Chris Breward is a Professor at the Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford, and serves as Co-Director of the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Industrially Focused Mathematical Modelling (InFoMM CDT). His work bridges industrial problem-solving and bioscience applications through advanced mathematical techniques. His academic credentials include: MA MSc DPhil Professor Breward specializes in fluid mechanics with emphasis on surfactant behavior, tear film dynamics, and polymer-surfactant mixtures. His research develops asymptotic models for complex industrial and biological systems, focusing on stability analysis and reaction kinetics in multiphase flows. Current projects address ocular surface mechanics and industrial decontamination processes. Analysis of his publication record (2009-2025) reveals consistent application of fluid mechanics to porous media, surfactant solutions, and industrial material processing. Recent work (2023-2025) emphasizes contaminant transport in drying media and metallurgical processes, while earlier studies (2009-2011) established foundational models for tear films, micellar solutions, and liquid film stability. As InFoMM CDT Co-Director, Breward oversees doctoral training programs that connect academic research with industrial partners through EPSRC-funded projects. He actively mentors students in mathematical modelling for real-world applications. He contributes to the Oxford Centre for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (OCIAM), collaborating on industrially relevant mathematical challenges across multiple sectors.
Michael Vynnycky is an Affiliated Professor at KTH Royal Institute of Technology , specializing in mathematical modeling and numerical analysis of industrial metallurgical processes. His research focuses on continuous casting , electromagnetic stirring , and fluid-structure interactions in manufacturing systems. Key Research Areas: Continuous casting of metals, fluid dynamics, heat transfer, computational methods (FEM, CFD), inverse Stefan problems, and oscillation mark formation. Collaborations: Frequent collaboration with researchers like H. Fredriksson, B. Glaser, and A. Safavi Nick. Applications: Steel production, die casting, redox flow batteries, and polymer electrolyte fuel cells. Recent publications highlight work on blast furnace dynamics , muon radiography for structural analysis, and asymptotic modeling of gas-solid flows. His methodologies emphasize mathematical rigor and industrial relevance , as seen in studies on macrosegregation and electromagnetic flow control. Techniques: Leverages asymptotic analysis multiphysics simulation finite element methods computational fluid dynamics boundary reconstruction algorithms experimental validation to solve complex industrial problems. Email Contact: michaelv@kth.se
Alexander Bußmann is a Researcher at the Chair of Aerodynamics and Fluid Mechanics at the Technical University of Munich . His work focuses on nanoshock phenomena and multiphase flow analysis , particularly through numerical simulations of cavitation dynamics and interface tracking. Research Highlights: Development of hybrid WENO5IS-THINC schemes for compressible multiphase flows Analysis of micro-jet formation via cavitation bubble interactions Investigation of particle deposition in thermal-spray gun nozzles Publications span topics in fluid mechanics, computational physics, and photonics, with a focus on cavitation dynamics, numerical methods, and multiphase flow modeling. Key collaborations include work with Stefan Adami and Nikolaus A. Adams .
Professor Laura Torrente Murciano leads the Process Integration and Catalysis Group at the University of Cambridge's Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology. Her research focuses on sustainable chemical processes, particularly integrating reaction and separation steps for green technologies. Reaction engineering with 3D-printed microdevices Nanoparticle synthesis for catalytic applications Ammonia production as a hydrogen vector Low-temperature activation of methane and CO2 Her work spans multiphasic systems, metallic membranes, and nanostructured materials like ceria and titanate. Recent publications highlight techno-economic analyses of green ammonia, dynamic energy integration, and catalytic process innovations. Key themes across her research include: Process optimization for renewable energy storage Development of sustainable hydrogen production methods Design of tuneable nanoparticle catalysts Structure-property relationships in catalytic supports Life cycle analysis of green technologies Photocatalytic and electrochemical material applications
Professor Mathieu Lucquiaud serves as Professor of Clean Energy with Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Sheffield's School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering. He joined Sheffield in 2022 after 12 years at the University of Edinburgh, where he progressed from post-doctoral Research Associate (2010) to Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellow (2012), Senior Lecturer (2016), and Reader (2019). His academic foundation includes a first degree in Energy and Environmental Engineering from INSA Lyon (2004) and a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Imperial College London (2010). INSA Lyon: Energy and Environmental Engineering (2004) Imperial College London: PhD Mechanical Engineering (2010) Lucquiaud's research pioneers climate change mitigation technologies for zero-carbon societies, integrating techno-economic modeling , experimental validation , and pilot-scale demonstration at Sheffield's Translational Energy Research Centre. His work targets carbon capture, zero-carbon electricity/hydrogen production, and industrial decarbonisation through direct air capture, waste-to-energy integration, and solvent innovation. Recent projects include FOCUS (solvent storage for flexible capture) and NEWEST-CCUS (waste sector negative emissions). Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals three dominant trends: cost reduction pathways for zero-carbon hydrogen/electricity, waste-to-energy decarbonisation with carbon capture, and operational flexibility solutions for CCS integration. His work consistently bridges fundamental engineering with real-world deployment challenges across power, hydrogen, and waste sectors. Key recognition includes: Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellowship (2012) He actively shapes CCS education through his globally influential MOOC (25,000+ participants from 150+ countries) and teaches Advanced Engineering Thermodynamic Cycles. His supervision spans final-year undergraduate projects, with research funded through industry partnerships and UKRI grants focused on CCS commercialisation. The Translational Energy Research Centre serves as his primary experimental hub for pilot-scale carbon capture validation.
