

Weichao Shi
Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor)
Marine Renewable Energy and Marine Propulsion
Email: weichao.shi@strath.ac.uk
Senior Lecturer in Low Carbon Technologies, to support the teaching and R&D activities in the field of marine renewable energy, underwater vehicle and marine propulsion system with specialties in experimental and numerical marine hydrodynamics. Weichao started his higher education journey at Harbin Institute of Technology, studying Naval Architecture & Ocean Engineering, where he continued his Master degree study in Mechtronics. During his master study, he got inspired to devote himself in tidal energy research and he is blessed to be able join many national research programmes in developing tidal energy systems. In 2013, he moved to Newcastle University and continued his PhD research in the Emersion Cavitation Tunnel. In 2016 he moved to the University of Strathclyde. He then dedicated himself in researching applied biomimetics marine hydrodynamics technologies trying to provide marine industry with inpsiring biomimetic solutions.

Yasin Kaan Ilter
Y. Kaan ILTER graduated from the Department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering Department of the Yildiz Technical University in 2010 with an BSc degree in Naval Architecture. After one year military service he started his MSc at the Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering Department of the Istanbul Technical University. During his MSc education he started working as an R&D Engineer in the industry. In 2014 he finished his MSc thesis about computational aero & hydro acoustics. Meanwhile he started his structural analysis engineer journey in an engineering consultancy company as a senior engineer together with his PhD journey at the Istanbul Technical University. While he specialising in the field of structural mechanics, dynamic simulations, noise and vibration, explicit simulations, and mechanical design in the industry, his PhD study brings a high level of computational and experimental fluid dynamics experience. He is working as a consultant engineer for the novel Gate Rudder project under supervision of Prof. Noriyuki Sasaki for a Japanese consortium since 2020. He is studying on boundary layer flows and drag reducing mechanisms of different surface structures within his PhD study.

Mina Tadros
Research Associate
Design and Optimisation of Marine Propulsion Systems
Email: mina.tadros@strath.ac.uk
Mina is a Naval Architect and Marine Engineer with around 15 years of experience in the marine field. He received his BSc and MSc degrees in naval architecture and marine engineering from Alexandria University, Egypt and a PhD degree from the University of Lisbon, Portugal.
He is a lecturer and researcher at different universities and institutions and is involved in the design process of several small ships.
He enrolled in many EU research projects, focusing on optimization solutions and machine learning applications in marine engines, propulsion systems, ship design and operation towards maritime decarbonization and sustainability.
Mina published multiple articles in international peer-reviewed journals, book chapters and conferences.

Moritz Troll
PhD Researcher, Research Assistant
Marine Control Surfaces and Turbulent Mitigation
Email: moritz.troll@strath.ac.uk
Moritz Troll graduated from the Department of Naval Architecture, Ocean and Marine Engineering (NAOME) of the University of Strathclyde in 2018 with an MEng in Naval Architecture with High-Performance Marine Vehicles with Distinction. Throughout his fourth- and fifth-year research and design projects, Moritz developed a strong interest in academic research. This motivated him to return to the NAMOE department to commence his PhD in the autumn of 2018 as a joint venture between the university and an industrial client. The PhD explores how tubercle leading-edges can be employed as flow conditioning devices to minimise and alter the turbulent wake from marine control surfaces, such as rudders, fin stabilisers, or submarine hydroplanes. The project combines sophisticated numerical analyses and experimental studies. Specialising in the analysis of lifting surfacers, Moritz is skilled in marine hydrodynamics, CFD and turbulence modelling, 3D modelling and experimental fluid dynamics using towing tanks. He is looking to further develop his experimental fluid dynamics skills through planned work with Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) and cavitation tunnels.

