LiFi & Visible Light Communications
High‑speed, license‑free wireless links delivered through everyday LED lighting, spanning MU‑MIMO precoding, modulation design, and hybrid RF/VLC network architectures.
Dr Hanaa Abumarshoud
James Watt School of Engineering · University of Glasgow
Researcher and educator innovating on light‑based wireless communications and sensing.
- Senior Member, IEEE
- RAEng Global Talent
- 100 Brilliant Women in 6G
01
About
I am a Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in the James Watt School of Engineering at the University of Glasgow, specialising in LiFi (Light Fidelity) and optical wireless communication systems. Before joining Glasgow, I was a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering at the University of Strathclyde (2020–2022), and at the LiFi Research and Development Centre, University of Edinburgh (2017–2020).
I received both my MSc and PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Khalifa University, UAE, in 2013 and 2017 respectively. My research develops intelligent, energy‑efficient, and scalable light‑based communication and sensing technologies, combining information theory, signal processing, and machine learning to enable next‑generation wireless networks.
I have led several pioneering projects, including the EPSRC‑funded PerceptiFi project, and established the LIGHTS Lab (Laboratory for Intelligent Guided Hybrid Transmission and Sensing) at Glasgow. I have been named among the 100 Brilliant and Inspiring Women in 6G and endorsed as a Global Talent by the Royal Academy of Engineering. I am a Senior Member of IEEE and have served as an Associate Editor for leading IEEE journals.
0years in optical wireless research
0peer‑reviewed publications
0h‑index (Google Scholar)
Education
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2013–2017
PhD, Electrical & Electronic EngineeringKhalifa University, UAE
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2011–2013
MSc, Electrical & Electronic EngineeringKhalifa University, UAE
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2006–2011
BSc, Electrical Engineering, Highest HonoursAjman University of Science and Technology, UAE
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2022–2024
PGCert in Academic Practice (PGCAP)University of Glasgow, UK
02
Research
Laboratory for Intelligent Guided Hybrid Transmission and Sensing (LIGHTS) Lab
I established and lead the LIGHTS Lab at the University of Glasgow. My team investigates how to turn light into an intelligent medium for communication, sensing, and positioning, bringing together optical wireless communications, signal processing, and machine learning to shape the next generation of connected environments.
Integrated Sensing & Communication
Reusing light for data transfer and environmental awareness at once, enabling localisation, occupancy, and gesture sensing through the same lighting infrastructure.
Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces
Optical and RF intelligent reflecting surfaces that reshape signal propagation, improving coverage and flexibility across space‑air‑ground integrated wireless networks.
Physical Layer Security
Exploiting the directionality and confinement of light to build inherently secure, eavesdropper‑resistant communication links for 6G systems and beyond.
03
Postgraduate Studies
Current PhD researchers supervised within the LIGHTS Lab.
- 2024 – 2027Yicheng DongHigh Accuracy Indoor Navigation based on Visible Light Positioning · Principal supervisor (70%)
- 2023 – 2028MD Maksudur RahmanLight-based Communications and Sensing in Intelligent Environments · Principal supervisor (70%), part time
- 2023 – 2026Ahmed Ressan HussenIntelligent Autonomous Free Space Optical Systems · Principal supervisor (80%)
- 2023 – 2026Rashid IqbalEfficient Techniques for Highly Adaptive LiFi Systems · Principal supervisor (80%)
- 2023 – 2026Maraj SiddiquiEnhanced Techniques for Visible Light Communication and Sensing · Co-supervisor (20%)
04
Service & Leadership
Contribution to Policy Making
- 2023 – 2025Member of the UK Telecoms Innovation Network (UKTIN) Expert Working Group
Grant Committees & Research Advisory Boards
- 2024 – presentPeer Reviewer for Discovery Grant, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)
- 2024 – presentPeer Reviewer for Future Leaders Fellowships (FLF), UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
- 2023Expert for Review College Fundamental Research, Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (FWO)
Editorial Boards
- 2026 – presentAssociate Editor for IEEE Transactions on Communications
- 2024 – presentEditorial Board Member for Scifiniti Comm&Optics Connect
- 2022 – 2024Associate Editor for IEEE Communications Letters
- 2021 – 2022Topic Editor for MDPI Open Access Journal Network
Conference & Workshop Committees
- 2026Organising Committee Co-Chair, IEEE ICC 2026 Workshop on Optical Wireless Communications, Macau
- 2025Tutorials Co-Chair & organising committee, IEEE PIMRC 2025
- 2025Organising Committee Co-Chair, IEEE WCNC 2025 Workshop on Optical Wireless Communications, Milan
- 2024Organising Committee Co-Chair, IEEE GLOBECOM 2024 Workshop on Optical Wireless Communications, Cape Town
- 2024Organising Committee Co-Chair, IEEE PIMRC 2024 Workshop on Advanced & Lightweight Security Solutions for 6G, Valencia
- 2024Organising Committee Co-Chair, IEEE WCNC 2024 Workshop on Optical Wireless Communications, Dubai
- 2023Local Organising Committee member, 49th European Conference on Optical Communications, ECOC 2023, Glasgow
- 2023Lead Organiser, Women in Photonics Panel & Networking Session, ECOC 2023, Glasgow
