Division of Bioengineering

People

On this page:

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

Academic Members

Prof Teresa Alonso-Rasgado PhD Professor in Mechanical Engineering  +44 (0)20 7882 3028      t.alonso@qmul.ac.uk

Prof Kaspar Althoefer PhD Professor of Robotics Engineering Professor Althoefer's research focuses on robot autonomy, soft robotics, systems engineering, modelling of tool-environment interaction dynamics, tactile sensing and haptic perception with applications in robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery, rehabilitation, assistive technologies and human-robot interactions in the manufacturing environment.  +44 (0)20 7882 3419      k.althoefer@qmul.ac.uk

Dr Helena Azevedo MEng, PhD Reader in Biomedical Engineering & Biomaterials Molecular self-assembly, the spontaneous organization of molecules into ordered aggregates by noncovalent interactions and without external control, is of central importance to life (e.g., protein folding, formation of lipid bilayers). Using biological inspiration and tools of chemistry, physics and engineering, we aim to explore new (macro)molecular units (peptides and sugar polymers) mimicking the composition and structure of carbohydrates and proteins (vital constituents of all organisms) to develop materials by self-assembly with particular properties and function for bioengineering applications. We expect that combinations of these building blocks and their controlled self-assembly can generate the discovery of innovative biomaterials with unprecedented properties that can revolutionize tissue engineering and other forms of regenerative medicine.  +44 (0)20 7882 5502      h.azevedo@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 Tina Chowdhury BSc, MSc, PhD, PGCAP, SFHEA Senior Lecturer in Regenerative Medicine Inflammation, mechanobiology, regenerative medicine, ageing.  +44 (0)20 7882 7560      t.t.chowdhury@qmul.ac.uk

Prof Joost de Bruijn BSc, PhD, FBSE Visiting Professor of Biomaterials Hard tissue replacement, bone tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, synthetic osteoinductive materials, bioreactor systems for adult stem cell expansion  j.d.debruijn@qmul.ac.uk

Prof Julien Gautrot PhD Professor in Biomaterials and Biointerfaces Synthesis and characterisation of biomaterials. Micro- and nano-patterning. Bio-interfaces. Stem cell biology.  +44 (0)20 7882 5263      j.gautrot@qmul.ac.uk

Dr Nuria Gavara PhD, FHEA Honorary Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Engineering and Biomaterials Lab website: https://gavaralab.wordpress.com/ Image-based diagnostics and screening, machine learning and development of algortihms for data analysis, Atomic Force microscopy, cell and nuclear mechanics, mechanobiology, tissue engineering, stem cell biology, traction force microscopy,  n.gavara@qmul.ac.uk

Dr Himadri Gupta PhD, MSc, FHEA Reader in Bioengineering and Biophysics Multiscale imaging of hierarchical materials; Synchrotron X-ray biophysics; In situ and scanning X-ray scattering techniques; Nano- and microscale tissue mechanics; Ageing and degeneration of musculoskeletal tissues; Mechanobiology  +44 (0)20 7882 8867      h.gupta@qmul.ac.uk

Dr Hossein Heidari BSc, MSc, PhD Lecturer in Biomedical Engineering Designing light-based additive biofabrication processes Discovering advanced photo-active biomaterials and inks Developing functional human tissue and organ models  h.heidari@qmul.ac.uk

Dr Karin Hing CEng, PhD, BSc, MIMMM, FRMS, FWES, FHEA Reader in Biomedical Materials My research is focused around the development of pioneering biomaterials and healthcare therapies through development of novel materials and processing technologies and investigation of the phenomena behind biocompatibility, and the stimulation of tissue regeneration. I am particularly interested in understanding the mechanisms behind enhanced bone healing or regeneration in the presence of porous synthetic scaffolds, known as synthetic bone graft substitutes, via manipulation of both synthetic graft chemistry and hierarchical pore structure. This has resulted in the development of 3D mechanosensitive in vitro models for investigation of these phenomena in the laboratory. I also have extensive experience in translating research from the bench to the bed side through my involvement in the successful development and commercialisation of a progressive series of synthetic bone graft substitute materials with tuneable hierarchical structures to support rapid, reliable bone regeneration, which are now in global clinical use in a range of applications including trauma, maxillofacial reconstruction, joint revision and spine surgery.  +44 (0)20 7882 7804      k.a.hing@qmul.ac.uk

Dr Thomas Iskratsch Dipl.-Ing. (Equiv. to MSc/MEng), PhD Co-director of Division of Bioengineering / Reader in Cardiovascular Mechanobiology and Bioengineering Cardiomyocyte and Vacular Smooth Muscle Cell Mechanobiology, Rigidity Sensing, Micro and Nanopatterning, Cellular Force Measurement  +44 (0)20 7882 3674      t.iskratsch@qmul.ac.uk

Prof Martin Knight BEng, MSc, PhD, FHEA Professor of Mechanobiology My research is focussed on 'mechanobiology' or how living cells and tissues respond to physical forces. I am interested in the role of the cellular structures known as primary cilia. My group are investigating whether manipulation of cilia can be used as a therapeutic strategy. My work also explores the development of organ-on-a-chip models incorporating biomechanical stimulation for understanding human biology in health and disease and predicting the response to therapeutics. I work on a variety of different tissues such as cartilage, synovium, bone, kidney and artery, as well as diseases including osteoarthritis, cancer, atherosclerosis and inflammation.  +44 (0)20 7882 8868      m.m.knight@qmul.ac.uk

