Martin T. White

Dr. Martin T. White is an Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Sussex, part of the School of Engineering and Informatics and the Energy and Materials Engineering Research Centre (EMERC). He holds a PhD from City, University of London (2015) and an MEng in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Southampton (2011). Prior to his current role, he served as Senior Lecturer (2022–2024) and Lecturer in Thermal Power (2019–2022) at City, University of London, and held postdoctoral roles at Imperial College London and City. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

His research focuses on novel thermal power systems, particularly organic Rankine cycles (ORC), supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO₂) turbines, and waste-heat recovery. He leads the development of experimental test rigs and computational tools like pocketTHERM and pocketORC, which enhance education and design in thermodynamics. Key projects include the EU-funded SCARABEUS initiative, designing axial turbines for concentrated solar power, and optimizing turbine blades for CO₂ blends.

Recent work includes advancing wet-to-dry expansion in ORC systems using non-equilibrium CFD simulations and experimental rigs. He has supervised PhD students (e.g., Charlie Westpfel, Pawel Ogrodniczak) and co-supervised Salma Salah, who successfully completed her viva in 2023. His research spans turbine aerodynamics, fluid dynamics, and educational technology, addressing global energy challenges through innovative thermal systems.

Key achievements include the Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellowship (2019–2024), which supported studies on two-phase expansion in ORC turbines. His work integrates academic and industrial collaboration, exemplified by the SCARABEUS turbine design with industrial partners. Future directions include experimental validation of two-phase expansion and exploring CO₂-blend applications in heat pumps and refrigeration systems.

Awards and recognition include the IMechE awards for student projects supervised and the University of Sussex’s Brian Roberts Prize for academic excellence. His interdisciplinary approach bridges fundamental research, engineering design, and educational innovation in sustainable energy systems.