Dr.

Nishtha Chopra
Address: Center of Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Public Health England, Didcot
(Harwell Campus), OX11 0RQ
Email: nishtha50376@gmail.com & nishtha.chopra@phe.gov.uk
Phone: +447469379155
Website: https://nishthachopra.weebly.com/

EDUCATION

2013-2017 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Electronics Engineering, School of

Electronics Engineering and Computer Science, Queen Mary
University of London, UK

• Thesis title, “Characterization of Skin-based THz Communication

Channel for Nano-scale Body-centric Wireless Networks”
• Key features – Bioengineering, Nano-scale communication, THz
spectroscopic measurements of biological samples, biomaterials,
electromagnetic simulation and data analysis
• Skills – THz-Time Domain Spectroscopy, RF measurements, and
Tissue Culture (2D & 3D dermal equivalents)
• Skin Modeling with CST and COMSOL
• Data Analysis with MATLAB

2011-2012 Master of Science in Nanoelectronics, School of Electrical and

Electronics Engineering, University of Manchester, UK – Secured
First Class

• Modules in the first semester included Fundamentals of

Semiconductors, Organic Electronics, Nano-processing Technology
Material synthesis and Nano-characterization.
• Modules in the second semester included Terahertz Technologies,
Nano photonics and Nanodevices.
• MSc Dissertation on “Multi-mode Behavior of Aperiodic Distributed
Feedback Tunable THz Quantum Cascade Lasers” under the
supervision of Dr. S. Chakraborty, University of Manchester, UK.

2006 – 2010 Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech), Electrical and Electronics

Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, SRM
University, Tamil Nadu, India – Secured First Class

• Modules covered included Basic Electrical Engineering, Electrical

circuits, Analog and Digital Electronics, Electrical Machines, Control
systems, Design of Electrical Machines, Power Engineering, Bio-
medical instrumentation, Fuzzy logic.
• Final year dissertation – Design project on “Variable Speed Constant
Frequency-Wind Energy Systems under the supervision of Dr. R.
Ramasamy, SRM Institute of Science &Technology.
RELEVANT WORK EXPERIENCE

May 2017 - Present Higher Radiation Protection Scientist

• Primary research on current and emerging sources of electromagnetic

fields and its impact on healthcare specializing in electromagnetic
fields exposure assessment, radiation dosimetry studies and medical
diagnostic applications.

Current Projects
• Experimental investigation of EMF exposure from Smart Meters
installed across various residential properties in Great Britain in
collaboration with “Smart Energy GB, UK”.
• Technical lead on developing dielectric probe technology and
investigation of dielectric properties of biological tissues at
frequencies below 1MHz in collaboration with, “The Foundation for
Research on Information Technologies in Society (IT'IS) Zurich,
Switzerland”.
• Development of electric and magnetic field exposure database for the
utility industry, to assist industrial hygiene epidemiologists in
collaboration with Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), Palo
Alto, California, USA”.

Oct 2017 – Present Honorary Research Fellow, Queen Mary University of London, UK

• Continuing collaboration on Electrical Characterization of Human

Skin Dermal Equivalents using THz Time Domain Spectroscopy

Feb 2014 – Mar 2014 Teaching Assistant (TA) for the module Analogue Electronic
Systems
Feb 2015 – Mar 2015
• This is a level-1 course introducing students to electronic devices,
components, circuits and simple systems.
• Aim is to help students understand basic theorems and techniques of
electric circuit theory in relation to simple AC and DC circuits

Nov 2012-Mar 2013 Research Assistant, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Center of
Nanoscience and Engineering (CeNSe), Bangalore, India

• Title, “Platinum Oxide based Memory Devices – Fabrication &

Characterization”
Skills Acquired
• Experience in handling Metal & Dielectric Sputtering
• Photolithography process techniques
• DC characterization techniques
• Scanning Electron Microscopy
• Exposure to XPS and Thermal Evaporation

April 2011 –Oct 2011 Research Project Trainee, Solid State Physics (SSPL) Laboratory,
Defense Research and Development Organization, Delhi, India
 • Title, “Fabrication and characterization of Carbon Nanotubes and
Graphene”
Skills Acquired
• Experience in imaging using Scanning Electron Microscopy
• Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD), to identify the deposited
material on the substrate and predicted the possible structure of the
contaminant.