Prof Rob Krams MD, PhD Director of Division of Bioengineering / Professor of Molecular Bioengineering mechanotransduction, flow studies, molecular biology, CRISPR, knock out, knock in, finite element modelling, fluid structure modelling, imaging, animal studies  +44 (0)20 7882 7940      r.krams@qmul.ac.uk

Prof Steffi Krause Dr. rer. nat., MRSC, FHEA Professor of Electroanalytical Systems My research focuses on the development of electrochemical imaging and chemical and biological sensor technologies, and my group has recently developed photoelectrochemical imaging with high spatiotemporal resolution. This measurement technology has shown great potential in the functional imaging of living cells and is expected to aid the understanding of disease mechanisms and biological processes.  +44 (0)20 7882 3747      s.krause@qmul.ac.uk

Prof David Lee BSc (Hons), MA, PhD Deputy Vice Principal - Research (Enterprise) Tissue engineering and mechanobiology, Mesenchymal stem cell biology  +44 (0)20 7882 8874      d.a.lee@qmul.ac.uk

Prof Andrew Lewis BSc, PhD, CChem, CSi, FRSC, FAPS, FIMMM, FREng Visiting Professor Biomedical Polymers, Drug Delivery, Biomaterials, Combination Products  andrew.lewis@qmul.ac.uk

Prof Alvaro Mata BSc, MSc, DEng Visiting Professor in Biomedical Engineering & Biomaterials Our team strives to develop innovative technologies and high impact research (Science 2008, Nature Materials 2010, Nature Chemistry 2015) to generate creative technologies and solutions for a variety of bioengineering applications. We use highly interdisciplinary approaches that integrate engineering, materials science, chemistry, nanotechnology, biology, and medicine to develop materials and devices that are hierarchical, biomimetic, offer spatio-temporal control, adaptability, tuneability, self-healing, and functionality. Current research in our lab includes the development of in vitro biomimetic environments, dynamic and directed self-assembling systems, molecular printing within 3D environments, and molecularly-designed bioactive implants for applications such as tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, drug screening.  +44 (0)20 7882 6279      a.mata@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 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

Dr Caroline Roney MMath, MRes, PhD Lecturer in Computational Medicine My research interests are in developing engineering methodologies to personalise treatment approaches for cardiac arrhythmias. We use a combination of signal processing, image processing, machine learning and computational modelling techniques to develop novel techniques for investigating cardiac arrhythmia mechanisms from clinical imaging data and electrical recordings. The ultimate aim of our research is to translate these tools to predict optimal patient-specific treatment strategies in the clinic. We work closely with clinical, basic science and industrial collaborators.  c.roney@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

Dr Hasan Shaheed PhD (Sheffield), PGCAP (London), SFHEA, MIEEE, CEng, MIET, NTF Reader in Robotics & Renewable Energy (a) Systems/Applications: Aerial Robotics, Solar Aerial Robotics (Solarcopter), Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems, Osmotic Power, Blue Energy, Medical Robotics including Miniature Robots for Extreme Environment, Endoscopic Capsule Robots, Leader-follower Robots, Medical / Surgical devices, Prosthetics, Water Desalination and Cancer. (b) Approaches: System Design, Modelling, Identification, Control, Optimisation, Artificial Intelligence (Deep Learning Neural Networks, Fuzzy Logic), Machine Learning (Whale Optimisation, Grey Wolf Optimisation, Ant Colony etc.) Biomedical Signal Processing, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology with application to Cancer Prognosis and Classification.  +44 (0)20 7882 3319      m.h.shaheed@qmul.ac.uk

Prof Julia Shelton BA(Cantab) PhD(Lond) Professor of Biomechanical Engineering Wear of total hip replacements, surface coatings, particle analysis, orthopaedic systems, tissue engineering, tendon mechanics  +44 (0)20 7882 8877      j.shelton@qmul.ac.uk

Prof Stoyan Smoukov Professor of Chemical Engineering  +44 (0)20 7882 5305      s.smoukov@qmul.ac.uk

Dr Lei Su BSc, MRes, PhD, FHEA Senior Lecturer My research is centred on sensors and instrumentation, optical devices and optoelectronic materials for imaging, detection, monitoring and communication, interfacing with Artificial Intelligence, Materials, Chemistry and Nanotechnology, in applications such as healthcare, energy and security.  +44 (0)20 7882 5184      l.su@qmul.ac.uk

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

Prof Gleb Sukhorukov Professor of Biomedical Materials Physical Chemistry, Biophysics, Materials Science. Area of research: Multifunctional Nanoengineered Delivery Systems  +44 (0)20 7882 5508      g.sukhorukov@qmul.ac.uk

Prof Elizabeth Tanner OBE, FREng, FRSE, PhD (Hon Caus), FIMMM, FIMechE, FIPEM, CEng, CSci, MA DPhil Bonfield Professor of Biomedical Materials My research interests are in the development, testing and use of biomaterials for bone and joint replacement. In particular composites of bioactive ceramics and polymers which can encourage bone ongrowth yet have sufficient mechanical properties to be used for load bearing applications. These are based on either non-degradable or degradable artificial or natural polymers depending on application. In parallel I have interests in the mechanical properties of bone and the effects of pathology on these properties.  +44 (0)20 7882 6785      k.e.tanner@qmul.ac.uk

