Academic staff

https://practable.io

Prof Timothy Drysdale is the Chair of Technology Enhanced Science Education and Director of Strategic Digital Education in the School of Engineering. He is also seconded part-time to the University's Curriculum Transformation Project focusing on digital innovation for experiential learning.

His main research activity is in Engineering Education (Key Research Area 10 for the School), where he leads the Remote Laboratories group.

He and his team have developed an entirely new infrastructure and approach for operating online remote laboratories on traditional campuses (practable.io), winning international awards from the Global Online Laboratories Consortium (Remote Experiment Award 2024) and the Association for Learning Technology / Jisc Award for Digital Transformation in 2023.

Remote laboratories allow students to access real equipment, in real-time, from almost any location. The aesthetically-pleasing experiments are installed in the foyers of buildings, giving the campus a science-museum feel, with every square metre of foyer space saving 150 square metres of teaching laboratory space.

Practable.io experiments, infrastructure, and expertise are available via subscription, purchase, or consultancy through Edinburgh Innovations (contact Tim in the first instance).

Prior to 2018, he was a Senior Lecturer in Engineering at the Open University, where he was the founding director and lead developer of the £3M openEngineering Laboratory, their first large-scale real-time remote laboratory, which attracted awards has attracted educational awards from the Queen's Anniversary Prize (2024), Times Higher Education (Outstanding Digital Innovation, 2017), The Guardian (Teaching Excellence, 2018), Global Online Labs Consortium (Remote Experiment Award, 2018), and National Instruments (Engineering Impact Award for Education in Europe, Middle East, Asia Region 2018, and the overall Global Award in 2019).

His discipline background is in electronics and electromagnetics, including terahertz metamaterial design, surface wave antennas for cubesats and orbital angular momentum radio links. He is Associate Editor of the IET journal Microwave Antennas and Propagation.

• PGCert Academic Practice, University of Glasgow, 2007
• PhD Passive Devices for Terahertz Frequencies, University of Canterbury (NZ) 2004
• B.Eng (First Class, University Prize) in Electronics and Electrical Engineering, University of Canterbury (NZ) 1998

• Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
• Member IEEE

Tim's Remote Laboratories Group provides remote experiments used on engineering courses ranging from 1st-5th year and up to 450 students in size.

• Non-Traditional Practical Work
• Remote laboratories
• Electromagnetics

Teaching Matters Blog:

• https://www.teaching-matters-blog.ed.ac.uk/generative-artificial-intelligence-ban-or-embrace/
• https://www.teaching-matters-blog.ed.ac.uk/assessment-feedback-and-their-digital-futures/
• https://www.teaching-matters-blog.ed.ac.uk/its-too-risky-to-play-it-safe-with-digital-innovation/

Appearances in the School News:

• https://www.eng.ed.ac.uk/about/news/20190527/professor-tim-drysdale-wins-global-award-teaching-remote-labs
• https://www.eng.ed.ac.uk/about/news/20181120/tim-drysdale-recognised-pioneering-remote-lab-teaching

https://thangel.github.io/index.html

Athanasios is working on engineering fluid mechanics, incorporated within the Institute for Infrastructure and the Environment and leading research on hydro-environmental applications. Aside from the role of lecturer in Civil Engineering hydraulics, as an Industrial Innovation Research Fellow of the UK’s Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) he coordinates research activities on computational methods for marine and offshore renewable energy, working closely with industry and other research groups.

• PhD in Hydro-environmental engineering (2014). Hydro-environmental Research Centre, Cardiff University.
• MEng in Civil Engineering (2010). School of Engineering, Cardiff University.

