Azfar Khalid

Azfar Khalid is a Senior Lecturer of Mechanical Engineering in the Department of Engineering at the School of Science & Technology, Nottingham Trent University (NTU). He holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from GIK Institute of Engineering, Pakistan and a PhD in Precision Engineering from University of Manchester (2009). Dr. Khalid teaches across Mechanical and Electronics Engineering disciplines, including Control Systems, Robotics, Cybernetics & Biomechatronics.

His research focuses on smart factory systems, human robot collaboration, cyber physical production systems, digital twins, and Industry 4.0. He serves as the research coordinator of the Department of Engineering and leads the Digital Innovation Research Group within the Imaging, Materials & Engineering Centre.

Dr. Khalid's publications demonstrate a strong trend toward human-centric digital twin technology, with emphasis on occupational safety, mental stress factors in human-robot collaboration, and cognitive workload assessment in smart manufacturing environments. His work bridges engineering, human factors, and neuroscience to create safer, more efficient industrial systems.

• Fellow of The Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
• Member of Institute of Mechanical Engineers (MIMechE)
• Chartered Engineer (CEng)
• Lead Guest Editor for special issues on Cyber Physical Systems
• Associate Editor for Industrial Robotics and Automation

As a research leader, Dr. Khalid has secured significant funding including EPSRC grants totaling over £120K from Connected Everything initiatives, with PepsiCo as an industrial partner. He supervises multiple PhD students working on digital twins for workplace safety, mental stress management, and modular robotic systems. His lab collaborates with industrial partners including Olympus Technologies, Raruk Automation, WMH Robotics, and The Care Machine, as well as international academic institutions across Germany, Spain, and Pakistan.