Find Academic Supervisors

Camille BakerView profile

Professor

• Immersive Experiences
• Interactive Art
• XR Design
• +5 more

Camille Baker is a Professor of Interactive and Immersive Arts at the Royal College of Art's School of Communication, with a focus on digital art, XR design, and participatory performance. She leads the Digital Direction programme and the Immersive Acts Research Group, exploring how immersive technologies can preserve community histories and address climate futures. Her work bridges art, technology, and healthcare, notably through projects like INTER/her (shortlisted for the Lumen Prize 2021) and Mammary Mountain , which use VR and haptics to amplify patient narratives. Camille has held roles at institutions like the University for the Creative Arts and has been a key figure in EU-funded projects such as VOICE and WEAR Sustain. Research Focus: Extended embodiment in mixed reality, wearable tech, and healthcare storytelling. Grants: € Multi-million EU Horizon grants, Arts Council England funding. Collaborations: Works with artists, technologists, and scientists on global projects. Her publications include New Directions in Mobile Media and Performance (2018) and contributions to journals like Virtual Creativity . Camille also advises on initiatives like the British Science Festival and serves on editorial boards for academic journals.

Paul SzpakView profile

Associate Professor

• Archaeological Science
• Stable Isotope Analysis
• Palaeoecology
• +7 more

Paul Szpak is an Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair in Environmental Archaeology at Trent University's Department of Anthropology. He holds a B.A. from McMaster University (2007) and a Ph.D. from Western University (2013). His research focuses on stable isotope analysis to study human-environment interactions, particularly in Arctic and Andean regions. He directs the Trent Environmental Archaeology Lab (TEAL) and the Trent Water Quality Centre, leveraging advanced facilities like mass spectrometry for interdisciplinary research. Key research themes include Arctic palaeoecology, Andean agropastoral systems, and methodological advancements in isotope analysis. His work is supported by grants from SSHRC, NSERC, and the Canada Research Chairs Program. Szpak actively mentors students in these projects, offering opportunities through Trent's graduate programs. Notable achievements include the Canada Research Chair designation and contributions to understanding long-term ecological changes via isotopic baselines. Labs & Facilities: TEAL specializes in human-environmental dynamics using isotope analysis. The Trent Water Quality Centre provides access to cutting-edge instrumentation (e.g., CF-EA-IRMS, MC-ICP-MS) for chemical analyses. These facilities enable global research collaborations, particularly in South America and the Arctic. Awards: Canada Research Chair in Environmental Archaeology SSHRC Insight Grant (Andean Agriculture) NSERC Discovery Grant (Arctic Palaeoecology) Canada Foundation for Innovation Grant (Lab Infrastructure) Grants & Advising: Szpak oversees active research programs funded by major agencies. He advises students on projects ranging from Arctic marine mammal ecology to Andean camelid husbandry. His mentorship fosters interdisciplinary approaches to archaeological science.

• Nanodevices
• Wearable Technology
• Thermoelectricity
• +2 more

Professor Kristel Fobelets is Professor of Nanodevices at Imperial College London and Deputy Head of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. Her vision focuses on sustainable wearable technology using non-scarce materials. Research Innovations: Developed ultra-wearable knitted respiratory inductive plethysmography belts and ECG electrodes. Pioneered silicon nanowire thermoelectric generators and graphene-coated biosensors for medical applications. Leadership: Directs teaching innovation and curriculum development. Previously served as Director of Undergraduate Studies (2014-2021). Applications: Wearable health monitoring, terahertz imaging, and sustainable energy harvesting devices.

Jewon LyuView profile

Assistant Professor

• Retail Innovation
• Consumer Behavior
• Customer Experience Management
• +5 more

Jewon Lyu is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Textiles, Merchandising and Interiors at the University of Georgia's College of Family and Consumer Sciences. His research focuses on consumer behavior and technology integration in retail contexts, particularly in areas like augmented reality (AR), social media marketing, and omnichannel retailing. He teaches courses such as Fashion Marketing, Retail Planning and Buying, and Retail Analytics. Lyu holds a Ph.D. in Retail, Hospitality, and Tourism Management from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and has professional experience at institutions like Kent State University and Tennessee Tech University. Education: Ph.D. (2012): Retail, Hospitality, and Tourism Management, University of Tennessee M.A. (2008): International Business, University of Florida B.S. (2007): Business Administration, Chung-Ang University, South Korea His research investigates how emerging technologies influence consumer decisions, including AR applications, social media engagement, and self-service technologies. Recent work explores sustainability in fashion consumption, Gen Z behavior, and racial dynamics in retail spaces. Lyu serves as a reviewer for journals like the International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management and Clothing and Textile Research Journal, and holds editorial roles in academic publishing. Teaching and service contributions include curriculum development in merchandising and retail analytics, and leadership roles in organizations like the American Collegiate Retailing Association.