Cari Dutcher is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science at the University of Minnesota's College of Science and Engineering. Her research focuses on complex fluids and multiphase flows, with current projects spanning atmospheric aerosols, agricultural sprays, and biomedical applications. Her research interests include Multiphase Flows , Complex Fluids , Interfacial Phenomena , Microfluidics , and Rheology . She employs macro- and micro-scale flow measurements and mathematical modeling to study systems such as aerosol suspensions, emulsions, foams, and polymeric solutions, with emphasis on dynamic surface tension, phase change, and surfactant transport mechanisms. Professor Dutcher leads the Multiphase Flows Research group supported by the dedicated Multiphase Flows Research Fund within the College of Science and Engineering. Her laboratory utilizes advanced microfluidic platforms and custom-built equipment including Taylor-Couette geometry for emulsion studies, focusing on experimental validation of polymer-particle interactions and encapsulation techniques for biomedical applications.
Assistant Professor Radojica Pešić is affiliated with the Department of Chemical Engineering at the Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade. With expertise in chemical engineering and environmental applications, his work focuses on reactor design, mass transfer, and sustainable process optimization. Research spans environmental remediation , process design , and transport phenomena Active in bubble column reactors , CO2 capture , and industrial water treatment Supervised 10+ final theses in chemical engineering processes and environmental systems Recent publications highlight trends in electrochemical pollutant degradation , fluidized bed thermal dynamics , and sustainable material design . His teaching involvement includes Chemical Engineering Laboratory and Process Design courses. Advised research on distillation process optimization (2021), industrial water quality (2020), and PINCH methodology for mass integration (2018) Key methodologies: linear mass balance models , absorption column design , and quality control systems Contact: rpesic@tmf.bg.ac.rs | Office 37, TMF Building | Phone: +381 11/3303611
Frédéric Gibou is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Computer Science, and Department of Mathematics at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He is also a core faculty member in the Computational Science and Engineering program. His academic journey began with a PhD in Applied Mathematics from UCLA, followed by post-doctoral research in the Departments of Mathematics and Computer Science at Stanford University. PhD in Applied Mathematics, UCLA Post-doctoral research, Stanford University (Mathematics and Computer Science) Professor Gibou's research sits at the interface between Applied Mathematics, Computer Science and Engineering Sciences, focusing on the design of high resolution computational methods for large scale computations. His work spans Computational Materials Science, Computational Fluid Dynamics, and Computational Image Analysis. The common thread across these applications is that they involve complex/free boundaries and similar classes of nonlinear partial differential equations. His group develops computational strategies on spatially adaptive grids for massively parallel environments, increasingly incorporating Machine Learning algorithms to solve forward and inverse problems. His research output shows a clear trend toward integrating traditional numerical methods with machine learning approaches, particularly for solving partial differential equations with complex interfaces. The publications reveal a strong focus on developing sharp interface methods, adaptive grid techniques, and novel computational paradigms that can handle multiscale phenomena across various scientific domains. Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship in Mathematics Regent's Junior Faculty Fellowship NSF Mathematical Sciences Postdoctoral Fellowship Robert Sorgenfrey Distinguished Teaching award Professor Gibou leads a multidisciplinary research group called Computational Applied Science Laboratory (CASL), which has strong collaborations with experimentalists at UCSB and worldwide. His group has received substantial funding from various agencies, enabling them to tackle challenging problems in computational science. CASL focuses on designing computational methods on Quad-/Oc-trees grids in the level-set formalism for solving previously intractable problems in science and engineering. The group's work spans Computational Materials Science (including nanostructured polymeric materials and high temperature multicomponent alloys), Computational Fluid Dynamics (including flow over superhydrophobic surfaces, flow in reactive porous media, and multiphase flows), and Computational Image Analysis (including image guided surgery and image segmentation).
