Professor Karen Hapgood is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research at Swinburne University of Technology. She leads research strategy and partnerships, with over 20 years of academic and industry experience in chemical engineering, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and minerals processing. Previously, she held leadership roles including Executive Dean at Deakin University's Faculty of Science Engineering and Built Environment, and Dean of Engineering at Deakin. Education: PhD (Chemical Engineering) and BE (Chemical Engineering, First Class Honours) from the University of Queensland. She is a Fellow of ATSE, IChemE, RACI, and Engineers Australia, and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Research focuses on wet granulation, pharmaceutical formulation, additive manufacturing, and mineral processing. Notable grants include Australian Research Council projects on particle breakage modeling, powder inhaler design, and antisolvent vapor spray drying systems. Awards highlight her expertise and leadership: Fellowships in multiple engineering societies, and recognition for advancing diversity in STEM. She actively supervises PhD research in pharmaceutical and materials engineering.
Matt Evans is Professor of Civil and Construction Engineering at Oregon State University's College of Engineering. His research spans granular mechanics, biocementation, and geotechnical system performance, with applications in sustainable infrastructure and natural hazard mitigation. Education includes PhD and MS from Georgia Tech in Civil Engineering, BS from University of New Mexico, and BA in Physics from University of Virginia. Prior to academia, he worked on waste encapsulation technologies. Research integrates experimental and computational methods to address challenges in renewable energy infrastructure, coastal resilience, and sustainable materials. Current projects investigate biocementation for erosion control and DEM modeling of granular systems. Awards include ASCE Associate Editor of the Year (2018) for Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering. Research is funded through multiple NSF and industry partnerships.
Kim Sørensen is an Associate Professor at Aalborg University (AAU), affiliated with the Department of Thermal Engineering within The Faculty of Engineering and Science. He also contributes to AAU Energy and the BLUE – Marine & Maritime Research initiative. His academic background includes a Graduate Diploma in Business Administration from AAU (1992) and an MSc in Mechanical Engineering from the Technical University of Denmark (1986). His research focuses on energy systems, thermodynamics, heat transfer, and marine exhaust gas cleaning technologies, with emphasis on computational fluid dynamics (CFD), particle dynamics, and system engineering. Education : MSc in Mechanical Engineering (Physic and Energy), Technical University of Denmark (1986) Graduate Diploma in Business Administration, Aalborg University (1992) Key Projects : Geothermal based Optimized Energy Systems (2022–2025) Integration of Large Scale Heat Pumps in the Energy System (2021–2022) Separation of Particulate Matter from Marine Scrubber Washwater (2020–2022) His research interests span thermal energy systems, including boiler technology, waste heat recovery, and marine scrubber design. Recent work involves optimizing packed bed scrubbers for ocean-going vessels, analyzing turbulent flow dynamics, and advancing smart grid infrastructure for water supply systems. He has supervised 4 PhD students and contributed to over 60 research outputs since 2002. Notable collaborations include work on district heating concepts, thermal energy storage, and emission reduction technologies. His projects often bridge engineering and environmental sustainability, addressing challenges in energy efficiency and marine pollution control.
Dr. Tugrul Comlekci is a Principal Knowledge Exchange Fellow at the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department within the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Strathclyde. He is also affiliated with the Weir Advanced Research Centre (WARC), where he specializes in research and knowledge exchange activities with industrial applications. As a chartered mechanical engineer (CEng MIMechE), his work bridges academic research with practical engineering solutions for industry. Dr. Comlekci's research focuses on structural integrity assessment, solid mechanics, and modeling, with expertise in developing both numerical (particularly finite element analysis) and experimental methodologies. His work has significant applications in: Pressure equipment for oil and gas industry applications Energy generation applications, particularly wind turbine structures Welding simulation for naval vessel fabrication Fatigue and corrosion fatigue analysis His research portfolio demonstrates a strong emphasis on practical industrial applications, with notable contributions including: Patented fracking pump fluidend valve seat design that improved pump fatigue life Autofrettage optimization solutions applied to numerous pump designs Wind turbine life assessment methodologies developed for SSE/Scottish Power Weld distortion analysis methodologies for BAE Systems Dr. Comlekci has successfully translated research into industrial practice, with technologies transferred to Weir SPM and methodologies adopted by major industry players. His publication record shows consistent output in high-impact journals focusing on structural steel performance, fatigue analysis, and crack propagation. As an educator, Dr. Comlekci teaches across all levels, with interests in structural integrity, computer-aided engineering design, finite element analysis (using ANSYS, PTC Creo, SolidWorks), aeromechanical engineering, and engineering business strategic analysis. He supervises undergraduate, MSc, and PhD projects, contributing to the development of next-generation engineers. His current research projects include: Development of a DEM tool for wear prediction and design optimisation of GET (2024-2027) Development of Sustainable Mining Equipment using Novel Fracture Mechanics based Structural Design Optimisation (2023-2026) Wind turbine fatigue life assessment and modelling (2016-2018) APESA (H2020 MSCA EID) project (2015-2019) Dr. Comlekci works closely with industry partners including Weir Group, SSE/Scottish Power, and BAE Systems, ensuring his research has direct practical applications and impact in the engineering sector.
