معرفی
Dr. Olga Barrera is a Reader in Mechanical Engineering at Oxford Brookes University, School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics. She serves as a year tutor for undergraduate engineering programs and has previously held a Research Fellow position at the Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford (2008–2017), and a consultancy role at China Medical University Hospital, Taiwan. Her academic work spans teaching, supervision, and leading a research lab focused on image-based multi-physics modeling of multi-phase materials.
- Reader in Mechanical Engineering, Oxford Brookes University (2018–present)
- Research Fellow, Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford (2008–2017)
- Consultant, Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taiwan
Her research interests lie at the intersection of computational mechanics, biomechanics, and materials science, with a focus on soft load-bearing tissues such as the knee meniscus. She integrates advanced imaging (micro-CT), experimental testing, and fractional calculus-based modeling to study tissue behavior and bio-inspired materials. Her work also extends to hydrogen embrittlement in metals and innovative finite element methods.
Her recent publications (2023–2025) reveal a strong trend in image-driven modeling of biological tissues, fractional viscoelasticity, and bioinspired engineering solutions. Key themes include the mechanical behavior of meniscal tissue, fluid-structure interaction, anomalous transport in porous media, and deep learning applications in tissue mimicry. These works are published in high-impact journals such as Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A, Materials & Design, and Acta Biomaterialia.
Scientific awards and grants highlight her international recognition and research leadership:
- Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship (€190K, 2018–2020)
- EPSRC HemS grant (Co-I, £340K, 2014–2017)
- Research Excellence Award, Oxford Brookes (2021–2022, £20K)
- Visiting Professor Scholarship, France (2023, €4K)
- FNR Luxembourg Crucible Grant (€8K, 2021–2022)
She has supervised numerous postgraduate students including PhD and MSc researchers, and has advised over 30 undergraduate final-year projects across Oxford and Oxford Brookes. She has led or co-led significant research grants from EPSRC, FNR, Rolls-Royce, and the Oxford Orthopaedic Engineering Centre. Her lab, the Oxford image-based multi-physics modelling of multi-phase materials, collaborates with institutions in Italy, Luxembourg, and France. She is an active member of the Materials Processing and Modelling (MPM) research group.
حوزههای پژوهشی
