Division of Aerospace Engineering and Fluid Mechanics

People

On this page:

• Academic Members
• Postdoc Research Assistants
• Professional Services
• Current PhD Projects
• Past PhD Projects

Academic Members

Dr Eldad Avital PhD, SMAIAA, SFHEA, CEng, FRAeS Reader in Computational (& Experimental) Fluids and Acoustics Fundamentals: (i) Computational (and experimental) aero/hydrodynamics & acoustics (ii) Fluids-structure interaction (iii) Biofluids (iv) Particle flow & Magnetohydrodynamics Applications: (i) Power fluid machinery (transport: aero/marine/land, renewables: wind/water/hydrogen) (ii) Water engineering (iii) Biofluids devices and disinfection (iv) Fusion energy fluid engineering  +44 (0)20 7882 3616      e.avital@qmul.ac.uk

Prof James Busfield FREng, MA, PhD, CEng, FIMMM, FHEA Professor of Materials Examining the physical behaviour by experiment and modelling techniques of soft matter such as elastomers and rubber materials. Properties of interest include abrasion, friction, fracture, creep, fatigue, viscoelastic behaviour, modulus enhancement, self healing, recycling, ageing and composite filler reinforcement. Developing smart soft materials that can sense their environment and soft actuating materials that can change shape in response to a physical stimulus.  +44 (0)20 7882 8866      j.busfield@qmul.ac.uk

Dr Neil Cagney PhD Lecturer My research is focused on experimental analysis of fluid flows, in particular fluid-structure interaction, flow-induced vibrations, mixing and dynamics in complex fluids.  +44(0)20 7882 8942      n.cagney@qmul.ac.uk

Dr Rafa Castrejón PhD Senior Lecturer Fluid Mechanics, Experimental Physics, Liquid Drops, Sprays and Jets, Optics, Instrumentation, Inkjet and 3D Printing  +44 (0)20 7882 7620      r.castrejonpita@qmul.ac.uk

Dr Jun Chen BSc (Honours), MSc (Distinction), PhD, FHEA Reader in Intelligent Systems Engineering My research interests lie at the interface of Computer Science, Operational Research and Control Engineering with a significant overlap with Systems Engineering. Over the years, I have consolidated and structured my research along three themes: modelling, optimisation and decision, four cross-cutting application areas: intelligent decision support for airport operations, human factors & brain-computer interface, future flight deck automation systems and intelligent sewer networks, sponsored by EPSRC and industry and supported by the well-balanced research team consisting of senior academics, post-doctoral researchers and PhD students.  +44 (0)20 7882 8873      jun.chen@qmul.ac.uk

Dr Oliver Fenwick MA MSci PhD FHEA MIMMM MIOP Senior Lecturer in Materials Science Developing materials for electronic devices such as LEDs, transistors and thermoelectric generators. The materials include organic semiconductors, carbon materials and halide perovskites, as well as self-assembled monolayers for the control of interfaces in devices. I have a particular interest in controlling nanoscale morphology and self-assembly to tune functional properties.  +44 (0)20 7882 3150      o.fenwick@qmul.ac.uk

Dr Ahmed Ismail BSc, MSc, PhD, FHEA Lecturer in Fluid Dynamics Electrospray, Direct Printing, Microfluidics, Drops & Bubbles, Microencapsulation, Capillary jet.  +44 (0)20 7882 6272      a.ismail@qmul.ac.uk

Prof Sergey Karabasov BSc, MSc, PhD, DSc, FHEA, FRAeS, AFAIAA Co-director of Division of Aerospace Engineering and Fluid Mechanics / Professor of Computational Modelling Fluid dynamics, computational aeroacoustics and aerodynamics, large-eddy simulations, meso-scale ocean modelling, fluctuating hydrodynamics for nano-scale flows , numerical methods for hyperbolic conservation laws  +44 (0)20 7882 7650      s.karabasov@qmul.ac.uk

Dr Fariborz Motallebi BSc MEng PhD Senior Lecturer in Aerodynamics Flow Control, Aerodynamics of Sport Vehicles, High Speed Aerodynamics, Boundary Layer Flows, Instrumentation and Optical Diagnostics in Flow Measurements  +44 (0)20 7882 5182      f.motallebi@qmul.ac.uk

Dr Jens-Dominik Mueller Dipl-Ing, MSc, PhD Reader in Computational Fluid Dynamics and Optimisation Computational Fluid Dynamics, Fluid-Structure Interaction, Biofluids, Shape Optimisation, Adjoint methods, Mesh adaptation, Sensitivity Analysis, Systems Engineering  +44 (0)20 7882 5421      j.mueller@qmul.ac.uk

