Ritesh Singh

About Me

Principal Research Fellow & Principal Investigator at IDLab, imec – University of Antwerp

I work at the intersection of low-power wireless systems, embedded intelligence, and sustainable IoT, with a particular interest in making Zero-Energy and Energy-Neutral Devices more capable, intelligent, and scalable. A central question in my research is how we can build devices that do more with increasingly limited and sometimes unpredictable energy resources.

My research spans energy-aware communication and computing, embedded and edge AI, intermittent systems, TinyML/TinyOL, energy harvesting, and distributed edge intelligence. I am particularly interested in systems that can adapt their sensing, computation, learning, and communication according to the energy available to them, rather than assuming continuous power and connectivity.

This naturally extends from individual devices to larger networks. I explore how highly constrained devices can operate reliably at scale, how intelligence can be distributed across devices, edge, and network infrastructure, and how these systems can eventually become an integral part of future wireless and 6G networks.

My work combines fundamental research, experimental systems, and industry collaboration. I enjoy working across the boundaries of communication, computing, and intelligence turning research ideas into systems that can be evaluated in realistic environments and, ultimately, contribute to more sustainable and intelligent connected technologies.

Education

Building a strong foundation for impactful research
2018 – 2022

Ph.D.

University of Antwerp, Belgium
Thesis
Building Energy Efficient IoT Applications using LPWAN
Supervisors
Prof. Maarten Weyn and Prof. Rafael Berkvens
Research
Investigated energy-efficient embedded architectures and communication strategies for large-scale IoT systems, with particular emphasis on LPWAN technologies. The work covered low-power communication, system-level energy modelling, device-lifetime optimisation, and experimental validation across applications including precision agriculture, smart water networks, and smart-city infrastructures.
2010 – 2012

M.Tech. in Information Technology

Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) Allahabad, India
Major
Wireless Communication and Computing
Thesis
Lifetime Enhancement and Analysis of Wireless Sensor Networks
Supervisor
Prof. Shirshu Varma
Research
Focused on wireless sensor networks and techniques for improving the operational lifetime of resource-constrained devices. The thesis investigated communication and energy-efficiency aspects of wireless sensor systems and received the Best Master's Thesis Award.
GPA
8.8 / 10
2006 – 2010

B.Tech. in Computer Science and Engineering

HCST, Agra, India
Major
Computer Science
Final Project
Mobile App for Tracking Personal Health
Supervisor
Prof. Vikrant Tyagi
Studies
Developed a broad foundation in computer science, software engineering, algorithms, networking, and application development. The final-year project explored the use of mobile technologies for personal health tracking and monitoring.
Result
First Class

Professional Journey

Research • Innovation • Real-world Impact
May 2022 – Present

Principal Research Fellow / Principal Investigator

IDLab, imec – University of Antwerp, Belgium

Leading research within the Perceptive Radio Systems programme on sustainable AIoT, zero-energy devices, low-power systems, and energy-neutral edge intelligence. Managing and mentoring multidisciplinary researchers working across embedded systems, TinyML, communication technologies, and hardware–software co-design.

The role includes coordination of European and national research projects, doctoral supervision, teaching, research strategy, project acquisition, academic governance, and collaboration with industrial and academic partners.

Apr 2018 – Jun 2022

Ph.D. Researcher

imec-IDLab, University of Antwerp, Belgium

Conducted research on energy-efficient embedded system architectures for large-scale IoT deployments across precision agriculture, smart water grids, and 5G smart-city infrastructures.

Designed and evaluated LoRaWAN, Sigfox, NB-IoT, and LTE-based communication systems with system-level energy modelling, device-lifetime optimisation, embedded prototyping, and experimental validation.

Apr 2017 – Apr 2018

Researcher

DistriNet, KU Leuven, Belgium

Worked on mobile sensing services and geospatial IoT applications in collaboration with Nokia Bell Labs and Belgium Post. The position combined applied IoT research with teaching responsibilities for bachelor's-level courses and laboratory sessions.

Feb 2016 – Apr 2017

Researcher

TCS Research Lab, Bangalore, India

Developed IoT technologies for digital agriculture, including solutions deployed across tea farms in India. The work focused on translating sensing, connectivity, and embedded-system technologies into practical solutions for real-world agricultural environments.

Nov 2012 – Feb 2016

Research Engineer

LG Research Lab, Bangalore, India & Seoul, South Korea

Developed wireless communication modules for LG's WebOS ecosystem, including wearable watches, smartphones, and smart TVs. Worked within the connectivity division and represented the group in innovation activities.

Contributed to new concepts and intellectual property around connected and IoT devices, including wearable and flexible device technologies.

Earlier Research & Internships

Early learning, lasting perspective
Summers 2008 & 2009

Industrial Intern

Tata Consultancy Services, Delhi, India

Worked on software-development projects supporting clients including Asian Paints and the Indian Army.