Dr Nazila Fough she/her

My research passion lies in advancing resilient and intelligent underwater communication and sensing systems. I’ve always been fascinated by the challenges of operating in harsh marine environments, where traditional technologies often fail, and how we can push the boundaries using acoustic and optical communication , AI-driven, and sensor-based solutions to improve connectivity, monitoring, and security.

My current research group focuses on subsea communication protocols, localisation, and intelligent sensing, including the use of SAR data, AI, subsea security and low-power underwater networks. We are particularly interested in applications such as environmental monitoring, illegal fishing detection, and autonomous underwater systems.

I’m keen to form collaborations with researchers in oceanography, AI, robotics, remote sensing, and materials science, especially those developing novel sensors or platforms that could be integrated into underwater networks. I believe the DiveIn CDT is the ideal community to join.

I would love to co-supervise CDT projects focused on topics such as: Intelligent underwater sensor networks, AI-assisted marine monitoring and threat detection, Resilient communication systems for AUVs and subsea IoT, SAR, sonar, and subsea localisation, monitoring , imaging , tracking and security.

As a supervisor, I am supportive, collaborative, and practical. I guide my students to become independent thinkers, while making sure they feel part of a team. I have successfully supervised three PhD students and one MRes student to completion, and I am currently co-supervising several others.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) is central to how I work. I’ve actively supported Women in Engineering (as part of the IEEE), served as Chair of the IEEE Young Professionals UK & Ireland, and helped organise inclusive workshops, mentoring programmes, and panel sessions for early-career researchers and underrepresented groups. I strongly believe that diverse perspectives lead to better science, and I work to foster a respectful, inclusive research environment. Currently am chairing IEEE Oceanic Engineering Society (OES) chapter.

Outside of academia, I enjoy reading books, travelling to off-the-beaten-path locations (especially coastal regions), and connecting with people across cultures.