CERC in Next Generation Communication Technologies

The Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) program, which is supported by the Government of Canada, attracts the best global talent to Canada to lead breakthroughs in science, technology and innovation priority areas. CERC in next-generation communication technology (CERC-NGCT) is the FIRST and ONLY at Memorial University. CERC-NGCT's mission is to seamlessly integrate the digital, physical and biological worlds to develop a "wireless without limit” connectivity that can create  sustainable next-generation communications technologies that will have a potential impact on Canada.

Research thrusts: CERC group focuses on quantum machine learning, quantum optimization, signal processing, and real-time optimization in the following thrusts:

• healthcare and pharmaceutical (drug discovery) 

• environment and climate change

• sustainable energy 

• finance

• IC design and semiconductor

Research directions in 6G:

• Joint optimal design for communications, computing, and control

• Digital twin networks 

• Integrated satellite and terrestrial networks (ISTNs)

• Quantum machine learning (QML) for dynamic radio resource allocation in wireless networks 

• Real-time optimization for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) 

• Semantic communications 

• Integrated sensing and communications (ISAC)

• Physical layer security (PLS)

Teams

Post-doc Researchers:

1. Dr. Dang Van Huynh (PhD at Queen's University Belfast, UK)

2. Dr. Bradley D. E. McNiven (PhD at Memorial University, Canada)

3. Dr. Quang Nhat Le (PhD at Memorial University, Canada)

PhD and Master in Research students:

1. Yuxiang Zheng (Jan 2024 - ) (main supervisor):

2. Nhien Thoong (Jan 2024 - ) (main supervisor): 

3. Thang Nguyen (Jan 2024 - ) (main supervisor): 

4. Nhi Tran (Jan 2024 - ) (main supervisor): 

5. Emelia Logah (Jan 2024 - ) (main supervisor): 

6. Long Nguyen (Jan 2024 - ) (main supervisor): 

7. Sasinda Prabhashana (Jan 2024 - ) (main supervisor): 

8. Shanza Shakoor (Jan 2024 - ) (main supervisor): 

9. Thinh Do (Jan 2024 - ) (main supervisor):

10. Tinh Bui (May 2024 - )

11. Yen Duong (May 2024 - ) (main supervisor): 

12. Premisha Premananthan (May 2024 - ) (main supervisor): 

13. Nana Nyarko (May 2024 - ) (main supervisor): 

14. Trang Cao (Sep 2024 - ) (main supervisor)

Research Visitors:

1. Prof H.-J. Zepernick, Blekinge Institute of Technology, Sweden

2. Prof H. Shin, Kyung Hee University, Korea

3. Prof Keshav Singh,  National Sun Yatsen University, Taiwan

4. Dr M.-H. T. Nguyen, Queen's University Belfast, UK

5. E. Ak (PhD student), Istanbul Technical University, Turkey

6. Y. Yigit (PhD student), Edinburg Napier University, UK

7. K. Duran (PhD student), Edinburg Napier University, UK

8. U. Khalid (PhD student), Kyung Hee University, Korea

9. M. S. Ulum (PhD student), Kyung Hee University, Korea

Alumni:

Awards

• • Electronics and Electrical Engineering in Canada, Leader Award (research.com), 2024

  • Best Editor Award - IEEE Wireless Communications Letters, 2024

  • Best Student Paper Award - 10th International Conference on Industrial Networks and Intelligent Systems (INISCOM’24), Da Nang, Vietnam, February 2024

  • Best Paper Award - IEEE 28th International Workshop on Computer Aided Modeling and Design of Communication Links and Networks (CAMAD), Edinburg, UK, November 2023 

Grants ($13.2M CAD)

• • 2024 – 2025: “Smart Digital Platform Supporting Indigenous Communities threatened by Natural Disasters and Environmental Degradation,” the Academy of Medical Science, $42,500 CAD (Co-I)

  • 2024 – 2026: “Edge Techniques for Video Delivery System in 6G Networks: Analysis, Design, and Optimisation”, National Foundation for Science &Technology Development; $70,000 CAD (Co-I) 