• CIVE10006 Hydraulic Engineering 4, University of Edinburgh (2019 - Now) - Course Organiser and Lecturer
• CIVE09035 Water Engineering Transport and Treatment 3, University of Edinburgh (2020-Now) - Course Organiser and Lecturer

• Environmental fluid mechanics
• Coastal ocean modelling
• Computational fluid dynamics
• Marine renewable energy
• Fluorescence spectroscopy

I am a Senior Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Edinburgh. I am a computational engineering scientist exploring nanoscale interfacial phenomena using simulation, with a particular focus on phase change, droplet dynamics, and heat transfer at solid–liquid interfaces.  My research combines molecular dynamics (including machine-learning interatomic potentials) with continuum modelling and multiscale coupling methods to connect atomistic physics to engineering-scale behaviour. A recurring theme is understanding how nanoscale mechanisms govern macroscopic outcomes: how droplets move (and sometimes jump), how surfaces clean themselves, how ice nucleates, and how heat is transported across interfaces.  

I lead an £1.3M UKRI/ERC-funded research grant (NANO-COOL) investigating nanoscale mechanisms of phase change and their implications for thermal control, and I am a group leader within the multiscale flow (mfX) research group (with Duncan and Livio), where we develop multiscale methods and high-performance computing software for complex flow and transport problems.

I am actively involved in academic service and research leadership within the School and the wider University. I currently serve as Postdoctoral Researcher (PDRA) Champion for the School of Engineering, a role focused on improving postdoctoral support, career development, and research culture. In this capacity, I have contributed to the design and implementation of postdoctoral induction and professional development initiatives aligned with the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers.

PhD, University of Melbourne (2017)

MSc, University of California, Davis (2012)

• College Member, EPSRC Peer Review College (2024–present)
• Expert Evaluator, European Research Council (2024–present)
• Member, Scotland Beyond Net Zero (2025–present)
• Member, UK Fluids Network Special Interest Group on Non-Equilibrium Molecular Dynamics (NEMD) (2019–present)
• Member, Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) (2014–present)

My research sits at the interface of molecular simulation, multiscale modelling, and thermal-fluid engineering, including:

• Molecular dynamics of phase change and interfacial transport, including ML potentials for more accurate/transferable simulations  
• Boiling/evaporation and vapour bubble nucleation at nanoscale surfaces; wettability/roughness effects.
• Ice nucleation and design principles for icephobic / de-icing surfaces, including vibration effects  
• Spectral / mode-resolved mechanisms of heat transfer across solid–liquid interfaces (including meniscus physics)  
• Multiscale coupling (atomistic ↔ continuum) and HPC-enabled simulation workflows (ARCHER2/CIRRUS)  

Selected public coverage:

• Self-cleaning surfaces inspired by cicadas (The Conversation)  
• Nanobubbles for ultrasonic cleaning (EurekAlert)  
• Ultra-fast vibration heating / “boiling by shaking” (BBC, press clippings: 1, 2, 3, 4)  

Further information on my research and publications can be found on mypersonal website, as well as the mfX group website.

Working with me / joining the group.I welcome enquiries from prospective PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, and visitors who are excited by multiscale simulation and want to work across molecular dynamics, continuum modelling, and HPC. If you contact me, the most helpful first email includes (i) a short CV, (ii) a paragraph on your interests and relevant technical skills (e.g., MD/CFD/programming), and (iii) a note on funding status/timelines. See group website on details on existing opportunities.

Collaboration.I’m always happy to discuss collaborations that need careful physics at interfaces (phase change, nucleation, interfacial heat transfer) and/or robust simulation workflows. For broader group work and joint opportunities, mfX is a good entry point

Gary is a Reader in Surfaces and Wetting at the School of Engineering at the University of Edinburgh.  He earned a BSc in 2005 and a PhD from Nottingham Trent University in 2009. Prior to joining the University of Edinburgh, he worked in industrial research at the Hewlett-Packard Display Research Lab and later served as an anniversary research fellow at Northumbria University, Newcastle. At Edinburgh, he is involved in and leads experimental research and development within the Wetting, Interfacial Science and Engineering group in the  Institute of Multiscale Thermofluids.

