Malachy O'Rourke

Dr. Malachy O'Rourke is an Assistant Professor and Programme Director for the ME Mechanical Engineering Degree Programme at the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, University College Dublin. His expertise spans cardiovascular biomechanics, aerodynamics, and fluid mechanics. He leads the cardiovascular biomechanics laboratory, which integrates in vitro experimentation (e.g., heart simulators, 3D printing, particle image velocimetry) with computational methods (CFD, FEA, fluid-structure interaction). His research focuses on heart valve disease, abdominal aortic aneurysms, and aerodynamic drag reduction for vehicles. Dr. O'Rourke has been recognized with prestigious awards, including the IMechE Thomas Hawksley Gold Medal (2012) and Duncan Dowson Prize (2012), both for his work on hemodynamics and thrombus deposition in abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Education: B.E. and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Queen's University Belfast (1991, 1996). Professional experience includes roles at GEC Alstom (gas turbine design) and postdoctoral research at Queen's University Belfast. He has authored over 50 publications and secured grants totaling €multi-million, including studies on tetralogy of Fallot and coarctation of the aorta. His teaching includes fluid mechanics modules at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, as well as a biofluid mechanics course for biomedical engineering students.

Research interests combine cardiovascular systems (e.g., mitral/tricuspid valve dynamics, cerebral aneurysms) and low-speed aerodynamics (e.g., drag reduction on emergency vehicles, flatbed trailers). His lab's in vitro capabilities include right/left heart simulators, while computational tools model complex hemodynamic phenomena. Recent work explores novel drag-reduction devices and the interplay of shear stress and hypoxia in pulmonary endothelial dysfunction.

• Awards: IMechE Gold Medal, Duncan Dowson Prize, UCD Equip 2023 Award
• Grants: €1.8M+ in funding for cardiovascular biomechanics and aerodynamic research
• Advising: Supervised PhD students Dr. James McCullough (AAA hemodynamics) and Dr. Sinead Kelly (thrombus growth mechanics)