Dr Munira Raja

Dr Munira Raja – Career Pathway

I hold a B.Eng. in Computer and Microelectronic Systems from the University of Liverpool and a PhD in Organic Electronics. My doctoral research, supported by the EPSRC under the Carbon-Based Electronics project, investigated the effects of doping of novel organic semiconductors (conducting plastics) and their impact on devices such as organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs). This work culminated in my thesis, Metal-Oxide Conjugated Polymer Interface Properties for Application in Polymer Electronics, examined by Professor H Sirringhaus (University of Cambridge).

Following my PhD, I worked as a Research Associate on the FP6 EU-funded PolyApply project, contributing to the development of smart organic electronic devices. As part of a multi-institutional consortium, we demonstrated a 13.56 MHz RFID tag incorporating organic components, an early milestone in flexible electronics.

In 2008, I was appointed Lecturer at the University of Liverpool, where I later led the Organic Electronics Research Group. My research focused on the design and fabrication of low-cost, flexible organic circuits for mixed-signal applications, including RFID tags, sensors, and display technologies. I have served as Principal Investigator on several UK and EU-funded projects, including:

  • Delivering a Sustainable Future for UK Printed Electronics (NWDA-funded)
  • A CASE Award with Merck Chemicals Ltd (UK)
  • FP6 EU-funded project, POLYNET, developing organic device models
  • FP7 EU-funded project, SIMS, developing miniaturised cholesterol sensor, which won the Best Publicly Funded Demonstrator Award at the LOPEC/OE-A (Munich, 2013)

More recently, my work has expanded to include education-focused projects aimed at enhancing student engagement, embedding inclusive teaching practices, and integrating research-led teaching into the curriculum. These initiatives build on my wider academic responsibilities and align with my longstanding commitment to equity and inclusion. I previously served for six years as the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Lead for the School of Electrical Engineering, Electronics, and Computer Science, and currently serve as the EDI Champion for the Department of Electrical Engineering and Electronics.

Find out more about Munira here.