• BSc (Hons) Physics with Astrophysics
• PhD "Voltage Programmable Liquid Optical Interfaces

• Member of Istitute of Physics (IOP)
• Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy
• Member of the EPSRC College of Reviewers
• Committee member if IOP Printing, Graphic and Imaging Group

General Engineering 1: Course Organiser

Chemical Engineering Design 1: Co-Course Organiser

Electrical and Electronic Engineering 1: Co-Course Organiser

Gary's research focuses on the applications of surface coatings, and he designs and builds experiments and instrumentation to produce and understand the adhesion and friction of droplets on surfaces. He has conducted experimental research into surface coatings and their various applications. The coatings he has developed can be used in many applications, including heat and mass transfer and anti-fouling. 

As part of the WISE group, Gary collaborates with theoreticians to develop instrumentation and experiments to test and understand solid-liquid interfaces. His experimental research has led to multiple publications in high-ranking journals, with over 50 peer-reviewed articles in journals such as Langmuir, Nature Communications, Soft Matter, and the Journal of Fluid Mechanics.

• PhD, The University of Cambridge, 2000
• MEng, Jesus College, The University of Cambridge, 1996
• MA(Cantab), Jesus College, The University of Cambridge

MIStructE, CEng

• Tools for Engineering Design 2

Advanced Composite Structures

Fibre Reinforced Polymers (FRPs) such as carbon, aramid and glass FRPs are being increasingly used in construction. These advanced composites can be used in combination with traditional construction materials, or to form structures in their own right. Of particular importance with FRP materials are the methods of forming joints.

Adhesively Bonded Joints

The structural use of FRPs usually involves adhesive joints. These might be between two pieces of FRP (eg: in an all-FRP bridge deck), or where the FRP is bonded to another material (eg: FRP strengthening of a metallic beam or FRP reinforcement inside concrete). These bonded connections require proper design, both mechanically and to ensure their durability.

Externally Bonded FRP Strengthening

Metallic, concrete and masonry structures can be strengthened by bonding FRP to their external surfaces. FRP can be used to strengthen a wide variety of structural elements (eg: bridge columns and decks and floor slabs). FRP is particularly beneficial where time or space constraints govern a strengthening scheme.

Concrete Reinforced using FRP

FRP materials can be used to reinforce structural concrete. They are most likely to be used for their corrosion restance (eg: marine environments) or near electromagnetically sensitive equipment. However, replacing ductile steel rebar with brittle FRP reinforcement requires traditional concrete design techniques to be revised.

Shear in Concrete with Brittle Reinforcement

Stability of Long Precast Concrete Beams

• Experimental structures research
• Structural response in fire
• FRP composite materials for structural engineering
• Externally bonded strengthening and repair using FRP
• Shear in concrete with brittle (FRP) reinforcement
• Structural Analysis and Design

http://cyberbuild.eng.ed.ac.uk/

My name is Frédéric Bosché. Following a PhD in Civil Engineering at the University of Waterloo (Canada), I worked for 2 years as researcher in the Computer Vision Laboratory at ETH Zurich, before becoming Assistant Professor in Construction Informatics at Heriot-Watt University. In 2019, I joined the University of Edinburgh where I was first Senior Lecturer and now Reader in Construction Informatics. I teach on Engineering Project Management, Digital Construction and some Surveying. I also lead the CyberBuild Lab that delivers research and innovation in related areas.

• PG-Cert. Academic Practice, Heriot-Watt University (UK), 2013.
• Ph.D. Civil Engineering, University of Waterloo (Canada), 2008.
• M.Sc. Construction Engineering and Project Management, Univ. of Texas at Austin (USA), 2003.
• M.Eng. Engineering, Ecole Centrale de Lille (France), 2003.