Dr. Yevgen Gorash is a Research Fellow in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering department at the University of Strathclyde, affiliated with the Weir Advanced Research Centre (WARC). He teaches ME105/ME109: Mechanical Engineering Design, focusing on integrating design principles with 3D modeling and manufacturing techniques. His roles include registrar duties and tutoring for these courses. He supervises Y4 project students, Master's candidates (EF900), and PhD/EngD students. Education: Holds a Doctor of Engineering from Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg (2008) and a Master of Engineering from Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute (2004). His research focuses on ultrasonic fatigue testing, residual life assessments using FEA and continuum damage mechanics, nonlinear material models (plasticity, viscoplasticity, hyperelasticity), and structural integrity analysis. Industrial collaborations include projects with Weir Group subsidiaries, addressing challenges in mining, oil & gas, and power equipment. Key research areas include fatigue behavior of structural steels, advanced material modeling for elastomers, and FEA-based design optimization. Recent publications (2024–2025) explore topics like additive manufacturing for stainless steel repair, gigacycle fatigue testing, and DEM calibration for bulk materials. Notable projects include 'Sustainable Mining Equipment Design' (2023–2026) and 'Design optimization of swellable elastomeric seals' (2016–2019). He has contributed to industrial solutions for valve leak tightness and pump design through FEA/CFD integration.
Donald Mackenzie is a Professor at the University of Strathclyde's Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering within the Faculty of Engineering. His expertise includes finite element analysis, pressure vessel design, linear/non-linear structural analysis, and design-by-analysis assessments for elastic and inelastic materials. He leads research projects such as the Development of Sustainable Mining Equipment (2023–2026) and has contributed to studies on fatigue analysis, fracture mechanics, and material behavior. Dr. Mackenzie has co-authored notable publications on crack arrest analysis, DEM friction calibration, and ultrasonic fatigue testing. His work emphasizes practical applications in structural optimization and material science. He has supervised PhD students like Tugrul Comlekci and Yevgen Gorash, contributing to datasets such as Numerical Modelling of Rubber Hyperelasticity . Key projects include co-investigator roles in sustainable mining equipment design and micro-launcher feasibility studies. His research aligns with UN SDGs by advancing structural integrity and material efficiency in engineering systems.
Professor Yuntian Feng is a Personal Chair in Civil Engineering at Swansea University, affiliated with the School of Aerospace, Civil, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering. His research focuses on computational mechanics, discrete element methods, fluid-solid interaction, and high-performance computing. He leads the Discontinuum Mechanics for Engineering Disasters (DMED) group and is a co-editor of Discrete Element Methods & Numerical Modelling. He holds prestigious fellowships including the Plumer Visiting Fellowship and Leverhulme Research Fellowship. His research interests encompass finite/discrete element methods, stochastic modeling of engineering systems, and computational biomechanics. Key contributions include energy-conserving contact models for non-spherical particles and data-driven approaches for granular material simulation. Recent work emphasizes machine learning integration with computational models, particularly in granular materials and multiscale analysis. He has supervised PhD students in areas like high-performance boundary element methods and machine learning-based constitutive modeling. Affiliations: DMED Group, Swansea University Fellowships: Plumer (2009), Leverhulme (2007-2009), Sandia Lab (2003) Teaching: Structural Mechanics III, MSc Dissertations in Civil/Structural Engineering Publications span high-impact journals like Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, addressing topics from contact mechanics to fracture modeling. His work bridges computational methods with real-world applications in geomechanics and biomedical engineering.
Dr. Holger Götz is a Researcher affiliated with Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU), located at Cauerstraße 3, Room 03.140 in Erlangen. His research focuses on granular matter dynamics, computational mechanics, and metamaterials design. Utilizing advanced simulation techniques like the Discrete Element Method (DEM), he investigates phenomena such as granular jamming, elastic membrane interactions, and robotic gripper optimization. Recent work includes studies on structural features of jammed metamaterials and the dynamic response of granular meta-materials. Götz collaborates with institutions like FAU's physics and engineering departments, contributing to interdisciplinary projects in materials science and robotics. Publications Highlights: His 2024 paper in Physical Review Research explores metamaterial structural features, while 2023 contributions to Granular Matter and Mathematics in Computer Science address DEM simulations and software advancements. A 2022 study in Granular Matter demonstrates how soft particles enhance robotic gripper performance through granular jamming principles. Affiliations: Active in FAU's physics and engineering communities, his work intersects computational modeling, material design, and robotics applications. Contactable at holger.goetz@fau.de.
