Principal Investigator
Prof S. Kumar
Professor of Composite Materials and Advanced Manufacturing
Kumar earned a DPhil in Solid Mechanics & Materials Engineering from the Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford. He has gained extensive experience over the past 20+ years working in various roles across institutions/organisations such as with Masdar Institute (now part of Khalifa University), MIT, UC Santa Barbara, Rolls-Royce UTC at Southampton and DRDO, spanning the United Kingdom, the United States and Asia. Currently, he directs the Sustainable Multifunctional Materials and Additive Manufacturing Laboratory and co-leads the Materials and Manufacturing Research Group at the University of Glasgow.
His research centres on the interdisciplinary fusion of additive manufacturing, mechanics, and materials science/engineering to create innovative multifunctional materials. Kumar also contributes to the academic community by serving on editorial boards for journals such as Advanced Engineering Materials (Wiley), International Journal of Adhesion and Adhesives (Elsevier), Scientific Reports (Nature) and Materials Today Communications (Elsevier). He has authored over 125 journal articles, showcasing his contributions to the field through a combination of experimental and modelling efforts. Kumar was recently awarded the VAIBHAV fellowship by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), India. He is also an elected Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (FIMMM) and the Royal Aeronautical Society (FRAeS).
Post-Doctoral Research Associates
Graduate Students
Johannes Schneider
PhD Student
Johannes obtained his Dipl.Ing. degree in mechanical engineering from the Technical University of Dresden in Germany in 2015, with a specialization in lightweight engineering of polymer composites. Following his graduation, he relocated to Abu Dhabi, UAE, where he embarked on a professional journey with Khalifa University. In 2020, he commenced his doctoral studies at the University of Glasgow, concentrating on the utilization of additive manufacturing for creating micro-architected multifunctional lattice structures suitable for diverse applications. Additionally, Johannes is responsible for overseeing the operations of the Sustainable Multifunctional Materials and Additive Manufacturing (SMMAM) Lab at the University of Glasgow.
Inci Rüya Temel
PhD Student
Inci Rüya Temel is a Marie Curie PhD student at the University of Glasgow and an Early Stage Researcher at the Fondazione Bruno Kessler in Italy. Her research is focused on a flexible and stretchable tactile sensor capable of detecting multidirectional forces, especially shear forces, in order to improve robotic manipulation. She studied the neural system’s physiology during her BSc in Life Sciences from Sorbonne Université, Paris, that she obtained in 2017. Then she completed her MSc in Health Devices Engineering 2019 during which she worked on human motor control theories and models. That lead her to the ITN INTUITIVE project (founded by the EU Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 861166) that she started in September 2020.
Boda Ramalingaiah
PhD Student
Boda Ramalingaiah holds a B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering from RGUKT Basar and an M.Tech from IIT Ropar, where he focused on lightweight, biomimetic 3D printed structures. Currently a PhD scholar at IIT Guwahati, his research explores additive manufacturing for 3D cellular materials in biomedical applications. His interests include geometric design, finite element modeling, additive manufacturing processes, and the mechanical/biological characterization of nature-inspired lattices and metamaterials. His work has applications in the biomedical, aerospace, automotive, and defense sectors.
Alejandro Triay
PhD Student
(SM2AM Lab Manager)
In October 2021, Alejandro began his Ph.D. adventure at the James Watt School of Engineering, University of Glasgow. His research is primarily focused on additive manufacturing of multifunctional materials customized for diverse applications, with a notable emphasis on nanoengineered multifunctional cellular composites. Prior to this, Alejandro earned his MEng degree from the University of Edinburgh, where he specialized in designing and enhancing composite materials, particularly for sports equipment.
Akash Deep
PhD Student
Commencing his PhD at the University of Glasgow in February 2023, Akash Deep’s research encompasses the realms of additive manufacturing, cellular composites, machine learning, and digital twinning. Before embarking on this journey, he dedicated a span of two years at the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (IITD), where he explored diverse techniques for in situ sensing in nanocomposites. In addition to his academic pursuits, he actively contributes to the development of AI/ML tools relevant to Apollo Tyres. Akash Deep holds an M.Tech. degree from the Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), India, where he delved into the study of mechanical behaviour exhibited by hybrid composites.
Vedanth Bhatnagar
PhD Student
In August 2023, Vedanth Bhatnagar embarked on his PhD journey, concentrating on the exploration of additive manufacturing and the mechanical properties of architected cellular materials. This investigation involves the utilization of both experimental and simulation tools. Alongside this, Vedanth is engaged in developing machine learning methodologies specifically customized for application within the tire manufacturing sector. During his master’s studies, Vedanth’s efforts were dedicated to the metallurgical and mechanical analysis of an innovative aluminium alloy processed through laser powder bed fusion. This collaborative research was carried out in partnership between the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad and the Pratt & Whitney Research & Development Centre, Bangalore.
Ankit Krishna
PhD Student
Ankit embarked on his PhD studies in September 2023 at the University of Glasgow, following several years of engagement in a manufacturing R&D lab. His research is devoted to the domain of additive manufacturing, with a particular emphasis on micro- and nano-architected lattice materials designed for applications in flexible electronics and energy storage. Ankit holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from VTU, India, and has also achieved a Master of Technology (Research) from NITK, India.
Ahmed Alsalman
PhD Student
Ahmed Alsalman attained his bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from King Saud University. He successfully accomplished his master’s degree in digital design and manufacture at the University of Edinburgh. Embark on a PhD endeavour at the University of Glasgow in Jan 2024, Ahmed’s research will revolve around the integration of circular economy principles into additive manufacturing processes. This amalgamation of academic pursuits exemplifies his dedication to propelling sustainable methodologies at the crossroads of engineering and design.
MSc/MEng Students
Academic Visitors/ Visiting Postdocs
Dr. Mattia Utzeri
Visiting Scholar
Dr. Mattia Utzeri works as a research assistant at the University of Politecnica delle Marche in Italy. His journey in academia commenced with a focus on nonlinear vibrations, material dynamics, and experimental mechanics. As time progressed, he became captivated by the realm of additive manufacturing and its capacity to create multifunctional cellular materials. Mattia’s current research involves a harmonious integration of hands-on experiments and intricate numerical analyses, all geared towards unravelling the mechanical intricacies of additively manufactured materials. He has a master’s degree in mechanical engineering as well as a doctorate in Mechanical Engineering.
Dr. Changrong Chen
Visiting Scholar
Dr. Changrong Chen works as an associate professor at the Fujian University of Technology, China. He obtained his Ph.D. from University of Nottingham in 2016 and specializes in advanced manufacturing technologies and materials science since then. His expertise lies in additive manufacturing/remanufacturing technologies such as laser cladding, welding technologies, and selective laser melting, with recent focus on gradient cellular structures and wire and arc additive manufacturing (WAAM). As a Principal Investigator, he has secured over ¥2 million in funding for various research projects. His research contributes significantly to both academic advancement and industrial applications in manufacturing technologies and materials science. Chen has accomplished extensive publications in high-impact journals and received recognition for his teaching innovations.