Hongbo Hou
Hongbo Hou graduated with BSc from the Wuhan University of Technology and MSc from the Newcastle University in Naval Architecture with Distinction degrees. Then, Hongbo started his PhD at the University of Strathclyde since March 2019. His study is to develop a self-sustainable underwater glider to improve the overall performance. The concept is inspire by the sperm whales. Hongbo Hou and Dr. Shi have invented a new type of thermal buoyancy engine can be used on an underwater glider and applied for a patent. Based on the new thermal buoyancy engine, Hongbo Hou uses MATLAB to design and optimize a dual-purpose turbine&propeller which can be used as a power generation turbine and a propeller for underwater glider. Hongbo Hou’s skills include : thermal buoyancy engine design and development, wind/tidal turbine design and optimization, CFD, MATLAB

Callum Stark
PhD Researcher, Research Assistant
Underwater Propeller Noise and Mitigation Measures
Email: callum.stark@strath.ac.uk
Callum Stark graduated with an MEng in Aero-Mechanical Engineering with Distinction in 2019 from the University of Strathclyde. Callum commenced his PhD topic within the NAOME department immediately after returning from undertaking his master’s project in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to explore the noise reduction and hydrodynamic benefits of leading-edge tubercle marine ducted thrusters in collaboration with an industrial client. The initial findings have resulted in 3 patent applications between UoS and the industrial client where Callum is listed as a co-inventor. Currently, in addition to this, Callum has also led the numerical study of the leading-edge tubercle open propeller using CFD, investigating the effect on cavitation development and designed a compact dynamometer alongside Dr. Shi which is in the assembly stage. Callum is skilled within; optimisation through multi-order regression analysis, 3D modelling, design for manufacture, CFD, hydrodynamics, cavitation and hydroacoustics.

Yunxin Xu
Yunxin Xu graduated from the Department of Naval Architecture, Ocean and Marine Engineering (NAOME) of the University of Strathclyde in 2019 with an MSc in Ship and Offshore Structures. During the research project in the postgraduate stage, Yunxin developed a strong interest in academic research. After that, Yunxin started his PhD at the University of Strathclyde in 2019, inspired by the remora fish’s “hitchhiking” behaviour. Through analysing the remora fish's swimming strategy in boundary layer using CFD, his study is to develop a novel dynamic recovery strategy for AUVs. Yunxin is skilled in AUV design and development, 3D modelling, structure analysis, CFD and hydrodynamics.

Bryn Townley
Bryn Townley is an IDCORE student who graduated in 2020 from Swansea University with a BEng and MSc with distinction in Mechanical Engineering. His MSc dissertation utilised CFD to characterise the flow around a floating tidal turbine device. After graduating, Bryn worked with Crossflow Energy on a project in conjunction with Swansea University to optimise and develop their design for their transverse axis wind turbine during an extensive CFD study on multiple designs before its recent deployment in Pembrokeshire. Bryn developed a keen interest over this time in developing his skills with more experience in the renewable energy sector and is now starting his 3 year IDCORE project based with HydroWing/Inyanga working on the optimisation of their tidal turbine device and array scale layout using CFD.

Payvand Habibi
PhD Researcher
Energy Efficiency for Hydrogen Powered Vessels
Payvand Habibi graduated with BSc in Naval Architecture and Marine engineering (2014) and MSc in Hydrodynamics (2017) from the Amir-Kabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran. She has worked as a naval architect in the marine industry for around five years and has designed marine vehicles and offshore structures, from high-speed boats to floating pumping stations. Due to her concern and interest, Payvand has always been seeking an eco-friendly and low carbon solutions in the shipping industry. So, she starts her Ph.D. at the University of Strathclyde in October 2022. Her study is to design and analysis of energy saving devices (ESDs) for zero emission Ships. This will include the development of novel ESDs that can be compatible with future fuel-powered vessels. Payvand is skilled with ship hydrostatics, rule-based ship design, hydrodynamics and CFD.

Yang Song
Yang Song graduated with MSc from Tianjin University in Mechanical Engineering. Then, Yang started his PhD at Tianjin University since September 2017. He is now a visiting researcher funded by China Scholarship Council and the Royal Society. His research interests covering motion control and energy analysis of underwater vehicle and glider. He designed and improved the buoyancy driven system and energy system of the Petrel underwater glider. Yang Song’s skills include: dynamic modelling and control, buoyancy engine design and development, machine learning, MATLAB, Mathematica.

Emmie Hutchison
Previous Research Intern, Now working in Kent PLC.
Tidal Turbine Control and Modelling