
Materials and Processes

I am a Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering at the Institute for Materials and Processes in Edinburgh University. My expertise is in the modeling and simulation of particle (granular)/particle-laden systems. These systems are encountered in a broad spectrum of industrial and environmental applications ranging from manufacturing to aerospace industries. To study the multi-physics and multi-scale phenomena encountered in such systems, I develop bespoke parallel numerical schemes and use high-performance computing to discover new physics and to tackle challenging engineering issues.
- BSc, MSc, PhD
- PgDip In Academic Practice
- Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (MIMechE)
- Fellow of Advance HE (FHEA)
- Engineering Thermodynamics (SCEE08006)

I am a Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering at the Institute for Materials and Processes in Edinburgh University. My expertise is in the modeling and simulation of particle (granular)/particle-laden systems. These systems are encountered in a broad spectrum of industrial and environmental applications ranging from manufacturing to aerospace industries. To study the multi-physics and multi-scale phenomena encountered in such systems, I develop bespoke parallel numerical schemes and use high-performance computing to discover new physics and to tackle challenging engineering issues.
- BSc, MSc, PhD
- PgDip In Academic Practice
- Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (MIMechE)
- Fellow of Advance HE (FHEA)
- Engineering Thermodynamics (SCEE08006)

Dr Nan Yu is a Senior Lecturer/Associate Professor at the University of Edinburgh, and the Deputy Director of MSc Digital Design and Manufacture.
Nan was trained at Cranfield University (PhD: plasma figuring of large optics), University College Dublin (UCD, as a postdoc in precision manufacturing of medical devices), and the European Organisation of Nuclear Research (CERN, as an Associate Scientist in precision alignment and metrology). He has established academic reputation in precision manufacturing and advanced plasma technologies as evidenced by over £ 1 M funding secured as PI, more than 50 papers in peer-reviewed journals and conferences, 4 paper awards and 10 invited/keynote talks. Nan receives the prestigious Marie Curie International Fellowship (2018-2020), Irish Research Council Fellowship (2020), and Royal Academy of Engineering Industrial Fellowship (2023-2024). He holds two visiting appointments at UCD (2021-2026) and Osaka University (2022-2024).
PgCAP in Higher Education (2023), Edinburgh
PhD in Precision Engineering (2017), Cranfield
MSc in Mechanical Manufacturing (2013), Harbin;
BSc in Mechanical Engineering (2011), Harbin;
2018 Professional Certificate of Entrepreneurial Educators, UCD, National University of Ireland;
2018 International Scientific Committee member of European Society for Precision Engineering and Nanotechnology (EUSPEN);
2019 Member of International Academy of Engineering and Technology (AET);
2021 Research Affiliate of International Academy of Production Engineering (CIRP);
2021 Member of EPSRC Early Career Forum in Manufacturing Research;
2022 Fellow of Royal Society for Art, Manufacture and Commerce (RSA);
2023 Fellow of Higher Education Academy (HEA)
1. Conceptual Design for Mechanical Engineers 3 (Course Organiser);
2. BEng Mechanical Engineering Project 4;
3. Digital Manufacturing 5;
4. Metrology in MSc Digital Design and Manufacture (Course Organiser)
5. MEng Mechanical Engineering Project 5

Dr Nan Yu is a Senior Lecturer/Associate Professor at the University of Edinburgh, and the Deputy Director of MSc Digital Design and Manufacture.
Nan was trained at Cranfield University (PhD: plasma figuring of large optics), University College Dublin (UCD, as a postdoc in precision manufacturing of medical devices), and the European Organisation of Nuclear Research (CERN, as an Associate Scientist in precision alignment and metrology). He has established academic reputation in precision manufacturing and advanced plasma technologies as evidenced by over £ 1 M funding secured as PI, more than 50 papers in peer-reviewed journals and conferences, 4 paper awards and 10 invited/keynote talks. Nan receives the prestigious Marie Curie International Fellowship (2018-2020), Irish Research Council Fellowship (2020), and Royal Academy of Engineering Industrial Fellowship (2023-2024). He holds two visiting appointments at UCD (2021-2026) and Osaka University (2022-2024).
PgCAP in Higher Education (2023), Edinburgh
PhD in Precision Engineering (2017), Cranfield
MSc in Mechanical Manufacturing (2013), Harbin;
BSc in Mechanical Engineering (2011), Harbin;
2018 Professional Certificate of Entrepreneurial Educators, UCD, National University of Ireland;
2018 International Scientific Committee member of European Society for Precision Engineering and Nanotechnology (EUSPEN);
2019 Member of International Academy of Engineering and Technology (AET);
2021 Research Affiliate of International Academy of Production Engineering (CIRP);
2021 Member of EPSRC Early Career Forum in Manufacturing Research;
2022 Fellow of Royal Society for Art, Manufacture and Commerce (RSA);
2023 Fellow of Higher Education Academy (HEA)
1. Conceptual Design for Mechanical Engineers 3 (Course Organiser);
2. BEng Mechanical Engineering Project 4;
3. Digital Manufacturing 5;
4. Metrology in MSc Digital Design and Manufacture (Course Organiser)
5. MEng Mechanical Engineering Project 5

