Malka N. Halgamuge

University of Melbourne

 

Contact Details

Name:

Dr. Malka N. Halgamuge

Address:

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering,

Melbourne School of Engineering, The University of Melbourne,
Victoria 3010, Australia.

Phone:

+61 3 8344 4750

Room:

C-317

Email:

malka.nisha@unimelb.edu.au

 

Current Positions

  1. Research Fellow/Scientist  (Level B)
    Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia

 

  1. Honorary Fellow
    Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia

Teaching Experience

  1. Subject Coordinator / Casual Lecturer (with Dr. Lu Ayu)

Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Australia

 

Postgraduate Course:

Subjects:

a.      421-619 – Energy for Sustainable Development

b.      421-629 – Energy Efficiency Technology

 

  1. Casual Lecturer

Charles Sturt University, Melbourne, Australia

 

Undergraduate Course:

Subjects:

a.      ITC242 - Introduction to Data Communication

b.      ITC254 - Wireless Communications

c.      ITC333 - Server Administration & Maintenance

 

Postgraduate Course:

 

Subject:

a.      ITC542 - Internetworking with TCP/IP

b.      ITC431 - Computer Networks

Research Laboratory Experience

  1. Department of Radiation Physics & Department of Bio Chemistry, Lund University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Sweden (2008 Sep.)

Laboratory Experiment: Investigating biological effect of extremely low frequency magnetic fields (by using cell model - spinach)

 

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Lund University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Sweden (2007 Sep.) 

Laboratory Experiment: Investigating biological effect of radio frequency electromagnetic radiation - GSM mobile phone radiation (by using animal model - rats)

Education

Academic Qualifications:

1.      Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical Engineering, PhD, ARC Special Research Center for Ultra Broadband Information Networks [CUBIN], Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Melbourne,  Melbourne, Australia (June 2003 - November 2006).
PhD Thesis: Performance Evaluation and Enhancement of Mobile and Sensor Networks

 

2.      Masters of Engineering in Information Technology, MSc(Eng), School of Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering,  RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia (2000-2002).
Master Thesis: Energy Efficient Ad-hoc Wireless Sensor Networks

 

3.      Bachelor of Science in Engineering, BSc(Eng), Department of Production Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of  Peradeniya Srilanka (1993-1997).

Academic Awards & Scholarships

  1. Awarded Solander Fellowship for research collaboration at Department of Radiation Physics, Lund University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden, (2008 round).

 

  1. Awarded Solander Fellowship for research collaboration at Department of Neurosurgery, Lund University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden, (2007 round).

 

  1. Awarded Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) for PhD studies at Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.

 

  1. Awarded Government Education Department Scholarship for Undergraduate studies at Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya, SriLanka.

 

  1. Awarded Grade Five Government Scholarship for School Education in SriLanka.

Publications

Book Chapter:

Malka N. Halgamuge, S. M. Guru and Andrew Jennings “Centralised Strategies for Cluster Formation in Sensor Networks”, in  Classification and Clustering for Knowledge Discovery, ISBN: 3-540-26073-0, Chapter 20, Springer-Verlag, pp. 315-334, Aug. 2005.

Refereed Journal Articles:

  1. Malka N. Halgamuge, Bertil R. R. Persson, Leif G. Salford, Priyan Mendis and Jacob L. Eberhardt, “Comparison between Two Models for Interactions between Electric and Magnetic Fields and Proteins in Cell Membranes”, Environmental Engineering Science, Volume 26, Issue 10, pp 1473-1480, Oct 2009.

 

  1. Feng Shu, Malka N. Halgamuge and Wei Chen, “Building Automation System Using Wireless Sensor Networks: Radio Characteristics and Energy Efficient Communication Protocols”, Special Issue on Sensor Network for Building Monitoring: From Theory to Real Application, Electronic Journal of Structural Engineering, EJSE, 2009.

 

  1. Malka N. Halgamuge, Toong-Khaun Chan and Priyan Mendis, “Experimental Study of Link Quality Distribution in Sensor Network Deployment for Building Environment”, Special Issue on Sensor Network for Building Monitoring: From Theory to Real Application, Electronic Journal of Structural Engineering, EJSE, 2009.

 

  1. Malka N. Halgamuge, Moshe Zukerman, Rao Kotagiri and Hai L. Vu, “An Estimation of Sensor Energy Consumption”, Progress In Electromagnetics Research B, Volume 12, pp 259-295, Jan. 2009.

 

  1. Malka N. Halgamuge, Hai L. Vu, Rao Kotagiri and Moshe Zukerman, “Signal-Based Evaluation of Handoff Algorithms”, IEEE Communications Letters, Volume 9, Issue 9, pp 790-792, Sept. 2005.

 

  1. Malka N. Halgamuge, Rao Kotagiri, Moshe Zukerman and Hai Vu “Base Station Scheduling for Cellular Networks with Hidden Markov Model”, Submitted.

