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At EIE we conduct research in a variety of fields, broadly defined by the research and interest groups on this page. We also house or have strong ties to several institutes, centres and research laboratories at the university, listed below.

We are committed to research excellence and we strive to contribute to new technologies that will shape the future. Much of our research is undertaken by our postgraduate students who subsequently use their higher degrees and our excellent reputation to go on to lead successful careers in industry both locally and internationally, found startup companies or continue on an academic path. 

Research and Interest Groups

Biomedical Engineering

Biomedical Engineering is a discipline in which the techniques of engineering and quantitative sciences are applied to the solution of problems in medicine and biology. The applications include research and design of instrumentation and technologies to enhance health care. In addition, the discipline deals with the development of a quantitative understanding of the human body and other living systems, in engineering terms.

The Biomedical Engineering Research Group within the School of Electrical and Information Engineering offers a range of research options at postgraduate level.  The field of Biomedical Engineering is inherently multidisciplinary, and hence the research is usually undertaken in collaboration with other research groups and in some cases with other departments and institutions.

The group has been active in the fields of medical imaging, artificial intelligence and bioreactors. Some of the work has been done in collaboration with the School of Pathology and the School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, as well as other research groups within the School of Electrical & Information Engineering.

Staff Research Interests
Prof David Rubin
Medical Instrumentation
Prof Vered Aharonson
Speech Analytics for Medical Diagnosis and Biometrics
Signal processing for rehabilitation robots
Physiological signal processing
Dr Xriz Richards
Biomedical Engineering
Dr Craig Carlson
Ultrasound
Mr Abdul-Khaaliq Mohamed
Brain Computer Interfaces
Prosthetics
Mr Adam Pantanowitz
Artificial Intelligence / Neuroscience
Human Computer Interfaces
Brain Computer Interfaces
Systems and Control

The activities of the group range from classical control to modern linear and non-linear control. All aspects of systems and signals namely, modelling, synthesis, control analysis and design pertaining to linear and non-linear, time-invariant as well as time varying systems and signals form part of the focus.

StaffResearch Interests
Prof Anton Van Wyk

Non-linear control
Modelling

Dr Otis Nyandoro 

Real-time scheduling systems
Control scheduling co-design
Anti-lock braking systems 

Electric Power

The Electric Power Research Group (EPRG) is an on-going and well-established programme in the School of Electrical & Information whose mission is to contribute expert knowledge and skills in the fields of high voltage, lightning/EMC, computational electromagnetics and power system engineering. It aims to establish a sound base in research and teaching in the various associated disciplines and is committed to being a world key player in contributing expert knowledge. It views research and teaching in these disciplines as a critical ingredient to economic growth as well social well-being of the region.

StaffResearch Interests 
Prof Ken Nixon (Head) 
Lightning safety; High Voltage engineering; Programming and Data Sciences
Prof Ian Jandrell
High voltage, Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), Lightning, Earthing and Lightning Protection, Software Engineering
Prof John Van Coller
High voltage, Power electronics, Power systems, Renewable energy, Power system economics, Lightning, EMC
Prof Cuthbert Nyamupangedengu 
Partial discharges, HV insulation diagnosis, Power cables, Engineering design, Engineering education
Prof Alan Clark
Electromagnetic analysis, Computer codes, Antenna design for the professional market 
Prof Estelle Trengove
Software for electrical distribution, Lightning, Electrical engineering education
Dr Nicholas West
High Voltage Engineering, Gas breakdown, Laser-induced breakdown, Lightning, Engineering Education
Dr Hugh Hunt
Lightning Detection and Measurement; Lightning Protection and safety; High Voltage Engineering
Dr Carina Schumann
Lightning Physics and Characterisation; High speed imaging; Lightning Safety and Awareness
Future Electrical Energy Technology (FEET)

This group researches systems and technologies that ensure adequate secure supply of clean electrical energy into the future. Access to energy, in conjunction with access to water is one of the biggest drivers of quality of life. Given the current environmental impact issues of traditional fossil fuel based energy, expanding access to energy in this direction is not an option.

 
Staff Research Interests 
Prof Willie Cronje
Pico-grids, solar energy 
Prof Cuthbert Nyamupangedengu 

Partial discharges, HV insulation diagnosis, power cables, engineering design, engineering education

Prof Dave Dorrell

Electrical machines, renewable energy, power systems

Dr Mercy Shuma-Iwisi
Demand side management, renewable energy, load characterisation, smart homes 
Mr James Braid

Machine design, wind energy research

Prof Ivan Hofsajer

Power electronics, electromagnetic compatibility, engineering electromagnetics, signal integrity, integrated electronics

Dr Lesedi Masisi

Electrification of transportation, electric motor drives, electric machine modeling (control and testing), energy storage, energy efficiency and renewable energy

Dr Yu-Chieh (Jessie) Yen

Demand-side management, load modelling, energy efficiency, thermal storage, sustainability and renewables

Software Engineering and Data Intensive Computing (SEDIC)

The Software Engineering and Data Intensive Computing (SEDIC) Research Group has a number of current research interests including: software development methodologies, smart grids, big data and bioinformatics.

Staff Research Interests 
Dr Stephen Levitt
Software Engineering, Domain Modelling, Software Testing
Prof Barry Dwolatzky 
Director: Joburg Centre for Software Engineering (JCSE)
Software integration for large systems
Prof Scott Hazelhurst 
Bioinformatics, High Performance Computing, Data Structures and Algorithms 
Prof Turgay Celik
Director: Wits Institue of Data Science (WIDS)
Visual and Cognitive Computing, Machine Learning, Data Science, Software Engineering, Remote Sensing
 
Centre for Telecommunications Access and Services (CeTAS)

The Center for Telecommunications Access and Services (CeTAS) has a long legacy of research in a variety of telecom related fields.

The Wits University Center of Excellence, established in 1997 under the leadership of Prof Hu Hanrahan, defined its focus as "Telecommunications Access and Services". It was initially supported financially by Telkom, Vodacom, Nokia-Siemens, Telsaf Data and the DTI (via the THRIP programme). 

Over the last two and a half decades CeTAS has achieved an excellent research publication record and has educated a significant number of students who have gone on to fill key positions in the South African and African telecommunications industry.

Staff Research Interests 
Prof Fambirai Takawira
Adaptive signal processing, Digital communications, Data networks
Prof Ling Cheng
Internet of Things for Smart Cities, Visible light communications, Power-line communications, Network information theory,Heuristic algorithm in Artificial Intelligence, Pattern recognition, Insertion/deletion error correction, Single machine scheduling
Prof Olutayo Oyerinde
Signal processing in 5G and beyond 5G wireless communications networks, Massive MIMO, NOMA, mm Wave Massive MIMO, channel estimation techniques, multiuser detection techniques, beamforming, pre-coding; applications of compressive sensing algorithms
Dr Jules Moualeu
Wirless communications, channel modelling 
Dr Mitchell Cox
Optical Communications, Free Space (Wireless) Optics, Mode Division Multiplexing, Bridging the Digital Divide
Dr Chabalala Chabalala
Next-generation wireless networks, Massive machine-type communications, Cognitive radio networks, NOMA, Radio resource management in 5G, Performance modeling and analysis of wireless communication systems.
Mr Shamin Achari
Visible Light Communications, Coding

Research Institutes

Wits Institute of Data Science (WIDS) logo

Research Centres

Research Laboratories

 

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