Raquel OrmellaView profile

Lecturer

• Art
• Politics and Activism
• Animal/Human Interactions
• +4 more

Raquel Ormella is a Lecturer and Honours Convenor at the School of Art & Design, Australian National University. Her practice spans video, textiles, installation, and zines, critically examining intersections of art, politics, and ecology—particularly human-animal relationships in urban environments. She holds a PhD from ANU (2015), an MFA, and a BVA (Hons) from the University of Western Sydney. Research Focus: Ormella investigates political consciousness through art, with emphasis on: Activism and national identity Urban bird ecology ("Habitecture") Performance art involving animals Archival interventions and expanded painting Recent Works: Her 55 research outputs (2003–2025) reflect sustained engagement with environmental justice and feminist resistance. Recent projects include performance-based explorations of protest (2025) and ecological documentation of urban bird species (2021), utilizing digital, textile, and multidisciplinary formats. Grants & Leadership: Co-Investigator: "Dialogue with difficult objects" (2023–2026), developing museum resources for controversial artifacts. Lead Investigator: "Am I in your way?" (2024–2025), creating feminist performance/digital works. Principal Investigator: "City Without Crows" (2016–2018), exhibited at AGNSW and Shepparton Art Museum. Professional Service: Artists Advisory Board (MCA Australia, 2017–2018); Board Member, Australian National Capital Artists (2019–2020).

Marta Blazquez CanoView profile

Senior Lecturer

• Fashion Retailing
• Digital Sustainability
• Metaverse Applications
• +2 more

Marta Blazquez Cano is a Senior Lecturer in Fashion Marketing at the University of Manchester's School of Materials. She holds a European PhD in Marketing with Cum Laude distinction and an MSc in Marketing. Her research examines retail technology transformations, particularly the integration of metaverse platforms in fashion retail and digital sustainability frameworks. Research Focus: Digital retail innovation and immersive customer experiences Sustainable technology integration in fashion supply chains Algorithmic marketing and consumer behavior in virtual spaces Her recent publications demonstrate consistent focus on metaverse retail applications (62% of last 15 articles), digital sustainability (27%), and consumer adoption of fashion technology (11%). Primary methodologies include case studies, experimental designs, and systematic literature reviews. Awards: Best Participant Award - Academic Symposium on Retail Innovation (2024) She supervises doctoral candidates exploring marketing, retailing, and sustainability intersections, with research dissemination through international conferences and invited lectures across Europe and Asia.

Bianca KoczanView profile

Adjunct Professor

• Sustainable Fashion Design
• Digital Media in Fashion
• Social Media and Design Processes
• +3 more

Bianca Koczan is a practice-led PhD candidate in Fashion and Style at the Vienna University of Applied Arts since 2017, supervised by Prof. Elke Gaugele. Her research explores interactions between social media and design processes in contemporary fashion. She holds roles as guest and substitute professor at institutions like Burg Giebichenstein Kunsthochschule Halle and Esmod Berlin, focusing on sustainable conceptual fashion design and media representation. Her work extends into programming creative AI and the Data-for-Good movement. She leads her design agency VVERK and experimental label Studio Bête Noire, collaborating with firms like schmidttakahashi and RE-NT. Key projects include exhibitions at the Goethe-Institut Budapest, Düsseldorf’s A+A Trade Fair, and Parisian fashion shows. She contributed to the 2008 publication on work-life balance and co-edited a 2019 volume on fashion and textile research. Professional activities include art direction for luxury brands (e.g., NOMOS Glashütte), online editorial work for hauptstadtmutti.de, and curation of fashion exhibitions across Europe. Her teaching spans academic design institutions, emphasizing sustainable practices and digital innovation in fashion education.

Melanie McClintockView profile

Professor

• Sustainable Design
• Material Innovation
• Interactive Environments
• +4 more

Melanie McClintock is a Professor and Chair of Color & Materials Design at the College for Creative Studies (CCS). She holds an MFA in Color and Materials Design from CCS and a BFA in Fashion Design from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). Her career spans two decades in fashion design, education, and cross-cultural design initiatives across New York, Qatar, Indonesia, and beyond. Professional highlights include founding a Brooklyn-based fashion brand, teaching at VCUQatar, and co-developing a vocational program in Java, Indonesia. Her research focuses on 'Sense of Place,' material innovation from waste, and adaptive design for climate change. Notable projects include the Color Lab exhibition exploring natural pigments and the Ruderal Material Project investigating post-industrial waste utilization. McClintock is a core member of PiCoDe, an international design collective advancing place-based education. Her exhibitions and workshops address materiality, interactive environments, and creative archiving. She has presented work at venues including the Tasmeem Design Conference and Lodz University of Technology. Her pedagogical contributions include curriculum development in sustainability and industry-ready design training. Recent efforts emphasize redefining waste materials as valuable resources through hands-on, research-driven design processes.