  • 2024-2028: “Research on Sensing, Actuation, Communication, and Intelligent Signal Processing Infrastructure for Ambient Intelligence”, Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), JPY 500M  = $5,000,000 CAD (Co-I)

  • 2023-2024: “Quantum Machine Learning Meets 6G: Quantum Interference Alignment and 6G Security,” Taiwan National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), Engineering technology Track, $6,000 CAD (PI) 

  • 2023-2031: “Next Generation Communications Technology”, Canada Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), $8,000,000 CAD (PI)

Keynote/Tutorial/Invited Talks

• • Keynote speaker, “6G Digital Twin Networks,” 6th International Conference on Multimedia Technology and Enhanced Learning April, 2024, London, UK

  • Keynote speaker, “Quantum Horizons: Revolutionizing 6G Computing-Intensive Communication and Networking,” 10th International Conference on Industrial Networks and Intelligent Systems (INISCOM 2024), February, 2024 

  • Keynote speaker, “6G Digital Twin Networks”, 7th The International Conference on Information Communication and Signal Processing (ICICSP), September 2024, China 

  • Keynote speaker, 6th EAI International Conference on Emerging Technologies for Developing Countries, Arusha, Tanzania 

  • Keynote speaker at 6th Asia Conference on Cognitive Engineering and Intelligent Interaction (CEII2023), Hong Kong 

  • Keynote speaker, 2nd International Conference on Electrical, Electronics and Information Engineering (EEIE 2023), Nanchang, China, November 2023

  • Invited speaker  at Global Information and Telecommunication Workshop (GITW), Tokyo, Japan, December 2023

Public Engagement and Media Coverage

• • CBC, Newfoundland, January 2024

  • CBC St. John’s Radio, December 2023 

  • Gazette: “Machine, People, Intelligence,” November 2023 

Panels

• • Grant Reviewer for Canada NSERC, 2024

  • Grant Reviewer for Qatar University Research, 2024 

  • Panel Member for Irish Research Council, STEM Outer Board for the Government of Ireland Schemes, 2024

  • Grant Reviewer for Kazakhstan National Research Funding, 2024

  • External Examiner for PhD viva at University of York, UK (2024) 

  • External Examiner for PhD viva at University of Glasgow (2024) 

  • External Examiner for PhD viva at Leicester University (2023)

PhD Viva Committee and Examiner

• • Memorial University, May 2024

  • Memorial University, April 2024

  • COMSATS University Islamabad (2024)

  • University of York (2024)

  • University of Glasgow (2024)

  • Leicester University (2023)

  • Singapore (Nanyang Technological University, Dec 2023)

Leadership in Journals and Conferences

• • TPC Symposium Chair, IEEE 99th Vehicular Technology Conference (VTC2024-Spring), 2024, Singapore

  • Panel Chair, IEEE Wireless Communications and Networking Conference (WCNC), April 2024, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  • Editor for IEEE Wireless Communications Letters

  • Editor for IEEE Trans on Vehicular Technology

  • Editor for IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials

Publications

Books

• • Q. Wu, T. Q. Duong, D. W. K. Ng, R. Schober, R. Zhang, “Intelligent Surfaces Empowered 6G Wireless Network,” 1st ed. New York, USA: Wiley & IEEE Press, 2024 

  • H. Ahmadi, T. Q. Duong, A. Nag, V. Vishal, B. Canberk, “Digital Twins for 6G: Fundamental Theory, Technology and Applications,” 1st ed. London, UK: The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), 2024 

  • T. Q. Duong, X. Zhou, V. Sharma, J. Zhang, and N. Yang, “Physical Layer Security for 6G Networks,” 1st ed. London, UK: The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), 2024

Book Chapters

• K. Meng, Q. Wu, T. Q. Duong, D. W. K. Ng, R. Schober, and R. Zhang, “Introduction to Intelligent Surfaces,” in " Intelligent Surfaces Empowered 6G Wireless Network ", Wiley & IEEE Press, 2023 

• A. Masaracchia, V. Sharma, M. Fahim, O. A. Dobre, and T. Q. Duong, “Digital Twin empowered Open RAN of 6G Networks,” IET Digital Twins for 6G: Fundamental Theory, Technology and Applications, 2024