Dr Angadh Nanjangud PhD Lecturer in Aerospace/Spacecraft Engineering My research group develops robotics and AI technologies; our focus is to work on long-term challenges in the space sector. At this moment, the group focuses on developing the technology stack and investigating the engineering science challenges to unlock autonomous robotic on-orbit assembly of large space structures (telescopes and habitats). A lot of these solutions will be applicable to terrestrial robotics, as well- e.g., nuclear robotics. The foundational research area that underpins our work falls in the area of multibody dynamics (their modeling, simulation, and autonomous control).  +44 (0) 20 7882 3757      a.nanjangud@qmul.ac.uk

Dr Maria Romero-Gonzalez MSc, PhD Reader in Science & Engineering Education Biomineralization, surface chemistry, biomaterials, environmental chemistry, engineering and sustainability. Flipped learning, student centred learning, curriculum design.  m.romero-gonzalez@qmul.ac.uk

Prof Hazel Screen BEng MRes PhD(Lond) CEng Professor of Biomedical Engineering My research aims to understand how our tissues are built to be able to withstand the loads they experience in the body. I am particularly interested in understanding tendon and heart valve; how and why they get injured, and ways to prevent this happening. By looking at the ways a tissue is supposed to work when it is healthy, we can identify how small changes in the structure, such as those which occur with age, can make injury more likely and look to prevent or treat these specifically.  +44 (0)20 7882 8875      h.r.c.screen@qmul.ac.uk

Prof John Stark BSc(Exon) MSc(Man) PhD(Lond) FRAS FRAeS Professor of Aerospace Engineering Electrospray technology, spacecraft propulsion, Spacecraft Design, Direct printing  +44 (0)20 7882 8875      j.p.w.stark@qmul.ac.uk

Prof Yi Sui PhD, MInstP, Fellow HEA Professor of Fluid Mechanics  +44 (0)20 7882 7763      y.sui@qmul.ac.uk

Prof Vassili Toropov PhD, FRAeS, AFAIAA, CEng Director of Division of Aerospace Engineering and Fluid Mechanics / Professor of Aerospace Engineering - Development of design optimization techniques for large-scale engineering problems - Applications to various engineering systems - Improvement of reliability and robustness of engineering systems - Optimization of composite structures - Inverse problems  +44 (0)20 7882 6296      v.v.toropov@qmul.ac.uk

Dr Ranjan Vepa BTech(IITMadras) MASc(Wat) PhD(Stan) Reader in Aerospace Engineering My research interests are in dynamic modelling, simulation and control applications related to aircraft flight dynamics, UAVs , robotics, space robotics and space vehicle orbit and attitude dynamics with a focus on aeroelaticity, electric propulsion and optimal trajectory synthesis for aircraft flight, UAVs and space missions.  +44 (0)20 7882 5193      r.vepa@qmul.ac.uk

Prof Wen Wang PhD, CEng, FIMechE, FHEA, FAIMBE, FREng Vice-Principal and Executive Dean for Science and Engineering Vascular endothelial mechanics, cell mechanobiology, flow and solute transport in extracellular matrices, microcirculation, arterial haemodynamics, cell & tissue mechanics  +44 (0)20 7882 3031      wen.wang@qmul.ac.uk

Dr Pihua Wen BA MSc(CSU), PhD(WIT), FHEA Reader in Computational Solid & Fluid Mechanics Solid and Fluid mechanics, fracture and damage, computational methods, numerical simulation in manufacturing and engineering  +44 (0)20 7882 5371      p.h.wen@qmul.ac.uk

Postdoc Research Associates

Dr Simon Grossemy Postdoctoral Research Assistant  s.grossemy@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Hazel Screen

Dr Vasily Gryazev Postdoctoral Research Assistant  v.gryazev@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Sergey Karabasov

Miss Anureet Kaur Research Assistant  anureet.kaur@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: James Busfield

Dr Weiqi Li BMed, MMed, PhD Postdoctoral Research Assistant My research focuses on the vascular biology and vascular engineering. Particular interest goes to the endothelial glycocalyx, a protective layer along the luminal surface of the blood vessel. I aim to elucidate how the glycocalyx develops and sheds under healthy and diseased vascular conditions. I also work on endothelial mechanics and directional cell migration on different types of substrate, with the ultimate gold of understanding the process of vascular stiffening and aging.  +44 (0)20 7882 7821      wei-qi.li@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Wen Wang

Dr Annabel Markesteijn BSc, MSc, PhD Postdoctoral Research Assistant Fluid Dynamics, Computational Aeroacoustics and Aerodynamics, Large-Eddy Simulations, GPGPU Computing, Multiscale Methods, Fluctuating Hydrodynamics, Non-Equilibrium Molecular Dynamics, Droplet Formation  a.markesteijn@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Sergey Karabasov

