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Meet The Team

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Director of the BEST Lab

Dr Hari Arora

Lead on experimental research. Past Chair of the British Society for Strain Measurement (BSSM). Interests in soft tissue mechanics and imaging (surface, volumetric or high-speed)

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Co-Director of the BEST Lab

Dr Raoul van Loon

Lead on computational research. Chaired BioMedEng23 with Hari Arora. Interests in cardiovascular physiology, biofluid mechanics and machine learning methods. 

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Research Officer in Experimental Biomechanics 

Dr Angelo Karunaratne

Currently on a DSTL funded project, working to the development of a smart garment to minimise severity of ballistic injury. Work involves modelling and novel experimental platform development. 

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Research Officer in Machine Learning 

Dr Mark White

Currently on a Wellcome Leap funded project, working to the analysis of wearable data and its integration into personalised models of the cardiovascular system in pregnancy. 

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Research Officer in Computational Mechanics

Dr Dale Kernot

Currently on a Wellcome Leap funded project, using modelling and machine learning tools to help reduce the risk of still births. Experienced in multi-physics modelling and image analysis. 

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Research Associate in Wearables and Signals

Dr David O'Connor

Currently on a Wellcome Leap funded project, working to the collection and analysis of wearable data and its integration into personalised models of the cardiovascular system in pregnancy. 

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Research Assistant in Surgical Surrogates

Carys Edwards

Currently on an EPSRC funded project fabricating a phantom to be used as a training device for widespread emergency reconstructive surgery with the focus on women’s health.

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Research Assistant in Surgical Surrogates

Beth Norman

Currently on an EPSRC funded project fabricating a phantom to be used as a training device for widespread emergency reconstructive surgery with the focus on women’s health.

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Research Assistant in Machine Learning

Alex Drysdale

Currently on a DASA funded project, working with sports scientists to characterise cardiovascular adaptations during exercise at elevated/reduced temperatures and predict risk of an adverse event.

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Research Associate in Computational Bioflows

Dr Yannis Polydoros

Currently on a Wellcome Leap funded project, working to develop personalised computational fluid dynamic models of the cardiovascular system in pregnancy using data acquired from wearables. 

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PhD Student in Active Lung Surrogates

Louis Giron

Currently on an EPSRC funded project, using an array of image analysis, design, manufacturing (including additive) and control techniques to create synthetic biomechanical lung models.  

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PhD Student in Medical Devices for Drug Delivery

Meg McNamee

Currently on a project funded by UKRI, M2A and KLA focused on the advancement of silicon microneedles through use of image analysis, mechanical testing and drug delivery studies.  

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PhD Student in Biomechanics of Brain Phantoms

Thomas Pritchard

A Swansea University Research Excellence Scholarship holder, using strain imaging methods to evaluate the safety of implants in brain phantoms under a range of mechanical stimuli.  

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PhD Student in Fluid-Structure Interactions

Michael Darcy

Currently on an EPSRC/UKAEA funded project, using advanced imaging methods to quantify fluid-structure interaction of complex deforming objects for improved structural health monitoring.

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MSc by Research Student in Skin Biomechanics

Casey Smith

Currently working on a project surrounding the mechanical properties of skin, fabricating multi-layered skin phantoms and a collaborative study with Lymphoedema Network Wales.

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MSc by Research Student in Spine Biomechanics

Katie Prentice

Currently researching spinal biomechanics and intervertebral disc replacement devices using computational and experimental material testing techniques on nucleus pulposus phantoms.

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MSc by Research Student in Skin Test Methods

Isaac Lamb

Currently focused on skin test methods using multiple measurement techniques, providing a more detailed view on skin mechanics. Data to be used for phantom development and diagnostics.

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Interested in joining the team?

Open posts will be published here. We also support applications for scholarships/fellowships to join the team - please contact us to discuss potential projects.

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For experimental related enquiries email: hari.arora@swansea.ac.uk

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For computational related enquiries email: r.vanloon@swansea.ac.uk

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