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School of Computing and Engineering - Early Career Researcher Group

Introduction

Welcome to the School of Computing and Engineering's Early Career Researcher (ECR) Group. 

We are a dynamic, inclusive community dedicated to empowering young academics and making a lasting impact across the computing and engineering sectors. Our vision is to foster interdisciplinary collaboration, knowledge exchange and transformative research.

Our webpage serves as a gateway to explore the research, achievements and activities of our talented ECRs. 

At the School of Computing and Engineering, our ECR Group is a vibrant community of emerging researchers driven by innovation and collaboration. We believe in empowering young academics, providing them with a platform to showcase their talents and make a lasting impact in their respective fields.”

— Dr Livia Lantini, Group Lead

ECR group members

Group lead:
  • Livia Lantini has dark brown hair and is smiling against a white background

    Dr Livia Lantini

    Senior Lecturer in Civil Engineering
    School of Computing and Engineering

    Livia Lantini received the BSc (Hons) degree in Civil Engineering and the MSc degree in Infrastructure and Transportation Engineering with the Department of Engineering, Rome Tre University, Rome, Italy. In 2021 she was awarded the PhD degree in Civil Engineering by the University of West London, London, UK.

    Her research focuses on the assessment of civil engineering infrastructures using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and other non-destructive testing (NDT) methods in Civil Engineering and Geosciences, as well as the health monitoring and assessment of trees using GPR.

    Livia Lantini received the BSc (Hons) degree in Civil Engineering and the MSc degree in Infrastructure and Transportation Engineering with the Department of Engineering, Rome Tre University, Rome, Italy. In 2021 she was awarded the PhD degree in Civil Engineering by the University of West London, London, UK.

    Her research focuses on the assessment of civil engineering infrastructures using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and other non-destructive testing (NDT) methods in Civil Engineering and Geosciences, as well as the health monitoring and assessment of trees using GPR.

Group members:

Our activities

A seminar at the University of West London

Learn more about the events hosted by the School of Computing and Engineering's ECR Group, from insightful workshops and seminars to networking and collaboration opportunities.

Guest Speaker series

We have previously heard from the following speakers:

  • Professor Konstantin Nikolic

    Konstantin Nikolic

    Title: "Writing a Grant Application: Best Practices and Tips"

    Date: 20 February 2024

    Konstantin Nikolic, Professor in Computer Science and Lead for Research and Knowledge Exchange at the School of Computing and Engineering, led an interactive lecture about writing for grants, sharing best practices and examples from his experience as a grant proposal reviewer.

  • Professor Jeremy Strong

    Jeremy Strong

    Title: "Best Practices for Academic Writing"

    Date: 25 October 2023

    Jeremy Strong, Professor of Literature and Film at the UWL London School of Film, Media and Design, gave a lively and interactive session about good practices in academic writing. He shared practical tips for writing effectively in an academic context.

  • Francielle Carpenedo and Alexander Benham

    Title: "Statutory Research Funding Support at UWL"

    Date: 12 July 2023

    Francielle Carpenedo and Alexander Benham, from Research and Enterprise Operations at UWL, demonstrated the research support available at the University, from identifying funding sources to bid development and authorisation steps.

  • John Charlton

    John Charlton

    Title: "Knowledge Exchange and Funding Opportunities"

    Date: 13 June 2023

    John Charlton, Head of Knowledge Exchange at UWL, provided valuable insights into Knowledge Exchange and its significance in securing research funding. He shared resources available for researchers and success stories from the School of Computing and Engineering.

  • Professor Aude Bicquelet-Lock

    Aude Bicquelet-Lock

    Title: "Advancing Research and Development at UWL"

    Date: 17 May 2023

    Professor Aude Bicquelet-Lock, Director of Research and Development at UWL, shared insights into the University's research landscape, emphasising the importance of ECRs and their contributions. She highlighted new ECR grant opportunities and other research initiatives.

Workshops and seminars

News and announcements

A drone flying in front of a wind turbine

Frontiers Symposium in Australia - October 2024

The Royal Academy of Engineering invites early and mid-career researchers to apply for the Frontiers Symposium in Australia from October 2-4, 2024.

The event will explore engineering solutions for climate change and sustainable societies in the Pacific and South-East Asia regions. Selected participants will receive fully covered travel and accommodation.

This is an excellent opportunity for networking and collaboration, with post-event seed funding available.

Applications are open until August 2024. For more details and to register, visit Frontiers Symposium.

Alireza Esfahani

Alireza Esfahani secures CyberASAP Phase 1 grant

We are thrilled to announce a major accomplishment within the ECR community as the project titled "AI-powered Automotive API Security System for Connected & Autonomous Vehicles" has successfully secured the first phase grants offered by CyberASAP.

Led by our ECR member Alireza Esfahani and supported by technical innovator Wei Jie, this project has attained a significant milestone by securing approximately £16,000 in funding for Phase 1 of this year's CyberASAP program. Running from 1 April to 31 May, this phase sets the stage for independent pursuit of groundbreaking research.

This achievement highlights ECR's commitment to driving innovation and research excellence in emerging fields. Congratulations Alireza!

Nadia Djaid posing with her certificate at the UWL Teaching Excellence Awards 2023.

Nadia Djaid triumphs with Early Teaching Career Award at UWL's 2023 Teaching Excellence Awards

Celebrating a significant win for early career researchers, our ECR Member Nadia Djaid, Electrical and Electronic Engineering Lecturer at the School of Computing and Engineering, has been awarded the Early Teaching Career Award at the 2023 Teaching Excellence Awards hosted by the Centre for Enhancement in Learning Teaching (CELT) at the University of West London.

Congratulations to Nadia for this well-deserved recognition and for promoting ECR excellence at the University of West London!

Contact us

To find out more about the SCE ECR Group, please contact Dr Livia Lantini at livia.lantini@uwl.ac.uk.

If you would like more information about the ECR Network or have any inquiries, please feel free to reach out to us at ecrgroup@uwl.ac.uk.

Find out more

  • Research Centres and Groups

    Find out about our multi-disciplinary areas of expertise, PhD research, and teaching.

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  • Research impact

    Learn how our PhD research has helped communities locally, nationally and internationally.

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  • The Graduate School

    If you are interested in studying for a PhD or Professional Doctorate, the Graduate School is here to support your research.

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