- 2023Organising Committee Co-Chair, IEEE ISCC 2023 Workshop on Optical Wireless Communications, Tunis
- 2023Organising Committee Co-Chair, IEEE ICC 2023 5th Workshop on ULMC6GN, Rome
- 2023Lead Organising Committee Co-Chair, IEEE WCNC 2023 Workshop on Optical Wireless Communications, Glasgow
- 2021Publication Chair, 28th IEEE International Conference on Telecommunications, ICT, London
Professional Activities
- 2026 – presentAwards Subcommittee member, IEEE Optical Networks & Systems (ONS) Technical Committee
- 2025 – presentAwards Committee member, IEEE Communications Society Transmission, Access & Optical Systems (TAOS) Committee
- 2024 – 2025Mentor, IEEE Power & Energy Society (PES) Women in Power Mentoring Programme, Region 8
- 2019 – 2020Peer Mentor, EPSRC VisNet project
- 2018 – 2020Postdoctoral Representative, University of Edinburgh
- 2013 – presentReviewer for leading journals and international conferences, including Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society and flagship IEEE titles
Professional Activities within the University of Glasgow
- 2026 – presentFeedback Panel member, Output Quality Support Framework (OQSF), Autonomous Systems & Connectivity (ASC) division
- 2026 – presentAppointed member, University of Glasgow Shadow Board
- 2025 – presentMember, College of Science & Engineering (CoSE) Concordat Working Group
- 2022 – 2025School Engagement Lead, James Watt School of Engineering (JWSE)
- 2023 – 2024EDI & Accessibility Coordinator, Glasgow College, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC)
- 2022 – 2023Early Career Academics Committee Lead, Autonomous Systems & Connectivity (ASC) division
05
Invited Talks
- May 2026Optical Wireless Communications and Sensing for 6G: Enabling Intelligent Environments with LightFORTH, Heraklion, Greece
- Mar 2026Light-Emitting Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces for Integrated Sensing and CommunicationsUniversity of Edinburgh, UK
- Feb 2026Programmable Optical Surfaces for 6G: Resilience, Security, and Integrated SensingTOP Conference, The Kia Oval, London, UK
- Sep 2024Intelligent LiFi: Harnessing the Power of Reconfigurable EnvironmentsAristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
- Sep 2024Enhanced LiFi Security via Intelligent Reflecting SurfacesRank Symposium on Optical Wireless Communications, Ullswater, UK
- Jun 2024LiFi for Cyber-Secure Ubiquitous Wireless NetworksKAUST Summer School, Guest Lecture, University of Glasgow
- Apr 2024Women in Cutting-Edge Scientific ResearchIEEE WIE International Leadership Summit, Dubai, UAE
- Oct 2023LiFi Unbound: Harnessing the Power of Intelligent Environments49th European Conference on Optical Communications, ECOC 2023, Glasgow, UK
- Jan 2023Optical Wireless Communication in Scotland, Towards a Collective VisionPanel, 1st Inaugural Scottish Optical Wireless Communications Symposium, University of Strathclyde, UK
- Jun 2022Towards Intelligent LiFi: AI-Empowered Physical Layer DesignUniversity of Dubai, UAE
06
Recognition
- 2024 – 2026Named among the 100 Brilliant and Inspiring Women in 6G
- 2023Expert, Flanders Research Foundation, FWO, Review College
- 2022IEEE TAOS Best Paper Award
- 2021Senior Member, IEEE
- 2021Global Talent, Exceptional Promise, Royal Academy of Engineering
- 2013Full Doctoral Scholarship, Khalifa University
- 2013Academic Excellence Award, Khalifa University
- 2011Full Master's Scholarship, Khalifa University
- 2011Highest cumulative GPA in Ajman University's digitally‑recorded history
07
Publications
A selection of my journal papers, conference proceedings, and books. Full and continually updated records are on Google Scholar.
Journal Papers
- 2026
Enhancing PLS of indoor IRS‑VLC systems for colluding and non‑colluding eavesdroppers
- 2024
Leveraging IRS‑induced time delay for enhanced physical layer security in VLC systems
- 2023
Frequency‑domain channel characteristics of intelligent reflecting surface assisted visible light communication
- 2022
RIS‑assisted space‑air‑ground integrated networks: new horizons for flexible access and connectivity
- 2021
LiFi through reconfigurable intelligent surfaces: a new frontier for 6G?
- 2017
On the performance of visible light communication systems with non‑orthogonal multiple access
- 2015
Non‑orthogonal multiple access for visible light communications
Conference Proceedings
- 2026
Enabling mmWave communications with VCSEL‑based light‑emitting reconfigurable intelligent surfaces
- 2026
A scanning‑based indoor optical wireless positioning system with a single VCSEL
- 2024
Intelligent reflecting surface‑aided visible light communications for granting indoor secrecy
- 2023
Intelligent reflecting surfaces for enhanced physical layer security in NOMA VLC systems
Books & Book Chapters
- 2022
Optical wireless communications using intelligent walls
- 2021
An introduction to optical wireless mobile communications
- 2020
Visible‑light communications and light fidelity
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Teaching & Learning
My goal is to inspire students to think critically, innovate boldly, and develop the skills needed to solve tomorrow's engineering challenges.
Undergraduate Courses
I have contributed to the teaching and development of the following undergraduate modules:
- Wireless Sensor Networks (UESTC4020), Course Convenor · Semester 1 (2022–2026)
- Communications Principles and Systems (UETCHN3005 / UESTC3018) · Semester 1 (2024–2026)
- Team Design Project and Skills (UESTC3027) · Semester 2 (2024–2026)
- Design of Integrated Circuits (UESTC4033) · Semester 2 (2022–2023)
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Contact
James Watt School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.