Prof Pankaj Vadgama MB, BS, BSc, PhD, FRCPath, CChem, FRSC, CPhys, FInstP, FIMMM, FRSB, CSci, EuSpLM Emeritus Professor of Clinical Biochemistry Development of enzyme and antibody based biosensors for Point of Care Testing. Electrochemical sensors for in vivo monitoring of oxygen and metabolites for application to critical care and diabetes. Polymeric membranes and laminates designed for enzyme based biosensors for optimised sensitivity, selectivity and bio-stability. Laminates and composites developed for biodegradable sensors for chronic wound monitoring, on body electrolyte tracking in exercise and increase of bone adhesive strength.  +44 (0)20 7882 5151      p.vadgama@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 Yousef  Zawahreh BEng(Hons), PhD, PGCert, FHEA Senior Lecturer in Engineering Materials & Design My background is in materials, an area of that spans all other engineering disciplines (almost). My interests lie in identifying and commercialising design-related solutions that come from the boundaries between disciplines. Sustainability and healthcare are at the top of my list. Engineering education is another passion of mine. The current coronavirus pandemic upheaval has been challenging but perhaps in a good way. Innovation and progress are borne out of adversity and this situation is no different. I am extremely interested in how can we use this upheaval to advance engineering education in a post-COVID era.  y.zawahreh@qmul.ac.uk

Postdoc Research Associates

Dr Georgios Boras Postdoctoral Research Assistant My PhD research involved the epitaxial growth of III-V semiconductor nanostructures such as nanowires and quantum dots along with their morphological, structural and optical characterization. It also included the study of the aforementioned structures for implementation in optoelectronic devices. My current research focuses on the synthesis of perovskite thin films with a high potential to be employed for device applications such as solar cells.  g.boras@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Lei Su

Dr Minerva Bosch Fortea Postdoctoral Research Associate  m.bosch@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Julien Gautrot

Dr Oliver Brookes Postdoctoral Research Assistant  oliver.brookes@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: David Lee

Dr Stephen Burrows MEng, MSc, PhD Postdoctoral Research Assistant  07999088315      s.burrows@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Stoyan Smoukov

Dr Stefania Di Ciò PhD Postdoctoral Research Assistant Development of nano- to micro-scale fabrication processes for the control of cellular microenvironment. Design of microfluidic chips with multiple hydrogel compartments for the embedding of organotypic cultures and spheroids. Microvascularisation within organ-on-chip platforms. Study of the mechanisms regulating cell sensing of nanoscale topography. In particular, the processes controlling actin dynamics and their impact on cell adhesion, spreading and fate decision.  +44 (0) 20 7882 5301      s.dicio@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Julien Gautrot

Dr Jordi Gonzalez Molina Postdoctoral Research Assistant  j.gonzalez-molina@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Julien Gautrot

Dr Jon Gorecki PhD, MPhys Postdoctoral Research Assistant Optical Physics and Light-Matter Interactions  j.gorecki@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Steffi Krause

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

Dr Hannah Heywood PhD Postdoctoral Research Fellow Circadian biology in mechanosensitive cells: My current research investigates the interaction between physiological and pathological mechanical stimuli and the circadian clock in mechanosensitive cells, such as the cardiovascular system and musculoskeletal system. Bioenergetics and metabolism: I discovered the Crabtree metabolic phenotype in chondrocytes and studied the contribution of energy metabolism to chondrocyte phenotype. I devised my own techniques for characterizing the bioenergetic phenotype in living cells, which have been used to understand the metabolism of stem cells during differentiation, cartilage cells, cancer stem cells. Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine: Focusing on tissue engineering and cell therapies for cartilage repair.  +44 (0)20 7882 5368      h.k.heywood@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Martin Knight

Dr Timothy Hopkins PhD Versus Arthritis Research Fellow I am currently working on a Versus Arthritis funded Foundation Fellowship within SEMS. The aim of the fellowship is to develop an organ-on-a-chip model of human cartilage and synovium (â??joint-on-a-chipâ??) to understand how these tissues interact in the human knee in health and disease. We believe that this interaction plays a key role in the pathobiology of osteoarthritis and influences how individual patients respond to treatment. We are seeking to improve our understanding in these key areas and ultimately to use the joint-on-a-chip to stratify and personalise therapies for osteoarthritis.  tim.hopkins@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Martin Knight

Dr Sheetal Inamdar MEng, PhD Postdoctoral Research Assistant My work is focused on understanding how the collagen network in cartilage contributes to the tissues mechanical properties both in health and disease. More specifically, I utilise small angle X-ray scattering techniques combined with in-situ mechanics to probe the complex nanoscale mechanisms within the tissue. This combined methodology provides real time information into how the collagen fibrils behave under tissue level loading.  s.r.inamdar@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Himadri Gupta

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 Emilie Marhuenda PhD Postdoctoral Research Assistant  e.marhuenda@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Thomas Iskratsch

Ms Magda Martinez Intern  m.magda@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Alvaro Mata