Professor Andrew Hrymak is a distinguished academic in the Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering at Western University, where he has been a faculty member since 2009. Prior to his appointment at Western, he served as Professor and Department Chair at McMaster University from 1985-2009. During his tenure at Western, he held the position of Dean of the Faculty of Engineering from July 1, 2009 to July 31, 2018. He currently serves as Deputy Director of the Fraunhofer Project Centre for Composites Research at Western and has held significant editorial roles including Editor of Computers and Chemical Engineering (2002-2010) and Editor-in-Chief of International Polymer Processing (2004-2016). His educational background includes: PhD in Chemical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University (1985) B.Eng. in Chemical Engineering from McMaster University (1980) Professor Hrymak's research focuses on the modeling, design, and optimization of materials processing systems, with particular emphasis on composites processing, injection molding, compression molding, mixing liquid coating flows, and complex rheology. His work integrates computational methods with experimental approaches to address challenges in polymer processing operations. His research spans multiple scales, from microscopic fiber-matrix interactions to macroscopic process modeling. He has made significant contributions to understanding the behavior of complex fluids and multiphase systems, particularly in the context of polymer composites manufacturing. His work often combines computational fluid dynamics with experimental validation to develop predictive models for industrial applications. Professor Hrymak's extensive publication record demonstrates a consistent focus on advancing the science and engineering of polymer processing, with recent work incorporating machine learning approaches to model complex material behaviors. His research has practical applications in automotive, aerospace, and manufacturing industries where composite materials play a critical role. His scientific recognition includes: Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering (2010) Fellow of the Chemical Institute of Canada (2005) Excellence in Process Development Research Award by the Process Development Division of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (2005) As an academic advisor, Professor Hrymak has mentored numerous graduate students through their PhD and Master's research. His current research group includes students working on projects related to structural long-fiber thermoplastics for automotive applications, compression molding simulation, and dip coating processes. His research has been supported by various funding sources including NSERC, Greenfield Global Products, and the Chinese Scholarship Council. He has also served on important committees including the Fellowship Selection Committees of the Chemical Institute of Canada and the Canadian Academy of Engineering, and was past Chair of the Board of Directors of the Chemical Institute of Canada. Professor Hrymak is actively involved with the Fraunhofer Project Centre for Composites Research at Western, where he serves as Deputy Director. His research group collaborates with industry partners on various projects related to composite materials processing and characterization. He has also been instrumental in developing the virtual process chain concept for sheet molding compound composites, which integrates multiple simulation tools to predict final part properties based on processing conditions.
Dr. Vatsal Sanjay is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Physics , Durham University. He leads the Computational Multiphase Physics (CoMPhy) Lab, focusing on fundamental fluid dynamics research with applications in energy, manufacturing, and natural systems. Education: PhD in Physics (University of Twente, 2022) Research Areas: Soft Matter Singularities, Non-Newtonian Flows, Viscous Free-Surface Flows His work explores topological transitions in fluid systems through continuum simulations , collaborative experiments , and theoretical analysis , addressing phenomena like droplet impact , bubble bursting , and sheet fragmentation . Recent studies span microgravity fluid mechanics , viscoelastic jet formation , and mycofluidic transport in fungal networks. Articles reveal interdisciplinary trends combining fluid dynamics , materials science , and applied physics , with subfields spanning from Worthington jet dynamics to yield-stress fluid rupture . His Ammodo Science Fellowship enables research into fungal internal transport systems , bridging physics and biology. Supervision: Mentors PGR student Sam Walker Labs: Founder of CoMPhy Lab (moving to Durham in 2025) Open Science: Advocates code sharing and transparent research practices
Weimin Han is a Professor and Collegiate Fellow in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Iowa. He holds additional appointments in the Applied Mathematical & Computational Sciences (AMCS) program and the Iowa Technology Institute. His research focuses on numerical analysis, computational mechanics, and variational/hemivariational inequalities, with applications in fluid and solid mechanics. Han earned his Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Maryland (1991), following M.S. (1986) and B.S. (1983) degrees from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Fudan University, respectively. He has served as Chair of the Department of Mathematics (2020–2022) and Director of AMCS (2007–2019). His honors include Fellow of the American Mathematical Society (2023), Simons Fellow (2012), and recognition as a top scholar in Numerical Analysis by Research.com and ScholarGPS. He has organized conferences like the Midwest Numerical Analysis Day 2024 and serves on editorial boards of journals such as Communications in Nonlinear Science and Numerical Simulation . Han’s research has led to groundbreaking work on nonsmooth problems, including contact mechanics and fluid dynamics governed by variational inequalities. His numerical methods address challenges in engineering and biomedical imaging.
