Martin Given

Martin Given is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering at the University of Strathclyde, Faculty of Engineering, where he has been actively involved in research and teaching since 1982. He serves as First Year Advisor of Studies and the undergraduate academic selector for his department, contributing significantly to student guidance and program development.

His research centers on the properties and performance of electrical insulation systems, with a focus on ageing, breakdown mechanisms, and diagnostic techniques. Key areas include multifactorial stress testing (including radiation and space simulation), dielectric spectroscopy, space charge effects, and high-power ultrasound generation. His work has applications in high-voltage engineering, power systems, and advanced materials.

The recent publications highlight a strong trend in understanding spark discharges in water, surface flashover on polymers, and acoustic signal propagation from partial discharges. These studies reflect a multidisciplinary approach combining high-voltage engineering, plasma physics, acoustics, and materials science, often in collaboration with researchers like Igor Timoshkin and Scott MacGregor. The research emphasizes energy characterization, impulse dynamics, and material response under extreme electrical stress.

Martin Given has served as a referee for IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation and as an External Examiner for PhD theses, demonstrating active engagement in academic peer review and quality assurance. He has participated in multiple externally funded research projects, primarily with EPSRC and the Royal Academy of Engineering.

He is involved in research supervision, as indicated by his role in doctoral training programs and records of supervised work. His projects include Breakdown Mechanisms in Dielectric Fluids, EPSRC CDT in Future Power Networks, and studies on non-thermal plasmas and magnetization modeling. These efforts support graduate training and innovation in power engineering and insulation technology.

Martin Given's laboratory and research group focus on high-voltage testing, dielectric characterization, and pulse power systems. His team conducts experiments on breakdown in gases, liquids, and solids, utilizing advanced diagnostics for condition monitoring and failure prediction in electrical insulation. The integration of nano-particles and ultrasound for material modification represents an innovative direction in his research.