Zoya Pourmirza

Biography

Dr Zoya Pourmirza is a Senior Lecturer/ Associate Professor in the School of Computer Science and Mathematics at Keele University. She is an interdisciplinary researcher working at the intersection of digital technologies, cyber security, and energy systems, with expertise in cyber-physical energy systems, energy systems digitalisation, Digital Twins, data privacy, and cyber-resilient energy infrastructure.

Zoya’s research focuses on the secure and resilient digital transformation of energy systems. Her current research includes cyber security for hydrogen-integrated energy systems, cyber-physical energy systems, trustworthy Digital Twins, privacy-enhancing technologies, smart energy systems, and the security and resilience of interconnected energy infrastructures.

Prior to joining Keele, Zoya was a Senior Research Fellow and Academic Director of Smart Systems at the University of Birmingham, where she led an interdisciplinary research team of Research Fellows, Research Associates, Research Software Engineers and PhD students. She led and contributed to a range of externally funded projects, including research on hydrogen systems, Digital Twin technologies, smart-meter data privacy, smart homes, and energy systems digitalisation.

Between 2016 and 2023, Zoya worked at Newcastle University, as Research Associate and later on Senior Research Associate, where she contributed to research projects as Principal Investigator, Co-Investigator, lead researcher and technical project manager. Her work included energy systems digitalisation, cyber security, smart energy systems, energy data, and research infrastructure.

Zoya also has extensive experience collaborating with industry, national research organisations and public-sector partners. She has collaborated with organisations including the Energy Systems Catapult and undertook a one-year secondment with the UK Government, where she worked as a policy advisor on cyber security for electric vehicle chargepoints and contributed to the development of BSI PAS 1878 and PAS 1879 for energy smart appliances.

Zoya holds a PhD from the University of Manchester, focused on ICT architecture for Smart Grids. Her research brings together computer science, cybersecurity and energy systems to support the development of secure, resilient and digitally enabled energy infrastructures.

Research and scholarship

My research focuses on the intersection of digital technology, cyber security and energy systems, with a particular interest in the digital transformation and resilience of critical energy infrastructure. My expertise includes cyber-physical energy systems, energy systems digitalisation, cyber security of IT and OT systems, Digital Twins, data privacy, privacy-enhancing technologies, ICT and IoT, efficient data communication, and innovative business models.

My current research explores how digital technologies can support secure, trustworthy and resilient energy systems, including hydrogen-integrated energy systems, smart energy systems, and interconnected multi-energy systems. I am particularly interested in understanding cyber threats and their potential impacts on energy infrastructure, and in developing architectures and approaches that can improve resilience while supporting the transition to low-carbon energy systems.

I have led and contributed to interdisciplinary research across computer science, engineering, energy systems, and policy. My research has included work on smart grids, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, smart homes and smart meters, energy data and communications, energy system digitalisation, and the social and policy dimensions of energy technologies.

My research has resulted in 4★ journal paper, featured publications, invited talks, workshops and contributions to national policy and standards. I also contribute to the research community through peer review, advisory boards, conference programme committees and interdisciplinary research networks.

Teaching

• Module lead for Concepts in Computer Science (CSC-44106)
• Module lead for Communications and Networks (CSC-30012)

Further information

Dr Pourmirza is currently member of the advisory board of 2 large multi-disciplinary and multi-million-pound projects: 1) Ensign (Energy System Digital Twin), a major UKRI/EPSRC ‘Prosperity Partnership’ project. 2) BEGONIA project, an EU-funded initiative.

Supervision

Zoya is leading a team of researchers including Research Fellows, Research Associates, Research Software Engineers, and PhD students, working on a number of research project, investigating cyber-physical energy systems, cyber security threats and mitigations in hydrogen integrated systems, digital twin technologies, privacy enhancing technologies, smart homes, and the impact of dis/misinformation on the UK decarbonisation energy policy.

Collaborations and grants awards

I have an established track record of interdisciplinary, national and international collaboration, working with universities, industry, government departments and research organisations.

I have contributed to research funding applications as Principal Investigator (PI), Co-Investigator (Co-I), lead researcher and researcher. At the University of Birmingham, I led or co-led projects funded by EPSRC, the Alan Turing Institute, Innovate UK and the HI-ACT Flex Fund, including projects on cyber-resilient hydrogen energy systems, Digital Twin technologies, smart energy systems and energy system digitalisation. I was also Co-Investigator on the £10 million EPSRC HI-ACT programme and Co-Investigator on the £6 million DIATOMIC programme.

During my time at Newcastle University, I contributed to seven successfully funded projects with a combined value of £5.2 million, including projects funded by EPSRC, UKERC, the Royal Academy of Engineering and the International Partnership Fund.
My research collaborations have also generated impact beyond academia. I completed a one-year secondment with DfT, BEIS and the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles, providing technical advice on cyber security for electric vehicle chargepoints and contributing to the development of BSI PAS 1878 and PAS 1879. I have also worked with the Energy Systems Catapult on energy systems digitalisation, cyber security and digitalised approaches to energy-sector regulation.