People and contacts

I joined the TFMRC in 2022 after 25 years in the Automotive Industry where I was a Technical Authority in Control Systems. Over my career I have worked in many areas including Thermal Systems, Hybrid and Electric vehicles, Battery Management, Engine and Emissions Control, Connected Vehicles and Noise Vibration & Harshness.

I research technologies required to deliver net zero emissions and my current interests include Thermal Systems, Battery and Vehicle Energy Management, Model Predictive Control, Optimal Control, Data analytics and Modelling.

Email: P.M.Fussey@sussex.ac.uk

Read more about Peter

I am Professor of Engineering with more than 25 years' experience on the development and application of optical measurement techniques to investigate the microscale physics of complex multiphase flows.

My research focuses on fluids, heat and mass transfer processes in the energy, biomedical and manufacturing sectors, such as fuel sprays, industrial process fluids (lubricants, coolants, carbon capture solvents), and biomedical fluid dynamics (droplet impacts, bioartificial organs, intraocular lenses).

Email: C.Crua@sussex.ac.uk

Read more about Cyril

I joined the TFMRC in 2015 and I am a Professor of Mechanical Engineering. I am the Module convenor for Engineering Thermodynamics and Advanced Thermofluids.

My research interests cover renewable energy including urban wind and wave, pressure gain combustion, unsteady work in turbines and space probe projects.

Email: M.G.Rose@sussex.ac.uk

Read more about Martin

I research and teach in thermodynamics and fluid mechanics since 2004, and joined the TFMRC in 2016. My research is interdisciplinary, encompassing mechanical and biological applications. Most of my research is conducted in collaboration with industrial partners in areas such as net zero heating systems, digital twinning, and patient-specific treatment and drug delivery systems.

Email: E.Sorguven@sussex.ac.uk

Read more about Esra

I'm an Assistant Professor in Engineering. I obtained my PhD from the University of Birmingham and have spent several years in industry, focusing on ceramics processing including R&D in cemented carbide tool manufacture. I am also a Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3). My research interests now centre on materials processing and fabrication with specific interests in:

• multifunctional catalyst formulation and manufacture
• solid oxide fuel cell manufacture

• engineering ceramics formulation, processing, and shaping.

Email: J.D.powell@sussex.ac.uk

Read more about Jon

I joined the TFMRC in 2011 where I am currently a Senior Lecturer. Prior to joining Sussex, I worked both in industry and academia primarily focusing on turbomachinery aerothermodynamics.

My research aims to understand, innovate, and improve turbomachines and related applications to increase performance and reduce adverse environmental effects. Some of my recent projects have focused on flow and heat transfer within gas turbine seals and disc cavity systems, stall margin improvement in compressors, and unsteady flow transition over blade surfaces.

Email: V.Kanjirakkad@sussex.ac.uk

Read more about Vasu

I am a Senior Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering. Before this I was a Harry Kroto Research Fellow of 2017 hosted by KTH in Sweden. I received my D.Phil. (Ph.D.) from the University of Oxford in 2014, where I continued to work until 2016.

My areas of research are low-carbon heating, cooling and power system, cryogenics, and electronics cooling. I was in the Programme Committee of the 27th and 28th International Cryogenic Engineering Conference (ICEC) and Technical Committee of the 15th International Green Energy Conference (IGEC). I am Guest Editor of the International Journal of Refrigeration and a member of Editorial Board of Frontiers in Thermal Engineering.

Email: Kun.Liang@sussex.ac.uk

Read more about Kun

I joined the TFMRC in 2017 after completing my PhD at the centre . I am currently a Senior Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering.

My current research interests are centred around experimental methods applied to a range of thermal systems problems, from gas turbine internal air systems to biomedical devices and domestic products, working towards net-zero.

Email: M.Puttock-Brown@sussex.ac.uk

Read more about Mark

I joined the TFMRC in 2022 and am currently a Senior Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering and the holder of a RAEng Research Fellowship.

My current research interests are centred around thermodynamic cycles and turbomachinery components that can be used to provide net zero power, heating and cooling using low-temperature heat sources.

