top of page
Weichao Shi
Reader in Net Zero Maritime Systems
Marine Renewable Energy and Marine Propulsion
Email: weichao.shi@newcastle.ac.uk
Reader in Net Zero Maritime Systems, 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. In 2023, he returned to Newcastle University as a Reader in Net Zero Maritime Systems.
Mina Tadros
Research Associate
Design and Optimisation of Marine Propulsion Systems
Email: mina.tadros@newcastle.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.
Yang Song
Research Associate
Underwater Glider, Control and Energy Consumption
Email: yang.song@newcastle.ac.uk
Yang Song graduated with MSc from Tianjin University in Mechanical Engineering. Then, Yang started his PhD at Tianjin University since September 2017. He was a visiting researcher funded by China Scholarship Council and the Royal Society to University of Strathclyde. In 2023, he returned to the group as a research associated developing next generation autonomous underwater systems. 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.
Zhizun Xu
Zhizun Xu received the B.Eng. degree from Shanghai Maritime University, in 2014, the M.Eng. degree from Mokpo National Maritime University, South Korea, in 2016, and the Ph.D. degree in marine technologies from Newcastle University, U.K., in 2021. He is a lecturer in Marine College, Guangdong Ocean University, China, and join ABM Hydro group in Newcastle University, U.K., in 2023. His research interests include control systems and visual navigation systems for unmanned underwater vehicles.
Tapas K. Das
Tapas is a Mechanical Engineer with a masters and PhD in Ocean Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras, India. His PhD thesis involved numerical and experimental analysis of an axial turbine for wave energy conversion. He worked as a Research Fellow in the Marine Research Group at Queen’s University Belfast developing a test rig for wave powered desalination system. His research skills include experimental analysis of fluid dynamic systems, marine hydrodynamics and CFD based optimization.
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.
Zehao Sun
Zehao Sun graduated from the Department of Naval Architecture, Ocean and Marine Engineering of the University of Strathclyde with a BEng in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. Zehao developed a strong academic interest in computational fluid dynamics during his final year research project. Zehao starts his PhD at Newcastle University in 2023. The research is aimed at contributing to the UK's Net Zero initiative by 2030 by developing a novel bioinspired low-noise propulsor. This research combines using CFD software and experimental research. Zehao is skilled in propeller design and optimization, ship structure analysis, ship design and hydrodynamics, marine diesel engine and auxiliary system design and development.
Yong Yang
Yong Yang received the MSc degree in Offshore Floating Systems from University of Strathclyde and the PhD degree in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Manchester. After completing his MSc and before starting his PhD, Yong is an engineer with around 5 years of experience in the field of marine and ocean engineering in Shanghai. He join ABM Hydro group at Newcastle University in 2024. His research interests include marine hydrodynamics, CFD (SPH) analysis and mooring systems.
Chang Li
Chang Li received his MSc in Marine Engineering in 2014 and his PhD in Marine Technology in 2019 from the Department of Marine, Subsea, and Offshore (MOST) at Newcastle University. His research interests focus on drag reduction investigations on underwater surfaces, considering various treatments, including the presence of fouling. With 10 years of experimental research experience at the Emerson Cavitation Tunnel, he has developed in-depth knowledge of the testing facilities. He employs advanced laser-based flow measurement techniques, such as Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) and Laser Doppler Velocimetry (LDV), alongside computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tools to investigate fluid-surface interactions, improve flow modelling and apply hydrodynamic solutions.
Vignesh Durai
I am a Mechanical Engineer with a Master’s degree in Ocean Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras. During my studies, I worked as a Senior Research Fellow, focusing on the design and development of a bio-mimetic autonomous underwater vehicle. I have experience in underwater vehicle dynamics and propulsion systems. In July 2024, I joined the ABM Hydro group as a Research Assistant, where I am concentrating on the hydrodynamics of underwater gliders. I possess skills in marine hydrodynamics, CAD modeling, CFD simulations, and MATLAB.
Runzi Zhao
Runzi Zhao earned his B.Eng. degree from the South China University of Technology in 2023 and the M.Eng. degree from Newcastle University in 2024. Since September 2024, he has been pursuing a PhD at Newcastle University with a "Marine Zero" scholarship. His research focuses on the optimisation of ship hull surface structures, particularly hull protrusions and recessions, to achieve drag reduction and enhance energy efficiency through CFD simulations and experimental testing. His research interests include advanced drag reduction techniques, hydrodynamics, and the design and optimisation of marine surface structures.
Fulin Yu
Fulin Yu graduated from Shanghai Maritime University with a Bachelor of Engineering degree in 2019 and received his Master of Engineering degree from Newcastle University in 2023. And during his undergraduate year, Fulin developed a strong academic interest in computational fluid dynamics and ship structures. Fulin started his PhD at Newcastle University in 2024. The research aims to contribute to the UK's goal of achieving 'net zero' by 2030 by improving propulsion efficiency while maintaining ship stability through green retrofitting of container ships. The research combines Maxsurf software, CFD software and experimental studies. Fulin specialises in propeller design and optimisation, ship structural analysis, ship design and hydrodynamics.
Our Previous Members
Thanks for your contribution to our research and innovation.
Moritz Troll
PhD researcher
Payvand Habibi
PhD researcher
Hongbo Hou
PhD researcher
Emmie Hutchison
Research Intern
Callum Stark
PhD researcher
Kaan Ilter
Research Associate
Bryn Townley
PhD researcher
bottom of page