Our experts

Dr Bin Wang Bin Wang graduated with BEng (1985) in Solid Mechanics from Xi’an Jiaotong University, MSc (1988) by research in Dynamics and PhD (1991) in Applied Mechanics, both from University of Manchester (formerly UMIST). He had been an academic staff member of Nanyany Technological University (Singapore), Deakin (Australia), Brunel, Manchester and Aberdeen University before returning to Brunel in July 2011. At Brunel he has held roles as the Chairperson of the Board of Study in Mechanical, Aerospace and Automotive Engineering, Year 1 Tutor, Programme Director of MSc Structural Integrity, and now the Vice Dean Internatioanl of the College. Dr Wang’s expertise is in Applied Mechanics, including stress and strain analysis, dynamics and impact mechanics. He also conducts research in reliability and safety analysis with application in energy and medical areas. His research contributed to the British Energy’s R3 document on Impact Assessment of nuclear power plants. Under the title Shooting Cancers, his research also presented at the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition (2004). Dr. Wang is also one of the inventors of a patented knee implant which is a leading product in the North American market. Structural response under impact Material behaviour under high strain rate loading Design of energy absorption systems Foams, cellulous and sandwich materials Biomaterials and surgical devices Nano scale materials Uncertainty, Reliability and Parametric Sensitivity Multi-physics phenomenon Dr. Wang has delivered a wide range of subjects in the subject area of Applied Mechanics at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, including Strength of Materials, Vector Calculus, Vibration and Machine Dynamics, Plasticity, Mechanism and Design, Advanced Reliability Analysis, Fracture and Fatigue, etc. Current teaching modules: ME3062/ME3092 FEA, CFD and Design of Engineering Systems MN5561 Computer Aided Design 2

Dr Ruth Mackay Dr Mackay is a Mechanical Engineer with a particular interest within the biomedical field. She gained her undergraduate degree from the University of Dundee in 2007 in Mechnical Engineering. This was followed by a her PhD Micro-electromechanical-systems in 2011, also at the University of Dundee, funded by a CASE grant from the EPSRC with IDB Technologies. She moved to Brunel in 2011 to work as a Research Fellow on a tanslational MRC grant developing point of care devices. She became a lecturer at Brunel in 2015. Her research focuses on organ-on-a-chip tecnologies for women's health, low cost point of care diagnostic devices and prosthetics. She teaches within the areas of Finite Element Analysis and Medical Device Engineering. Dr Mackay's primary research focus is within the field of Organ-on-a-Chip (OOC). Within the group she researches the development of microfluidic devices, manufacturing methods, cell scaffold facbrication and electronic control of the systems. The OOC group at Brunel University London (www.bruneldoclab.com) incorporates toxicologists, engineers, life scientists and bioinformaticians. The group’s research focuses on developing alternative systems to study women’s health issues, such as cancers, pregnancy outcomes and sexually transmitted infections. We are currently working on systems that replicate female organs (vagina, ovaries, placenta and breast) to better understand initiation, progression diagnosis and treatment of women’s diseases and disorders. Her other research interests include low cost, point of care diagnostics, prosthetics and soft robotics Organ on a Chip Low cost diagnostics Microfluidics Prosthetics Soft Robotics ME3622 Mechanical Engineering Structures ME3626 Vehicle Structures and FEA ME5678 Medical Device Engineering ME5692 Group Project (MEng)

Dr Gera Troisi Dr Gera M. Troisi is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering in the College of Engineering and Design at Brunel University London since 2001, delivering undergraduate and postgraduate modules on Environmental, Health & Safety Management towards Sustainable Engineering Solutions. She has supervised several postgraduate students to successful completion of PhD-doctoral degrees, MPhil and MRes. She is a Chartered Toxicologist-Ecotoxicologist (UK & Europe) and is a member of the Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) which advises on the classification, labelling and restriction of chemicals within the European Union under the REACH and CLP regulations. Her principal research interests are environmental toxicology of humans and wildlife (ecotoxicology, endocrine disruption, biomonitoring, biosensors, environmental analysis); Risk Assessment and Aquaculture. She has over 40 research publications covering these disciplines. She has coordinated a number of research and consultancy projects related to environmental toxicology funded by both non-governmental (RSPCA, WWF, Care for the Wild, Greenpeace) and governmental agencies (DEFRA) and industry (Safeway, Slimming Systems Ltd and Lufthansa-Hawker Pacific Aerospace). Before beginning her career in academia, Dr Troisi worked as a Senior Scientific Officer in the Medical Research Council (MRC) Institute for Environment & Health. She holds a doctorate degree in Environmental Toxicology from the University of Essex and is a member of the British and European Toxicology Societies. Dr Troisi offers the following consultancy services: Medical Device Risk Management; Environmental Risk Assessment; Health Risk Assessment; Ecological Risk Assessment; Life Cycle Analysis; Environmental Impact Assessment; Health and Ecological Impacts; Laboratory analysis of environmental pollutants (polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and metabolites (Methyl sulphones), pesticides, heavy metals and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs); emergent pollutants (brominated flame retardants)) drugs and biologically-active compounds (steroid hormones).