Dr Sara Naderizadeh PhD Postdoctoral Research Assistant I am currently working on BFTT, or Business of Fashion, Textiles and Technology project, funded by AHRC-UKRI. This project is a five-year industry-led project, which focusses on delivering sustainable innovation within the entire fashion and textile supply chain. There are several academic and industrial partners around UK in this project. The main project that I involved is in collaboration with Nurvv company, to develop a wearable sensing technology that enables monitoring physical gait and body health with sports, ageing, and healthcare applications.  s.naderizadeh@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: James Busfield

Dr Alireza  Rajabi BSc, MSc, PhD Postdoctoral Research Assistant My research is focused on searching for new technologies for producing small droplets, as they are used in many applications including printing, food production, painting, and energy conversion. We study and use affecting parameters (pressure, surface tension, viscosity and electric stresses) in order to control liquid jets and droplets in small scales, that is below one millimeter down to sub-micrometer.  a.rajabi@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Ahmed Ismail

Dr Jose Francisco  Serrano Claumarchirant Postdoctoral Research Assistant  j.f.serrano@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Oliver Fenwick

Dr Jing  Shi Scientist -KTP Research Associate  jing.shi@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Rafa Castrejón

Dr Danae Zamboulis DVM, PhD Visiting Postdoctoral Research Assistant I am a postdoctoral research associate with an interest in musculoskeletal biology and in particular the development of structure function in tendons. I completed a degree in Veterinary Medicine and an internship in Equine Medicine and Surgery from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, and subsequently undertook a PhD at the University of Liverpool. I have expertise in tendon biology, molecular biology techniques, proteomics and a good understanding of biomechanics.  d.zamboulis@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Hazel Screen

Professional Services

Dr Benjamin Gridley MChem, PhD Technical Facilities Manager Technical operations lead with overall responsibility for SEMS laboratory and workshop resources. Strategic resource planning for space, technical infrastructure and staffing; capital projects lead; SEMS Technical Team line manager. Chemist with interests in organometallic synthesis, highly reactive transition metal complexes, metal-metal bonding modes, small molecule activation, anaerobic/anhydrous techniques, materials and polymer chemistry, single crystal XRD, computational chemistry.  +44 (0)20 7882 8740      b.m.gridley@qmul.ac.uk

Current PhD Projects

Thesis Title	Supervisor
Theoretical and computational modelling of airframe / propulsion interaction noise for reduced noise aircraft design	Sergey Karabasov
Design, Simulation and Control of an Integrated Wave and Tidal Energy Converter (WATEC) for optimum power transfer in shallow seas	Ranjan Vepa
Halide perovskite thermoelectric materials	Oliver Fenwick
Structural optimization of the RAT rotor of a commercial AC	Eldad Avital
OOAC models - integrating 3D mechano-predictive environments	Hazel Screen
Research - Multidisciplinary multifidelity stochastic topology optimisation Title - Level Set Multidisciplinary Topology Optimisation	Vassili Toropov
Identifying the causes of age-related tendon dysfunction	Hazel Screen
Fluid-Structure Interaction Modelling for Smart Blades of Renewable Energy Turbines	Eldad Avital
Optimal Distributed Propulsion Systems for All-Electric Airc	Ranjan Vepa
Lifetime predictions of Elastomers	James Busfield
Development of an Organ-chip Model to examine Muscle Degeneration	Hazel Screen
Novel Models of Tendinopathy on a Chip	Hazel Screen
On the fundamentals of pure ionic emission in electrospray thrusters: A computational and experimental study using ionic liquids	John Stark
Modelling and characterisation of cells in flows	Yi Sui
Prediction of Leakage in Elastomeric Seals for High Pressure Applications	James Busfield
EPSRC ICASE VVT: Rich Simulation Driven Design Optimisation	Vassili Toropov
Optimization of deployable structures used for drug delivery	Vassili Toropov
Optimal Design and Simulation of All Electric Aircraft	Ranjan Vepa
2022 SEMS DSTL OF	Oliver Fenwick
Development of Self-healing and Recyclable Elastomers	James Busfield
Tyre Degradation Performance - SRI	James Busfield
Fracture behaviour in high performance tyres	James Busfield
Multiscale Modelling of Dissolutive Wetting	Yi Sui
Shape optimisation of winglets and wing appendages using CAD-based shape optimisation	Jens-Dominik Mueller
Numerical simulation of cell dynamics in inertial flows	Yi Sui
N-type organic thermoelectric materials	Oliver Fenwick
Thermoelectric Metal-Organic Frameworks: Design, Synthesis and Assessment	Oliver Fenwick
supersonic jet noise modeling	Sergey Karabasov
Fluid-Structure Interaction of offshore aquaculture units and particle dynamics for disinfection control	Eldad Avital
Development of a framework and data tools for the sustainabl	James Busfield
Numerical simulation of electrohydrodynamics	Yi Sui
IL-10 signalling in human vascular development (human vascular cell differentiation from induced-pluripotent stem cell (iPSC))	Wen Wang
Factors Impacting Tissue Compliance in the Human Left Atrium and its Effect on Radiofrequency Ablation Success	Hazel Screen
Filler Reinforcement of Elastomers	James Busfield
Optimisation of a Novel Polymeric Heart Valve	James Busfield
PRINTED THERMOELECTRIC GENERATORS	Oliver Fenwick
The interfascicular matrix niche ? novel approaches to identify the aetiology of tendinopathy	Hazel Screen
Optimisation of Tyre Wear Performance	James Busfield
Nanostructured Reinforcing Fillers to Enhance Physical and Mechanical Properties	James Busfield
Microfluidics for sorting circulating tumor cells	Yi Sui
Graphene based transparent electrodes for tuneable optical devices	James Busfield
Novel 3D Shapes for MDO of Fans and Compressors	Vassili Toropov
Fully printed thermoelectric devices.	Oliver Fenwick
Controlling Droplet Impact and Penetration	Rafa Castrejón
Role of CD34+ Stem Cells in Isografted Vessel Remodelling	Wen Wang
Frictional Properties of Elastomer Seals.	James Busfield
Printed thermoelectric generators	Oliver Fenwick
Navier Stokes flows with meshless finite block method	Pihua Wen
Numerical simulation in composite-metal joint analysis	Pihua Wen
Numerical simulation of cells in flows	Wen Wang
Next generation organ-chip models - 2022 EPSRC DTP HRCS?	Hazel Screen