June 2008 – July 2008 Intern, Solid State Physics (SSPL) Laboratory, Defense Research and
Development Organization (DRDO), Delhi, India

• Accomplished a project on “Design and Fabrication of LRM

Calibration Standards”, which aimed to fabricate Chromium
substrates using Photolithography and subsequently the calibration of
Vector Network Analyzer, was performed.
Skills Acquired
• Photolithography process techniques
• Standard optical microscopy
• Laser mask writing
• VNA probe measurement

AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

• Winner of “'Best Representative Image of an Outcome (BRIO) 2018'

Award” by Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF)
• Engineering YES “Best Team Work” Award – Heat Birmingham, UK
• Best Poster Presentation at EECS Research Showcase Queen Mary
University of London, UK
• IEEE Student Branch Chair at Queen Mary University of London
2015-2016
• IEEE Student Branch Vice-Chair at Queen Mary University of
London, UK, 2014-2015
• Publicity officer, Women in Engineering and Science (WISE) at
Queen Mary University of London, UK, 2014-2015
• Women in Engineering (WiE) Chair, IEEE Student Branch at QMUL,
UK, Feb 2014 – Jan 2015
• Student Activity Chairperson of IEEE (Institute of Electrical and
Electronics Engineer) at SRM Institute of Science and Technology,
Chennai, 2009 - 2010

SKILLS AND TRAININGS

Measurements
• Short course on Terahertz Technology and Application, Certificate of
Completion granted by Technical University of Catalonia – UPC,
Barcelona, Spain
• Hands-On Training workshop on THz-Time Domain Spectroscopy
By National Physical Laboratory (NPL), UK

Software Programming
• Intensive 10 weeks Training on Matlab & R, University of Oxford,
UK
• Basic knowledge of C++ and Python
 • Data Analysis and Modeling with COMSOL and OriginLab
• Completed a certification course on “MATLAB & R” from
University of Oxford, UK
• Hands on experience in using scientific simulation packages like
SILVACO, AutoCAD, CST and Simulink

Office Tools

• Microsoft Office, Latex

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS AND ACTIVITIES

Conferences
• Member of Organizing committee - IEEE MTT-S International
Microwave Workshop Series on RF and Wireless Technologies for
Biomedical and Healthcare Applications (IMWS-Bio 2014), London,
UK
• Member of Organizing Committee - MobiHealth2015 in London,UK
• Member of Technical Committee - 2nd International Conference on
Computational and Network Technologies 2014
• Co-Chaired a Session on Body-Centric at 20th IEEE International
Workshop on Computer Aided Modelling and Design of
Communication Links and Networks, Surrey UK

Reviewer
• Journal on Nano Communication Network (NanoComnet), Elsevier
• Transactions on Terahertz Science and Technology, IEEE
• Biomedical optics express, IEEE communications magazine
standards
• Various conference papers

TECHNICAL COMMUNITY SERVICES

• Founder of “Science Converge at the Center of Radiation, Chemical

and Environmental Hazards, Public Health England”, an initiative to
increase scientific networking amongst members of the staff at PHE
• Exhibited my research at the, “Wearable Technology Show 2015”,
London UK
• Member of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineer (IEEE)
• Technical Committee member of 2nd International Conference on
Computational and Network Technologies 2014 (ICCNT)
• Program committee member of 3rd Workshop on Molecular
Communications
• Reading Buddy, voluntary work with IDEA Institute, London
• STEM Network UK, Ambassador
• Ambassador, Teen Tech CIC, UK
• Judged and represented Women in Science and Engineering (WISE)
at Summertime Hack with Stemettes & London Geekettes sponsored
by Winton Capital
PUBLICATIONS

Book Chapters

2016 Ke Yang,Chopra Nishtha; Abbasi, Qammer H.; Qaraqe, Khalid;

Alomainy, Akram: 'Down scaling to the nano-scale in body-centric
nano-networks' (Telecommunications, 2016), 'Advances in Body-
Centric Wireless Communication: Applications and state-of-the-art',
Chap. 12, pp. 375-411,

Journal Publications

2018 N.Chopra, Q. Abbasi, R.Hannen, M.Philpott, A. Alomainy.

“Experimental Characterisation of Complex Layered 3D Organotypic
Models at Terahertz for Accurate Electric Representation of the
Human Skin Tissue”, Nature Scientific Reports, 2018 (in revision)

2017 Q. Abbasi, N. Chopra, M. Rahman, K. Qaraqe and A. Alomainy.

“Physical Layer Authentication in Nano Networks at Terahertz
Frequencies for Biomedical Applications”, IEEE Access (Accepted
April 2017)

2017 K. Yang, N. Chopra, Q. H. Abbasi, K. Qaraqe and A. Alomainy.

“Collagen Analysis at Terahertz Band using Double-Debye Parameter
Extraction and Particle Swarm Optimisation”, IEEE Access
(Accepted February 2017)

2016 Nishtha Chopra, Ke Yang, Qammer H. Abbasi, Khalid Qaraqe,

Mike Philpott and Akram Alomainy, “THz Time Domain
Spectroscopy of Human Skin Tissue for In-Body Nano-networks”,
IEEE Transactions on THz Science and Technology (Accepted,
2016)

2016 Nishtha Chopra, Ke Yang, Jamie Upton, Qammer Hussain Abbasi,

Khalid Qaraqe ,Mike Philpott, Akram Alomainy. “Fibroblasts Cell
Number Density based Human Skin Characterization at THz for In-
body Nanonetworks”, Elsevier Nano Communication Networks
(Accepted, July 2016)

2016 Qammer H. Abbasi, Ke Yang, Nishtha Chopra, Josep Miquel

Jornet, Najah Abed AbuAli, Khalid Qaraqe, Akram Alomainy.
“Nano-communication for Biomedical Applications: A Review on the
State-of-the-art from Physical Layers to Novel Networking
Concepts”, IEEE Access (Accepted, July 2016)

