Pioneering Fiber-Optic Sensing for Extreme Environments / Innovating in Precision Photonics & Next-Gen Sensing
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Dr. Farhan Mumtaz, an IEEE Senior Member, brings over 18 years of distinguished experience spanning industrial leadership and advanced research and development. He spent nearly a decade at Huawei Technologies, leading the delivery of over 40 large-scale telecom infrastructure projects across wireline and wireless domains, with strong expertise in project execution and solution management.
Currently serving as an Assistant Research Professor at Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T), his research focuses on photonics, fiber-optic sensing, Raman spectroscopy, ultrafast laser processing, and advanced materials for extreme environments. His work includes pioneering developments in sapphire and novel single-crystal materials (Lu₂O₃, spinel, SrTiO₃, TaP) for FBG arrays and distributed photonic sensing systems operating in ultra-high-temperature and harsh conditions.
Dr. Mumtaz leads a $20M federally funded research portfolio (DOE, Air Force, Army) and has published in leading journals, including Nature Synthesis, Nature Chemical Engineering, IEEE Transactions, and Optics Letters. He holds U.S. provisional patents in advanced sensing technologies and has authored 60+ journal articles and 20+ conference papers.
Recognized among the Top 2% Scientists worldwide (Stanford/Elsevier) and as an IEEE Outstanding Researcher, he is known for bridging fundamental scientific innovation with scalable, real-world engineering solutions in energy systems, space technologies, and next-generation sensing platforms.
Key Contributions:
Successfully Deployed Optical Sensors in US Steelmaking: project value (>$20M) .
Innovating Advanced Materials & Photonics: Space, Directed Energy, Advanced Materials.
Advanced Laser Micromachining & Nanomaterial Synthesis: advanced fabrication using MOF, porous material, Wafers.
Authored High-Impact Publications: prolific output and innovative capacity.
Bridging Academia & Industry / Expert in Integrated Photonic Architectures: unique value proposition.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Assistant Research Professor / R&D Expert,
Missouri S&T, USA (01/2023--Present)
Research Scientist / R&D Expert,
Missouri S&T, USA (12/2021--12/2022)
Research and Teaching Assistant,
Wuhan University of Technology, China (09/2018--11/2021)
Quaid-i-Azam University, Pakistan (01/2016--11/2021)
Senior Solution Manager/Project Manager/Plan Control Manager,
Huawei Technologies, Pakistan (01/2007--10/2015) - 9 years, various roles in telecom project delivery and solution sales (40+ projects delivered wireline + wireless domain).
RESEARCH INTERESTS:
• Fiber-optic sensing and photonic devices for extreme energy environments.
• High-temperature distributed fiber-optic sensors/ Raman Spectrocopy for energy conversion and storage systems.
• Advanced micro/nano-fabrication and materials for energy-efficient photonics.
• Optical chemical and biosensing platforms for sustainable energy and biomedical applications.
• Femtosecond laser micromachining, wafer-level fabrication, and optical waveguide devices.
• Integrated photonic systems for high-speed interconnects and energy diagnostics.
• RF/Microwave photonics for sensing and control in energy applications.
• Surface acoustic wave sensors for biomedical and energy-relevant applications.
• Industry-informed development of photonic solutions for energy and network systems.
EDUCATION
Post-Doctorate, Electrical and Computer Engineering/Material Science Eng., Missouri S&T, USA (2021-22)
Ph.D., Information and Communication Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, China (2018-21)
M.Phil., Electronics, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan (2016-18)
M.Sc., Electronics, Preston University Kohat (Islamabad Campus), Pakistan (2013-15)
MBA, Management Sciences, Sarhad University of Science and IT, Islamabad Campus, Pakistan (2007-09)
B.Sc., Mathematics & Physics, University of Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan (2004-06)
RESEARCH FUNDING SUPPORT
Selected Research Funding & Grants
Selected Research Funding & Grants
Principal Investigator (PI) & Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI)
PI: Sub-Millimeter High-Temperature Sensing: Bridging the Thermal Blind Spot in Sustainable Energy Manufacturing, College of Engineering and Computing (CEC) SEED Grant, $40,000 (2026).
PI: AIST Foundation for a 2026-2027 Digital Technologies for Steel Manufacturing Grant ($30,000).
PI: Intelligent Steel Systems: AI- and Sensor-Driven, Intelligent Systems Center / IGI Missouri S&T, $32,000 (2026).
Co-PI: Project #453: Fiber Optic Temperature Monitoring Sensors for CPI and Refining Processes – Phase 2, Materials Technology Institute (MTI), $400,000, 2026–2028 (Submitted / Under Review).
PI: Fiber-Optic Sensing for Slope Monitoring (#8), Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT), $300,000, 2026 (Under Consideration).
Co-PI: Wireless FBG Sensor Networks for Extreme-Temperature and Structural Monitoring in Steelmaking Operations, PSMRC Industrial Grant, $450,000, 2026 (Under Consideration).
Co-PI: Fiber-Enhanced Raman Off-Gas Diagnostics for Decarbonized Steelmaking, PSMRC Industrial Grant, $140,000, 2026 (Under Consideration).
Federal & Industrial Sponsored Research (R&D Lead)
R&D Lead: Extreme-Environment Optical Diagnostics, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) – Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), 2022–2026.
R&D Lead: Sensors for Extreme Defense Environments, U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL), 2023–2024.
R&D Lead: 3D-Printed Investment Casting Shell Diagnostics, U.S. Air Force / AFRL, 2025.
R&D Lead: Fiber-Optic Temperature Monitoring for High-Temperature Infrastructure, Materials Technology Institute (MTI), 2025–2026.
Team Member: Specialized Optical Waveguiding and Sensing Programs, National Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (multiple awards), 2018–2021.
Contact
Contact
Email: mfmawan@yahoo.com; mfmawan@mst.edu
Ph: +1 (573) 647 3681
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