Past PhD Projects

Thesis Title	Supervisor	Year
	Vassili Toropov	2017
Design modelling and control of a miniature robotic system for surgical applications	M Hasan Shaheed, Ranjan Vepa	2017
Development of materials and applications for electroactive composites	James Busfield, Federico Carpi	2017
High Performance Flow Control & Shape Optimisation Solver	Jens-Dominik Mueller, Sergey Karabasov	2017
Motion of deformable capsules in complex flows	Yi Sui	2017
Experimental and Numerical Study of Surface Curvature Effects on the Performance of the Aerofoils Used in Small Wind Turbines	Theodosios Alexander, Eldad Avital	2017
Optimal pump characteristic design for MCS devices suitable to different stages of Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)	Theodosios Alexander, Fariborz Motallebi	2017
Micro-patterning of peptide-based biomaterials	Julien Gautrot, Hazel Screen	2017
The Effects of Loading Frequency on Tenocyte Matabolism	Hazel Screen	2017
Electric Breakdown of Dielectric Elastomer Actuator Materials	Federico Carpi, James Busfield	2017
Predicting tyre compound wear.	James Busfield, Emiliano Bilotti	2017
Design, Modelling and Fabrication of a Robotic Retractor for Colorectal Surgery	Pihua Wen, Ettore Barbieri	2017
Fatigue life prediction in aircraft tyres	James Busfield	2017
Robust and Stable discrete adjoint solver development for shape optimisation of incompressible flows with industrial applications	Jens-Dominik Mueller, Eldad Avital	2017
SmartNanoHeat - Self-regulating heating compounds	Emiliano Bilotti, James Busfield	2017
Micro-structure reorganisation of the aortic heart valve under a biaxial loading condition	Hazel Screen, Wen Wang	2016
Parallelization solutions for the YNANO Discontinua Simulations in 2D	Ante Munjiza, Pihua Wen	2016
The synergistic role of mechanical stimuli and VEGF treatment in stem cell differentiation to endothelial cells	Wen Wang	2016
The role of HDAC7-related peptide in stem cell differentiation towards endothelial cell	Wen Wang	2016
Investigating the effects of cholesterol on phospholipid bilayer with molecular dynamics simulations.	Wen Wang, Yiling Lu	2016
Interaction between the circulating blood and vascular endothelial cells in health & disease. Cell Mechanics for endothelial glycocalyx	Wen Wang, Asa Barber	2016
The effects of the rate of hypo-osmotic challenge and IFT88 mutation on the biomechanics of chondrocytes.	Martin Knight, Wen Wang	2016
Developing Cationic Nanoparticles for Gene Delivery	Julien Gautrot, John Stark	2016
A novel fibre composite system to investigate tenocyte metabolism under physiological and pathological loading conditions.	Hazel Screen	2016
The Strain Dependent Dielectric Behaviour of Carbon Black Filled Natural Rubber	James Busfield, Emiliano Bilotti	2016
The Role of DKK3 in Vascular Smooth Muscle Differentiation	Wen Wang	2015
Microfluidics for a novel bioreactor	Wen Wang, Pankaj Vadgama	2015
The development of a novel nanostructured silica filler for high friction and low rolling resistance rubber applications.	James Busfield	2015
Efficient Methods for Robust Shape Optimisation for Crashworthiness	Fabian Duddeck, Jens-Dominik Mueller	2015
Electrical stimulation on cell-cell interactions in vitro	Wen Wang	2015
Microcapsule for targetted drug delivery to diseased tissues	Wen Wang, Gleb Sukhorukov	2015
An investigation into Turbine Blade Tip Leakage Flows at High Speeds	Eldad Avital, Theodosios Alexander	2015