I joined the University of Edinburgh (UoE) in 2021 as a Senior Lecturer in Chemical Engineering. I studied chemical engineering at the Nanjing University of Technology, obtaining a BEng with Highest Distinction in 2003 and PhD in 2008. In the last year of my PhD, my first employment started at The University of Hong Kong (Department of Chemistry). The next position was at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (Department of Physics) from 2010 to 2013 a. Early 2013, I moved to the University of Liverpool (Department of Physics) and assisted to set up a new research group. Before I joined UoE, I had a four-month spell working in the National Graphene Institute, University of Manchester, and five-year experience as Lecturer in Chemical Engineering, Aston University.
2016 Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching for Higher Education in the UK. 2003-2008 Nanjing University of Technology (NJUT), PhD in Chemical Engineering. 1999-2003 NJUT, BEng (1st Honours) in Chemical Engineering.
IChemE, RSC, EPSRC Associate Peer Review College
Chemical Engineering Design 4 (CHEE10010) - Course Organiser
Supervising students' projects in various chemical engineering courses: Study Project 4, Research Project 5, etc.
1. Over 10 years’ expertise in nanomaterials, photocatalysis, greenhouse gas removal, reaction engineering, electrochemistry and physical chemistry. 2. Extensive practices on preparation and characterization of nanomaterials, design and evaluation of photocatalytic reactions/photoreactors, antimicrobial properties of nanomaterials. 3. Leading multidisciplinary projects involving both academic and industral resources, comprehensive collaboration and interpersonal skills in a team environment. 4. Skills in electron microscopy, time-resolved spectroscopy, thermal analysis, chromatography, atomic force microscopy, X-ray crystallography and synchrotron radiation spectroscopy

I joined the University of Edinburgh (UoE) in 2021 as a Senior Lecturer in Chemical Engineering. I studied chemical engineering at the Nanjing University of Technology, obtaining a BEng with Highest Distinction in 2003 and PhD in 2008. In the last year of my PhD, my first employment started at The University of Hong Kong (Department of Chemistry). The next position was at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (Department of Physics) from 2010 to 2013 a. Early 2013, I moved to the University of Liverpool (Department of Physics) and assisted to set up a new research group. Before I joined UoE, I had a four-month spell working in the National Graphene Institute, University of Manchester, and five-year experience as Lecturer in Chemical Engineering, Aston University.
2016 Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching for Higher Education in the UK. 2003-2008 Nanjing University of Technology (NJUT), PhD in Chemical Engineering. 1999-2003 NJUT, BEng (1st Honours) in Chemical Engineering.
IChemE, RSC, EPSRC Associate Peer Review College
Chemical Engineering Design 4 (CHEE10010) - Course Organiser
Supervising students' projects in various chemical engineering courses: Study Project 4, Research Project 5, etc.
1. Over 10 years’ expertise in nanomaterials, photocatalysis, greenhouse gas removal, reaction engineering, electrochemistry and physical chemistry. 2. Extensive practices on preparation and characterization of nanomaterials, design and evaluation of photocatalytic reactions/photoreactors, antimicrobial properties of nanomaterials. 3. Leading multidisciplinary projects involving both academic and industral resources, comprehensive collaboration and interpersonal skills in a team environment. 4. Skills in electron microscopy, time-resolved spectroscopy, thermal analysis, chromatography, atomic force microscopy, X-ray crystallography and synchrotron radiation spectroscopy

- MEng, Aerospace Engineering, The University of Manchester, 2010
- PhD, Advanced Metallic Systems, The University of Manchester, 2015
- PGCert, Academic Practice, LJMU, 2021
- Fellow of Advance HE (FHEA)
- Member of The Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining (MIMMM)
Sam is currently course organiser for three courses:
- Additive and Computer Aided Manufacturing (PGEE11210)
- Digital Design and Manufacture Dissertation (PGEE11217).
- Digital Manufacture 5 (MECE11017)
He also provides supervision for BEng, MEng and MSc projects.

- MEng, Aerospace Engineering, The University of Manchester, 2010
- PhD, Advanced Metallic Systems, The University of Manchester, 2015
- PGCert, Academic Practice, LJMU, 2021
- Fellow of Advance HE (FHEA)
- Member of The Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining (MIMMM)
Sam is currently course organiser for three courses:
- Additive and Computer Aided Manufacturing (PGEE11210)
- Digital Design and Manufacture Dissertation (PGEE11217).
- Digital Manufacture 5 (MECE11017)
He also provides supervision for BEng, MEng and MSc projects.