Miss Megan McFie BA, MSc Postdoctoral Research Assistant  m.mcfie@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Martin Knight

Dr William Megone Postdoctoral Research Assistant  w.v.megone@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Julien Gautrot

Dr Daniel Melling Postdoctoral Research Assistant  d.melling@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Stoyan Smoukov

Mr Mohammad Hassan Mirza  m.h.mirza@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Kaspar Althoefer

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 Joanne Nolan PhD Postdoctoral Research Assistant I am currently working on an interdisciplinary CRUK-EPSRC funded project across both SEMS and Barts Cancer Institute. This work, in partnership with Emulate, aims to develop a new organ-on-a-chip model of breast cancer bone metastasis which we will use to study the interactions which occur between breast cancer and bone cells. We believe the interactions occurring between these two cell populations influences the metastatic nice and secondary tumour development with the hypothesis that osteocyte ciliogenesis is crucial during these stages.  joanne.nolan@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Martin Knight

Dr Ehsan Nourafkan Postdoctoral Research Assistant Colloid science and interface, nanotechnology, renewable energy  e.nourafkan@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Stoyan Smoukov

Dr Russell Quadros PhD Postdoctoral Research Assistant  r.quadros@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Jens-Dominik Mueller

Dr Thomas Robins Postdoctoral Research Assistant  t.robins@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Lei Su

Dr Seyedmohammadhadi  Sadati  exx775@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Kaspar Althoefer

Dr Sanjukta Sarkar Postdoctoral Research Assistant Optical Instrument,Interferometry,Microscopy,Holography,Polarization  sanjukta.sarkar@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Lei Su

Dr David Shepherd MPhys, PhD KTP Research Associate Production and characterisation of hydroxyapatites. Cell Culture. Production of collagen scaffolds through Freeze Drying.  d.shepherd@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Karin Hing

Ms Sophie Skach Postdoctoral Research Assistant  s.skach@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Kaspar Althoefer

Cem Suulker Research Assistant  c.suulker@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Kaspar Althoefer

Dr Pamela Swiatlowska Postdoctoral Research Assistant Current research project is focused on studying regulation of mechanosensing in healthy and atherosclerotic vascular smooth muscle cells. This work involves number of techniques, such as mechanical stimulation (pressure, stiffness, stretch), biomechanical characterization (AFM, Nanoindentation), cellular force measurements (nanopillars, FRET tension sensors) as well as (live) super-resolution microscopy. Further expertise: fibroblast and cardiomyocyte mechanobiology from animal and human models.  p.swiatlowska@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Thomas Iskratsch

Dr Clare Thompson MBiochem, PhD Postdoctoral Research Assistant Mammalian cell culture, cell biology, immunohistochemistry, immunocytochemistry, confocal and super resolution microscopy, image analyses, PCR, molecular cloning, cell transfection, immunoprecipitation, , western blotting, ELISA, biochemical assays (various) and advanced data analyses.  +44 (0)20 7882 3603      clare.l.thompson@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Martin Knight

Dr Danae Zamboulis DVM, PhD 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

Dr Hangfeng Zhang PhD Postdoctoral Research Assistant  hangfeng.zhang@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Lei Su

Dr Bo Zhou Postdoctoral Research Assistant Light-addressable potentiometric sensors (LAPS), photoelectrochemical imaging of dynamic cellular activities with high spatiotemporal resolution, synthesising nanomaterials as sensor substrates for photoelectrochemical imaging.  bo.zhou@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Steffi Krause

Professional Services

Dr Russell Bailey PhD, FRMS, SI Analytical Laboratories Manager Oversees the technical support provision within the analytical laboratories of the school. Facilitates support for research and teaching, in line with the universityâ??s long-term strategic objectives. Primary areas of expertise are electron and scanning probe microscopies, and mechanical testing.  +44 (0)20 7882 8468      r.j.bailey@qmul.ac.uk

Dr Erica Di Federico PhD Mechanical Testing Technician Provides comprehensive technical support for the mechanical testing facilities for academic staff, postgraduate, and undergraduate students within the School to enable the achievement of teaching and research aims and objectives. This comprises supporting appropriate research projects, managing contract testing and assisting with practical classes, demonstrations and in the development of prototypes and experimental equipment for teaching and research. Responsible for the operation and upkeep of the materials processing and mechanical testing laboratories. Responsible for the instruction, guidance, and supervision of staff and students in the use of laboratory equipment and techniques as appropriate.  +44 (0)20 7882 5054      e.difederico@qmul.ac.uk

Nick Duggan Lead Aerospace Technician Technical support for the Whitehead Aeronautical Laboratory. Supporting teaching and research projects through fabrication and modification of aero models and maintenance of all related equipment. I work as part of a team of technical staff in support of the School's research and teaching programmes, being mutually supportive and covering duties as necessary and where directed.  +44 (0)20 7882 6836      n.duggan@qmul.ac.uk

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

Dr Shoghik Hakobyan PhD Materials Characterisation Technician  +44 (0)20 7882 6943      s.hakobyan@qmul.ac.uk

Mr Dennis Ife Mechanical Workshop Manager Provides and manages comprehensive mechanical technical support for staff and students in the School to enable the achievement of teaching and research aims and objectives. Responsible for the operation, upkeep and management of the mechanical workshops and the technical team within those areas. Mechanical/Research Workshop, G54. Makerspace suite, 106. Whitehead Laboratory.  +44 (0)20 7882 6383      d.ife@qmul.ac.uk

