Work With Me
Am always happy to discuss research and exchange ideas. Find my contact details here.
PhD positions
If you like physics, maths, and programming, and want to work on exciting engineering and physics challenges, then please get in touch.
There are currently three available funded PhD positions:
Am happy to discuss other potential PhD projects within the themes:
Modelling Waves in Complex Materials
Thousands of years ago, early Mesopotamian people discovered that a mixture of mud and straw creates strong durable buildings, what we call today a composite material. Today composite materials, and similarly complex fluids, have enabled amazing advances in areas including: aerospace, automobile, food science, communications technology, biotechnology.
This project focuses on waves (like sound, radio, light, and vibrations) interacting with these complex materials. Developing mathematical models of this interaction has two exciting goals: design the next generation of materials to control waves, and use waves to sense and monitor complex material. See Waves in Complex Materials for more details.
Main skills:
- Classical mechanics
- Signal processing
- Multivariable calculus
- Mathematical modelling
Wave Scattering from Particulates
Under close inspection, many natural and synthetic materials are composed of small randomly distributed particles. This is why techniques to measure and predict these particle properties are important in many areas of science and engineering. Waves, either mechanical (like sound) or electromagnetic, are an excellent choice to probe particles because they can be non-invasive and energy efficient.
This project focuses on using, and developing, simulations of waves (like sound, radio, light, and vibrations) in particulate materials. The main goal is gain insight into the physics and validate theoretical models, though these simulations are very flexible, see Wave Software and Waves in Complex Materials for more details.
Main skills:
- Computer programming
- Signal processing
- Classical mechanics
- Mathematical modelling
Elastic wave propagation
We have built a world primarily out of steel, concrete, and other stiff solids. How well these structures endure depends on the tension and strains they are under, which are closely related to the material’s elastic behaviour. This is why elastic waves, such as vibrations, are an ideal choice to test the stress and strength of materials.
Projects in this theme will focus modelling and predicting a range of elastic waves (shear, surface, and compressional) in solids, such as steel under stress. For more details see Surface Waves and Elastic materials under stress.
Main skills:
- Solid mechanics
- Mathematical modelling
- Wave motion