Muhammad Ahsan Awais

Postdoctoral Researcher | Brain-Computer Interfaces | Neurotechnology Engineer
Dublin, IE.

About

Highly accomplished Postdoctoral Researcher with over 7 years of academic and industry experience in neuroscience, Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs), and advanced engineering. Specializes in developing noise-resilient BCI systems using deep learning and machine learning, adept at experimental protocol design, complex data analysis, and leading multidisciplinary research projects to deliver impactful neurotechnology solutions.

Work

INSIGHT research center at DCU
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Postdoctoral Researcher (Sensor Expert)

Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

Summary

Currently serves as a Postdoctoral Researcher at INSIGHT research center at DCU, leading experimental protocol design and multidisciplinary team support for biomedical research projects.

Highlights

Designed and executed experimental protocols for biomedical research projects, ensuring rigorous data acquisition using EEG, GSR, and HRV sensors.

Managed participant recruitment and engagement for multiple studies, ensuring strict adherence to research ethics and GDPR compliance.

Led data preprocessing and analysis workflows, optimizing data integrity and contributing to reliable insights for multidisciplinary research teams.

Facilitated collaborative research initiatives, supporting project milestones and contributing to advancements in neurotechnology applications.

DCU, Faculty of Engineering and Computing
|

Tutor / Lab Demonstrator

Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

Summary

Provided academic support and practical instruction to undergraduate engineering students across diverse courses at DCU, enhancing their understanding of complex concepts.

Highlights

Delivered tutorials and guided practical laboratory sessions for a diverse student body across courses including Engineering Mathematics, Digital/Analog Electronics, and Probability & Statistics.

Provided academic support to hundreds of undergraduate students, clarifying complex engineering concepts and fostering a deeper understanding of course material.

Developed and presented supplementary educational content, improving student engagement and comprehension in challenging technical subjects.

Mentored junior students in problem-solving and experimental techniques, contributing to enhanced academic performance and skill development.

The Disrupt Labs
|

Research Assistant

Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan

Summary

Supported research initiatives at The Disrupt Labs by conducting literature reviews, assisting with data collection, and managing project documentation for 16 months.

Highlights

Conducted comprehensive literature studies, providing critical background and insights that informed ongoing research projects.

Assisted in the collection and organization of research data, ensuring accuracy and integrity for subsequent analysis.

Prepared, maintained, and updated project documentation, streamlining information flow and ensuring compliance with research protocols.

Collaborated effectively with multidisciplinary teams on various projects, contributing to overall research progress and timely deliverables.

Universiti Teknologi Petronas
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Teaching Assistant / Graduate Assistant

Seri Iskandar, Perak, Malaysia

Summary

Facilitated undergraduate learning in Microprocessor, Embedded Systems, and Probability & Statistics courses by conducting tutorials and assisting with laboratory work.

Highlights

Arranged and led tutorials and laboratory sessions for undergraduate students in Microprocessor, Embedded Systems, and Probability & Statistics courses.

Assisted teachers in guiding students through complex laboratory work, contributing to improved practical skills and conceptual understanding.

Supported postgraduate research activities under supervisor's guidance, gaining exposure to advanced research methodologies.

Provided individualized academic support, helping students grasp challenging technical concepts and achieve academic success.

AKSA-SDS
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Documentation Engineer

N/A, N/A, Pakistan

Summary

Managed technical documentation for embedded systems, power electronics, and RF projects, specializing in avionics, and represented the company at project tenders.

Highlights

Managed comprehensive technical documentation for embedded systems, power electronics, and RF projects, specifically in the avionics sector.

Liaised directly with customers to understand requirements and ensure documentation accuracy, improving client satisfaction and project clarity.

Supervised documentation staff, ensuring adherence to quality standards and timely delivery of technical materials.

Represented the company at project tenders, effectively communicating technical capabilities and contributing to successful bid acquisitions.

Education

Dublin City University
Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

PhD. Computer Applications

Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) in real-world settings

Grade: N/A

Courses

Pioneered research in noise-resilient Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) for real-world applications, moving beyond controlled lab settings.

Acquired and analyzed novel EEG datasets under challenging everyday noise conditions (body/head movements, speech) to assess classification performance.

Evaluated and applied advanced machine learning, deep learning, and transformer architectures to enhance BCI robustness and accessibility.

Developed practical neurotechnology applications by addressing real-world signal challenges, contributing to the advancement of BCI utility.

Universiti Teknologi Petronas
Seri Iskandar, Perak, Malaysia

M.Sc. Electrical & Electronics Engineering (research mode)

Machine Learning-based Electroencephalographic Brain-Computer Interfaces

Grade: N/A

Courses

Conducted extensive research on Brain-Computer Interfaces using diverse machine learning and deep learning techniques.

Managed EEG data collection with various portable and non-portable acquisition systems to support research objectives.

Developed and applied ML algorithms to classify motor imagery patterns for BCI control of wheelchairs, producing an extensive thesis and multiple research articles.

Focused on brain connectivity analysis to enhance BCI performance and understanding in electroencephalographic signal processing.

Mohammad Ali Jinnah University (now Capital University of Science and Technology)
Islamabad, Islamabad Capital Territory, Pakistan

B.Sc. Electronic Engineering

Electronic Engineering

Grade: N/A

Courses

Designed and implemented a miniature brain-controlled wheelchair using EEG signals as a capstone project, demonstrating expertise in AI and biomedical engineering.

Developed a system capable of interpreting two states of mind (attention, eye blinks) via a Neurosky MindWave headset to control wheelchair movement.

