Ata Khalid is a Senior Lecturer in Sensors and Sensor Systems at Cranfield Defence and Security, Defence Academy of UK, Cranfield University. Working in Cranfield Defence and Security in Electronic Warfare Information & Cyber as head of Electro-Optic and Autonomy Group. Ata’s research focus is compound semiconductor based electronic devices and sensors and nano device design and manufacturing.

What are you working on as part of the Hub?

I am leading research projects to develop a new type of sensor to detect and characterise biological material in airborne particles. I will be working with environmental scientists, engineers, and researchers from various diverse backgrounds and fields of expertise to produce world-class compound semiconductor-based sensors and sensor systems to revolutionise the way we monitor our environment.

What is exciting you the most about your current research? 

This is my first opportunity to work with environmental scientists and experts to expand my area of research. I will learn new things and share my expertise to increase our capabilities to excel in new innovations and technological developments. This is very exciting, and I am looking forward to new research challenges and working with the team. 

What difference do you hope your research will make?

My research project aims to develop a compact solid-state sensor to detect and characterise biological material in airborne particles. Detection of Biological Particulate Matter (BioPM) is critically important to better understand its role in environmental processes and human health. The methodological constraints are a key barrier to advancing the characterisation of BioPM, limiting our understanding of its role and impact in the context of public health (allergenicity, toxicity, infectivity), climate (absorbing/scattering light), and ecosystems (nutrient transport/dispersal of reproductive units). While there are emerging detection systems (e.g., single particle ultraviolet light-induced fluorescence (UV-LIF) based systems), these require substantial capital and operational costs and are bulky, hindering their wide-scale deployment. Our research proposes this detection capability on a solid-state chip to selectively detect the multiple bands of fluorescence emissions from BioPM on a chip. These detectors will be agile, low-cost, and mass-producible, allowing for their deployment in different domains (public health, agriculture, security).

What are you most proud of in your research career?

I have a longstanding record of accomplishments in III-IV compound semiconductor materials and devices. My expertise and skills in nanotechnologies and electronic device technologies led to the development of narrow band gap semiconductor-based gas sensors, THz and mm-wave devices, including a state-of-the-art planar Gunn diode operating above 300 GHz.