Dr. Luke McElroy is an Adjunct Research Fellow at Curtin University's WASM School of Minerals, Energy and Chemical Engineering, within the Faculty of Science and Engineering. He is based at the Curtin Perth campus in the Engineering Pavilion, Room 430. His research focuses on chemical engineering processes, thermodynamics, and particle dynamics, with applications in energy systems, environmental engineering, and industrial process optimization. Dr. McElroy's work spans gas recovery (e.g., helium from natural gas), high-pressure thermal conductivity measurements of gas mixtures, and soft-sensor technologies for milling processes. His contributions include advancing numerical simulations of particle dynamics in rotating drums and stirred mills using discrete element modeling (DEM). These studies address critical challenges in resource recovery, energy storage, and industrial process automation. His publications demonstrate a sustained focus on interdisciplinary applications of thermodynamics and computational methods to real-world engineering systems. Despite no listed awards or grants in the profile, his collaborative projects involve co-authors from academia and industry, highlighting applied research interests. While no formal advisees are listed, his involvement in multi-author research suggests mentorship roles in collaborative projects. His affiliation with the Office of the Provost indicates potential administrative or strategic roles in university initiatives.
Yi Zou serves as a Research Fellow in the Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering at Monash University, focusing on computational modeling of particulate systems. His research expertise encompasses: Fluidization dynamics of cohesive particles Hot isostatic pressing and sintering processes Computational techniques including CFD-DEM and multi-particle finite element methods Powder consolidation mechanics Tungsten powder processing Recent publications demonstrate consistent contributions to powder technology, particularly in simulating agglomeration phenomena and densification behavior through advanced computational frameworks. His work bridges chemical engineering and materials science with strong methodological innovation. Scientific awards: No awards documented in available sources. Advising and grants: No information provided regarding student supervision or research funding.
Dr. Chunshun Zhang is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Civil Engineering at Monash University, specializing in geotechnical engineering and geo-infrastructure. He holds over 4 years of academic experience and 3 years in industry (GHD, Australia), and is a member of Engineers Australia and the Australian Geomechanics Society. His research focuses on geomechanics, including load-induced grain crushing, piled foundation bearing capacity, and failure mechanisms of pressurized water pipelines. He has developed the Monash Tool for water utilities and contributed to Australia’s largest numerical models for underground mining subsidence. His work has attracted over $7M in research grants and earned prestigious awards like the George Stephenson Medal (2014) and IWA’s Project Innovation Award (2016). Research interests include numerical modeling of geotechnical systems, pipeline failure mechanisms, and particle breakage in granular materials. His applied work bridges academia and industry, emphasizing practical solutions for infrastructure resilience and asset management. Key Contributions: Monash Tool for water utilities, large-scale mining subsidence models, and corrosion-patch stress analysis. Grants: Over $7M in external/internal funding as Chief Investigator or project lead. Advising: Accepts PhD students in geotechnical engineering and related fields.
Dimitrios Loverdos is a Lecturer in Digital Construction at the School of Civil Engineering, University of Greenwich, within the Faculty of Engineering and Science. He holds a PhD and MEng from the University of Leeds, Department of Civil and Structural Engineering, and specializes in integrating digital technologies with structural engineering applications. Education: PhD in Civil and Structural Engineering, University of Leeds MEng in Civil and Structural Engineering, University of Leeds His research lies at the intersection of structural engineering and digital innovation, focusing on physical large-scale testing , numerical analysis using FEM and DEM , and the application of computer vision and machine learning for structural assessment. He leverages Python and MATLAB for algorithmic development in automated model generation, defect detection, and damage evaluation of built structures. The recent publications reflect a strong trend toward intelligent, data-driven structural analysis, combining photogrammetry with deep learning for digital twin creation, vision-based inspection systems, and advanced numerical modeling of composite systems under extreme conditions like fire. These works highlight interdisciplinary work across civil engineering, AI, and computational mechanics. Scientific Awards: No awards listed in the provided text. Regarding academic advising and research grants, no specific information is available in the current text. There is no mention of PhD students supervised or funding received. In terms of laboratory involvement, Dimitrios has extensive hands-on experience in laboratory environments, contributing to construction, experimental testing, and demolition activities. He has also provided technical assistance and management in lab operations, demonstrating strong practical and managerial capabilities in experimental structural engineering.