Email: Martin.White@sussex.ac.uk

Read more about Martin

I'm a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Sussex. I've been involved for more than three decades in research, teaching, and academic administration at the University. My main research interests are on the dynamics and control issues associated with decarbonizing road transport, and on thermal management involving spray evaporative cooling of vibrating boundaries. 

I'm particularly interested in nonlinear dynamic analysis of both deterministic and stochastic systems, nonlinear optimal control, and inverse modelling using conventional and AI tools. 

I'm an Editorial Board member of three journals: the Journal of Sound and Vibration (since January 2002), the journal: Vehicles, and the Journal of Autonomous Intelligence.

Email: j.f.dunne@sussex.ac.uk

Read more about Julian

I joined Sussex in 2015, where I am currently an Associate Professor in Electrical Engineering. I received my PhD in electrical and electronic engineering from Cardiff University in 2012. I have been working in the energy field since my undergraduate research internship at the Centre for Renewable Energy Sources (CRES) in Greece in 2005.

My research interests revolve around power system resilience, critical infrastructure interdependencies, climate change adaptation of energy networks, smart grids, energy storage, electric vehicle charging, micro-grids and intelligent agents. I engage with the energy industry through contributions to IEEE and CIGRE Working Groups and research collaborations. I also established the Critical Infrastructure Resilience Network (CIReN) at Sussex.

Email: s.skarvelis-kazakos@sussex.ac.uk 

Read more about Spyros

I'm an Assistant Professor in Engineering and Design. My research focuses on particulate materials science and engineering. The research has two streams:

Engineering Functional Nanoparticles: This stream of work looks to expedite the translation of nanomaterials from the fundamental study through to advanced applications.

Mitigating Particle Pollution: This stream looks at the potential of ultrafine particulate matter to cause harm to both human and environmental health. 

Email: p.d.howes@sussex.ac.uk

Read more about Philip

I'm a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Engineering and Design at the University of Sussex, where I've been a faculty member since 2020. I received my Ph.D. in 2013 from KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden and worked as a researcher there from 2013 to 2020. Prior to my doctoral studies, I earned my master’s degree from Xiamen University and a Bachelor’s degree from Tianjin University.

My research focuses on advanced materials and innovative technologies, with interests spanning the passivation and corrosion mechanisms of advanced alloys, self-powered status sensing and environmental energy harvesting using triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG). I've consistently secured funding from prestigious organizations such as EPSRC and the Royal Society, driving impactful research and innovation in my field.

Email: ZhangFan@sussex.ac.uk 

Read more about Fan

I obtained DPhil in engineering sciences from Oxford University, and MEng and DEng from Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics. I'm an associate professor and a member of faculty at Sussex. My research areas include automotive engineering, digital signal and system analysis, engineering mechanics, thermodynamics and machinery diagnostics.   

Email: w.j.wang@sussex.ac.uk 

Read more about William

I joined TFMRC as an early career researcher in 2022 following the completion my MSc and subsequent PhD at the University of Sussex.

I specialise in the design of electronic & electromechanical embedded test systems, and my research interests include novel biomedical devices, sustainability, and green technologies.

Email: H.Dore@sussex.ac.uk

Read more about Henry

I am a Senior Teaching Technician based within the TMFRC.

I am the main point of contact for SEF and H&S related matters. I also support experimental projects within the TFMRC.

Email: gb451@sussex.ac.uk

I have studied for an MSc Advanced in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Sussex. I have previous experience in design of scientific equipment and practical experience of construction and renewable heating systems.

My research interests include: Transitional behaviour of supercritical fluids, cryogenic turbo machinery, and heat pump technology.

Email: F.Murphy-Hunt@sussex.ac.uk

Read more about Fergus

I'm a Research Fellow in the Department of Engineering and Design at the University of Sussex since 2024. I obtained Ph.D., master's and bachelor's degrees from East China University of Science and Technology.