• Associate Editor fo the Journal of Information Technology in Construction.
• Board Member and Past President (2019-2022) of the International Association for Automation and Robotics in Construction (IAARC).
• Member and Past Chair (2019-2022) of the Modelling and Standards Committee of the European Council on Computing in Construction (EC3).
• Editorial Board Member and Past Associate Editor of Automation in Construction (Elsevier).
• Editorial Board Member of Advanced Engineering Informatics (Elsevier).
• Innovation Champion for Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC).
• Member of European Group for Intelligent Computing in Engineering (EG-ICE).

• Engineering Project Management
• Digital Construction
• Civil Engineering Construction and Surveying
• Final Year Thesis Coordinator

My research interests are related to the development and application of new digital solutions to support project delivery and asset (including heritage) management (operation and maintenance), with current focus on: 

• Acquisition and Processing of reality capture data to support construction and life cycle management (scan-to-BIM, scan-vs-BIM/DT)
• XR technology, to support enhance on-site construction works.
• OpenBIM, Linked Data and ICT for information management, principally in relation to the previous two areas.

Aside from our academic and industrial impact, our research projects in the CyberBuild Lab have also given my colleagues and I the opportunity and joy to engage in numerous public engagement activities from school career fairs to events at the Glasgow Science Museum and the Edinburgh International Science Festival.

Mechanical Engineer and academic since 1993. Chair of Impulsive Dynamics and Head of Mechanical Engineering at The University of Edinburgh (UK). Author of over 250 technical/scientific and pedagogical publications, including more than 70 in international peer-reviewed journals.

Co-founder of the Light-Weight Armour for Defence & Security group (LWAG) and president of LWAG from 2008 to 2012. Director of Mechanical Engineering (School of Engineering, The University of Edinburgh) from 2021 to 2024. Member of the Institute for Infrastructure and Environment (IIE) and of the Centre for Science at Extreme Conditions (CSEC). Member of the Royal Photographic Society (RPS), Chartered Engineer (CEng) and Fellow of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (FIMechE).

• Hab, University of Aveiro (Portugal), 2009
• PhD, University of Coimbra (Portugal), 2000
• MSc, University of Coimbra (Portugal), 1995
• MEng, University of Coimbra (Portugal), 1992

• CEng FIMechE: Fellow of the IMechE (Institution of Mechanical Engineers)
• Member of the Royal Photographic Society (RPS)

• Dynamics 4 (MECE10002)
• MEng/BEng Dissertations

Research interests focus on understanding the behaviour of materials and structures under impulsive and dynamic loads, and improving their response through better energy absorption mechanisms at different scales, in areas as diverse as the built environment, transport systems, aerospace structures and the human body. Research primarily combines numerical, experimental and analytical/theoretical approaches and methods in impulsive/structural dynamics; materials for energy absorption; protection and armour systems; sports impact and human bio-dynamics; crashworthiness; terminal ballistics, blast and shock wave dynamics, hypervelocity impact and extreme strain rates.

• Impulsive and structural dynamics
• Terminal ballistics and blast-waves
• Structural impact and crashworthiness
• Armour and protection systems
• Computational Mechanics

https://dgarciacava.github.io/

• PgDip in Academic Practice, University of Strathclyde (UK), 2019
• PhD in Mechanical Engineering , University of Strathclyde (UK), 2016
• MSc in Advanced Structural Engineering, Edinburgh Napier University (UK), 2012
• BEng in Mechanical Engineering, Technical University of Madrid (Spain), 2006

• Chartered Engineer, MIMechE
• IMechE - Member of the Edinburgh and South & East Scotland Committee
• Fellow of The Higher Education Academy, FHEA

• Structural Mechanics and Dynamics 3 - Laboratory (MECE09036)
• Engineering Vibrations and Dynamics 5 (MECE11020)
• Engineering Research Methods with Grand Challenge (PGEE11195)
• Mechanical Engineering MEng Individual Project 5 (MECE11006)
• BEng Mechanical Engineering Project 4 (MECE10008)

• Structural dynamics
• Engineering vibrations
• Structural health monitoring