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WIT researcher named among most outstanding in Ireland
Posted: Wed, October 21, 2009 |
Prof Kieran R Byrne, Director, Waterford Institute of Technology has congratulated a member of the Institute’s Telecommunications Software & Systems Group (TSSG) who has been named among 15 highly-talented researchers to receive specific support from Science Foundation Ireland (SFI).
Information and communications technology specialist Dr Sasitharan Balasubramaniam was named by Conor Lenihan TD, Minister for Science, Technology & Innovation, as part of the group who are to share Government funding of €7.9m to support the early stages of their professional lives as they progress to a fully independent academic research career.
Dr Balasubramaniam’s research is investigating new solutions for the Future Internet. As the popularity of the Internet increases, supporting communication systems will need a high degree of adaptability to cope with increased complexities. These include efficiently managing an increase in the volume and dynamicity of Internet traffic, improving the resilience of communication networks and efficiently managing resources for multiple stakeholders.
At the same time, there is also a shift towards a ‘Greener Internet’ that seeks to minimise energy consumption, both in the infrastructure and end data centres. In order to address these challenges, Dr Balasubramaniam’s research is looking towards applying methodologies from inter-disciplinary science - in particular biology - to enhance the adaptability and capabilities of future communication systems.
According to Dr Balasubramaniam, “biological systems have tremendous capabilities in adapting and fine tuning themselves in the face of environmental changes, whether as individuals or groups. By applying key mechanisms and principles from biological science to communication systems, the Future Internet can become more robust, resilient and efficient. More diverse and powerful applications ranging from multimedia entertainment (e.g. High Definition video streaming) to large-scale remote healthcare monitoring for patients in their homes can then be developed and transported through the Internet to end users.”
Announcing the recipients of SFI Starting Investigator Research Grants, Minister Lenihan said: “These outstanding individuals are among the brightest working in Irish laboratories today and this funding programme provides them with the necessary support to enable the transition from team member to independent and accomplished innovators in their respective fields. It will also allow them in turn to each recruit a postgraduate student to work alongside them.
“This programme will help ensure that the best trained post-doctoral scientists can be both attracted to and retained in Ireland which is central to our overall national aim of building a sustainable world class research system. It not only provides financial backing but also structured support and expert advice to these highly capable early-career researchers as they navigate through this critical period in their careers.”
Welcoming the inclusion of a Waterford researcher among the select group, Prof Byrne said: “This is further important and welcome national affirmation of the standard of research, development and innovation work that is ongoing across several key disciplines at this Institute. We have built up particular strengths in information and communications technology and this latest success brings further funding and recognition.
“The Telecommunications Software & Systems Group where University of Queensland graduate Dr Balasubramaniam is a research fellow has earned a strong international reputation for research in telecommunications network management and mobile services. It is recognised as one of the top 10 European institutes driving the specification of the Future Internet and is the leading Irish participant in the EU-funded Information Systems and Technology R&D programme where they are active in 14 projects worth €5m.
“In addition, TSSG leads a Science Foundation Ireland Strategic Research Cluster and has also received funding from the Higher Education Authority and Enterprise Ireland. Commercially, the group based on our West Campus at Carriganore has built strategic partnerships with major international telecommunications companies such as Cisco, Ericsson, eircom, Alcatel-Lucent Bell and IBM Tivoli. It is directly responsible for creating over 200 high-skilled positions.”
