Post Doctoral Researcher at Harbin Engineering University, China
Dr. Muhammad Bilal is a distinguished researcher specializing in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Signal Processing with a sharp focus on covert underwater communication and marine robotics. With over 14 years of combined academic and industrial experience, he has served in pivotal roles as a Postdoctoral Researcher at Harbin Engineering University and former Technical Manager at Pakistan’s National Engineering and Scientific Commission. His innovative work includes designing biologically inspired modulation techniques and AI-driven systems for marine acoustic applications. As a first corresponding author on multiple SCI-indexed publications, Dr. Bilal actively contributes to the global research community through his involvement in international collaborations, technical committees, and conference organizations. He has been honored with awards such as the Best Teacher Award (China) and Best International Student at Harbin Engineering University. His work represents a confluence of interdisciplinary innovation, bridging marine technology, cybersecurity, and intelligent systems. 🌊🤖📡
Professional Profiles
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🎓 Education
Dr. Bilal holds a diverse and technically rich educational background. He is currently a Postdoctoral Researcher (2023–2025) at Harbin Engineering University, China, continuing his journey where he also completed his Ph.D. in Information & Communication Engineering (2016–2021), specializing in AI-driven covert underwater acoustic communication. Prior to that, he earned a Master’s in Telecommunication Engineering from Hamdard University, Pakistan (2011–2013), and his Bachelor’s in Telecommunication Engineering from FAST–NU, Pakistan (2005–2009). His doctoral research, which explored mimicry of humpback whale songs for stealth communication, combined machine learning with bioacoustics—laying the foundation for a new class of intelligent underwater systems. His education is a perfect blend of foundational engineering and domain-specific expertise in AI and signal processing. 🎓📘🌐
🧪 Experience
Dr. Bilal’s professional career spans academic, research, and industry roles. He is currently a Postdoctoral Researcher at Harbin Engineering University, teaching courses in Computer Networks, Information Theory, and Machine Learning, while also leading multiple research projects in marine signal intelligence and cybersecurity. He recently served as a Visiting Professor at Nanfang College, delivering hands-on teaching in networking and cyber defense. Before academia, he held the position of Technical Manager at Pakistan’s National Engineering and Scientific Commission (2011–2023), where he led R&D in underwater robotic systems, covert communication modems, and AI-integrated sensing platforms. His combined expertise allows him to translate academic innovations into operational technologies, especially in mission-critical environments. 🌐🛠️📊
🏅 Awards and Honors
Dr. Muhammad Bilal’s innovative research and academic leadership have been recognized with several honors. He received the Best Teacher Award by the Heilongjiang Government, China, and was named the Best International Student at Harbin Engineering University. He has also been a Keynote Speaker at the 2024 International Conference on Artificial Intelligence (Changsha, China) and was invited to the C9 League Doctoral Forum hosted by USTC Hefei. During his undergraduate years, he was Runner-Up at NASCON 2008 in Engineering Problem Solving at FAST-NU. These accolades underline his excellence in both academic teaching and applied scientific research. 🥇📚🎖️
🔬 Research Focus
Dr. Bilal’s research centers on bio-inspired and AI-enabled underwater acoustic communication, with a strong emphasis on covert transmission, signal mimicry, and intelligent modulation techniques. He integrates deep learning, cepstral analysis, and signal processing to develop stealthy communication channels using biologically plausible waveforms, such as humpback whale songs. His recent projects explore DoS attack detection in marine vehicles, CNN-based bionic communication, and transfer learning for mammal call classification. This highly interdisciplinary approach merges fields such as marine biology, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and digital communication. His work is critical for applications in underwater surveillance, marine IoT, and defense-grade acoustic systems. 🌊📡🧠
🛠️ Research Skills
Dr. Bilal possesses a robust skill set in machine learning (CNNs, RNNs, GANs), signal processing (cepstrum, MFCC, spectrogram inversion), and wireless/acoustic communication (OFDM, modulation techniques, LPD constraints). He is proficient in programming with MATLAB, Python, TensorFlow, PyTorch, C++, and embedded systems (FPGA, DSP). He also brings practical expertise in tools like Wireshark, Cisco Packet Tracer, and simulation environments for underwater networks. In academia, he designs complete course structures, including lab manuals, quizzes, and real-world problem sets, showcasing his pedagogical strength. He is also skilled in technical writing, proposal development, and project coordination, particularly in multi-institutional, cross-border collaborations. His blend of theory and application makes him a valuable contributor to both academic and industrial innovation. ⚙️💻📈
✅ Conclusion
Dr. Muhammad Bilal is highly suitable for the “Research for Excellence in Innovation” award. His pioneering contributions to bio-inspired, AI-driven underwater communication, his blend of academic rigor and applied research, and his leadership in transnational marine technology collaborations strongly reflect the essence of innovation with measurable impact. Minor expansion into commercialization and broader interdisciplinary arenas could further elevate his profile, but his current achievements already position him as a strong and deserving candidate.
Publications Top Notes
Biologically inspired covert underwater acoustic communication—A review
📅 Year: 2018
🔢 Citations: 41
A frequency hopping pattern inspired bionic underwater acoustic communication
📅 Year: 2021
🔢 Citations: 35
Bionic Morse coding mimicking humpback whale song for covert underwater communication
📅 Year: 2019
🔢 Citations: 31
Dolphin sounds-inspired covert underwater acoustic communication and micro-modem
📅 Year: 2017
🔢 Citations: 31
Symmetry oriented covert acoustic communication by mimicking humpback whale song
📅 Year: 2019
🔢 Citations: 22
Covert underwater communication by camouflaging sea piling sounds
📅 Year: 2018
🔢 Citations: 22
A nonlinear distortion removal based on deep neural network for UWA OFDM communication with PAPR mitigation
📅 Year: 2020
🔢 Citations: 20
M-ary nonlinear sine chirp spread spectrum for UWA communication using VTRM
📅 Year: 2021
🔢 Citations: 18
A positioning algorithm for wireless sensors in rich multipath environments
📅 Year: 2008
🔢 Citations: 16
Shallow water acoustic channel modeling and MIMO-OFDM simulations
📅 Year: 2018
🔢 Citations: 13
Symmetric connectivity of UWA sensor networks based on multi-modal directional transducer
📅 Year: 2021
🔢 Citations: 11
Deep neural network-based receiver design for downlink NOMA UWA communication
📅 Year: 2023
🔢 Citations: 8
Novel concept of bionic Morse coding for mimicry covert UWA communication
📅 Year: 2020
🔢 Citations: 8
Adaptive joint channel estimation for self-interference cancellation in full-duplex UWA communication
📅 Year: 2019
🔢 Citations: 6
MACA-based energy-efficient MAC protocol using Q-learning for UWA sensor network
📅 Year: 2023
🔢 Citations: 5
QPSK sine chirp spread spectrum UWA communication using VTRM
📅 Year: 2022
🔢 Citations: 5
Covert mimicry communication using humpback whale song
📅 Year: 2019
🔢 Citations: 5
Low Probability Detection Constrained UWA Communication: A Comprehensive Review
📅 Year: 2025
🔢 Citations: 3
Q-learning based energy-efficient MAC protocol for UWSNs with collision avoidance
📅 Year: 2024
🔢 Citations: 2
Intelligent Bayesian regularization backpropagation neuro-computing for UWA object state estimation
📅 Year: 2024
🔢 Citations: 2