Personal statement

Rajendran Parthiban completed his Bachelor of Engineering with first class honours in 1997, and his PhD in optical networks in 2004 from the University of Melbourne, Australia. He worked at Akbar Brothers Pvt. Ltd. (Sri Lanka) from 1998 to 2000, where he computerized many of the company functions. In 2004, he joined the ARC Special Research Centre for Ultra-Broadband Information Networks (CUBIN) at the University of Melbourne. In CUBIN, he conducted research in developing new and cost-effective optical network architectures for carrying future Internet traffic. He joined as a lecturer at the School of Engineering in Monash University Malaysia in 2006. Currently, he is a Professor at the same school where he served as the Chair of Photonics, Semiconductor and Communications Technology Research Strength and the Discipline Head of the Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering from July 2009 to July 2010. He was appointed as the Deputy Head of School (Education) of the School of Engineering in August 2010. He is also serving as the Deputy Head of School of the School of Information Technology from August 2014. He has experience in teaching five undergraduate and one postgraduate  subjects. He has achieved exceptional unit evaluation scores for subjects taught. His research interests are in optical networks, visible light communications, vehicular communication, grid/cloud/fog computing and engineering education. He has over 75 journal and conference publications. He obtained external grants worth over RM 2 million. Eight PhD and one Master students have completed their studies under his supervision. He is a member of Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and Optical Society of America (OSA), and a senior member of Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (IEEE).

Academic degrees

• Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Melbourne, Australia, 2004
• Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Melbourne, Australia, 1997

Professional affiliations

Member of professional bodies

• Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), Senior member
• IEEE Communications Society, Member
• IEEE Photonics Society, Member
• IEEE Education Society, Member
• IEEE Technology and Engineering Management, Committee Member in Malaysian branch
• IEEE Computer Society, Member
• Optical Society of America (OSA), Member
• Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), Member

Research Interests

• Optical Networks
• Visible Light Communication
• Vehicular Communication
• Grid/Cloud/Fog Computing
• Internet of Things
• VR/AR in Education

Research Projects

Title: Design, analysis, and optimization of next generation fiber optic national backbone networks.

In this study, we intend to improve upon our previous work and develop more advanced algorithms to improve spectral efficiency of Elastic Optical Networks (EONs). Taking a step further, in  this proposed  research, we intend to develop  novel  impairment-aware solutions  to  EONs that carry highly dynamic heterogeneous traffic(e.g. 5G mobile networks). Our proposed solutions will incorporate a realistic and accurate Physical Layer Impairment (PLI) model and  be  tested  on  both  national  (Sri  Lankan)  and  international  (American,  European)  realistic communication networks against benchmark algorithms.

Objectives:

• To develop an impairment model that accurately accounts for both linear and non-linear PLI in EONs under dynamic traffic environments.
• To formulate an analytical model that accurately characterize network parameters, PLI, constraints, and the desired outcome.
• To develop novel impairment-aware routing,  modulation,  and  spectrum  allocation (RMSA) schemes to obtain the desired outcome, i.e., increase spectral efficiency and throughput of EONs in dynamic traffic environments.
• To validate accuracy of the developed impairment-aware RMSA schemes by comparing their results against analytical results.
• To demonstrate superiority of the developed impairment-aware RMSA schemes by comparing against results of the benchmark work and testing on local and international networks

Title: High data rate Li-Fi systems

The major goals of this research are to develop a Visible Light Communication (VLC) system with indoor mobility at a speed much higher than that of Wi-Fi as the norm, robustness with respect to intrinsic properties of optical wireless medium, future proof with respect to upgradability, simplicity with respect to design and technological maturity, and lower manufacturing cost and energy efficiency in the form of hardware.

Objectives:

• To develop Light Emitting Diode (LED)/ Laser Diode (LD) based WDM systems with an anticipated data rates in Gb/s and distances in metres both in advanced computer modelling and experimental testbed
• To improve directionality of light through better LED/LD packaging
• To integrate Li-Fi and Wi-Fi in the ‘last metre’ communications

Title: Development of a strategic educational approach to the use of  Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR) in Engineering Education

The current application of Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR) in higher education for Engineers (and arguably others) is somewhat fragmented and needs more educational design.

Objectives:

• To create a clear taxonomy of (i) the potential areas of pedagogy or learning which engineering in both Universities need to address, and (ii) The modes of AR/VR based approaches available and draw links between the two.
• To develop AR/VR based learning activities to show the sample application of the taxonomy in engineering education and highlight its learning benefits

Title: Technology enhanced assessment, feedback and delivery in engineering and it education

While the the nature of higher education and its roles are changing, there is a need to rethink the way it is being delivered, measured and monitored. As such,educators are compelled to reevaluate and make fundamental changes in what needs to belearned and how learning has to take place in the ICT learning era. This research examines these from assessment, feedback and seamless learning point of view.

Objectives:

• To identify current assessment and feedback practices in institutions of higher learning in different disciplines including engineering and information technology.
• To investigate educators’ perceptions on the effect of current adoption of education technologies in enhancing assessment and feedback process
• To examine the perceptions of educators, students and experts on seamless learning
• To provide suggestions on how technology can be used for assessment, feedback and seamless learning in higher education

Title: Traffic management framework for vehicular network

Recent rapid urbanization has caused increased traffic volumes in limited road capacities. This has caused traffic congestion to spread like a plague in modern metropolitan cities resulting in adverse impacts on economy, society and environment. This study aims to develop a green traffic management framework to reduce air pollution (environmental cost) and traffic congestion (economical cost).

