Waheb Abdullah
Associate Professor, Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Dr Waheb Abdullah is an Electrical Engineer with a PhD in Electrical, Electronic, and Systems Engineering combined with over 15 years of expertise in industry and academia.
Biography
I am a Chartered Engineer (CEng) and Associate Professor in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Birmingham City University (BCU), where I also serve as Course Leader for BEng (Hons) Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Subject Lead for Electronic and Electrical Engineering. With over 20 years of combined experience in academia and industry across the UK, Malaysia, and the Middle East, my expertise spans electrical power systems, smart technologies, control systems, and wireless communications.
Expertise in Engineering
My expertise spans both Electrical and Electronic Engineering, with a strong foundation in electrical power systems gained through six years of industry experience as an Electrical Supervisor and Commissioning Engineer in a major power station. This practical background includes working on high-voltage equipment, power distribution, protection systems, PLC systems and grid operations and control. In academia, I have expanded my expertise to include smart systems, wireless networks, and low-power IoT technologies. My research has focused on areas like smart city applications, LoRa/LoRaWAN networks, automation and control, and wireless communications. This blend of practical industry experience and academic research ensures that my teaching remains deeply rooted in real-world relevance while embracing innovation and emerging technologies.
Industry Connections
We work closely with a range of industry partners, including GBS IoT, Siemens, BMW, Midland Metro Alliance, and Festo Didactic. These collaborations support guest lectures, student projects, lab development, and opportunities for industrial placements. Our team maintains active engagement with industry, including through our Industrial Advisory Board, to ensure the curriculum remains aligned with current and emerging technologies—providing students with the skills and experience needed for successful graduate employment.
Notable Projects
One of my recent projects focused on developing a multipath routing protocol for energy-efficient and reliable data transmission in Internet of Things (IoT) networks. As Principal Researcher on this two-year funded project, I led the design of a hybrid routing algorithm that uses multi-criteria decision-making to balance energy consumption and Quality of Service (QoS). The aim was to improve the robustness and scalability of IoT communications, particularly under high traffic conditions. This work contributes to advancing efficient and sustainable IoT systems, addressing key challenges in modern wireless networking. The project resulted in several research outputs, including peer-reviewed journal articles, international conference presentations, and one registered copyright, highlighting its academic and practical impact.