Hanojhan Rajahrajasingh
BEng (Hons) Electronic and Electrical Engineering 2019
Position and company: Doctoral Researcher at COPELABS, Universidade Lusófona, Lisbon, Portugal and Assistant Lecturer at Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology, Malabe, Sri Lanka
Hanojhan completed his engineering degree through our international partnership with the International College of Business and Technology in Sri Lanka. He is currently developing next-generation UAV-assisted THz/VLC systems under the supervision of Prof Dushantha Nalin K. Jayakody, who is recognised as one of the top 2% of scientists in the world.
When asked about his biggest achievements to date, Hanojhan stated: “I published a journal paper* in MDPI Sensors, and a conference paper has been accepted for publication at the IEEE VTC2024-Fall in Washington, DC, USA.” He identified his biggest challenge as securing consistent funding.
Hanojhan was initially drawn to the University of Sunderland due to its strong reputation in engineering.
He explained: “I chose the University of Sunderland because of its reputation for engineering, its location, and future scholarship opportunities. The BEng (Hons) in Electronic and Electrical Engineering provided a solid foundation in analytical thinking, system modelling, and prototyping. I particularly enjoyed the Electronic Systems module, which laid the groundwork for my research interests. The labs and workshops were excellent and greatly supported my learning.”
Among the most inspiring figures in his academic journey, Hanojhan mentioned Mr Sanira Lasantha, who taught Electronic Systems at the Sri Lanka study centre. He said: “His enthusiasm, knowledge, and support had a significant impact on my academic journey.”
Hanojhan advises recent graduates entering the job market to focus on networking. He suggests: “Build relationships with your lecturers, peers, and industry professionals. Gain practical experience through internships or placements. Develop strong problem-solving and communication skills and be open to new opportunities and challenges.”
He concluded by stating, “I plan to complete my PhD and continue my research in UAV-assisted communication systems. My long-term goal is to become a Professor at the University of Sunderland and give back to the University.”
* Rajahrajasingh, H. and Jayakody, D.N.K., 2024. Unmanned Aerial Vehicle-Assisted Terahertz–Visible Light Communication Systems: An In-Depth Performance Analysis. Sensors, 24(13), p.4080.