My main research interests include system dynamics, with particular attention to nonlinear and structural dynamics, mathematics/numerical modeling and energy harvesting. 

System dynamics

My research in system dynamics mainly focuses on nonlinear dynamics and structural dynamics. In particular I am interested in explaining the complex behavior exhibited by nonlinear structures: nonlinear modes, modal interaction, harmonic and quasi periodic responses, bifurcations. Both simulation and identification of nonlinear systems are part of my research activities. My invesitgation of nonlinear phenonema involve both theoretical studies but also numerical modelling, validation and experimental testing. 

Modeling and simulation 

My research uses many mathematical and numerical tools to investigate the dynamics of systems. When the system is nonlinear this tools become a key component to understand and analyze the response of the system to external inputs. For this reason I research and develop both analytical and numerical method able to support my investigations. 

Energy harvesting

This is a topic I approached during my PhD and I find it very fascinating. How to supply the future generations with energy is an open question to which no definite answer exists yet. For this reason I believe that researching methods to harvest and store energy from any available source is one of the important challenges for building our future.

List by: Type | Date

• 'Legacy Wastes in the Coastal Zone'; NERC Highlight Topic; 2020-2024; £880,000; (Co-I, led by Newcastle)
• Carnegie Research Incentive Grant: ‘Clumped isotopes’ in calcite: a new method for tracking fluid flow in lavas and its implications for geothermal energy generation. 2016-2017, £7030
• £2200 from SAGES+ for clumped isotope analysis of steel slag-derived tufas
• £2400 from SAGES+ for µCT analysis of cement waste to investigate atmospheric carbon capture
• £750 from SAGES+ for microstructural analysis of carbonated slag
• £750 from SAGES+ for experiments on capturing wastewater metals with carbonate precipitation

I am interested in supervising on themes that combine perspectives on psychology as it related to issues of learning, health, resilience, adaptation. I am also keen to work with students who are interested in applying qualitative or mixed methodology in their studies.

If you are interested in pursuing high-quality PhD research in the areas of programming languages, formal methods, logic, and program verification, then please contact me. You can find information about the application process and available opportunities on the information for prospective students pages.

Current PhD students

• Del Angel Lozano, Jose Porfirio
  A Comparison of Passive Atmospheric CO2 Capture with Steel Slags in Mexico and the UK
• James, Kelly
  Blue Carbon and Ecosystem Engineers under Global Change
• Khudhur, Faisal Waleed Khudhur
  Determining processes of co2 capture with steel slags: implications for mitigating rising co2 levels
• MacDonald, Ellen
  Oceans on Acid: using historic ocean acidification to understand marine ecosystem function under global change

Past PhD students

• MSc by Research, 2017-2019, "Understanding temperature and mineralogical controls on mobility of metals in high-pH environments: an alkaline steel slag leachate analogue"
• MSc by Research, 2017-2019, "New methods for solution chemistry and laser ablation dating at Glasgow: A Highland geology case study"
• PhD, 2019-2023, "A Comparison of Passive Atmospheric CO2 Capture with Steel Slags in Mexico and the UK"
• PhD, 2019-2023, "Determining processes of CO2 capture with steel slags: implications for mitigating rising CO2 levels"
• PhD, 2019-2023, "Anthropogenic biodiversity and geodiversity – can legacy industrial waste help offset falling global biodiversity?"
• (MSc by Research, 2017-2019, "The Loch Maree Group – Economic Mineralisation and Tectonics"

I currently teach on the ofllowing courses:

• Dynamics M5
• Vibration 4
• Engineering Skills 1

Prizes, awards & distinctions

• 2017: Distinguished International Affiliate, (American Society for Health Psychology)
• 2014: Fellow (Royal Society of Edinburgh)
• 2004: Honorary Fellow (Royal College of General Practitioners)

Grant committees & research advisory boards

• 2016: Cancer Research UK, Population Research Committee Prevention Expert Review Panel
• 2016: Research Council for Norway, Health, Care and Welfare Services Research Committee
• 2008 - 2012: Cancer Research UK, Cancer Research UK’s population Health Committee
• 2010 - 2015: Cancer Research UK, Co- chair, UK National Awareness and Early Diagnosis Initiative (NAEDI)
• 2002 - 2008: National Institute for Health Research, SDO Commissioning Board

Events with practitioners

• 2018 (Concluded): Speaker at Scottish Law Commission seminar on reform of the law of homicide, University of Strathclyde (Presentation - art and part liability in homicide cases)
• 2018 (Concluded): Briefed Judicial Institute on research into improving jury communications, Edinburgh (joint presentation with James Chalmers)
• 2017 (Concluded): Delivered CPD session for British Transport Police/Scottish Government on 'Introduction to Scottish Criminal Law, Processes and Institutions' in Glasgow
• 2015 (Concluded): Co-delivered one day programme of CPD (with members of Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research)

Consultations

• 2018 (Ongoing): Appointed to the advisory group for the Scottish Law Commission’s project on homicide
• 2019 (Concluded): Presented findings of jury research to Dorrain Review (Improving the Management of Sexual Offence Cases), Edinburgh (with James Chalmers, Vanessa Munro)
• 2017 (Concluded): Gave evidence to the Justice Committee on the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Repeal) (Scotland) Bill
• 2016 (Concluded): Research cited in Court of Appeals, Carey v HM Advocate [2016] HCJAC 10 at para 29.
• 2015 (Concluded): Submitted written evidence to the Criminal Verdicts (Scotland) Bill consultation which was quoted in the Justice Committee Stage 1 report (with James Chalmers). Quoted at length at paras 34, 42 and 55 of the Justice Committee’s report.

Professional activities

• I am the conference chair for the biennial GEOMED conference, which will be held in Glasgow in August 2019. See www.geomed2019.org.uk.
• Associate editorships at Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series C, Biometrical Journal, and Spatial and Spatio-temporal Epidemiology.
• Guest edited three special issues of Statistical Methods in Medical research and one special issue of Spatial and Spatio-temporal Epidemiology.
• Invited semimars at the universities of: Bath, Bristol,  Edinburgh,  Lancaster, Leeds, Medical University of South Carolina, Newcastle, Sheffield, Southampton, St Andrews and Strathclyde.
• Invited conference talks at:  7th meeting of the Classification and Data Analysis group of the Italian Statistical society -  September 2009, Catania; 58th World Statistics Congress of the International Statistical Institute -  September 2011, Dublin;  Joint Statistical Meetings -  August 2013, Montreal and August 2016, Chicago; GEOMED -  September 2013, Sheffield and September 2015 Florence; ERCIM -  December 2013, London; International Biometrics Conference -  July 2014, Florence; Royal Statistical Society -  September 2014, Sheffield;  Migrants in the City -  October 2015, Sheffield; Scottish Government Statistics day -  December 2015, Edinburgh; TIES -  July 2016, Edinburgh and July 2017, Bergamo; StEPhI project workshop -  September 2016, Pescara.
• Organised conference sessions and meetings at Royal Statistical Society conferences in 2012, 2014, 2016,  2107, 2018; ISBA conference in 2014; TIES conference in 2016 and 2017; GEOMED conference in 2015 and 2017; workshops organised in conjunction with the Environmental Statistics Section of the RSS in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016.
• External PhD examiner at the Universities of Bath; Lancaster; Leeds; Oxford; Queensland Technology; Southampton; Technology Sydney.
• ESRC Peer Review College - November 2012 to October 2019.
• Secretary of the environmental statistics section (ESS) of the Royal Statistical Society between 2013 and 2016.