Research Fellow in Metallurgy and Materials
What is your research background and current field of research?
My research background is in computational solid mechanics, which studies complex physical-mathematical problems through numerical approximation. In the past, I have worked on numerical simulations for variational fracture mechanics and on thermo-mechanical problems for calculating residual stresses.
I am currently engaged in several interdisciplinary research projects that focus on developing novel methodological approaches with practical applications in sectors such as renewable energy and transport, involving active collaboration with academic and industrial partners across multiple countries. I am also Chair of the ‘Julia programming language’ Special Interest Group (JuliaSIG) at the University of Birmingham.
Which BEAR services have been most helpful to you in your research?
The high-performance computing technology provided by BlueBEAR is instrumental in addressing mathematical problems for which no analytical solution exists, as well as in obtaining rapid responses from computational models. In particular, it enables me to perform advanced simulations using SIMULIA/Abaqus through the Slurm Workload Manager running on the GNU/Linux operating system. The Research Data Store is equally essential, offering efficient, reliable, and secure data storage. There is no doubt that research in these areas would not have been feasible using conventional technologies.
How widespread do you think BEAR services are known in your School and how do you plan to spread the word?
A significant shift from purely experimental to computational approaches is underway across many disciplines. This transition requires the acquisition of new skills, including programming, data analysis, and statistical modelling. Computational methods offer distinct advantages, enabling the exploration of complex hypotheses and the analysis of large datasets that would be impractical or impossible to study experimentally. As this evolution calls for interdisciplinary expertise, there is considerable potential to further enhance the use of the BlueBEAR supercomputer. To this end, I aim to support early-career researchers who are keen to engage with computational research by actively promoting available services and offering guidance through seminars and individual consultations. In addition, I am committed to encouraging researchers from all disciplines to make full use of high-performance computing in applying innovative methods for data analysis that contribute to positive social impact.
How can researchers in your school/college contact you?
Anyone interested in complementing their studies with numerical methods is welcome to contact me via my university email address or through LinkedIn.
Beyond my primary area of research, I am strongly committed to interdisciplinary collaboration and welcome opportunities to work with colleagues across all fields, including the humanities. I am particularly enthusiastic about exploring the full potential of BEAR services in innovative and creative ways that extend beyond conventional disciplinary boundaries.
What's an interesting fact about you?
I started learning assembly language independently when I was in high school.