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Dr Rabbia Saleem

Dr Rabbia Saleem

Lecturer

PhD Engineering and Computer Sciences -ÌýAustralian National University, Jan. 2023

ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç Canberra
ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç Canberra Space

Dr. Saleem is a Lecturer at the University of New South Wales (ºÚÁÏÍø´óʼÇ) Canberra Space, Australian Defence Force Academy. In this capacity, she leads projects at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning and space technology, driving initiatives that aim to develop secure and sustainable structures for the Australian and global space sectors. The work focuses on intelligent space systems for cyber resilience and space domain awareness (SDA), where she plays a pivotal leadership role in project management, overseeing cross-disciplinary teams, ensuring the alignment of research objectives with strategic goals, and contributing to Australia's growing reputation in international SDA and space cyber security. In recognition of her contributions, she was named a finalist for the ACT Government’s Cyber Catalyst Award, 2025.

Dr. Saleem was a Doctoral Researcher at the Australian National University (ANU), specializing in machine learning for radio resource management, physical layer security, IoT, intelligent reflecting surfaces, and 6G communication. She holds a B.Sc. (Honours) and M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore, and is an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, with over a decade of experience in lecturing and student supervision. Dr. Saleem has also served as a Lecturer at the University of The Punjab and University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore.

As a passionate advocate for STEM education, Dr. Saleem leads initiatives in several professional organizations, including IEEE, Women in Engineering, Women in Space, Women in Cyber, and Women in AI. She was the Advisor for Women in Engineering at IEEE Punjab University Student Branch, receiving a Gold Pin for organizing the IEEE ComSoc Summer School in 2016. Recognized for her early-career contributions, Dr. Saleem won the Best Early Career Presentation Award at the Australian Space Research Conference in 2022. She was also a guest speaker at the 3rd Annual ANU Women in STEM Leadership Conference in 2023 and actively mentors young women in the YoWIE program at ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç Canberra.

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E-mail
r.saleem@unsw.edu.au
Location
Building 16
  • Journal articles | 2023
    Saleem R; Ni W; Ikram M; Jamalipour A, 2023, 'Deep-Reinforcement-Learning-Driven Secrecy Design for Intelligent-Reflecting-Surface-Based 6G-IoT Networks', IEEE Internet of Things Journal, 10, pp. 8812 - 8824,
    Journal articles | 2021
    Saleem R; Alvi SA; Durrani S, 2021, 'Performance-Fairness Trade-off for Wi-Fi and LTE-LAA Coexistence', IEEE Access, 9, pp. 62446 - 62459,
  • Conference Papers | 2023
    Bateman T; Peters E; Saleem R; Lambert A; Brown M, 2023, 'Wide Band Passive RF data Aggregation and Frequency Estimation for Space Domain Awareness Purposes', AMOS, Maui, Hawaii, presented at 2023 Advanced Maui Optical and Space Surveillance Technologies Conference (AMOS), Maui, Hawaii, 19 September 2023,
    Conference Papers | 2023
    Brown M; Peters EG; Dilkes M; Jeffreson R; Lambert A; Saleem R; Boyce R; Kruzins E; Bateman T, 2023, 'Autonomous Close Proximity Differential Drag Control of Low Earth Orbit Small Satellite Formations using an Inter-Satellite Radio Frequency Link', AMOS, Maui Hawaii, presented at Advanced Maui Optical and Space Surveillance (AMOS) Technologies Conference, Maui Hawaii, 19 September 2023 - 22 September 2023,
    Conference Papers | 2023
    Peters EG; Bateman T; Saleem R; Lambert A; Brown M, 2023, 'Space based space surveillance using passive radio frequency observations – A feasibility study', AMOS, Maui, Hawaii, presented at 2023 Advanced Maui Optical and Space Surveillance Technologies Conference (AMOS), Maui, Hawaii, 19 September 2023,
    Theses / Dissertations | 2023
    Saleem R, 2023, Future Wireless Networks: Towards Learning-driven Sixth-generation Wireless Communications,
    Conference Papers | 2022
    Peters EGW; Bateman T; Saleem R; Brown M; Lambert A, 2022, 'A software defined radio based method for accurate frequency estimation for space domain awareness in real-time.', in Advanced Maui Optical and Space Surveillance Technologies Conference, AMOS, Maui, Hawaii, USA., presented at Advanced Maui Optical and Space Surveillance Technologies Conference, Maui, Hawaii, USA., 27 September 2022 - 30 September 2022,
    Conference Papers | 2022
    Peters EGW; Brown M; Lambert A; Glina L; Bateman T; Kruzins E; Saleem R; Bessell T; Spitzer T; Wang T; Tripathi K; Huxtable D; Soire M; Zinsli S; Powles T; Federle I; Aragon M; Haskard A; Thompson M; Nielsen W; Boyce R, 2022, 'A sensor network for integrated Space Traffic Management for Australia', in Advanced Maui Optical and Space Surveillance Technologies Conference, Maui, Hawaii, presented at 2022 Advanced Maui Optical and Space Surveillance Technologies Conference (AMOS), Maui, Hawaii, 27 September 2022,
    Conference Papers | 2022
    Saleem R; Ni W; Ikram M, 2022, 'Reinforcement Learning-based Unlicensed Spectrum Sharing for IoT Devices of 5G New Radio', in 2022 IEEE International Mediterranean Conference on Communications and Networking Meditcom 2022, pp. 191 - 196,
    Conference Papers | 2020
    Saleem R; Mahmood H, 2020, 'Design and Analysis of a 25 GHz Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave Radar for Foreign Object Debris Detection', in 2020 IEEE Student Conference on Research and Development Scored 2020, pp. 154 - 158,

  • Finalist,ÌýCyber Catalyst Award, Canberra Cyber Hub 2025
  • Student Speaker at Australian National University Conferral of Awards, July 2023.
  • ÌýAcademic Research Team of the Year,ÌýAustralian Space Awards, May 2023.
  • Best Early Career Researcher Presentation,ÌýAustralian Space Research Conference, September 2022.
  • Student Leadership Team Scholarship,ÌýAustralian National University (ANU) 2021.
  • Winner,ÌýVirtual NetHack at IEEE Region 10 SYWLC Virtual Congress 2020.
  • Winner,Ìý2nd positionÌýAnnual 3 minute speak up competition,ÌýANUÌý2018.
  • ANU PhD Scholarship (International) and ANU HDR Fee Merit ScholarshipÌýANU 2018.
  • Gold Lapel Pin from IEEE ComSocÌýin appreciation for managing an International IEEE ComSoc Summer School Program, July 2016.

Current Research Projects:Ìý

  1. Chief Investigator and Project Manager: "Cyber Secure and Resilient Intelligent Space Network Systems". The project is funded through SmartSat CRC.Ìý

Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýFind out more here.Ìý

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PhD Thesis:Ìý

Publications:Ìý

Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýFor my research publications please visit the google scholar profile at

My Research Supervision

PhD Supervision:Ìý

  1. Dave Furtado (Secondary Supervisor): "Autonomous Data-Driven Modelling for Advanced Satellite Constellation Management." The project is funded through Defense trailblazer and industry partners, Nominal Systems.

Master's by Research:Ìý

  1. Shathria Ompragash (Co-supervisor): "Real-time Force Modelling for Space Traffic Management."

My Teaching

ZEIT8011- Space Systems Technology, Semester 2 (Course Convener and Lecturer)

ZEIT8219- Satellite Communications, Semester 1 (Main Lecturer)

ZEIT8007- Space Operations, Semester 1 (Instructor)

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