Dr Ramy Abdallah PhD, PGCHE, FHEA

• Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCHE), University of Birmingham, UK, 2022
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), 2022
• PhD in Mechanical Engineering, University of Birmingham, UK, 2020
• MSc in Mechanical Engineering, Helwan University, Egypt, 2014
• BSc (Hons) in Production Engineering, Helwan University, Egypt, 2008

Achievements and Awards

• Internally shortlisted by the School of Engineering for nomination to a Royal Academy of Engineering Fellowship (2023)
• Second Prize, School of Engineering Research Symposium, University of Birmingham (2019)
• Invited to participate in the Global Forum for Higher Education and Scientific Research as a leading Egyptian researcher based in the UK (2019)
• Awarded a competitive Egyptian Government PhD scholarship, securing approximately £150,000 in funding to support doctoral research at the University of Birmingham (2016)

Dr Ramy Abdallah is a mechanical and manufacturing engineer with extensive experience across higher education, research and industrial practice. His main interests centre on advanced manufacturing and the processing of high-performance materials, including composites and superalloys.

He completed his BSc and MSc in Mechanical Engineering at Helwan University, Egypt, graduating from his MSc with First-Class Honours and ranking first in his cohort. His MSc research focused on abrasive waterjet machining and product quality. He later undertook a PhD in Mechanical Engineering at University of Birmingham through a competitive Egyptian Government scholarship, where his doctoral research investigated wire electrical discharge machining of carbon fibre-reinforced plastic composites.

Ramy began his academic career at Helwan University as an Assistant Lecturer before moving to the UK, where he has held teaching and research positions at University of Birmingham and the University of Kent. His academic experience spans engineering education, advanced manufacturing research and supervision of undergraduate and postgraduate projects.

His research has included collaborative work in advanced manufacturing for aerospace, energy storage and high-performance materials, particularly in electrical discharge machining and laser processing.

Alongside his academic career, Ramy has worked in industry as an EDM Subject Matter Expert, applying his experience to process improvement, machine reliability, fixture design, and manufacturing optimisation. This industry experience also helps him bring practical manufacturing challenges into his teaching and research.

Ramy is currently Module Lead for Integrated Design Project 1A (IDP1A), a first-year Mechanical Engineering module at  University of Birmingham. He is responsible for coordinating module delivery, developing project briefs, coordinating tutors, managing assessment and marking, moderating assessment outcomes, organising student presentations, and liaising with relevant academic and industry contributors. The module helps first-year students develop core engineering and professional skills, including CAD-based design, technical report writing, oral presentation, teamwork, communication and problem-solving

In previous academic roles, Ramy contributed to undergraduate and postgraduate teaching across a range of mechanical engineering subjects, including engineering mechanics, mechanical design, advanced manufacturing, CAD/CAM, project management and fluid mechanics. He also delivered and coordinated engineering laboratories and practical sessions in fluid mechanics, machining and manufacturing processes.

Ramy has supervised more than 12 undergraduate and postgraduate research projects, supporting students in experimental work, data analysis, technical writing and the dissemination of research findings. Outcomes from a number of these projects have contributed to peer-reviewed journal publications. His wider assessment experience includes MSc projects, Integrated Design Projects, placement presentations, examination marking and moderation.

He has also contributed to the development of engineering laboratories in line with IMechE accreditation requirements. In collaboration with the University’s EdTech team, he introduced interactive learning materials, pre-laboratory activities and formative feedback to strengthen student preparation and engagement. He has also mentored postgraduate teaching assistants involved in laboratory teaching.

At the University of Kent, Ramy previously served as Module Leader for Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer, where he was responsible for curriculum development, coursework, laboratory activities, assessment and COMSOL-based heat-transfer simulations.

Ramy's research focuses on advanced manufacturing and the application of non-conventional machining technologies to high-performance materials. His main interests include EDM, laser processing, abrasive waterjet machining, composites, superalloys, surface integrity and process optimisation.

Laser micro-processing for energy-storage applications

Ramy's recent research at University of Birmingham focused on laser micro-processing for energy-storage applications. He worked on developing micro-structuring and drilling techniques for thin sheets and membranes used in hydrogen systems, fuel cells and solid-state batteries. This involved thermal modelling to predict heat-affected zones and identify suitable processing conditions that minimise deformation in thin materials.

Advanced manufacturing for aerospace and hypersonic applications

As a Research Fellow at University of Birmingham, Ramy contributed to a £6.1 million EPSRC-funded collaborative project involving the University of Oxford, Imperial College London, the University of Southampton and University of Birmingham.

His research focused on wire electrical discharge machining of CMSX-4 single crystal superalloys for transpiration cooling systems used in jet engine turbines and hypersonic applications. He led work on CAM programming and optimisation of wire EDM operations for complex aerofoil profiles and pedestal arrays. He also examined the effect of machining parameters on surface integrity and dimensional accuracy and developed a lower-cost machining approach that reduced the required equipment budget.

Wire EDM of carbon fibre composites

Ramy completed his PhD in Mechanical Engineering at University of Birmingham, where he investigated the feasibility of wire electrical discharge machining for carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) composites.

His doctoral research examined the effects of process parameters, fibre orientation and electrode technology on cutting performance, accuracy and surface integrity. He also developed approaches to improve the electrical conductivity of CFRP during machining and designed a low-cost experimental rig to measure the electrical resistivity of composite materials. This research resulted in peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.

Abrasive waterjet machining

Earlier in his research career at Helwan University, Ramy worked on abrasive waterjet machining of engineering materials. His MSc research investigated how cutting parameters affect the quality of machined marble, including kerf geometry, surface roughness and waviness. The study combined experimental testing with statistical analysis and optimisation techniques.