I have been involved in higher education (HE) for 25 years, leading research teams, teaching programmes, business engagement, and multi-disciplinary collaborative projects in many countries worldwide. I obtained my PhD in Mechanical Engineering from University of Toronto, Canada in September 2004. After three years as a NSERC/JSPS fellow in Canada and Japan, I moved to the University of Sunderland in 2007 (Senior Lecture 2007-2011; Reader, 20011-20012; Professor 2012-2018). Recently, I moved to Northumbria University as Professor of Automotive Composites, Head of Subject (Mechanical Engineering) and and Leader of the Advanced Manufacturing Technology (AMT) research group. I am also a Visiting Professor of Vehicle Lightweighting at Hunan University.

My research work focuses on developing robust, reliable and sustainable material solutions (based on graphene and related materials) and implementing new concepts and technologies in industrial scale. It aims to establish and strengthen the link between the development of novel advanced nanocomposites with unique synthesis and functionalities, and the improvement of the modelling capability and the need for securing refined results for the design of real structural components and energy conversion/storage systems. My work outcomes are recognised both nationally and internationally as evident from over 120+ plenary lectures, invited talks, keynotes and presentations; over 180 peer-reviewed research papers and patents. I have received many prestigious awards and grants, including EPSRC (UK), NSERC and OGS (Canada), JSPS (Japan), FP7, Horizon2020, and Graphene Flagship (EU), and several direct national and international projects.

I am also part of the €1bn European Graphene Flagship and leading composites for structural application task. The pioneering project is exploring how graphene can be used to create lighter, stronger, safer and more energy-efficient aerospace and automotive structures. My role leading the graphene structural application in the flagship – alongside partners in Italy, Spain and Germany has created many opportunities to network and engage around the world. In my role, I combine novel ‘concept’ materials with the latest safety design approaches through the development of advanced ultra-light graphene-based polymer materials, efficient fabrication and manufacturing processes, and life-cycle analysis to reduce the environmental impact of future structures.

In addition, my work has come to the attention of the Chinese Government via Hunan University. I am one of only ten professors worldwide invited to join the prestigious Talents-111 project. This Chinese Government led initiative selects leading scientists and funds intensive laboratory-based research projects. The project into vehicle body lightweighting is led by Hunan University and will run for four years from 2016-2020.

I recognise the importance of engaging in professional activities for advancing my career and serving my profession. Therefore, I have been involved in various professional activities: Expert Reviewer for FP7, Horizon2020, EPSRC, Ontario Research Fund and Cyprus Research Promotion Foundation; European Science Foundation Expert; Founding Editor-in-Chief of International Journal of Automotive Composites; Editorial-board member, and reviewer, of high-impact journals; Organiser of international conferences; and Chairman of the International Conference on Automotive Composites. I am also member of CSME, ASME, SAE, JSAE, FISITA, IMechE, Engineering Council (CEng), and Member of the UK Research and Innovation Future Leaders Fellowships (UKRI FLF) programme Peer Review College (PRC).

My research interests, within my several research teams, lie in the area of advanced nanocomposite materials, graphene related materials (GRMs), GRMs-based smart functional thin films and coatings, multifunctioal protective coating  and surfaces (e.g. self-cleaning, anti-fouling, de-icing), energy materials including batteries, fuel cell and catalysts, energy conversion/storage systems, multi-functional materials modelling and design, and impact and crashworthiness analysis.

Currently, I am working on developing novel hybrid polymer/metal-doped graphene nanocomposites for sustainable energy storage systems; lightweight hierarchical graphene-based nanocomposites with novel concepts and intelligent components that integrate multi-functionality; and conductive adhesives with self-healing ability. In addition, I am working on potential aerospace and automotive applications of multi-functional graphene-based polymer composites, devoting to design, creation, and development of new multifunctional smart materials and improved performances that will underlie the technologies of the future. I face the challenges related to the development, processing and integration of smart graphene-based materials, with new functionalities, and devices in industrially compatible manufacturing processes.

In addition, I am also working on the development of smart lightweight hierarchical graphene-based bulk nanocomposite materials based on a novel concept for intelligent components with nacre nanolaminated architectures that integrate self-healing functionality and high damping performance. This smart material with enhanced structures and its integrated functionality enable easier communication and interaction with their surroundings, and accurate reactions to external spurs. I am also interested in developing unique hierarchy mesocrystals with high-dense exposure facets and anisotropic interfaces and in Synthesis of Nitrogen-Graphene/Metal Oxide Nanostructured Electrodes for Enhanced Performance Fuel Cells.

I aim to produce new technologies and techniques and advance their development approach in a unique direction to create, fabricate, process and model the novel advanced materials to be used in the transport sector (aerospace and automotive industries), in particular, and could be used in other industries (e.g. marine, defence, petrochemicals, oil and gas, energy).

I have established a number of fruitful national and international collaborations with major aerospace industries, including: Airbus, Aernnova ITRB and Italian Space Agency; and automotive industries, including: BMW VOLVO, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), Porsche Rolls-Royce, Ford, and Nissan.

I have worked with a number of highly respected researchers in world-leading laboratories including: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Mascotech Co., National Crash Analysis Center, and George Washington University in the USA; Kyoto University, Institute for Material Research (IMR), National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) Space Structure Laboratory, Tohoku University and Chiba University in Japan; Vibration and Computational Dynamics Laboratory, University of Toronto Ryerson University (NCE Auto21) and Engineering Service Inc. (ESI) in Canada; Applus IDIADA Automotive Technology, Tecnalia, InterQuímica CIDAUT and CTAG in Spain; CNR, Nanesa, DeltaTech, and Adler in Italy; Cambridge, AVID Vehicles, Hyperdrive, HilTech and Tallent Automotive Ltd, Gestamp Automoción, FAR Composites, NetComposites, S3Transportation and AGM in the UK; DynaMore, TGM, Fraunhofer LBF and ICT in Germany; IRTJV and Bertrandt S.A.S. in France; TNO in Holland; Inxidse in Sweden; Hunan, Zhejiang and Shanghai Jiao Tong Universities in China; University of Sao Paulo in Brazil; and many more worldwide.