• D. V. Huynh, Y. Li, T. Do-Duy, E. Garcia-Palacios, and T. Q. Duong, “Digital Twin-enabled Aerial Edge Networks with Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communications,” Digital Twins for 6G: Fundamental Theory, Technology and Applications, 2024

Journals (26) (Students and Post-docs' names are in bold font)

Accepted:

1. T. Q. Nguyen, T. Hoang, L. Zhang, O. A. Dobre, and T. Q. Duong, “A Survey on Smart Optimisation Techniques for 6G-oriented Integrated Circuits Design,” Springer Mobile Networks and Applications (MONET), May 2024 (accepted)

2. S. N. Paing, J. W. Setiawan, T. Q. Duong, D. Niyato, M. Win, and H. Shin, “Quantum Anonymous Networking: A Quantum Leap in Privacy,” IEEE Networks, May 2024 (accepted)

3. T. Lu, L. Chen, J. Zhang, C. Chen, and T. Q. Duong, “Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface-Assisted Key Generation for Millimetre-Wave Multi-User Systems,” IEEE Transactions on Information Forensics and Security, May, 2024 (accepted)

4. M. S. Ulum, U. Khalid, J. W. Setiawan, T. Q. Duong, M. Z. Win, and H. Shin, “Variational Anonymous Quantum Sensing,” IEEE Journal on Selected Areas on Communications, April, 2024 (accepted) 

5. T. T. Bui, L. D. Nguyen, B. Canberk, V. Sharma, O. A. Dobre, H. Shin, and T. Q. Duong, “Digital Twin-empowered Integrated Satellite-Terrestrial Networks towards 6G Internet of Things,” IEEE Communications Magazine, April 2024 (accepted) 

6. Y. Yigit, H. Ahmadi, G. Yurdakul, B. Canberk, T. Hoang, and T. Q. Duong, “Digi-Infrastructure: Digital Twin-enabled Traffic Shaping with Low-Latency for 6G Smart Cities,” IEEE Communications Standard Magazine, April, 2024 (accepted) 

7. S. Tariq, U. Khalid, B. E. Arfeto, T. Q. Duong, and H. Shin, “Integrating Sustainable Big AI: Quantum Anonymous Semantic Broadcast,” IEEE Wireless Communications Magazine, April 2024 (accepted) 

8. A. Paul, K. Singh, C.-P. Li, and T. Q. Duong, “Maximizing Interweave CRNs Throughput Under SSDF Attacks: A DRL-Enabled POMDP Approach, IEEE Communications Letters, March 2024 (accepted). 

9. M. Katwe, R. Deshpande, K. Singh, C. Pan, P. H. Ghare, and T. Q. Duong, “Spectral-Efficient Beamforming Design for STAR-RIS-aided URLLC NOMA Systems,” IEEE Trans. on Communications, Feb 2024 (accepted) 

10. V. Sharma, R. Allu, S. K. Singh, K. Singh, T. Q. Duong, and T. A. Tsiftsis, “Robust Transmission Design in Multi-Objective RIS-aided SWIPT IoT Communications,” IEEE Internet of Things Journal, January 2024 (accepted). 

11. J. A. Ansere, E. Gyamfi, V. Sharma, H. Shin, O. A. Dobre, and T. Q. Duong, “Quantum Deep Reinforcement Learning for Dynamic Resource Allocation in Mobile Edge Computing-based IoT Systems,” IEEE Trans. on Wireless Communications, November 2023 (accepted) 

12. S. Kurma, M. Katwe, Keshav Singh, T. Q. Duong, and C.-P. Li, “Spectral-Energy Efficient Resource Allocation in RIS-Aided FD-MIMO Systems,” IEEE Trans. on Wireless Communications, 2023 (accepted) 

13. V.-L. Nguyen, R.-H. Hwang, B.-C. Cheng, Ying-Dar Lin, and T. Q. Duong, “Understanding Privacy Risks of High- Accuracy Radio Positioning and Sensing in Wireless Networks,” IEEE Communications Magazine, 2023 (accepted) 

Published:

14. S. Liu, Y. Yu, H. Zhang, P. L. Yeoh, L. Guo, B. Vucetic, T. Q. Duong, and Y. Li, “Delay and Energy-Efficient Asynchronous Federated Learning for Intrusion Detection in Heterogeneous Industrial Internet of Things,” IEEE Internet of Things Journal, vol. 11, no. 8, April 2024, pp. 14739 - 14754 

15. J. ur Rehman, H. Al-Hraishawi, T. Q. Duong, S. Chatzinotas, and H. Shin, “On Estimating Time-Varying Pauli Noise,” IEEE Trans. on Communications, vol. 72, no. 4, April 2024, pp. 2079-2089 

16. J. A. Ansere, T. T. Dung, O. A. Dobre, H. Shin, G. K. Karagiannidis, and T. Q. Duong, “Energy-Efficient Optimization for Mobile Edge Computing with Quantum Machine Learning,” IEEE Wireless Communications Letter, vol.13, no. 3, March 2024, pp. 661 - 665 

17. S. N. Paing, J. W. Setiawan, M. Asad Ullah, T. Q. Duong, O. A. Dobre, and H. Shin, “Counterfactual Quantum Byzantine Consensus for Human-Centric Metaverse,” IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications, vol. 42, no. 4, April 2024, pp. 905 - 918 

18. A. Masaracchia, D. V. Huynh, G. C. Alexandropoulos, B. Canberk, O. A. Dobre, and T. Q. Duong,”Towards the Metaverse Realization in 6G: Orchestration of RIS-enabled Smart Wireless Environments via Digital Twins,” IEEE Internet of Things Magazine, vol. 7, no. 2, March 2024, pp. 22 - 28 

19. A. Paul, K. Singh, C.-P. Li, and T. Q. Duong, “Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces-assisted Overlay Energy Harvesting-CRN under Resilient Primary User Outages, IEEE Communications Letter, vol. 28, no. 3, March 2024, pp. 712 - 716 

20. C. Nguyen, A. A. Cheema, C. Kurnaz, A. Rahimian, C. Brennan, T. Q. Duong, “Deep Learning Models for Time-Series Forecasting of RF-EMF in Wireless Networks,” IEEE Open Journal of the Communications Society, vol. 5, February 2024, pp. 1399 - 1414 

21. B. Hazarika, K. Singh, A. Paul, and T. Q. Duong, “Hybrid Machine Learning Approach for Resource Allocation of Digital Twin in UAV-aided Internet-of-Vehicles Networks,” IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Vehicles, vol. 9, no. 1, January 2024, pp. 2923 - 2939 

22. U. Khalid, J. ur Rehman, S. N. Paing, T. Q. Duong, and H. Shin, “Quantum Network Engineering in the NISQ Age: Principles, Missions, and Challenges,” IEEE Networks, vol. 38, no. 1, January 2024, pp.112 - 123

23. K. Duran, M. Ozdem, T. Hoang, T. Q. Duong, B. Canberk, “Age of Twin (AoT): A New Digital Twin Qualifier for 6G Ecosystem,” IEEE Internet of Things Magazine, vol. 6, no. 4, Dec 2023, pp. 138 - 143. 

24. J. A. Ansere, E. Gyamfi, Y. Li, H. Shin, O. A. Dobre, T. Hoang, and T. Q. Duong, “Optimal Computation Resource Allocation in Energy-Efficient Edge IoT Systems with Deep Reinforcement Learning,” IEEE Transactions on Green Communications and Networking, vol. 7, no. 4, December 2023, pp. 2130 – 2142 

25. T. Hoang, T. N. Quoc, L. Zhang, and T. Q. Duong, “Novel Methods for Improved Particle Swarm Optimization in Designing the Bandgap Reference Circuit,” IEEE Access, vol. 11, December 2023, pp. 139964 – 139978 

26. A. Masaracchia, V. Sharma, M. Fahim, O. A. Dobre, and T. Q. Duong, “Digital Twin for Open RAN: Towards Intelligent and Resilient 6G Radio Access Networks,” IEEE Communications Magazine, vol. 61, no. 11, November 2023, pp. 112 – 118