Objectives:

• To develop a short-term traffic forecasting model to predict traffic conditions in the mixture of roads with signalized intersections and roads without signalized intersections.
• To develop a heterogeneous green vehicle routing strategy to minimise fuel consumption.
• To develop a coordinated traffic light control strategy by considering the effect of each traffic light signalling time.
• To unify all short-term traffic forecasting model, heterogeneous green vehicle routing and coordinated traffic light control strategies into a framework, and its application to both typical and atypical traffic conditions into a larger road network.

Education

Units taught

ECE4122 Advanced Electromagnetics

No content

Local grants

• Visible Light Communication using Time Division Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access Scheme, Tan Ching Seong (MMU CI), Rajendran Parthiban (Monash CI), Wong Hin Yong (MMU), Mohd Yusoff Alias (MMU), 2014-2016, Collaborative Research in Engineering, Science and Technology (CREST) centre, Malaysia, RM160,000
• Modelling Power Consumption in Optical Circuit Switched Network, Rajendran Parthiban (CI), Zaini Jamaludin (UniTen), Low Sew Ming, Vineetha Menon, Serge Demidenko, 2011-2013, Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS), Ministry of Education, Malaysia, RM58,000

International grants

• Development of a strategic educational approach to the use of  Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR) in Engineering Education, Irwyn Shepherd (Monash Australia CI), Rajendran Parthiban (Monash Malaysia CI), Greame Knowles (Warwick CI), 2018 - 2020, Monash- Warwick Alliance Education Fund, RM278,000 (A$ 49,000 + £24,600)
• Design, Analysis and Optimization of Next Generation Fiber Optic National Backbone Network, Madushanka Nishan Dharmaweera (CI), Chamitha De Alwis, Udith Lakmal Wijewardhana, Rajendran Parthiban, 2018 - 2020, National Research Council, Sri Lanka, RM39,000 (SL Rs. 1,560,000)
• High-Data Rate Li-Fi Systems, Nemai Karmakar (Monash Australia CI), Rajendran Parthiban (Monash Malaysia CI), Bakaul Masuduzzaman, 2018 - 2021, nextLi-Fi (Australian Digital And Telecom Pty Ltd), RM1,800,000 (A$ 600,000)

Current supervision

Alena Yoke Teng Tan

Beyond the Fogginess: Technology Enhanced Assessment and Feedback Across Disciplines

2015 - now

School of IT, Monash University Malaysia

Catherine Hiew Fui Chin

Modelling Seamless Learning Experience in Higher Education - A Case from IT Faculty

2015 - now

School of IT, Monash University Malaysia

Joshua Nah Han Yew

Optimizing Visible Light Illumination and Positioning

2013 - now

School of Engineering, Monash University Malaysia

Muhammad Towfiqur Rahman

Visible Light Communication Towards Link Capacity of 10 Gb/s and Beyond

2017 - now

School of Engineering, Monash University Malaysia

Krishnendu Bera

Performance Improvement of Visible Light Communication through Non-Linearity Reduction and Multiplexing

2017 - now

Department of Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Monash University Australia

Lawrence Soon Kian Lun

A Traffic Management Framework for Vehicular Network

2017 - now

School of Engineering, Monash University Malaysia

Ahmad Zairi Bin Zaidi

Continuous Authentication of Mobile Phone Users based on Touch Dynamics Biometrics

2017 - now

School of IT, Monash University Malaysia

Annur Syafiqa Binti Abd Riff

Credit Risk Forecasting Using Credit Score Model

2018 - now

School of IT, Monash University Malaysia

Kusala Kalani Munasinghe

Design, Analysis, and Optimization of Next Generation Fiber Optic National Backbone Networks

2018 - now

Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Sri Jayewardenapura, Sri Lanka

Completed supervision

Fahad Zafar

Efficient Utilization of LEDs and LDs for Illumination and Visible Light Communication

2014 - 2018

School of Engineering, Monash University Malaysia

Siti Khairuni Amalina Binti Kamarol

Feature Extraction and Representation Techniques for Facial Expression Analysis

2013 - 2017

School of Engineering, Monash University Malaysia

Hasti Khorasanizadeh

Evaluation of Adoption of LED Lighting Technology in Malaysia

2012 - 2017

School of Engineering, Monash University Malaysia

Dilukshan Ajith Karunatilaka

Wavelength Division Multiplexed Visible Light Communication Performance under Illumination Constraints

2012 - 2017

School of Engineering, Monash University Malaysia

Ajay Achath Mohanan

Self-seeded ZnO Nanowires on SAW Sensors: On-chip Growth and Methods for Sensitivity Enhancement

2012 - 2016

School of Engineering, Monash University Malaysia

Madushanka Nishan Dharmaweera

Towards a Green Optical Internet

2010 - 2014

School of Engineering, Monash University Malaysia

Shaikh Abdul Khalique

A Proximity-aware Semantic-based Decentralized Resource Discovery Framework for Computational Grids

2009 - 2013

School of Engineering, Monash University Malaysia

S M Aminul Haque

An Optimization Framework Using Multiple Economic Models in Grid Computing: A Switching Mechanism

2008 - 2012

School of Engineering, Monash University Malaysia

Aravinthan Srinivasan

Optimization Techniques for All-Optical Networks

2008 - 2010

School of Engineering, Monash University Malaysia

Local Award/Recognition/Exhibition/Stewardship

• Pro-Vice Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Research - Monash University Malaysia, 2011, 2012
• Pro-Vice Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Administration - Monash University Malaysia, 2009, 2011
• Pro-Vice Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching - Monash University Malaysia, 2007 (sole winner), 2008, 2009 and 2010
• Teaching Award, Good Practice in Teaching - Monash University Malaysia, 2006, 2007

International Award/Recognition/Exhibition/Stewardship

• Teaching Citation, Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning - Australian Learning and Teaching Council Citation, 2008