Dr Peter Hewitson Peter Hewitson is a Process Engineer at Brunel University London in the Department of Chemical Engineering. His research focuses on the scale up of continuous liquid-liquid extraction technology allowing large-scale separations of novel chemicals and bio-molecules for use by the pharmaceuticals industry. His PhD studies centred on the comparison of Intermittent Liquid-Liquid Counter-current Extraction to Isocratic and Continuous Counter-current Extraction and the scale-up of these technologies. He previously worked as a Senior Research Scientist at Kodak Ltd European Research Laboratories. While there he developing novel photographic media, flexible displays and solar cell technology with patent filings across these applications before transferring to Brunel University London. Liquid-Liquid Extraction Counter-current Chromatography and Scaleup Photographic Systems and Media Flexible Conductive Circuits and Flexible Solar Cells Bioprocess Engineering Foundation ME0080 - Material Engineering Laboratories (2015/16 - 2017/18) Level 4 BE1602 - Engineering Practice (2019/20) ME1332 - Introduction to Engineering Design - (2016/17 - 2018/19) - Module Leader 2018/19 ME1334 - Aerospace laboratories (2015/16 - 2018/19) Level 5 CL2555 - Student Placement Coordinator - Module Leader (2020/21 - ongoing) CL2602 - Chemical EngineersToolbox - Process Control Labs (2020/21) ME2555 - Student Placement Supervision (2015/16 - 2017/18) Level 6 CL3606 - Process Design and Safety II - Module Leader (2021/22 - ongoing) CL3605 - Chemical Engineering Design Project Supervision (2021/22 - ongoing) ME3309/3399 - Final Year Project Supervision (2015/16 - 2017/18) Level 7 CL5600 - Bioprocess Design Project (2020/21 - 2021-22) CL5602 - Innovation Toolbox - Leadership, management and research methods - Module Leader (2020/21- ongoing) CL5608 - Bioprocess Engineers Toolbox - Module Leader (2020/21 - 2021/22) CL5609 - Bioprocess Practice - Module Leader (2020/21 - 2021/22) ME5308 - MEng Group Project Supervision (2017/18) ME5500/5560 - MSc Project Supervision (2014/15-2017/18)

Professor Vanja Garaj Professor Vanja Garaj is Professor of Design, Director of Research for Brunel Design School and Module Leader for DM5544 Design Innovation Futures (MSc Integrated Product Design, MA Design Strategy and Innovation and MSc Sustainability, Entrepreneurship and Design) and DM5545 Design and Branding Futures (MA Design and Branding Strategy) modules. Vanja was previously Head of Department of Design (2018–2021) and Director of Postgraduate Research for Design. Before joining Brunel Design in 2017, he was Programme Director for MSc Digital Design and Branding in Digital Media Subject Area, Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering (ECE) at Brunel, leading a range of modules on digital design at postgraduate and undergraduate levels—covering product, service and graphic design aspects. His teaching promotes goal-oriented experimentation, while emphasising the importance of carefully managed human-centred design process and practice-based approach in collaboration with industry. He co-ordinated a number of live student briefs, across design fields, with organisations including Cancer Research UK, NHS, Pan Macmillan, Help for Heroes, Friends of the Elderly, Corney & Barrow, Shell, Ibis and BT. Vanja's research spans the areas of Inclusive Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), User Experience (UX) and Human Factors. He has been Principal Investigator or Co-Investigator on a number of research and innovation projects funded by Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), Innovate UK, Research England, Arts Council England and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)/Greater London Authority (GLA). He was awarded at Red Dot Design Award, Design Week Awards, D&AD Awards, Seoul Design Award, The Webby Awards and West London Business Awards. Design research | Human-computer interaction User-centred research aimed at design, development and evaluation of innovative systems, products and services—with the focus on digital and digital⇄physical domains and the application of the latest technology. Experience in using different user requirements capture and analysis, design and user testing and evaluation methods within the methodological frameworks of user experience (UX) design, user interface (UI) design, human-computer interaction, human-centred design, inclusive design and co-design—in the areas including digital health, assistive technology, m-learning, e-government, social networking and the IoT, brand engagement, digital arts and immersive technologies (XR). Research has also been conducted in the contexts of physical-only product design and environmental design. Photo-ethnography The photo-ethnographic work carried out over the years has resulted in several photo exhibitions and photo publications in the UK and overseas. Branding Research and design practice interests in the fields of digital brand experience design and brand identity design stem from the past work in design and branding/advertising industry and from the involvement in directing the MSc Digital Design and Branding programme at Brunel. For further details on research, please visit Brunel Digital Design Lab.

