In this edition of the “Photonics Worldwide – This is my Lab” column, we introduce you to Intan Fatimah Sasila Binti Ghadzali, who is pursuing her Ph.D. research in Malaysia, at the University Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). Intan is looking forward to taking her newfound interest in photonics research and applying it to solve issues faced by the aviation industry, especially for structural parameters sensing. We hope the work of talented researchers, like Intan, will inspire young student readers to pursue a career in photonics.
If you are a Ph.D. student or an early career researcher and would like the opportunity to be featured in this column, please reach out to me.
Dr. Amol Delmade
My name is Intan Fatimah Sasila Binti Ghadzali and I’m a PhD researcher in the Photonics Technology Research Group at the University Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). UKM is a public university situated in Bangi Selangor, Malaysia. I have 15 yrs of experience as an aviation lecturer at a private university in Malaysia prior to starting PhD research. The aviation industry has already begun adopting fiber optics in the cockpit for sensing and telecommunication purposes and support the next generation of aircraft operations. The fiber optics-based sensors help to check the various structural parameters of the flight, while the high bandwidth offered by the optical fiber network plays a crucial role in providing high bandwidth for the latest inflight entertainment (IFE) offerings. These significant developments within the aviation field have motivated me to pursue PhD research in this domain.
My PhD research, under the supervision of Associate Professor Dr. Saiful Dzulkefly, focuses on fiber optic sensors, which are capable of measuring changes in temperature and strain. These sensors can be employed in diverse applications such as for the detection of landslides, to ensure the safety of pipelines, bridges, industrial plants and important infrastructures. I will be exploring the distributed optical fiber sensing technology based on the Brillouin scattering effect for the continuous monitoring of an entire aircraft structure and other infrastructure. I had an opportunity to visit Tokyo, Japan, as a part of the Sakura Science Exchange Program (SSEP) sponsored by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), in January 2023 and get a first-hand experimental experience with various types of fiber optics sensing techniques. I am optimistic that the outcomes of my Ph.D. research will contribute to technological advancements in Malaysia, making a positive impact on various industries and applications.
