Tim O'Farrell

Professor Tim O'Farrell is the Chair in Wireless Communication at the University of Sheffield's School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (FREng). His research focuses on wireless communications systems, specializing in energy-efficient radio access networks (RANs), physical layer signal processing, and radio systems engineering. He has pioneered advancements in Wi-Fi standards (IEEE802.11g) and developed industry-standard practices for measuring energy efficiency in RANs. As Co-Founder and CTO of Supergold Communication Limited, he contributed to foundational Wi-Fi technology. He leads the UKRI National 6G Radio Systems Facility and has managed £29M in research projects.

• Education:
  • BSc in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Birmingham
  • MSc and PhD in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Manchester
• Affiliations:
  • Director of the UKRI National 6G Radio Systems Facility (EP/X030016/1)
  • Former leader of the UK Research Strategy Community Organisation (CommNet II, EP/N007824/1)
• Professional Roles:
  • External Examiner at King's College London
  • Member of the Royal Academy of Engineering's mobile Virtual Centre of Excellence

His research interests span multiple-access techniques, MIMO systems, visible light communication, and network optimization. Over 27 major projects and extensive publications reflect his impact on both academia and industry.

Key awards include the prestigious FREng designation. His advisory role extends to guiding PhD students in wireless systems and networking, with notable graduates including S. Abukharis, A. Arbi, and R. Singh.