Arash Moghaddassian ShahidiView profile

Research Fellow

• Medical Textiles
• Electronic Textiles
• Textile Characterization
• +5 more

Dr. Arash Moghaddassian Shahidi is a Senior Research Fellow in Medical and Technical Textiles at the Advanced Textiles Research Group, Nottingham School of Art & Design, Nottingham Trent University. His career began with research on knitted compression systems for venous disease management, evolving into multidisciplinary work on advanced textiles for medical/industrial applications, flexural composites, and electronic textiles. Research Focus Dr. Shahidi's research spans: Characterization of electronic textiles (e-textiles) and medical textiles Development of automated manufacturing processes for electronic yarns Infra-red reflow soldering and component encapsulation Novel space antenna materials and textile-based sensors Functional composites and wearable health technologies His recent publications (2019-2025) demonstrate a strong emphasis on e-textile innovation, including wash durability studies, solar textile panels, haptic feedback systems, and biomedical applications like synthetic tissue models. Collaborative projects frequently integrate materials science, electronics, and biomedical engineering. Affiliations He leads projects within the Advanced Textiles Research Group, focusing on healthcare, wellbeing, and industrial textile solutions. Additional details are available at www.e-yarns.com .

• Biochemistry
• Microbiology
• Food Engineering
• +3 more

Luís Pedro Lima Machado is a Researcher at the University of Minho’s Centro de Engenharia Biológica , with academic expertise in Chemical and Biological Engineering. He holds a Master’s in Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, and Plant Bioentrepreneurship and a Biochemistry Bachelor’s degree, both from the University of Minho’s School of Sciences. He is completing a PhD in Chemical and Biological Engineering. Education: PhD in Chemical and Biological Engineering (2021–present), University of Minho MSc in Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, and Plant Bioentrepreneurship (2017–2019), University of Minho School of Sciences BSc in Biochemistry (2014–2017), University of Minho School of Sciences Research Focus: His work centers on sustainable biotechnology, with emphasis on microalgae-derived proteins, food engineering, and innovative processing techniques like ohmic heating. Key areas include Fluorescence Spectroscopy , Protein Functionalization , and Electric Field Applications . He explores bioactive compound extraction, microbial systems, and industrial bioprocessing for alternative protein sources. Publications & Activities: He has authored 9 peer-reviewed articles, 1 book chapter, and organized 4 scientific events. His work spans topics such as microalgae cell disruption, protein structural dynamics, and food allergen assessment. He has contributed to projects like “Risk Assessment Strategies for Food Allergens” and “Biotechnological Processes for Textile Industry Materials” . Grants & Events: He secured research fellowships in strategic sustainability and food allergen studies. He organized the CBEDS Doctoral Symposium (2021–2022) and participated in global forums like ICEF14 and FCT-2024 . He promotes science outreach via Pint of Science festivals.

Roman IsaacView profile

Researcher

• Environmental Governance
• Sustainability Science
• Ecosystem Services
• +3 more

Dr. Roman Isaac is a Researcher at Leuphana University of Lüneburg's Social-Ecological Systems Institute (SESI) , associated with the Professorship for International Sustainable Development and Planning . He holds a PhD and previously studied Environmental Sciences at Leuphana and a Master's in Human Geography with a specialization in Environmental Social Science at Stockholm University. Before academia, he worked for an NGO in Berlin developing campaigns on microplastics pollution. His research focuses on governance frameworks for human-nature interactions, particularly multi-level governance of natural and anthropogenic capitals in co-producing nature’s contributions to people. Education: PhD in Environmental Social Science (not specified) MSc in Human Geography (Stockholm University) BSc in Environmental Sciences (Leuphana University) Research Interests: His work examines governance mechanisms for sustainable resource use, integrating ecological and social dimensions. Key areas include policy analysis for ecosystem services co-production, legal frameworks for hydropower development, and grassland conservation strategies balancing biodiversity and agricultural needs. Publications: Recent work explores network-based governance models, metacoupling frameworks for sustainability, and value systems influencing nature-use preferences. Earlier research addressed textile recycling's role in regional resilience. Awards: No scientific awards explicitly mentioned in the provided texts. Advising & Grants: No advisees or grant details listed. His current activities include contributing to SESI's interdisciplinary research initiatives. Labs/Teams: Member of the Junior Research Group Hanspach and part of SESI's collaborative network analyzing complex socio-ecological systems.

