Calvin Ralph is a Senior Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering at the School of Engineering, Ulster University, Belfast campus. His research focuses on composite materials and their mechanical behavior under impact loading, with a particular emphasis on novel 3D woven structures and natural/synthetic fibre hybrids. Key research areas include: 3D Woven Composite Architecture Basalt and Carbon Fibre Reinforcement Impact Resistance and Energy Absorption Sustainable Textile Supply Chains Smart Composite Manufacturing Recent work explores biomimetic design principles for composite optimization and green manufacturing initiatives in Northern Ireland. His projects often involve collaboration with industry partners and government agencies.
Lisa Macintyre is an Associate Professor at the Heriot-Watt University School of Textiles & Design , where she has worked since 1996. She is a textile technologist specializing in both medical compression products and sustainable textile practices , with particular expertise in pressure garment design and fiber fragmentation testing. PhD in Pressure Garments for Hypertrophic Scars (Heriot-Watt University, 2004) Scottish College of Textiles, First Class Honors in Textile and Clothing Technologies (1994) Her research focuses on textile sustainability , including: Test method development for microplastic shedding evaluation Fiber-to-fiber (closed-loop) polyester recycling Open-loop recycling of textile waste into construction materials Consumer behavior modification via wardrobe management apps Pressure measurement in medical compression products Evaluation of commercial fabrics for pressure garments Recent publications examine sustainability metrics and medical textile applications, with 2025 contributions on chemical effects on polyester recycling, garment repair services, and smart wardrobe management systems. She has received multiple teaching awards including the Learning and Teaching Oscar and was named a UKCGE Recognised Research Supervisor in 2025. Macfarlane Prize (2004) Graduates' Teaching Prize (2017, 2019, 2023) Macintyre serves as School Director of Post Graduate Research Studies and has led research funded by Innovate UK , Medical Research Scotland , and Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) . She supervises 3 PhD students and has completed 12 graduate-level supervisions.
Dimitrios Bikos is a Research Associate in the Mechanics of Materials division within the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Imperial College London's Faculty of Engineering. His research focuses on the fundamental understanding and design of multiphase composites with tailored mechanical performance for industrial applications. He is currently advancing the understanding of microscopic imperfections in fibre-reinforced polymer composites through finite element modeling as part of the EPSRC-funded NextCOMP project. Dr. Bikos completed his PhD in Mechanical Engineering in 2022 at Imperial College London, where he investigated the effect of micro-aeration on the mechanical and thermal properties of chocolate under oral processing conditions. His PhD project was part of the EPSRC-funded Theory and Simulation of Materials Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) and conducted in collaboration with Nestlé Product Technology Centre (PTC). His PhD thesis received two prestigious awards: the Margaret Fischenden Centenary Memorial Prize and the Johnson Matthey PhD Prize. His research spans multiple disciplines including Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Composite and Hybrid Materials, Solid Mechanics, Computational Heat Transfer, Food Engineering, and Simulation and Modelling. Dr. Bikos has made significant contributions to understanding composite materials under compression, micromechanical modeling of composite structures, and the mechanical properties of food materials, particularly chocolate. His work combines experimental approaches with advanced computational modeling techniques, often involving interdisciplinary collaboration across various engineering disciplines and with industry partners. Margaret Fischenden Centenary Memorial Prize for best PhD thesis (2022) Johnson Matthey PhD Prize for best PhD thesis in Theory and Simulation of Materials CDT (2022) His research is primarily supported through the EPSRC-funded NextCOMP project, which aims to improve the absolute compressive performance of fibre-reinforced polymer composites. His PhD work was also funded through the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Theory and Simulation of Materials. Dr. Bikos works within the Mechanics of Materials division of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Imperial College London. His research involves collaboration across multiple engineering divisions at Imperial including Mechanics of Materials, Thermofluids, and Tribology, as well as with industry partners like Nestlé.