Amit Arora is an Associate Professor of Materials Engineering at Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar , leading the Advanced Materials Processing Research Group . His expertise spans numerical modeling of welding and joining processes, additive manufacturing, and friction stir welding/processing. PhD from The Pennsylvania State University (2011) M.Tech & B.Tech from IIT Kharagpur Research interests focus on: Numerical modeling of friction stir welding (FSW) and processing (FSWP) Tool wear analysis during FSW Dissimilar material joining Mechanical/electrochemical characterization of surface composites Additive manufacturing of titanium alloys Recent publications explore laser fusion additive manufacturing, friction stir channeling, and biocompatible composite development from biowaste. His work combines computational modeling with experimental validation across multiple domains. Scientific awards include: Young Scientist Research Award (Department of Atomic Energy, 2014–2017) Metallography Contest Winner (Indian Institute of Metals, 2019) Best Poster Awards at international workshops As an academic mentor, he has guided numerous PhD and M.Tech students, including: Mahesh V.P. (now Assistant Professor at VIT) Amit Kumar Singh (Post-doctoral Fellow at UNT Denton) Nishkarsh Srivastava (PhD Scholar at IIT Gandhinagar) The Advanced Materials Processing Research Group actively investigates: Friction stir welding of metals and polymers Surface composite fabrication Heat treatment of alloys CFD-DEM modeling for material behavior
Dr. Kenneth Imo-Imo Israel Eshiet is a Senior Lecturer in Civil Engineering at the University of Wolverhampton, UK, affiliated with the Faculty of Science and Engineering and the School of Architecture and Built Environment . He holds a PhD in Civil Engineering from the University of Leeds and postgraduate qualifications in Management and Computational Fluid Dynamics. Chartered Engineer (UK) Corporate Member of Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Fellow of Advance Higher Education (Advance HE) Research interests focus on computational modeling of subsurface systems, stochastic risk assessment, structural analysis, and computational fluid dynamics. His work bridges civil, geotechnical, and environmental engineering with applications to energy systems and CO2 storage. Publications emphasize numerical methods (DEM, XFEM, CFD), fracture mechanics, reservoir geomechanics, and environmental impact studies. Key themes include subsurface fracturing, sand production, and optimization of energy projects. Scientific awards include University of Leeds Teaching Awards (ULTA-1 and ULTA-2) and recognition as a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of Advance HE. He has executed major projects on underground coal gasification , CO2 storage , and hydraulic fracturing in collaboration with institutions like the University of Leeds and Sustainable Energy Environmental and Educational Development (USA).
Academic Profile Dr. Adnan Sufian is a Senior Lecturer in Geotechnical Engineering at the School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney). He holds a PhD (2017) and BE (2012) in Civil Engineering from UNSW, with research visits to MIT. Prior academic roles include positions at Imperial College London and the University of Queensland. He also has industry experience at SMEC Australia on major infrastructure projects. Research Focus Dr. Sufian specializes in multi-scale mechanics of granular materials, investigating fluid-particle interactions through computational (DEM, CFD-DEM), experimental, and theoretical approaches. His work addresses geotechnical challenges including erosion, landslides, and contaminant transport, with applications in infrastructure, environmental management, and industrial processes. Current projects focus on internal erosion in dams, particle migration, and climate-resilient infrastructure. Publications & Trends Recent articles (2019-2025) demonstrate strong emphasis on granular material behavior under hydraulic/mechanical stresses, featuring advanced computational techniques like pore-network modeling and coupled CFD-DEM. Key themes include internal erosion mechanisms, filtration dynamics, soil-fluid interactions, and microstructural analysis. Publications consistently appear in top geotechnical journals including Geotechnique and Computers and Geotechnics . Awards & Recognition Best Paper Award (Early Career Researcher), Australasian Conference on Computational Mechanics (2019) Best Paper Award (Postgraduate Student), Australasian Conference on Computational Mechanics (2015) UNSW Geotechnical Discipline Prize (2011) Grants & Projects ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (2024-2026): Predicting internal erosion in dams using real-time coupled experiments ARC Early Career Industry Fellowship (2023-2026): Safeguarding dams/levees from internal erosion NSERC Alliance Award (2023-2024): Internal erosion in hydroelectric dams (with Zheng) Research Leadership Supervises HDR projects on transport processes in granular media, particle shape effects on erosion, and flood-impacted infrastructure. Collaborates with physicists and mathematicians to study emergent granular phenomena. Co-organizes the European Working Group on Internal Erosion Symposium and holds memberships in the Australian Geomechanics Society and Engineers Australia.