Dr Lu Gan Dr. Lu Gan received her B. Eng and M. Eng. degrees from South East University, China and the Ph.D degree from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore in 1998, 2000 and 2004 respectively. She is currently a senior lecturer (equivalent to associate professor) in Brunel University, London. Before she joined Brunel University in 2008, she has been on the faculties with The University of Newcastle (2004-2006), Australia and University of Liverpool, UK (2006-2007). From 2003 to 2004, she was a research associate in Centre for Signal Processing, Nanyang Technological University. Dr. Gan’s research interests include fundamental signal processing theories and their applications in image/video coding and processing, non-destructive terahertz and ultrasound imaging, machine learning and wireless communications etc. Her research work has been funded by Australian research council, The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) UK and TWI UK. She is a member of IEEE and a regular reviewer for many top journals including IEEE Transactions on Information theory, IEEE Transactions on Signal Processing, IEEE transactions on Communications and IEEE transactions on image processing etc. She has also been reviewing research grants in UK EPSRC and UK STFC and FWO in Belgium (equivalent to EPSRC in UK). She has been on the technical committee member for conferences including Globecom and ICC. So far, she has more than 30 publications on journals with high impact factor and more than 60 conference publications. She has been working as Ph. D thesis/viva examiner for more than 20 candidates in UK and Australia. Her google scholar file can be found here. Her current research focus include: 1) Fast compressive imaging for Infared and Terahertz imaging; 2) Super-resolution in non-destructive imaging; 3) Deep learning for Terahertz imaging; 4) Sparse antenna array; 5) Sparse signal processing for 5G wireless communication systems Dr. L. Gan’s main research interests are in fundamental signal processing theory and their application in multimedia signal processing, machine learning, wireless communications and radar. EE 2600 Communications (50%) EE 3040 Digital Communications (67%) EE 5511 Advanced Digital Communications (100%) EE5612//5653: Communication Network Security (50%)

Dr Amir Mohagheghi Qualifications PhD – Motor Control & Learning – Otago University, New Zealand (1999) MSc – Physiotherapy – Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran (1994) BSc – Physiotherapy – Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Iran (1987) Employment Brunel University London (2009 – present) University College London (2007 – 2009) Manchester Metropolitan University (2004 – 2007) In vivo examination of muscle and tendon architecture and mechanical properties: Muscle and tendon architectural and biomechanical properties can affect function. These characteristics are changed in clinical populations with neurological disorders (e.g. stroke, cerebral palsy). Dr Mohagheghi’s interest is focused on the effect of neurological disorders and efficacy of different therapeutic interventions on muscle and tendon properties and functional abilities. He has been a contributing author to the development of the UK national guideline for “Splinting for the prevention and correction of contractures in adults with neurological dysfunction” published 2015. Information on our ongoing research involving individuals with Cerebral Palsy can be found at: Movement disorders and musculoskeletal injuries: many neurological and musculoskeletal disorders affect walking, balance, arm movement and coordination between limbs. In stroke survivors, we examine the effect of experimentation in a StartReact context on the recovery of arm movements. In patients who will be receiving foot arthrodesis (fusion) surgery, we examine the effect of surgery on walking and standing balance. If you wish to take part in our ongoing reserch, or receive further information about them, please contact: amir.mohagheghi@brunel.ac.uk SP2701 – Biomechanics of Human Movement SP2555 – Work Placement SP5513 – Laboratory Techniques in Physiology and Biomechanics