Mr Shafir Iqbal Laboratory Technician Provides comprehensive technical support for staff and students in the School to enable the achievement of teaching and research aims and objectives. To be responsible for the operation and upkeep of the laboratory areas of Cell and Tissue. Responsible for the instruction, guidance and supervision of staff and students in the use of laboratory equipment and techniques as appropriate.  +44 (0)20 7882 6991      s.iqbal@qmul.ac.uk

Dr Armando Lacerda PhD Research Laboratories Manager  +44 (0)20 7882 7461      a.m.lacerda@qmul.ac.uk

Ms Jun Ma BSc, MSc, MPhil Laboratory Technician Provides comprehensive technical support for staff and students in the School to enable the achievement of teaching and research aims and objectives. To be responsible for the operation and upkeep of the laboratory area of Instrumentation. Responsible for the instruction, guidance and supervision of staff and students in the use of laboratory equipment and techniques as appropriate.  +44 (0)20 7882 5057      j.ma@qmul.ac.uk

Mr Andrew McDonald Mechanical Workshop Technician Apprentice trained mechanical engineer providing support to students and staff in manufacturing and CAD/CAM processes to enable the achievement of teaching, research aims and objectives.  +44(0)20 7882 6383      andrew.mcdonald@qmul.ac.uk

Mr Danny Neighbour BSc,MSc,CEng MIEE Laboratory Technician Provides comprehensive technical support for staff and students in the School to enable the achievement of teaching and research aims and objectives. To be responsible for the operation and upkeep of the laboratory areas of Robotics and Servo PBL. Responsible for the instruction, guidance and supervision of staff and students in the use of laboratory equipment and techniques as appropriate.  +44 (0)20 7882 5056      d.neighbour@qmul.ac.uk

Mr Stefano Pinku Ahluwalia Assistant Laboratory Technician To provide fundamental technical assistance to enable to day to day functioning of the Schoolâ??s laboratories, primarily in the division of bioengineering. The role will carry out a range of operational tasks including equipment maintenance, replenishing stocks of consumables, chemical reagents and cryogenics, maintaining communal laboratory spaces and demonstrating procedures to lab users.  +44 (0)20 7882 6991      s.ahluwalia@qmul.ac.uk

Mr James Searles Mechanical Workshop Technician I have 20 years experience in the manufacturing industry primarily in the f1 and aerospace industry  +44 (0)20 7882 6577      j.searles@qmul.ac.uk

Dr Dongsheng Wu PhD Laboratory Technician - Imaging Provides comprehensive technical support for staff and students in the School to enable the achievement of teaching and research aims and objectives. Responsible for the operation and upkeep of the laboratory area Imaging. Responsible for the instruction, guidance and supervision of staff and students in the use of Confocal microscope, Multiphoton microscope, Spinning Disk microscope, Super-resolution microscope, Epifluorescence microscope, and in performing projects associated with genetic modification.  +44 (0)20 7882 5051      dong.wu@qmul.ac.uk