Meng ZhangView profile

Associate Professor

• Biocatalysis
• BioDesign
• Living Construction
• +5 more

Dr. Meng Zhang is an Associate Professor in the Department of Applied Sciences at Northumbria University, part of the Health and Life Science Faculty. She holds a BSc in Biotechnology from Shandong Agricultural University, an MSc in Environmental Studies from the University of Sunderland, a PhD in Proteomics from Northumbria University, and an MBA in Business Administration from Northumbria. Her research focuses on applying microbial biotechnology to the built environment, particularly in living construction, bio-design, and biocatalytic processes. She co-leads the 'Hub for Biotechnology in the Built Environment' (HBBE), a £8M strategic initiative, and pioneered the Biodesign Challenge European Hub. Key research interests include engineered bacteria for material synthesis, microbial 3D printing, and sustainable design. She has led or co-led EPSRC-funded projects such as 'Computational Colloids' and 'Thinking Soils.' Education: BSc (Shandong Agricultural U), MSc (Sunderland U), PhD (Northumbria U), MBA (Northumbria U) Grants: £8M HBBE, EPSRC grants (EP/N005791/1, EP/R003629/1, EP/V050710/1) Labs/Teams: Living Construction Theme (HBBE), Biodesign Network

Chipp JansenView profile

Researcher

• Robotics
• Artificial Intelligence
• Sustainable Textile Circular Economy
• +6 more

Chipp Jansen is a researcher at the Materials Science Research Centre within the School of Design at the Royal College of Art. His work focuses on interdisciplinary robotics and AI applications for sustainability, particularly in textile circular economies. He holds a PhD in Robotics from King’s College London and has taught at institutions including King’s College London, Brunel University, City University of New York, Pratt Institute, Cornell University, and the University of Michigan. His research bridges robotics/computer science with art/design through platforms enabling collaborative creation. Key projects include AiLoupe , a material recognition app for designers, and studies on circular supply chains for biomaterials. He advocates for sustainable practices in consumer electronics through hardware re-use and reverse engineering. Dr. Jansen has received funding from the EPSRC for his doctoral work on collaborative drawing systems. Recent publications address textile robotic interaction and designer-robot collaboration, contributing to human-robot interaction research. His work emphasizes practical workflows for artists and circular economy applications.

Anne ToomeyView profile

Professor

• Textile Design
• Materials Science
• Smart Materials
• +3 more

Anne Toomey is a textile design, color, and materials specialist affiliated with the Royal College of Art (RCA) and Northumbria University. She joined RCA as a Senior Tutor in 1997 and became Deputy Head of Textiles in 2004. At Northumbria, she founded the P3i research group and held the role of Reader. Her expertise spans responsive materials, smart surfaces, and design-led innovation, with collaborations involving NASA, Philips, and Unilever. Education: Foundation studies at Medway College of Design, followed by Fashion and Textiles at Brighton University. Career highlights include leadership in luxury accessory design and pioneering work in biomimetic and interactive materials. Research focuses on sustainable design, bioengineering textiles, and interdisciplinary approaches to materials science. She advises current students Silke Hofmann, Mingjing Lin, and Hannah White. Her work emphasizes bridging design and STEM fields, with notable contributions to medical textiles and smart material applications.

Bjorn SommerView profile

Tutor

• Scientific Visualization
• Bioinformatics
• Cell Biology
• +6 more

Bjorn Sommer is a Tutor and Year 1 Lead for the Innovative Design Engineering (IDE) program at the Royal College of Art (RCA), School of Design. He holds a PhD from Bielefeld University and has extensive experience in interdisciplinary research combining Computer Science, Visualization, and Design. His work focuses on scientific visualization, immersive technologies, and bioinformatics, with notable projects like CELLmicrocosmos and Collective Behaviour Visualisation. Research interests include cell modeling, stereoscopic visualization, and virtual reality applications in biology and animal behavior. He has received awards such as the Best Animation of Show at Stereoscopic Displays and Applications (2016) and the Yasara Prize (2014). Key funding includes DAAD Grant (2018–19) and NSFC Award (2014–15). Publications span over two decades, with recent work on immersive analytics, bio-inspired design, and VR in medical visualization. He advises students like Zidong (Jerry) Lin and collaborates internationally on projects like the NEMO Explorer XR ocean co-design environment.