Dr Hongying Meng Dr Hongying Meng is a Reader with Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering, Design and Physical Sciences, Brunel University London. Before that, he held research positions in several UK universities including University College London (UCL), University of York, University of Southampton, University of Lincoln, and University of Dundee. He received his Ph.D. degree in Communication and Electronic Systems from Xi’an Jiaotong University and was a lecturer in Electronic Engineering Department of Tsinghua University, Beijing in China. He is a Member of Engineering Professors’ Council, and a Fellow of The Higher Education Academy (HEA) in UK. He is a Senior Member of IEEE and an associate editor for IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems for Video Technology (TCSVT) and IEEE Transactions on Cognitive and Developmental Systems (TCDS). Digital Signal Processing: wavelet transform; digital filtering; statistical signal processing; audio signal processing; mechanical signal processing (fault detection), biomedical signal processing (e.g. ECG, EEG, EMG, GSR); real-time signal processing. Machine Learning: Support Vector Machine (SVM); kernel methods; artificial neural networks; genetic algorithm; genetic programming, feature selection and fusion; Bayesian methods; Hidden Markov Model (HMM); deep learning; Long Short Term Memory (LSTM), Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), Generative Adversarial Network (GAN), multi-label classification; statistical learning theory; multi-score learning, multiple classifier system, decision fusion, data mining, regression, spiking neural networks, neuromorphic computing. Human Computer Interaction: affective computing; emotional states recognition; facial expression analysis; multi-model interaction; movement modelling; gesture recognition, ubiquitous and pervasive computing; robot; self-driving car, ambient intelligence; multimodal emotional interaction system; interactive film; and virtual reality (VR). Computer Vision: biologically inspired vision systems; dynamic motion feature extraction; human action recognition; object detection; object tracking; visual surveillance; image compression; large scale image categorization; image segmentation; real-time image processing; medical image processing (CT, fMRI); embedded vision systems; 3D image processing, Holoscopic imaging; autonomous driving systems. Embedded Systems and Communications: FPGA; microcontroller (PIC, ARM); DSP (TI); smart phones; tablet; game consoles, SoC (System on Chip), IoT (Internet of Things), Controller Area Network (CAN), wireless networks and communication (ZigBee, Bluetooth, OOK, visible light communication, mmWave communication). Digital Systems and Microprocessors (FHEQ Level 4) Electronic Engineering Workshop (FHEQ Level 4) Computer Architecture and Interfacing (FHEQ Level 5) Engineering Group Design Project (FHEQ Level 5) Advanced Embedded Systems Design (FHEQ Level 7, MEng & MSc)

Dr Aliah Shaheen Aliah Shaheen joined the Division of Sports Science and Exercise in Brunel University London in 2018. She is an engineer by background, holding a BEng degree in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Birmingham and graduating with a PhD in Bioengineering from Imperial College London in 2010. Following her PhD, she worked as a Research Associate in Imperial College London between 2010 and 2011 and then she joined the University of Surrey as a Lecturer in July of 2011. During her time in the University of Surrey, she supervised a number of PhD students, Postdoctoral researchers and Research Assistants working on experimental and computational biomechanics. Her research focus is in the areas of functional morphology and movement coordination with applications in upper limb biomechanics, active ageing and animal locomotion. Upper limb and shoulder movement and biomechanics Movement coordination and coordination variability and their role in function Functional morphology Animal locomotion

Dr Predrag Slijepcevic Qualifications: PhD in Radiation Biology, University of Sarajevo MSc in Radiation Biology, University of Sarajevo BSc in Veterinary Medicine, University of Sarajevo Other Teaching Responsibilities:Module oo-ordinator BB3201 Genomic Medicine BB5505 Genomic & Molecular Medicine