2016 Q. H. Abbasi, H. El Sallabi, N. Chopra, K. Yang, K. Qaraqe, and A.

Alomainy. “Terahertz Channel Characterization Inside the Human
Skin for Nano-scale Body-Centric Networks”, IEEE Transactions on
THz Science and Technology (Accepted, March 2016)

2015 K. Yang, N. Chopra, M. Munoz, Q. H. Abbasi, Y. Hao and A.

Alomainy. “Effects of Non-flat Interfaces in Human Skin Tissues on
 the In-Vivo Tera-Hertz Communication Channel”, Elsevier Nano
Communication Networks, available online 3 November 2015

2015 G. Piro, K. Yang, G. Boggia, N. Chopra, L. A. Grieco, Yang Hao

and A. Alomainy. “Terahertz Communications in Human Tissues at
the Nano-scale for Healthcare Applications”, IEEE Transactions on
Nanotechnology, 2015

2012 N.Chopra, S.K Koul and M.U. Sharma. “On Wafer Calibration of
Vector Network Analyzer-Fabrication of LRM Calibration
Standard”, STM International Journal, 2012

Conference Publications

2018 Nishtha Chopra, Darren Addison, Carolina Calderon, Myron

Maslanyj & Azadeh Peyman,“Exposure to electromagnetic fields
from smart meter technologies in Great Britain (Phase 3): On-site
measurements in homes” BioEM 2018 Conference, June 25-29,
Portoroz, Slovenia

2017 Ke Yang, Nishtha Chopra, Akram Alomainy, Qammer Abbasi,

Khalid Qaraqe, “Dielectric Constant Measurement Of Collagen At
Terahertz Band Using Terahertz Time Domain Spectroscopy”, 2017
IEEE AP-S Symposium on Antennas and Propagation (Accepted)

2016 N Chopra, M Phipott, A Alomainy, QH Abbasi, K Qaraqe, RM

Shubair, “THz Time Domain Characterization of Human Skin Tissue
for Nano-electromagnetic Communication”, 2016 16th Mediterranean
Microwave Symposium (MMS), Abu Dhabi, UAE, November 2016.
(Invited)

2016 N Chopra, J Upton, M Philpott, A Alomainy, QH Abbasi, K Qaraqe,

“Characterization of Volumetric Change in Collagen using THz Time
Domain Spectroscopy for In-Body Nanonetworks”, Proceedings of
the 3rd ACM International Conference on Nanoscale Computing and
Communication, New York, USA, September 2016

2015 Nishtha Chopra, Mike Philpot, Akram Alomainy, "Investigating

Electromagnetic Material Properties of Collagen at THz for Health
Monitoring Applications", 5th EAI International Conference on
Wireless Mobile Communication and Healthcare - "Transforming
healthcare through innovations in mobile and wireless technologies",
14-16 October 2015, London, UK

2015 Nishtha Chopra, Ke Yang, Qammer Abbasi , Khalid Qaraqe, Mike

Philpott, Akram Alomainy, “Characterization of Human Skin Using
THz Time Domain Spectroscopy for In-body Nanonetworks”,9th EAI
International Conference on Bio-inspired Information and
Communications Technologies, Dec 2015

2015 Ke Yang, Nishtha Chopra, Jamie Upton, Yang Hao, Mike Philpott
and Akram Alomainy, “Characterizing Skin-Based Nano-Networks
For Healthcare Monitoring Applications at THz”, 2015 IEEE AP-S
 Symposium on Antennas and Propagation (presenter at the
conference)

2014 K Yang, N Chopra, Q Hussain Abbasi, K Qaraqe, A Alomainy,

"Towards Efficient And Comprehensive Healthcare/medical
Monitoring System: Nano-scale Body-centric Networks (nano-
health)", Qatar Foundation Annual Research Conference, 23-24
November 2014, Doha, Qatar

2014 N Chopra, K Yang, J Upton, A Alomainy, M Philpott, Y Hao,

"Understanding and characterizing nanonetworks for healthcare
monitoring applications", 2014 IEEE MTT-S International
Microwave Workshop Series on RF and Wireless Technologies for
Biomedical and Healthcare Applications (IMWS-Bio), 8-10
December 2014, London, UK

URLs
• https://www.linkedin.com/profile/public-profile-settings?trk=prof-
edit- edit-public_profile
• http://antennas.eecs.qmul.ac.uk/news-events/news/antennas-phd-
student-wins-award-engineering-yes-2014/
• http://www.m2mnow.biz/2015/03/12/30909-the-internet-of-the-
senses-is-on-the-horizon-at-wearable-technology-2015/
• http://scholarsconvention.com/iccnt/organizing
• https://www.qf.org.qa/news/qnrf-awards-winners-of-brio-
competition
http://www.mwrf.com/test-measurement-analyzers/mapping-
dielectric-properties-body-based-networks