Current PhD Projects

Thesis Title	Supervisor
Optimization and control of renewable energy systems for stand-alone applications such as water desalination	Hasan Shaheed
Study of Liquid-liquid interfaces	Julien Gautrot
Nanoscale damage markers for early osteoarthritis detection in the bone-cartilage unit	Himadri Gupta
Self-assembled peptide droplet interfaces for simple screening of stem cell microenvironments and micromanipulation of colonies	Helena Azevedo
Collagen Based Bioactive Electrospun Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering	Elizabeth Tanner
Biophysical biomarkers to characterize cancer-associated fibroblasts in drug screening strategies.	Martin Knight
Engineering retinal vascularization on a chip to model pathological events in eye diseases and study the effect of modulator drugs	Helena Azevedo
Using Machine Learning to understand the impact of pollution	Tina Chowdhury
Polymer brush vectors for 3D RNA delivery	Julien Gautrot
Study of the mechanical properties of liquid-liquid interfaces	Julien Gautrot
Healing and repair mechanisms in fetal membrane defects after trauma, strain and fetoscopic surgery	Tina Chowdhury
Development of a Polycystic Kidney Disease organ-chip model to study therapeutic regulation of primary cilia mechanobiology	Martin Knight
Design of an organ-on-a-chip model of soft-hard tissue interfaces	Julien Gautrot
Soft sensor skins for soft robots	Kaspar Althoefer
High throughput analysis of mechanosensitive microRNA	Rob Krams
Taper Junctions in modular total hip arthroplasty	Julia Shelton
Novel Silicone Elastomers for extrusion based 3D printing for organ-on-a-chip applications	Julien Gautrot
Lifetime predictions of Elastomers	James Busfield
Robotic Active Capsule Endoscope (RACE): advanced design, fabrication and control	Hasan Shaheed
Development of an Organ-chip Model to examine Muscle Degeneration	Hazel Screen
Modulating tendon micromechanics for injury prevention or management	Hazel Screen
Long-term Tracking and Targeted Therapy of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Labeled Nanoparticles	Helena Azevedo
Novel Models of Tendinopathy on a Chip	Hazel Screen
Ultralow loading Pt-based electrocatalysts for HER	Yi Sui
Modelling and characterisation of cells in flows	Yi Sui
Fabric-based eversion type soft actuators for robotic grasping applications	Kaspar Althoefer
Microdroplet-based microfluidics for direct reprogramming of human pluripotent stem cells	Julien Gautrot
Optical sensing for in-vivo imaging	Lei Su
Modeling and control of a mater-slave (MS) robotic system for medical applications	Hasan Shaheed
Prediction of Leakage in Elastomeric Seals for High Pressure Applications	James Busfield
Development of an arterial organ-chip to study the role of primary cilia in atherosclerosis	Martin Knight
CSC/Visiting student	Julien Gautrot
Development of Prosthetic Hand	Hasan Shaheed
In-situ optical and electrochemical imaging system for 3D in vitro models and in-vivo applications	Steffi Krause
Design of a microfluidics integrated microvascularised human skin-on-a-chip tissue model	Julien Gautrot
Organ-on-a-chip model of cartilage disease	Martin Knight
Using control and machine learning techniques to optimise the motion performance of a soft eversion robots for underwater applications	Kaspar Althoefer
Biophysics of Self-Assembled Protein Nanosheets for Stem Cell-Based Biotechnologies	Julien Gautrot
Self Healing Elastomers	James Busfield
Tyre Degradation Performance - SRI	James Busfield
Elaboration of biodegradable printed microcapsules and microchambers: versatile microencapsulation approach for drug delivery applications	Gleb Sukhorukov
Bioresorbable Bioactive Composites	Karin Hing
Fracture behaviour in high performance tyres	James Busfield
The combination of fluorescent AuNCs and microcapsules	Gleb Sukhorukov
Flexible ultrasound sensor	Lei Su
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
Design of synthetic nanostructured hydrogel to regulate microvascularisation	Julien Gautrot
High throughput confocal screen of 1727 compounds to identify novel regulators of primary cilia structure	Martin Knight
Biofabrication of self-assembling fluidic devices for modelling ovarian cancer under fluid flow	Helena Azevedo
Self-Assembling peptide amphiphiles as a platform for the manipulation of protein conformation	Helena Azevedo
The effect of substrate stiffness on primary cilia and regulation of the tumour microenvironment.	Martin Knight
Design of nanosheets and microdroplet technologies	Julien Gautrot
Developing Bone Secondary Microenvironments for Personalised Medicine	Elizabeth Tanner
Prosthetic Hand Control with ML/AI MMG Signal Processing	Hasan Shaheed
Numerical simulation of electrohydrodynamics	Yi Sui
Design of next generation RNA delivery vectors	Julien Gautrot
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
Control of the Circadian Clock in Chondrocytes	David Lee
The interfascicular matrix niche ? novel approaches to identify the aetiology of tendinopathy	Hazel Screen
Optimisation of Tyre Wear Performance	James Busfield
Particle based reconfigurable robot for deployment in inaccessible spaces	Kaspar Althoefer
Bonding of soft tissues to hydroxyapatite	Julien Gautrot
3D enhanced bioreactor for enhanced bone grafting	Karin Hing
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
Investigating Human Achilles Tendon Biomechanics Using Novel Ultrasound Imaging	Hazel Screen
Hydrogel Waveguides for Clinical Applications	Lei Su
A Soft Hand Exoskeleton for Haptic Feedback	Kaspar Althoefer
Perovskite light emitting devices	Lei Su
Polymer brushes as a delivery tool to DNA vaccine	Julien Gautrot
Role of CD34+ Stem Cells in Isografted Vessel Remodelling	Wen Wang
Deep learning assisted optical sensing	Lei Su
Single optical fibre imaging	Lei Su
Frictional Properties of Elastomer Seals.	James Busfield
Intelligent Miniature Aerial Vehicles for Disaster Sensing and Monitoring in Extreme Environment	Hasan Shaheed
Engineered self-assembling peptide-hyaluronan hydrogels for in vitro biomedical applications	Helena Azevedo
Developing Synchrotron X-ray Scattering Techniques to probe Keloid Fibrotic Structure	Himadri Gupta
3D photoelectrochemical imaging	Steffi Krause
Numerical simulation of cells in flows	Wen Wang
Investigation of silicon (on sapphire) with monolayers in LAPS and photoelectrochemical sensors	Steffi Krause
Perovskite photonic devices	Lei Su

