Mechanical Engineering

Innovative and results-driven biomedical researcher pursuing a PhD in Tissue Engineering, specializing in immunomodulatory scaffolds for regenerative medicine applications. Extensive experience in pharmacology, immunology, molecular biology, and bioengineering, with a strong publication record and conference presentations. Passionate about space medicine and translating scientific advancements into clinical and pharmaceutical applications, particularly in drug development, biotechnology, and medical affairs.

Key competencies include:

• Tissue Engineering & Biomaterials: Expertise in 3D bio-printing, electrospinning, and scaffold design for regenerative medicine.
• Molecular & Cellular Biology: Proficiency in flow cytometry, qPCR, immunohistochemistry, and cell culture techniques.
• Immunology & Drug Discovery: Research experience in immune responses to viral infections and radiation, antimicrobial peptides utilisation and novel therapeutic approaches.
• Regulatory & Medical Affairs: Understanding of pharmaceutical regulations, clinical trials, and drug development pipelines.
• Scientific Communication & Liaison: Published in peer-reviewed journals, presented at international conferences, and collaborated with interdisciplinary teams.

MSc by Research in Biomedical Sciences (Infectious Diseases) - The University of Edinburgh

BSc Pharmacology - The University of Edinburgh

HNC Buisness Management

Scientific Translator for the European Consortium for Communicating Gene & Cell Therapy

STEM Ambassador for STEM Ambassadors Scotland

Member of the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM)

Member of the British Society for Immunology (BSI)

Member of the United Kingdom Society for Biomaterials (UKSB)

Member of the Tissue and Cell Engineering Society (TCES)

Tutor and Demonstrator

• Engineering Principles 1
• Immunology 3
• The Microbial World 2

Supervision of Master Research Projects

• MEng (Mechanical) - Development of Electrospun Polycaprolactone-Oestrogen Materials for Tissue Engineering Applications
• MScR Biomedical Sciences - Elucidating the Effect of Radiation-Induced Hypothyroidism on Immune Cell Populations and Extracellular Matrix Composition
• MSc Regenerative Medicine - Determining changes in lymphocytes and extracellular matrix composition in radiation-induced hypothyroidism

Maria Heim’s research focuses on tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, with a particular interest in developing bio-therapeutics for radiation-induced hypothyroidism. Her work explores extracellular matrix remodeling, immune modulation following radiation injury, and the engineering of functional scaffolds using electrospinning and bioprinting. She also has experience in immunology, virology, and molecular diagnostics.

Conferences

• Setting a Vision and Strategy for the future of the UK Fluid Network - Workshop delivery, UK Fluid Network 2.0 (2024), Leeds, UK
• Towards Effective RIHT Therapies: Identifying Proteins for In Vitro Thyroid Scaffold Evaluation - Selected Talk, Tissue and Cell Engineering Society Conference 2024, Glasgow, UK
• Assessing physical & mechanical properties of various antioxidant functionalised electrospun biomaterials - Selected Talk, 29^th Congress of the European Society of Biomechanics, 2024, Edinburgh, UK
• Radiation-Induced Hypothyroidism: Macrophages as a Therapeutic Target - Poster, European Society for Macrophages and Dendritic Cells Conference 2023, Ghent, Belgium
• Development of Oestrogen Scaffolds as a Niche for Thyroid Cell Proliferation - Selected Talk & Poster, UK Society for Biomaterials Conference 2023, Belfast, UK
• Lego Serious Play: Levelling the Playfield for Co-creation of Challenging Courses - Workshop delivery, Learning and Teaching Conference 2023, Edinburgh, UK
• Electrospun Scaffold Fibre Diameter: Comparing Responses of Immortalized and Primary Thyroid Cells - Presentation & Poster, School of Engineering Postgraduate Conference 2023, Edinburgh, UK
• The Effects of Electrospun Scaffold Fibre Diameter on Primary Thyroid Cells - Poster, Tissue and Cell Engineering Society Conference 2022, Birmingham, UK

Awards

• MRC-SCN Exchange Program Award 2024
• British Society for Immunology (BSI) European Travel Grant 2023
• 3^rd place for Best Selected Talk at UKSB23
• Institute for Engineering and Physics in Medicine (IPEM) Travel Grant 2023
• UK Society for Biomaterials (UKSB) Travel Award 2023
• Edinburgh Award for Student Association: Society and Volunteering Group Office Bearers 2018

• PhD Environmental Strategy, University of Surrey, 2010
• Diploma of Imperial College, Mechanical Engineering and Energy Policy, 2010
• MEng Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, 2006

• Associate Member, Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE)
• Graduate Member, Energy Institute
• Member, British Institute of Energy Economics

• Personal Tutor
• Thermodynamics (Mechanical) 4
• Project supervision for mechanical engineering undergraduate and Sustainable Energy Systems MSc students

• Analysis of flexible low carbon electricity systems
• Techno-economic analysis of carbon capture and storage (CCS) in electricity systems
• Communication of carbon capture and storage (CCS) to non-specialists
• Power plant and CO₂ capture engineering
• Opportunities and challenges for CCS in developing countries

• Equality and Diversity Coordinator for School of Engineering
• Network Director for UK CCS Research Centre
• Member of Directorate of Scottish Carbon Capture and Storage

Dr Winifred (Wini) Obande is a Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellow and Lecturer in Sustainable, Multi-functional Composites.

She leads the Circular Composites Engineering Group, focusing on the development of resource-efficient, lightweight materials. Her research embeds life-cycle thinking and life-cycle assessment (LCA) to inform the sustainable design and selection of materials and manufacturing processes. She is particularly interested in valorising waste and bio-based feedstocks as alternatives to virgin materials in composite applications. Her work includes testing for functionality and durability to benchmark the performance of these novel materials.

She serves on the SAMPE UK & Ireland Committee and is a founding member of the Edinburgh Materials Society, an IOM3-affiliated local society.

• PhD in Mechanical Engineering, The University of Edinburgh
• MRes in Mechanical Engineering, University of Limerick, Ireland
• BEng in Biomedical Engineering, University of Limerick, Ireland

• Member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)
• Member of the Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering (SAMPE)
• Member of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3)

• Manufacture 3 (MECE09032), 2024/25 - Ongoing
• Professional Issues for Mechanical Engineers 3 (SCEE09001), 2023/24
• Sustainable Energy Group Design Project 3 (MECE09026), 2023/24

I am open to enquiries from postgraduate research students, postdoctoral researchers, visitors, and industrial collaborators

I welcome applications from self-funded candidates whose research proposals closely align with my areas of interest. Candidates may also wish to explore available University of Edinburgh Scholarships.