equipment?

The best tool in research is collaboration, even the most brilliant minds amongst us benefit from a fresh perspective on daily challenges.

What does success as a postdoc look like to you?

Being able to work as a team to tackle projects bigger than what we can manage by ourselves. And demonstrating awe-inspiring experiments!

What are you passionate about outside of work?

I completely relax by being outdoors, whether that’s a walk in nature or a grueling bike ride. The wilderness recharges me.

A huge thank you to our postdocs – we couldn't perform our ground-breaking research without you! Take a look at our Research and Facilities page to learn more about the work of the Optical Networks Group. Ìý