Past PhD Projects

Thesis Title	Supervisor	Year
Wear and corrosion testing of modular hip prostheses	Julia Shelton	2017
Electrospinning high toughness biomimetic polystyrene nanocomposites	Asa Barber, Himadri Gupta	2017
Fabrication of non(low) permeable microcapsules and further study	Gleb Sukhorukov, Himadri Gupta	2017
Micro-patterning of peptide-based biomaterials	Julien Gautrot, Hazel Screen	2017
Design modelling and control of a miniature robotic system for surgical applications	M Hasan Shaheed, Ranjan Vepa	2017
Motion of deformable capsules in complex flows	Yi Sui	2017
Model Predictive Controller design for an Efficient Hybrid Energy Wind/Solar/FC/BS Power System.	M Hasan Shaheed, Hua Sheng Wang	2017
The Effects of Loading Frequency on Tenocyte Matabolism	Hazel Screen	2017
SmartNanoHeat - Self-regulating heating compounds	Emiliano Bilotti, James Busfield	2017
Electric Breakdown of Dielectric Elastomer Actuator Materials	Federico Carpi, James Busfield	2017
Fatigue life prediction in aircraft tyres	James Busfield	2017
Predicting tyre compound wear.	James Busfield, Emiliano Bilotti	2017
Development of materials and applications for electroactive composites	James Busfield, Federico Carpi	2017
Robust and Stable discrete adjoint solver development for shape optimisation of incompressible flows with industrial applications	Jens-Dominik Mueller, Eldad Avital	2017
High Performance Flow Control & Shape Optimisation Solver	Jens-Dominik Mueller, Sergey Karabasov	2017
Composite inorganic particles/polyelectrolyte microcapsules: fabrication and application	Gleb Sukhorukov	2017
Roles of primary cilia in hMSC in differentiation	Martin Knight	2016
The effects of the rate of hypo-osmotic challenge and IFT88 mutation on the biomechanics of chondrocytes.	Martin Knight, Wen Wang	2016
Micro-structure reorganisation of the aortic heart valve under a biaxial loading condition	Hazel Screen, Wen Wang	2016
Biomimetic Layered Nanocomposites with Tunable Dynamical Mechanical Properties: Synthesis, Imaging and Characterisation	Himadri Gupta, Nicola Pugno	2016
A novel fibre composite system to investigate tenocyte metabolism under physiological and pathological loading conditions.	Hazel Screen	2016
Modelling, optimisation and control of osmotic energy extraction from natural salinity gradients using pressure retarded osmosis	M Hasan Shaheed, Theodosios Alexander	2016
Development of a 3D Perfusion System to Monitor Response of Osteoblast-like Cells Incubated on Synthetic Bone Graft Substitute Granules with Varied Hierarchical Porosities under Dynamic Conditions	Karin Hing	2016
Developing Cationic Nanoparticles for Gene Delivery	Julien Gautrot, John Stark	2016
Interaction between the circulating blood and vascular endothelial cells in health & disease. Cell Mechanics for endothelial glycocalyx	Wen Wang, Asa Barber	2016
The role of HDAC7-related peptide in stem cell differentiation towards endothelial cell	Wen Wang	2016
The synergistic role of mechanical stimuli and VEGF treatment in stem cell differentiation to endothelial cells	Wen Wang	2016
The Strain Dependent Dielectric Behaviour of Carbon Black Filled Natural Rubber	James Busfield, Emiliano Bilotti	2016
Bone Quality Changes at the Nanoscale in Metabolic Bone Diseases assessed by Synchrotron X-ray Imaging	Himadri Gupta	2016
Investigating the effects of cholesterol on phospholipid bilayer with molecular dynamics simulations.	Wen Wang, Yiling Lu	2016
To Fabricate and Study the Properties of the Intelligent Microencapsulated Liquid Particles Containing Biologically Active Compounds	Gleb Sukhorukov	2016
Naturally Inspired Multi-layer Composite Films on Planar and Modulated Surfaces	Gleb Sukhorukov, Ton Peijs	2016
The Role of DKK3 in Vascular Smooth Muscle Differentiation	Wen Wang	2015
A Study of the Fluid Dynamic Coupling Between LP Steam Turbine and its Exhaust Hood	Andrew Wheeler, Jens-Dominik Mueller	2015
Functional impact of microRNA-34a on stem cell differentiation towards smooth muscle cell	Wen Wang	2015
Complex mechanical conditioning of cell-seeded constructs can influence chondrocyte activity	Julia Shelton, Dan Bader	2015
Numerical shape optimisation of flow around turbomachinery blades	Jens-Dominik Mueller, Andrew Wheeler	2015
Combined Impedance and Fluorescence Imaging of Polymeric Microcapsules using Photocurrent Measurements at silicon/SAM/electrolyte Field Effect Structures	Steffi Krause	2015
Microfluidics for a novel bioreactor	Wen Wang, Pankaj Vadgama	2015
Modelling and Interactional Control of a Multi-fingered Robotic Hand for Grasping and Manipulation	M Hasan Shaheed, Henri Huijberts	2015
Microcapsule for targetted drug delivery to diseased tissues	Wen Wang, Gleb Sukhorukov	2015
Electrical stimulation on cell-cell interactions in vitro	Wen Wang	2015
Efficient Methods for Robust Shape Optimisation for Crashworthiness	Fabian Duddeck, Jens-Dominik Mueller	2015
Monitoring of Bone Quality and Penetration in Osteoinductive Scaffolds with Varied Strut Porosity	Karin Hing	2015
Investigation of Protein Mediated Control of Oteoinductivity in Porous Bone Graft Substitutes using Fluorescent Probes	Karin Hing, Alice Sullivan	2015
The development of a novel nanostructured silica filler for high friction and low rolling resistance rubber applications.	James Busfield	2015
Mechanical properties of stem cells using micropipette aspiration	Martin Knight, David Lee	2015