Awarded 2nd position for the best final year project, recognized for its innovative prototype and comprehensive documentation.

Gained foundational knowledge in electronic engineering principles, preparing for advanced studies in neurotechnology.

Awards

2nd Position for Best Final Year Project

Awarded By

Mohammad Ali Jinnah University

Awarded for the innovative design and comprehensive documentation of a miniature brain-controlled wheelchair utilizing EEG signals, showcasing excellence in biomedical engineering.

Publications

AMBER 2.0: A Dataset for Naturalistic Settings with HMD-Based RSVP Tasks

Published by

7th International Conference on Smart Computing and Informatics, Kuala Lumpur

Summary

Presented at a major international conference, detailing a novel dataset for BCI research in naturalistic settings using Head-Mounted Display-based Rapid Serial Visual Presentation tasks.

Enhancing Subject-Independent P300 Classification in RSVP-Based BCIs with Deep Learning

Published by

36th Irish Signals & Systems Conference, Letterkenny

Summary

Presented research on improving P300 classification in BCI systems using deep learning, focusing on subject-independent applications within RSVP paradigms.

Comparative Analysis of P300 Detection Accuracy in Traditional and Head Mounted Display Environments

Published by

30th Annual Conference of the RAMI Section of Bioengineering (BINI 2025), Athlone

Summary

Presented a comparative study on P300 detection accuracy across different display environments, including traditional and head-mounted displays, for BCI applications.

From Lab To Life: Assessing The Impact of Real-World Interactions on Rapid Serial Visual Presentation-Based Brain-Computer Interfaces

Published by

Journal of Neural Engineering

Summary

Published research investigating the influence of real-world interactions on the performance of RSVP-based Brain-Computer Interfaces, bridging the gap between lab and practical applications.

Challenges Towards Automated Art Presentation Brain-Computer-Interfaces

Published by

10th Visual Science of Art Conference, Aberdeen

Summary

Presented on the challenges and advancements in developing automated art presentation systems utilizing Brain-Computer Interfaces.

AMBER: Advancing Multimodal Brain-Computer Interfaces For Enhanced Robustness—A Dataset For Naturalistic Settings

Published by

Frontiers in Neuroergonomics

Summary

Published a comprehensive dataset (AMBER) designed to advance multimodal BCI research, focusing on enhancing robustness in naturalistic environments.

Automatic Tagging of BCI Artefacts Using Computer Vision

Published by

10th International BCI Meeting, Brussels

Summary

Presented methodology for automatically tagging BCI artifacts using computer vision techniques, improving data quality and analysis efficiency.

Investigating the Impact of Ecologically Valid Interactions on Rapid Serial Visual Presentation Based Brain-Computer Interface Performance

Published by

10th International BCI Meeting, Brussels

Summary

Presented research on how ecologically valid interactions affect the performance of RSVP-based Brain-Computer Interfaces, emphasizing real-world applicability.

Blind-Spot Collision Detection System For Commercial Vehicles Using Multi Deep CNN Architecture

Published by

MDPI Sensors

Summary

Published a paper on a novel blind-spot collision detection system for commercial vehicles, leveraging a multi-deep Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) architecture.

Classification of Sub-Frequency Bands Based Two-Class Motor Imagery Using CNN

Published by

Springer Lecture Notes in Electrical Engineering

Summary

Published research on classifying two-class motor imagery using sub-frequency bands and Convolutional Neural Networks, contributing to BCI signal processing.

PDC For The Classification of Motor Imagery-Based Brain-Computer Interface

Published by

Proceedings of the Multimedia University Engineering Conference (MECON 2022)

Summary

Published conference proceedings on the application of Partial Directed Coherence (PDC) for classifying motor imagery in Brain-Computer Interfaces.

Effective Connectivity For Decoding Electroencephalographic Motor Imagery Using Probabilistic Neural Networks

Published by

MDPI Sensors

Summary

Published research on decoding electroencephalographic motor imagery using effective connectivity and Probabilistic Neural Networks, enhancing BCI accuracy.

Brain Controlled Wheelchair: A smart Prototype

Published by

Journal of Physics: Conference Series

Summary

Published a paper detailing the development of a smart prototype for a brain-controlled wheelchair, showcasing practical application of BCI technology.

Languages

English
Urdu
Punjabi

Certificates

Research Integrity Training

Issued By

Ireland

Research Involving Human Participants Training

Issued By

Ireland

Introduction to Artificial Intelligence

Issued By

IBM / Coursera

Skills

Machine Learning

Deep Learning, Traditional Machine Learning, ML Algorithms, Transformer Architectures, Classification Performance.

Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs)

Neuroscience, EEG Data Collection, Biomedical Signal Processing, Motor Imagery, Noise-Resilient BCIs, Neurotechnology Applications.

Research and Development

Experimental Protocol Design, Data Acquisition, Data Preprocessing, Data Analysis, Literature Review, Project Documentation, Research Writing.

Software & Tools

Python, MATLAB, EEGLAB, Brainstorm, Proteus Design Suite, Latex (Overleaf), Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel), MS Visio.

Teaching & Mentoring

Engineering Education, Academic Support, Tutorial Delivery, Laboratory Demonstrations, Complex Concept Explanation.

Medical Robotics

Biomedical Engineering, Brain-Controlled Wheelchair.

Project Management

Stakeholder Management, Multidisciplinary Team Collaboration, GDPR Compliance, Product Quality Assurance.

Projects

Brain-Controlled Wheelchair

Summary

Designed and implemented a miniature brain-controlled wheelchair utilizing EEG signals as a capstone project for a Bachelor's degree.