Functional impact of microRNA-34a on stem cell differentiation towards smooth muscle cell	Wen Wang	2015
Numerical Simulation of a Marine Current Turbine in Turbulent Flow	John Williams, Eldad Avital	2015
Numerical shape optimisation of flow around turbomachinery blades	Jens-Dominik Mueller, Andrew Wheeler	2015
A Study of the Fluid Dynamic Coupling Between LP Steam Turbine and its Exhaust Hood	Andrew Wheeler, Jens-Dominik Mueller	2015
Microcapsule internalization be cells in vitro caused by physical and biochemical stimuli	Gleb Sukhorukov, Wen Wang	2014
Numerical Simulation of a Marine Current Turbine in Turbulent Flow	John Williams, Eldad Avital	2014
The behaviour of hollow sphere filled rubber materials under strain	James Busfield	2014
Failure of Rubber Components under Fatigue	James Busfield	2014
Novel polymeric matrix and its interaction withbiological cells	Wen Wang, Ton Peijs	2014
Tearing of rubber	James Busfield	2013
Sensitivity computation and shape optimisation in aerodynamics using the adjoint methodology and Automatic Differentiation	Jens Mueller	2013
A Biomechanical Characterisation of Eccentric and Concentric Loading of the Triceps Surae Complex	Hazel Screen	2013
The Impact and Deformation of Press-Fit Metal Acetablular Components	Julia Shelton, James Busfield	2012
Structure-Function Relationships in the Aortic Valve	Hazel Screen	2012
Numerical investigation of the effect of free-surface flow past submerged bluff and streamlined bodies	John Williams, Eldad Avital	2012
Computational and Experimental Study of Nasal Cavity Airflow Dynamics	Eldad Avital, Fariborz Motallebi	2012
Spatial distribution, temporal development and mechanical properties of the endothelial glycocalyx in vitro	Wen Wang	2012
Natural Rubber/Organoclay Nanocomposites	James Busfield	2012
Modelling studies on biological tissue property and mechanical responses under external stimuli	Wen Wang	2012
Can Interface Conditions be Modified by Support Surfaces to Minimise the Risk of Pressure Ulcer Development?	Wen Wang, Dan Bader	2011
Comeld Joints: Optimisation of Geometric Parameters of the Protrusions	Pihua Wen, Felicity Guild, Paul Hogg	2011
Computational modelling of flows in porous scaffold materials using a lattice Boltzmann method	Wen Wang	2011
microRNAs play a role in human embryonic stem cell differentiation into endothelial cells	Wen Wang	2011
Experimental Aeroacoustics Study on Jet Noise Reduction Using Tangential Air Injection	Eldad Avital, Chris Lawn, John Cater	2011
Investigation and Modelling of Rubber Friction	James Busfield	2010
Viscoelastic Properties of Elastomer under Complex Loading	James Busfield	2010
Numerical Structure for Milling Proceses of Thin Wall Structures	Pihua Wen	2010
The Influence of Microstructure on the Mechanical Behaviours of Tendons	Hazel Screen, Julia Shelton	2010
Influence of electrostatics upon electrospray with the intention of application to colloid thrusters	John Stark	2010
Adaptive Filtering Applications to Satellite Navigation	Ranjan Vepa	2010
Mechanisms involved in the electrospray of biological macromolecules	John Stark	2010
Visualization of fluid motions inside Taylor cones using dye tracer	John Stark	2010
Carbon Black Filler Reinforcement of Elastomers	James Busfield	2009
Novel biosensors and Their application in Mass Transport	Wen Wang, Pankaj Vadgama	2009