Mechanical Engineering

Katherine Dunn Research Group website

After completing the four year MPhys course at Oxford and achieving a First, I stayed on to carry out research for my DPhil, initially in the field of Terahertz Spectroscopy. After 18 months I changed direction and started a new DPhil in Biological Physics, submitting my thesis entitled ‘DNA Origami Assembly’ a little under three years later. In 2014, I went to York to take up an appointment as a Research Associate in the Department of Electronic Engineering, working primarily on synthetic DNA nanomachines in the context of bioelectronic computing.

I joined the School of Engineering at Edinburgh as a Lecturer in 2017 and became a Senior Lecturer in 2022. I am affiliated with the discipline of Mechanical Engineering and I am a member of the Institute for Bioengineering, where I carry out research in the area of Synthetic Biology.

I was named as one of the Top 50 Women in Engineering 2021 by the Women's Engineering Society. Shortly thereafter, I was elected a Fellow of the Institute of Physics and I took up the role of Degree Programme Manager for Mechanical Engineering in February 2022. In March 2024, I was promoted to the role of Director of Mechanical Engineering, which means I am responsible for leading Mech Eng, providing strategy and line managing the academics (over 40 people).

• DPhil in Condensed Matter Physics (Biological Physics), University of Oxford, 2014
• Master of Physics, First Class, University of Oxford, 2009

Fellow of the Institute of Physics

Fellow of The Durham Institute of Research, Development, and Invention

Current teaching (2026):

• Bio-Inspired Engineering
• Electrical and Mechanical Engineering 2 - core course for second years on the joint honours programme
• Undergraduate supervision (projects/placements)

Previous teaching activities (highlights):

• Thermodynamics - fourth year lectures/classes/assessment and supervision of second year labs/coursework
• Engineering Mathematics - vector calculus classes
• Professional Issues for Mechanical Engineers - industry matters and course organisation
• Nanofabrication (at York) - delivery of entire module
• Condensed Matter Physics, Nuclear Physics (at Oxford) - support for practical work

Currently working with the Policy and Innovation Group within the Institute for Energy Systems, on a range of UK and European projects. Donald's research topics include techno-economic analysis and cost reduction, lifecycle assessment, technology commercialisation, and the research & innovation requirements for the ocean energy sector.

Donald completed an Engineering Doctorate, with research on testing renewable energy devices in a combined wave-current environment at the University of Edinburgh's FloWave Ocean Energy Research Facility, as part of the Industrial Doctorate Centre of Offshore Renewable Energy (IDCORE). His background is as a civil engineer/hydrologist, with over nine years experience in small hydropower schemes and renewable energy, flood risk assessment and flood management, plus coastal engineering

Doctor of Engineering (EngD) in Offshore Renewable Energy. The Universities of Edinburgh, Strathclyde, and Exeter, as part of the Industrial Doctorate Centre of Offshore Renewable Energy (IDCORE)

Master of Engineering (MEng) in Civil and Environmental Engineering. Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh

For my publications, please see my Research Gate profile, ORCID, or PURE below

• BSc (hons:1st class) Technology with Industrial Studies - CNAA
• PhD Mechanical Engineering (Shape Optimisation) - Edinburgh

• Fellow of The Institution of Mechanical Engineers
• Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

• Year 3 - Manufacture 3 (Comuter-aided Design)
• Year 4/5 - Digital Manufacturing 5

• Research Grants
• Full List of Publications
• Director of ShapeSpace Ltd
• Consultancies