 

  1. Malka N. Halgamuge, Hai L. Vu, Rao Kotagiri and Moshe Zukerman, “A Call Quality Performance Measure for Handoff Algorithms”, Submitted.

 

  1. Malka N. Halgamuge, Priyan Mendis, Lu Ayu and Tuan Ngo, “Energy Optimized Wireless Sensor Network for Building Monitoring”, Submitted.

 

Refereed International Conferences:

  1. Malka N. Halgamuge, T. K. Chan and P.  Mendis, “Ventilation Efficiency and Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Concentration”, Progress in Electromagnetics Research Symposium (PIERS), Moscow, Russia, pp 1779 – 1782, Aug. 18-21, 2009.

 

  1. Malka N. Halgamuge, C. Abeyratne and P.  Mendis, “Influence of Combined AC-DC Electromagnetic Fields on Cell Plasma Membrane”, International Conference on Bioelectromagnetics, BioEM2009, Davos, Switzerland, 14-19 June, 2009.

 

  1. Malka N. Halgamuge, T. K. Chan and P.  Mendis, “Experiences of Deploying an Indoor Building Sensor Network”, SensorCOMM, Athens, Greece, pp 378-381, 18-23 June, 2009.

 

  1. Malka N. Halgamuge, C. Abeyratne and P.  Mendis, “Effect of Cyclotron Resonance Frequencies in Particles Due to AC and DC Electromagnetic Fields”, Proceedings of World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology, vol. 40, Rome, Italy, pp 416-419, 28-30 April, 2009.

 

  1. Malka N. Halgamuge, T. K. Chan and P.  Mendis, “Improving Multi-story Building Sensor Network with an External Hub”, Proceedings of World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology, vol. 40, Rome, Italy, pp 420-423, April 28-30, 2009.

 

  1. Malka N. Halgamuge, “Design Factors for Sustainable Sensor Networks”, Proceedings of 3rd International Conference on Information and Automation for Sustainability, ICIAfs’07, Melbourne, Australia, 4-6 December 2007.

 

  1. Malka N. Halgamuge, “Efficient Battery Management for Sensor Lifetime”, Proceedings of IEEE 21st International Conference on Advanced Information Networking and Applications, AINA’07, Niagara Falls, Canada, 21-23 May 2007.

 

  1. Malka N. Halgamuge, Rao Kotagiri, and Moshe Zukerman, “High Powered Cluster Heads for Extending Sensor Network Lifetime”, Proceedings of 6th IEEE International Symposium on Signal Processing and Information Technology, ISSPIT’06, Vancouver, Canada, pp 64-69, 27-30 August 2006.

 

  1. Malka N. Halgamuge, Rao Kotagiri, Hai L. Vu, and Moshe Zukerman, “Evaluation of Handoff Algorithms Using a Call Quality Measure with Signal Based Penalties”, Proceedings of IEEE Wireless Communications and Networking Conference, WCNC'06, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, 3-6 April 2006.

 

  1. Malka N. Halgamuge, Hai L. Vu, Rao Kotagiri, and Moshe Zukerman, “An Ideal Base Station Sequence for Pattern Recognition Based Handoff in Cellular Networks”, Proceedings of International Conference on Information and Automation, ICIA'05, pp 19-24, BMICH, Colombo, December 2005.

 

  1. Malka N. Halgamuge, S. M. Guru and Andrew Jennings, “Energy Efficient Cluster Formation in Wireless Sensor Networks”, Proceedings of IEEE International Conference on Telecommunication, ICT’03, Volume 2, pp 1571-1576, Papeete, Tahity, French Polynesia, 23 Feb.-1 March 2003.

 

  1. K. Chan, G. Lam, S.M. Guru, Malka N. Halgamuge and S. Fernando, “Development of Palm-SmartBolt Sensor System Interface”, Proceedings of International Conference on Fuzzy Systems and Knowledge Discovery, FSKD'02, Singapore, Nov. 2002.

 

  1. C. Brewster, P. Farmer, J. Manners and Malka N. Halgamuge, “An Incremental Genetic Algorithm for Model Based Clustering and Segmentation”, Proceedings of International Conference on Fuzzy Systems and Knowledge Discovery, FSKD'02, Singapore, Nov. 2002.

 

Domestic Conferences:

  1. C. D. Abeyrathne, Peter M. Farrell and Malka N. Halgamuge, "How Much Evidence Exists for Biological Effects of Very Weak Magnetic Fields", EMF Scientific Workshop, Melbourne, Austraia, Nov.  2009.

 

  1. Malka N. Halgamuge, Rao Kotagiri and Moshe Zukerman, “Strategies for Increasing Sensor Network Lifetime”, AusCTW'07, Adelaide, Australia, 5-7 Feb. 2007.

 

  1. Malka N. Halgamuge, Rao Kotagiri, Hai L. Vu and Moshe Zukerman, “Differentiated Penalties for Evaluating handoff algorithm”, Proceedings of the AusCTW'06, Perth, Australia, 1-3 Feb. 2006.