Sheng Xu is Associate Professor at Southern Methodist University, specializing in computational fluid mechanics and aerodynamics. He holds a Ph.D. from Cornell University (2002) and previously worked at GE Energy on steam turbine aerodynamics, with postdoctoral research at Cornell and Princeton. Research develops computational methods for biological flows, supersonic turbulence, flow control, and insect/swimmer hydrodynamics. The immersed interface method—a core focus—models solids using singular forces and solves fluid flows with jump conditions. Current applications include dragonfly wing kinematics and particle collision dynamics. Publications in Journal of Computational Physics, SIAM Journal on Scientific Computing, and Journal of Fluid Mechanics address turbulent boundary layers, particle collisions, and biological flight mechanics. Recent work advances interface methods for non-smooth boundaries and manufactured solutions for code validation.
Marty Philippe is a Professor at Université Grenoble Alpes and a member of the Équipe Energétique within the LEGI (Laboratoire des Écoulements Géophysiques et Industriels). He collaborates extensively with the CEA-Grenoble on thermal energy intensification and hydrogen storage. His research focuses on heat storage, hydrogen storage in metal hydrides (in collaboration with the Institut Néel), and the influence of wettability on boiling heat transfer. He previously led the Master of Process Engineering at Université Joseph Fourier until 2015 and managed the Energy Team at LEGI until 2014. His work integrates Numerical simulations of boiling flows in concentrated solar plants, Hydrogen storage systems using magnesium hydride, Thermal energy storage with phase change materials (PCMs), and Experimental studies on heat transfer in microchannels and multiphase flows. Key research trends in his articles include advancements in thermal energy storage (e.g., LiBr/H₂O absorption systems), numerical modeling of phase change phenomena, and optimization of heat exchangers for industrial applications. His studies often bridge computational fluid dynamics with experimental validation, addressing challenges in renewable energy systems and thermal management. He has contributed to interdisciplinary projects, such as the development of a prototype for long-term solar heat storage and the design of hydrogen tanks with integrated heat management. His work also explores material science applications, including nanostructured MgH₂ for enhanced hydrogen absorption/desorption. Lab affiliations include the LEGI’s facilities like the tunnel hydrodynamique and soufflerie à bas niveau de turbulence , enabling experimental validation of his computational models.
Professor William Coombs is a Professor in the Department of Engineering at Durham University. He holds a first-class MEng in Civil Engineering (Durham University, 2008) and a PhD in Engineering (Durham University, 2011). His core research focuses on computational mechanics, particularly material constitutive models, finite-deformation mechanics, non-linear finite elements, and the Material Point Method (MPM). He leads projects in offshore geotechnical engineering for renewable energy applications, including cable burial and braced excavations. His work emphasizes open-source tools like the AMPLE MPM code. Grants & Collaborations: EPSRC-funded project EP/W000970/1 (Offshore Cable Burial Depth Analysis) EPSRC project EP/X024849/1 (Braced Excavation Modeling) Leadership in the Aura CDT for Offshore Wind Energy, training 130+ PhD students. Research Interests: Elasto-plasticity and fracture mechanics Non-mesh-based methods (MPM, DG-FEM) Offshore geotechnics and wind energy infrastructure Ice fracture and calving processes Students & Supervision: Supervises research on MPM applications, offshore socio-ecological systems, glacier modeling, and composite material optimization. Accepts new PhD students in aligned fields. Labs & Teams: Leads the Computational Mechanics Research Node within Durham's Engineering Department, fostering collaborations on numerical methods and industrial applications.
Kara Maki is a Professor in the School of Mathematics and Statistics at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), serving as Director of the Applied and Computational Mathematics MS Program. She holds a BS from the University of New Hampshire and MS and PhD degrees from the University of Delaware. Her research focuses on mathematical modeling of fluid dynamics, particularly tear film dynamics, droplet evaporation, and interfacial phenomena. She has contributed to understanding biological systems like ocular surfaces and respiratory models, as well as engineering applications in microfluidics and materials science. Dr. Maki teaches advanced courses such as Mathematical Modeling I & II, Differential Equations, and supervises graduate research through capstone and thesis programs. Her work bridges applied mathematics with interdisciplinary fields, including collaborations on tear film mechanics, nanoparticle behavior, and viral infection modeling. She actively engages in educational outreach through programs like the SMASH Experience for Girls, promoting STEM education for underrepresented groups. Her publications span topics from evaporation-driven flows to contact lens mechanics, with notable contributions to the Journal of Engineering Mathematics, Journal of Aerosol Science, and Langmuir. While no formal awards are listed, her research has garnered attention for its practical implications in healthcare and engineering. Ongoing projects include computational modeling of biological systems and the development of low-cost microfluidic devices.
