Recently, two aspiring engineers joined UCL under the In2research initiative, tackling ambitious projects in optical communications and prosthetic technology. Run by the charity In2scienceUK, the In2research programme supports undergraduates keen to explore academia by providing hands-on projects, workshops, and mentorship.
During a placement with Dr Filipe Marques Ferreira and research assistant Sam Lennard, Amin Mohamed, a third-year EEE undergraduate from Imperial College London investigated data transmission improvements in optical fibre networks. He implemented a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) on an FPGA device, showing how machine-learning techniques could rival or outperform traditional digital signal processing.
Immersing myself in day-to-day academic life - from attending conference presentation rehearsals to discussing research papers - really broadened my outlook. The skills, knowledge, and networks gained here are invaluable.
Meanwhile, Mahdi Hasan, mentored by Dr Yu Wu and Dr Juan Guzman Inigo, focused on a 3D-printed prosthetic hand equipped with sensors that restore a sense of touch for amputees. Mahdi is in his final year of Mechanical Engineering at Queen Mary University of London. This project required creativity in CAD design, electronics integration, and data collection with custom PCBs.
Overcoming tight design constraints while preserving functionality pushed my CAD skills further than ever.It also sparked my interest in medical technology and the potential intersections of AI and engineering.
Both students credit In2research for providing the opportunity to work on cutting-edge projects and engage with experienced academics and peers. From boosting global internet data rates to refining prosthetic solutions for amputees, these placements underscore the impactful possibilities of research-driven collaborations at UCL.
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