Enhancing Osteogenesis in Porous Bone Graft Substitutes Through Control of Microporosity	Karin Hing	2015
Novel polymeric matrix and its interaction withbiological cells	Wen Wang, Ton Peijs	2014
Accelerated wear protocols for understanding clinical wear in modern hip prostheses	Julia Shelton, Martin Knight	2014
Microcapsule internalization be cells in vitro caused by physical and biochemical stimuli	Gleb Sukhorukov, Wen Wang	2014
The behaviour of hollow sphere filled rubber materials under strain	James Busfield	2014
Failure of Rubber Components under Fatigue	James Busfield	2014
Analysis of Alterations in Matrix Quality at Nanoscale in Metabolic Bone Diseases using Synchrotron X-ray Diffraction	Himadri Gupta	2013
Investigation into the use of carbon nanotubes networks as gate electrodes in field-effect gas sensors with increased functionality	Steffi Krause	2013
Tearing of rubber	James Busfield	2013
Diffusive Mass Transport Studies Using Biosensors	Pankaj Vadgama	2013
A study of bioreactor surfaces for cell interactions and sensing	Pankaj Vadgama	2013
UV-Triggered Encapsulation and Release by Multilayer Microcapsules	Gleb Sukhorukov	2013
The Nanostructure of Impant-Induced Fibrosis (MPhil)	Himadri Gupta	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
Nuclear Related Responses to Osmotic Challenge in Chondrocytes	David Lee, Martin Knight	2013
Interaction between primary cilia length and hedgehog signalling in response to mechanical and thermal stress	Martin Knight	2013
Spatial distribution, temporal development and mechanical properties of the endothelial glycocalyx in vitro	Wen Wang	2012
The Impact and Deformation of Press-Fit Metal Acetablular Components	Julia Shelton, James Busfield	2012
Multilayer Microcapsules for Delivery, Control and Triggered Release of Bioactive Compounds	Gleb Sukhorukov	2012
Novel Fluorescent probes for Analysis of Protein interactions under truly physiological conditions with real Medical devices	Karin Hing	2012
Natural Rubber/Organoclay Nanocomposites	James Busfield	2012
Viscoelastic Response of Cells and the Role of Actin Cytoskeletal Remodelling	Martin Knight	2012
Study of protein membranes formed by interfacial crosslinking using microfluidic flow	Pankaj Vadgama, Steve Dunn	2012
Influence of coatings on ion release from large diameter metal-on-metal hip bearings	Julia Shelton	2012
Laser scanning system for microscopic and macroscopic investigations of chemical semiconductor sensors	Steffi Krause	2012
Structure-Function Relationships in the Aortic Valve	Hazel Screen	2012
Modelling studies on biological tissue property and mechanical responses under external stimuli	Wen Wang	2012
Processing of Polymer-based Systems for Improved Performance and Controlled Release	Gleb Sukhorukov, Ton Peijs	2011
Development of a non-invasive method to detect pericellular spatial oxygen gradients using FLIM	Martin Knight	2011
Can Interface Conditions be Modified by Support Surfaces to Minimise the Risk of Pressure Ulcer Development?	Wen Wang, Dan Bader	2011
microRNAs play a role in human embryonic stem cell differentiation into endothelial cells	Wen Wang	2011
Osteoinduction by biomaterials; towards unravelling the underlying process	Joost de Bruijn	2011
The influence of test parameters and surface modifications on the wear of total hip replacements	Julia Shelton	2011
Computational modelling of flows in porous scaffold materials using a lattice Boltzmann method	Wen Wang	2011
Investigation and Modelling of Rubber Friction	James Busfield	2010
Studiesod polymeric membranes modified for application to amperometric H202 and p)2 sensing with needle-type electrodes	Pankaj Vadgama	2010
Characterisaction of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell Metabolism during Proliferation and Differentiation	David Lee, Joost deBruijn	2010
Injectable Cell-Based Tissue Engineered Bone Formulations	Joost de Bruijn	2010
The Influence of Microstructure on the Mechanical Behaviours of Tendons	Hazel Screen, Julia Shelton	2010
Viscoelastic Properties of Elastomer under Complex Loading	James Busfield	2010
Stem Cell Expansion and Bioreactor Development	Joost deBruijn	2010
Comparative studies of Silkworm and Spider Silk as potential scaffold	Pankaj Vadgama	2009
The potential of pulsed low-intensity ultrasound to stimulate chondrocytes in a 3D model system	Martin Knight	2009
Investigation into the Sensitivity and Resolution of Scanning Photo-Induced Impedance Microscopy	Steffi Krause	2009
Optically addressable, integrative composite polymer microcapsules	Gleb Sukhorukov	2009
Model Identification and Robust Nonlinear Model Predictive Control of a Twin Rotor MIMO System	Hasan Shaheed	2009
Carbon Black Filler Reinforcement of Elastomers	James Busfield	2009
Nanoindentation of Polymer and Protein Films (MPhil)	Andy Bushby, Pankaj Vadgama	2009
Novel biosensors and Their application in Mass Transport	Wen Wang, Pankaj Vadgama	2009
The influence of direct current electrical stimulation on chondrocytes in a 3D model system	Dan Bader, David Lee	2008
Temporal regulation of tenocyte metabolism in strained fascicles	David Lee, Julia Shelton	2008
In vitro wear of metal-on-metal hip replacements: a multifactorial problem.	Julia Shelton	2008
Mechanisms of the improvced Biological Response with Silicate Substitution in Hydroxy Apatite.	Karin Hing	2008