 

  1. Malka N. Halgamuge, Moshe Zukerman, Rao Kotagiri and Hai Le Vu, “Towards Better Handoff Algorithms”, NICTA Techfest'05, Canberra, Australia, May 2005.

Supervision:

Current PhD Student:


C. D. Abeyratne (IPRS Scholarship), co-supervisor: A/Prof. P. Farrell
Project:  Biological Effects of Extremely Low Frequency Electromagnetic Fields


Topics for New PhD Students:
               1.  Relation between Magnetic Fields from Ground Current Sources and Childhood Leukemia
               2.  Radio Propagation Studies and Power Optimization in Wireless Sensor Networks
               3.  Wireless Sensor Network for Building Monitoring
               4. Handoff Management in Cellular Networks

Grants:

  1. Malka N. Halgamuge and Priyan Mendis, Joint Research Grant, with Lund University, Sweden, “Interaction between extremely low frequency magnetic fields and living system”, 2008.

 

  1. Malka N. Halgamuge and Priyan Mendis  Vice-Chancellor’s Knowledge Transfer Grant, “Environmental impact of low frequency electromagnetic field exposure”, $10,000, 2008.

 

  1. Malka N. Halgamuge, Solander Grant, $10,000 both 2007 & 2008.

 

Professional Activities

Invited Talk/Guest Lecturer:

  1. “Effects Extremely Low Frequency and Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Fields on Humans”, Department of Industrial Design, Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), Eindhoven, The Netherlands, 2008.

 

  1. “Effect of the Electromagnetic Fields on Humans”, Scientists in Schools Programm, Brunswick Language School, Melbourne, Australia, 2008.

 

  1. “Biological Effects of Non-ionizing Radiation and Magnetic Fields”, Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Moratuwa, Colombo, Srilanka, 2008.

 

  1. “Biological Effects of Extremely Low frequency and Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Fields”, Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Srilanka, 2008.

 

  1. “Power Management in Sensor Networks”, Department of Electrical & Electronics Engineering, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Srilanka, 2007.

 

  1. “Performance Evaluation and Enhancement of Wireless Networks”, Department of Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering, University of Moratuwa, Colombo, Srilanka, 2007.

 

Guest Editor:  

 

Special Issue on Sensor Network for Building Monitoring: From Theory to Real Application on Electronic Journal of Structural Engineering, 2009.

 

Program Co-Chair:

Wireless Communication Track, International Conference on Communications Circuits and Systems, ICCCAS’07, Kokura, Fukuoka, Japan, 2007. 

 

Track Co-Chair:

Hybrid Information Technology Track, International Conference on Future Information Technology (FutureTech 2010), Busan, Korea, 2010.

TPC Member:

  1. The Fourth International Conference on Sensor Technologies and Applications (SENSORCOMM'10), July, Venice, Italy, 2010.
  2. The 6th IASTED International Conference on Advances in Computer Science and Engineering (ACSE'10), Sharm EI Sheikh, Egypt, 2010.
  3. Intelligent Agents in Sensor Networks and Sensor Web (IASNW’09), Nagoya, Japan, 2009.
  4. International Conference on Signal Processing and Multimedia Applications (SIGMAP’09), Milan, Italy, 2009.
  5. IASTED International Conference on Advances in Computer Science and Engineering (ACSE'09), Phuket, Thailand, 2009.
  6. Fourth International Conference on Information and Automation for Sustainability (ICIAfs’08), Colombo, Srilanka, 2008.

 

  1. International Conference on Communications Circuits and Systems (ICCCAS’07), Kokura, Fukuoka, Japan, 2007.

 

  1. International Conference on Industrial and Information Systems (ICIIS’07), University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, 2007.

Reviewer:

IEEE Tran. Vehicular Technology, IEEE Tran. on Circuits and Systems I, IEEE Communication Magazine, IEEE Communication Letters, IEEE ICC, IEEE WCNC, IEEE PMIRC, WirelessCom, WIOPT, ICCS.

Professional Societies:

  1. Member, Bioelectromagnetic Society, USA.
  2. Member, Institution of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), USA.
  3. Member, Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers (IEICE).
  4. Member, Networking Networking Women (N2 Women), IEEE Communication Society.
  5. Volunteered Scientist, "Scientists in Schools" programm, Australia.

Research Interests

  1. Biological Effects of Magnetic-fields and Microwaves
  2. Handoff Management in Cellular Networks
  3. Energy Management in Sensor Networks
  4. Wireless Communication

Teaching Interests

  1. Cellular & Data Communication
  2. Sensor Networks

This page, its contents and style, are the responsibility of the author and do not necessarily represent the views, policies or opinions of The University of Melbourne.

Created: Sep. 2007
Last Modified: July 2009
HTML by: Malka N. Halgamuge
Maintained by: Malka N. Halgamuge