Prof. Kanapathippillai Cumanan is a Professor in the School of Physics, Engineering and Technology at the University of York, UK. He holds a PhD in Signal Processing for Wireless Communications from Loughborough University and a BSc (First Class Honours) in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. Prior to his current role, he held post-doctoral positions at Newcastle University and Loughborough University, and was an academic visitor at the National University of Singapore. Research interests: Machine learning in wireless systems, 6G/NextGen WiFi, Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access (NOMA), Cell-Free Massive MIMO, Physical Layer Security, and Cognitive Radio Networks. Editorial roles: Associate Editor for IEEE JSAC (Machine Learning in Communications), IEEE Wireless Communications Letters, and IEEE Open Journal of Communications Society. His research focuses on advancing communication technologies through optimization and AI-driven solutions, with over 100 journal/conference publications. Awards include the Exemplary Editor Award (IEEE) and ORSAS fellowship (Cardiff University). Current PhD students include Mahboubeh Irannezhad Parizi and Chentong Li. Former students have graduated since 2018. Key contributions span theoretical frameworks and practical implementations for next-generation wireless systems, including cell-free architectures, secure communication protocols, and UAV-enabled networks. Active in technical program committees for IEEE ICC, Globecom, and WCNC conferences.
