Aijun Song

Dr. Aijun Song is an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Alabama College of Engineering. He is affiliated with the Center for Water Quality Research and the Alabama Water Institute. His work bridges engineering, environmental science, and technology, with a focus on developing innovative underwater communication systems and autonomous vehicle technologies for water monitoring applications.

Dr. Song's educational background includes:

• Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from University of Delaware
• M.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Xidian University, Xi'an, China
• B.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Xidian University, Xi'an, China

Dr. Song's research primarily focuses on underwater acoustic communications, signal processing, and autonomous vehicle technologies. His work addresses challenges in underwater wireless communications including channel modeling, equalization techniques, and full-duplex communication systems. He has made significant contributions to the development of underwater sensor networks, acoustic transceivers, and communication protocols for autonomous underwater vehicles. His research has important applications in environmental monitoring, ocean exploration, and water quality assessment.

Dr. Song's recent publications demonstrate a strong trend toward practical implementations of underwater communication technologies, with increasing emphasis on reconfigurable intelligent surfaces, energy-efficient systems, and real-world testbed validation. His work spans theoretical development, simulation, and extensive field testing in lake and river environments. The research addresses critical challenges in underwater communication including channel variability, interference cancellation, and long-range transmission.

Dr. Song has received notable recognition for his work:

• NSF CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation (2021)
• Outstanding Faculty/Staff-Initiated Engagement Effort by the Council on Community-Based Partnerships at the University of Alabama (2019)
• Outstanding Service Award from the 8th ACM International Conference on Underwater Networks & Systems (2013)

Dr. Song actively mentors students and collaborates on interdisciplinary research projects. He serves as co-principal investigator for the USGS FLOW Academy, working with Dr. Lisa Davis and Dr. Steven Burian to provide hands-on water science education. His leadership in the Tuscaloosa MATHCOUNTS program has significantly impacted local STEM education, particularly for underserved populations and female students. Dr. Song's research has been supported by significant funding including an NSF CAREER award and collaborations with the US Geological Survey.

Dr. Song leads a research team focused on underwater robotics and wireless communication technologies. His lab develops and tests autonomous underwater vehicles including JaiaBots and EcoMapper systems. The team is advancing underwater swarming technologies to enhance water monitoring capabilities, with an emphasis on creating open-source, low-cost solutions for automated water data collection and rapid flood disaster response. Recent field demonstrations at the Black Warrior River and Lake Tuscaloosa showcase the practical applications of his research.