Thangavel Thevar

Dr. Thangavel Thevar is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Engineering at the University of Aberdeen, where he has been teaching since 2005. He completed both his undergraduate degree (First Class Honours in Electrical Engineering) and PhD (in Laser Engineering) at the University of Aberdeen in 1989 and 1993 respectively. Prior to his academic career, he accumulated approximately 10 years of industrial R&D experience in the USA, working on solid-state laser development and holographic applications.

Dr. Thevar's research focuses on several key areas:

• Digital holography for imaging of marine plankton and micro-particles
• Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) for subsea applications
• Laser-based instrumentation development
• Development of solid-state lasers for scientific, industrial, and medical applications
• Engineering applications of holography

His most notable recent achievement is leading a team that developed the weeHoloCam, a state-of-the-art ultracompact underwater holographic camera for imaging microorganisms. Weighing just 3.5 kg, this system is the lightest and most compact of its kind, capable of imaging 240 ml/s and continuously recording up to 200,000 holograms. The system incorporates a rapid hologram processor and an AI-based image classifier. This technology has significant applications in marine studies including spatial and temporal monitoring of plankton species, monitoring harmful plankton & micro-jellyfish, study of vertical transport of floc, and monitoring microplastic pollution in the ocean.

Dr. Thevar has secured numerous research grants as Principal Investigator, including projects funded by Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC), BBSRC, DEFRA, and Defence & Security Accelerator (DSTL). His current research portfolio demonstrates strong interdisciplinary connections between optical engineering, marine science, and environmental monitoring.

His scientific contributions include:

• Royal Academy of Engineering Visiting Teaching Fellow Award (2010-2013)
• US patent 8,494,012 B2 for Raman converters
• Development of alexandrite lasers and ruby holographic lasers during his industrial R&D period
• Work on US government contracts for non-destructive inspection methods for military aircraft and the space shuttle
• Sabbatical work at NASA Langley Research Centre developing diode pumped Thulium YALO lasers

As an educator, Dr. Thevar has served as Coordinator of MSc Oil & Gas Engineering (2007-2020), Undergraduate Level 1 Coordinator, and has contributed to various committees including Quality Assurance and Students' Progression. He currently teaches courses including Principles of Electronics, Electrical & Mechanical Systems, Control Systems, and supervises individual projects at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. He is accepting PhD students interested in Engineering research.

Dr. Thevar is actively involved in professional organizations, serving as Technical Programme Chair for IEEE/OES Oceans Conference 2007, on organizing committees for various conferences, as a committee member of the Instrument Science and Technology Group (Institute of Physics), and as a member of both IET and IEEE. He also serves as a reviewer for optics-based journals.