Dr Take Itagaki Dr Takebumi ITAGAKI obtained a BEng from Waseda University (Japan) and a PhD in Engineering/Music from University of Durham (UK) in 1998. In 2000, he moved to Brunel University London as a Lecturer in Engineering. He contributed towards the several EU-IST FP5/FP6 research projects, including the SAVANT Project as the prime contractor and administrative coordinator, and the INSTINCT Project as the project manager. He was coordinating the EU CIP PSP Project DTV4All. His expertise include: Digital TV system (DVB, ISDB), Digital Signal Processing, Parallel Processing, Computer Music and Computer Architecture. Currently, he is one of the coordinators of ITU-T Focus Group Audio Visual Accessibility – Working Group D. Multimedia systems, digital signal processing, audio signal processing, Digital TV with Multimedia, IoT with Communciation applications EE2601 (Brunel) EE2623 (CQUPT) Computer Architecture and Interfacing EE3099/EE3600 Final Year Project (Brunel, CQUPT) EE5612 Communication Network Security (Brunel, to be delivered at Ahlia, Bharain) EE5500 Dissertation (Brunel, to be delivered at Ahlia, Bharain)

Dr Quan Long

Dr Svetlana Ignatova Dr Svetlana Ignatova is a senior applications scientist at Brunel Institute for Bioengineering (BIB), Brunel University, London, UK. She specialises in separation and concentration techniques, particularly those involving liquid-liquid extraction and chromatography. After she graduated from Chemistry Department of Moscow State University (Russia) in 1993, she started her research career by specialising in Counter-Current Chromatography (CCC), focussing on CCC theory and its application to inorganic and radioactive analysis. Pioneering studies on the hydrodynamics of two-phase liquid systems in CCC were the foundation of her PhD, awarded in 2001 from the Vernadsky Institute of Geochemistry and Analytical Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences. Later this research continued within a European INTAS programme between Russia, UK (Brunel Institute for Bioengineering (BIB) at Brunel University) and France ( Université Claude Bernard). In 2003, Dr Ignatova joined Brunel University, playing an important role in BIB’s development of CCC technology from “home-made” to “industrial competitive” and in its scale-up from analytical to pilot scale through the various separation trials carried out for the National Cancer Institute (USA), Pfizer, Syngenta, Shell and GSK. Her current research interests focus on new applications of novel liquid-liquid extraction technology and in particular: herbal extract separations, enantiomers/chiral separations, ionic liquids and nanoparticles. She is also performing research on novel processing techniques which become possible when both mobile and stationary phases are liquid. One example of this is intermittent counter-current extraction (ICcE), a patented process which can concentrate and isolate active leads from natural products including Chinese herbal medicine. Dr Ignatova is currently involved in a number of collaborative exchange programmes with China the most active being with Tsinghua University ( Beijing, China) and Sichuan University (Chengdu, China). Recently Dr Ignatova has been appointed secretary of sub-group WP7 (regulatory issues) of “Good Practice in Traditional Chinese Medicine (GP-TCM) in the post genomic era” as part of EU Framework 7 on Globalization of TCM and is the senior applications scientist on a £1.5m UK government funded high value manufacturing research program on “scalable technology for the extraction of pharmaceuticals (STEP)” with a consortium including GSK, Pfizer and Dynamic Extractions. Bioprocess Engineering

Dr Nila Nilavalan Dr. R. Nilavalan obtained the B.Sc. Eng. in Electrical & Electronic Engineering (First Class) from University of Peradeniya, SriLanka in 1995 and his PhD in Near-field microwave imaging from University of Bristol, UK in 2001. From 1999 to 2005 he was a researcher at Centre for Communications Research (CCR), Bristol University working in the field of Radio Frequency Engineering. He was member of the European commission, Network of Excellence on Antennas from 2002 - 2005. He joined Brunel University London in September 2005 as a lecturer in wireless communications. Professional Memberships and Services Senior member of the IEEE Member of the IET Fellow of the Higher Education Academy 5G and beyond Communication Systems, Antennas and Propagation, Beamforming and Phased Arrays, Emergency Communication Systems Microwave Systems Use of Radio and microwave frequencies in Automotive and Biomedical applications For past and present projects please refer the personal web Wireless Communication Systems, Radio Frequency and Microwave Systems, Non-destructive testing and sensing Radio and Optical Communication Systems (EE5550/EE5150, MSc) Advanced Electronics (EE3049/EE3601) Communication Systems (EE2640, Level 5) Electronic Systems (EE2604, Level 5)