Dr .Muhammad Bilal ,Harbin Engineering University, China.
Dr. Muhammad Bilal is a distinguished researcher and academic in the field of underwater acoustic communication, with a strong foundation in telecommunication engineering. His educational journey spans from Pakistan to China, culminating in a Ph.D. from Harbin Engineering University. Professionally, he has held impactful roles in both academia and government research organizations, contributing significantly to underwater vehicle technology, covert communication, and biomimetic signal processing. With over 30 research publications and several prestigious awards, including Best Teacher and Best International Student, Dr. Bilal exemplifies excellence in both scientific innovation and community leadership.
Profile
Scopus
ORICD
Early Academic Pursuits
Dr. Muhammad Bilal began his academic journey in Pakistan, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Telecommunication Engineering from the prestigious FAST – National University in 2009. Building on this solid foundation, he completed his Master’s in Telecommunication Engineering at Hamdard University in 2013. His thirst for advanced knowledge led him to Harbin Engineering University in China, where he earned his Ph.D. in Information and Communication Engineering in 2021. Currently, he is engaged as a Post-Doctoral Researcher at the same institution, contributing to pioneering studies in underwater communication systems. His early academic years were marked by intellectual rigor, interdisciplinary learning, and a vision to explore the uncharted depths of wireless and underwater communications.
Professional Endeavors
Professionally, Dr. Bilal has traversed both academia and high-level technical roles in national and international institutions. Between December 2021 and May 2023, he served as a Senior Manager (Technical) at the National Engineering and Scientific Commission (NESCOM) in Pakistan, where he led several marine technology projects, including the development of underwater vehicles and indigenous communication systems. Currently, he is a Post-Doctoral Researcher at Harbin Engineering University and recently served as a Visiting Professor at Nanfang College, Sun Yat-Sen University, China, teaching computer networks. His work seamlessly bridges practical engineering and academic inquiry, highlighting a versatile career marked by global collaborations and multidisciplinary impact.
Contributions and Research Focus
Dr. Bilal’s research is deeply embedded in the fields of covert underwater acoustic communication, biomimicry in signal design, and AI-based signal processing. He is a pioneering force in developing novel methods such as Bionic Morse Coding and cepstrum-based covert communication, mimicking marine mammal vocalizations for secure data transmission. His expertise also encompasses deep neural networks for signal classification and Q-learning for energy-efficient MAC protocols in underwater sensor networks. With over 30 published papers in reputed journals and conferences, his work contributes significantly to both theoretical frameworks and practical deployments in underwater communication systems.
Accolades and Recognition
Dr. Bilal’s excellence has been acknowledged through numerous awards and honors. He was named the Best Teacher by the Heilongjiang Government in China and awarded the Best International Student title at Harbin Engineering University in 2017–2018. He has also received recognition as the Best Social Worker in HEU’s International Students Union. His leadership in global academic events includes key roles in organizing the IEEE OES China Ocean Acoustic Conference and the China Pakistan Marine Information Workshop. These accolades reflect his scholarly merit, teaching excellence, and active community engagement.
Impact and Influence
Dr. Bilal’s influence spans continents and disciplines. He is a sought-after collaborator with institutions like the University of Southampton, Bahria University, NUST, and the University of Karachi. He has been instrumental in co-supervising doctoral research in underwater acoustics and mentoring young scientists. His work has not only advanced marine communication technologies but also inspired cross-cultural academic collaborations and capacity-building efforts in Pakistan and China. Through his technical contributions and mentorship, he is helping to shape a new generation of researchers in this critical field.
Legacy and Future Contributions
With an enduring legacy in biomimetic communication research, Dr. Bilal is poised to continue shaping the future of underwater acoustics. His ongoing work explores machine learning in secure underwater data transmission and the ecological modeling of marine communication systems. As a member of leading organizations like IEEE, ACM, IET, and UKAN, he remains at the forefront of research developments. Looking forward, Dr. Bilal aims to pioneer new methods in stealth communication and intelligent network protocols, with an eye on transforming underwater surveillance, marine biodiversity monitoring, and secure naval operations.
Publication
Title: Low Probability Detection Constrained Underwater Acoustic Communication: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Songzuo Liu, Mohsin Abrar Khan, Muhammad Bilal*, Habib Hussain Zuberi
Year: 2025
Title: Bionic Morse Coding Mimicking Humpback Whale Song for Covert Underwater Communication
Authors: Muhammad Bilal, Songzuo Liu, Gang Qiao, Lei Wan, Yan Tao
Year: 2020
Title: Symmetry Oriented Covert Acoustic Communication by Mimicking Humpback Whale Song
Authors: M. Bilal, G. Qiao, S. Liu, T. Ma, Y. Zhao, B. Kong
Year: 2019
Title: Biologically Inspired Covert Underwater Acoustic Communication—A Review
Authors: M. Bilal, G. Qiao, S. Liu, Z. Babar, T. Ma
Year: 2017
Title: Automated Classification of Humpback Whale Calls in Four Regions Using Convolutional Neural Networks and Multi-scale Deep Feature Aggregation (MSDFA)
Authors: Ali Raza, Sun Zongxin, Qiao Gang, Mubeen Javed, Muhammad Bilal*, Muhammad Mohsin, Habib Zuberi
Year: 2025 (Accepted)
Title: Clandestine Underwater Communication through Cepstrum Modulation Mimicking Pseudorca Crassidens Whistles Using Machine Learning
Authors: Muhammad Bilal, Habib Hussain Zuberi, Amar Jaffar, Songzuo Liu, Mohsin Abrar Khan, Ayman Alharbi, Wasiq Ali, Abdulaziz Miyajan, Xuanye Zhang, Yibo Zhao
Year: Under Review (Expected 2025).