Dr Wenjuan Yu

Interim Director of Global Student Experience, International Lecturer (BJTU) in Computer Science

Profile

Dr Wenjuan Yu is a Lecturer in the School of Computing and Communications (SCC) at Lancaster University. Prior to joining Lancaster, she was a Research Fellow at the 5G Innovation Centre (5GIC), Institute for Communication Systems, University of Surrey, UK (2018-2020), and a Research Officer at the School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, University of Essex, UK (2017-2018). She holds a PhD in Communication Systems and a Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP) from Lancaster University, and is a Fellow of Advance HE (FHEA).

Her research focuses on open, intelligent and sustainable wireless systems. She has led and contributed to externally funded research supported by UKRI/EPSRC, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), and Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. As PI or Co-I, she has secured more than £800K in external research funding.

Dr Yu is a Senior Member of IEEE and a member of the EPSRC Peer Review College. She contributes actively to the wider research community through EPSRC peer review, editorial service, and the organisation of international IEEE conferences and workshops.

Research Overview

Her research focuses on open, intelligent and sustainable wireless systems, spanning open radio access networks (O-RAN), vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications and energy-efficient 6G resource management. Her work develops intelligent traffic-steering and resource-allocation approaches using machine learning, with an emphasis on translating communications research into practical systems through experimental validation and collaboration with academic and industry partners.

Research Grants

TRACE-V2X: Smart and Proactive Multi-RAT Traffic Steering for V2X, PI, Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions / UKRI Horizon Europe Guarantee (2024–2027), £58,439 (£105,190 initially awarded)
ONE WORD: Western O-RAN Dense Mobile Challenge, Co-I, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), (2023–2025), £626,997.
SustainAIRA6G: Energy-Efficient Sustainable AI-driven Resource Allocation for 6G-empowered Edge-Fog-Cloud Continuum, Co-I, EPSRC / CHEDDAR (2024–2025), £134,482 final award (£148,581 at application stage).

External Roles

Senior Member, IEEE (March 2025 - present)
Member, EPSRC Peer Review College (January 2026 -present)
Conference Symposium and Workshop Officer, IEEE ComSoc Next Generation Multiple Access Emerging Technology Initiative (NGMA-ETI) (July 2022-present)

PhD Supervisions Completed

Dr Dawei Nie, "Resource Management and Intelligent Design for Future Wireless Communication Networks" (PhD, 2024)

Dr Muhammad Awais, "Intelligent Resource Optimization in Integrated Aerial Terrestrial Networks" (PhD, 2025)

Current Teaching

CNSCC141 Professionalism in Practice

CNSCC333 Advanced Networking

PhD Supervision Interests

I am interested in hearing from motivated students who are considering a PhD in communications systems, computer science, or related areas. My research interests include wireless communications and networking, 5G/6G systems, O-RAN, V2X, intelligent resource management, and machine learning. If your background and interests align with these areas, please feel free to email me your CV. CSC-funded PhD applicants and visiting researchers are also very welcome.