My research mainly focuses on the surface and corrosion science, exploring lignin and mussel adhesive proteins (MAP) as sustainable anti-corrosion agents for carbon steel. I also work on enhancing macro- and micromolecule crystallization using hydrogel and polymer materials.

Email: Yizhen.Yan@sussex.ac.uk

Read more about Yizhen

I finished my MSc in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Sussex in 2023. In 2024, I started as a PhD student and Doctoral Tutor at TFMRC.

My research is based on the Joule-Thomson (J-T) cryocooler, which uses mixed refrigerants to achieve a wider cooling temperature range for use in trapped ion quantum computers.

Email: cx63@sussex.ac.uk

I have been with the TFMRC since my graduation in 2021 and have enjoyed working on varied and exciting projects. In 2023, I began my PhD with external sponsorship.

My current research involves a conceptual design for a low noise external unit of a residential air source heat pump. Using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to simulate flow through the external unit, the aim is to find a quiet optimal design by utilising collected datasets, search algorithms, and machine learning techniques.

Email: F.J.Adams@sussex.ac.uk

I joined the TFMRC in 2023 to start working towards my PhD which is titled an Optical Investigation of Cryogenic Fluids.

My research focuses on refuelling cryogenic tanks with LH2 (liquid hydrogen) and LNG (liquefied natural gas) to be used as renewable fuels for transportation. Using experimental data, the main aim of the study is to observe the fluid spray during the refuelling process and to determine ways to limit fuel evaporation due to heat transfer.

Email: C.Marlow-Eastwood@sussex.ac.uk

I joined TFMRC in 2022 as a PhD student and currently work as R&D Manager at Alarko Carrier.

My current research interests are in the combustion of hydrogen and designing 100% hydrogen boilers for domestic use as an alternative to net-zero carbon heating.

Email: Sevil.Incir@sussex.ac.uk

I am a PhD student and an Associate Tutor. My current research is interdisciplinary and encompasses mechanical and biological applications. I am using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to model and analyse the transient effect of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) outflow to the cardiovascular system, which involves utilising high-performance computing (HPC), developing user-defined function (UDF), creating dynamic mesh, and setting non-Newtonian flow properties.

Email: Peiying.sun@sussex.ac.uk

I started the PhD in 2022 and my research topic is the thermodynamic modelling of 100% H₂ boilers. The focus of the research is developing a reliable and detailed thermodynamic boiler model for pure hydrogen fuel along with hydrogen blends. I plan to extend my research area to environmentally friendly hybrid heating systems. I also work on centrifugal pump design within a company.

Email: au90@sussex.ac.uk

I joined the University of Sussex in 2019 where I completed my master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. I am now a PhD Candidate and Doctoral Tutor based in the TFMRC.

My research is focussed on the experimental study of two-phase flow within expander technologies to improve organic Rankine cycle performance for the utilisation of low-temperature waste heat sources.

Email: cw529@sussex.ac.uk

I started my PhD journey in 2022, focusing on the optimisation of linear compressors and their applications in cryocoolers.

My research involves a combination of experimental and computational approaches. I utilize a dedicated test rig for experimental testing to evaluate the performance of linear compressors under various conditions. Additionally, I develop numerical models in MATLAB to predict the thermodynamic behavior of linear compressors, enabling deeper insights into their operation and optimization potential. My work aims to advance the efficiency and reliability of cryogenic cooling systems, contributing to their broader applications in science and industry.

Email: n.quian@sussex.ac.uk

I majored in Computer Science and Technology, and Plant Protection, at Henan University of Science and Technology, China, where I earned two degrees: a Bachelor of Engineering, and a Bachelor of Agriculture. This was followed by postgraduate study in Robotics and Autonomous Systems at Zhejiang Gongshang University, China, from which I was awarded an MSc degree by the University of Sussex.

My research interests are focused on the control of autonomous agricultural vehicles.

I obtained my Batchelors degree in Physics from the Universidad de Guadalajara, Mexico. This was followed by postgraduate study culminating in an MSc in Particle Physics from the University of Sussex.

My research interests are in vehicle dynamics in motor sport.