Grants

CBET-EPSRC Scheme EP/W016036/1

• Droplet impact on fluid Interfaces: 3D effects across scales

• Award: £765,769 in total, £472,464 on the UK side, active 10/2021 - 09/2024, with Prof. Daniel Harris (PI, Brown University) and Prof. Alfonso Castrejon-Pita (Co-I, University of Oxford).

Over the past several decades there has been persistent and broad interest in the elucidation of drop impact problems. In the present work, we propose an integrated experimental, numerical, and analytical investigation of droplet impact on fluid interfaces with a focus on three-dimensional effects. Arguably, the required algorithms and associated computing power needed to accurately investigate 3D impacts are only just starting to mature in recent years due to the highly multi-scale nature of the fluid flow and strongly non-linear interfacial deformations. Similarly, recent advances in visualization and flow measurement have now made such investigations possible in the lab. Our ambitious project brings together a diverse set of young leaders in fluid dynamics to tackle this exciting and pressing research topic, and develop new transformative frameworks to study this challenging set of problems with cutting-edge tools and methodologies. 

Associated publications: [f14], [f17], [f19], [f20], [f21]. 

EPSRC Standard Research Grant EP/W032201/1

• Expanding, supporting, and training the Sulis tier 2 user community

• Award: £372,898, active 11/2021 - 03/2022, with Prof. David Quigley (PI, University of Warwick) and co-investigators Dr. Albert Bartok-Partay, Dr. Marya Bazzi, Prof. Colm Connaughton, Dr. Thomas Goffrey, Prof. Giovanni Montana (University of Warwick).

Powerful high performance computing (HPC) facilities can transform the scope and ambition of research which relies on simulation, data processing and analysis. However the number of research communities which benefit from investment in expensive supercomputing hardware is limited. Training is often focussed on technologies which developed as the means to perform very large simulations at high fidelity (capability computing), rather than running smaller scale calculations or analyses on large numbers of inputs concurrently (high throughput or ensemble computing). In some research communities, the de-facto standard analysis software or programming language is not well served by traditional HPC documentation and training. In others (such as the arts and humanities) there is the potential to benefit from HPC, but no awareness of (and often access to) large facilities. This is confounded by there being no tradition of research computing training in those disciplines. This proposal aims to address some of these barriers in the context of the Sulis tier 2 facility, which focusses on high throughput and ensemble computing.

Associated activity: HPC ReproHack @ Warwick.

Good Food Institute Exploratory Research Grant

• Computational Modeling of Fluid Dynamics and Transport Processes in Wave Bioreactors via Open-Source CFD Software

• Award: £36,755, active 1/2021 - 7/2022, with Prof. Daniel Harris (PI, Brown University).

The production of cultivated meat involves a diverse catalog of complex and coupled physical processes. While still in its infancy, computational modeling possesses an enormous potential to facilitate scale-up, reduce development costs, and optimize processes -- all ultimately driving down the cost to the consumer. In particular, a shift is being made towards use of large-scale commercial bioreactors which introduce subtle and interesting fluid flow and mixing physics into the system. In this GFI-supported project, we developed a computational model for the fluid flow and mixing process of a rocking or wave bioreactor using a modern yet well-established open-source CFD platform, the C-based Basilisk package. Our primary goals for this effort were two-fold: (1) seeding a more open culture in this burgeoning industry through use of proven open-source tools for fluids and transport modeling and (2) exploring and documenting the physics of wave bioreactors most relevant to cultivated meat production. Our effort was pursued with guidance and feedback from academic partner Simon Kahan (founder of Biocellion and the CMMC) and industry partner Nico Oosterhuis (Director of Technology, Celltainer).

Associated features: Warwick Newsroom, BBC CWR, Sky News, Protein Production Technology, Vegconomist.

EPSRC Small Grant Scheme EP/V051385/1

• A new hierarchical modelling framework for active control: making waves in interfacial flow-based technologies

• Award: £49,182, active 03/2021 - 02/2022, with Dr. Susana Gomes as Co-Investigator.

We are surrounded by situations that depend on a controlled outcome in our day-to-day lives, ranging from controlling the evacuation of crowds, to efficient drug delivery, or designing efficient cooling systems inside high performance computing centres. The aim of this proposal is to develop a systematic modelling approach with control at its heart at multiple simplification levels, accounting for the physical effects of a chosen actuation mechanism. The simplified models will not only provide us with a framework where controls can be rigorously derived, but also facilitate the translation of their action closer to the real-world scenario in an integrated manner for the first time.

Associated publications: [f13], [f18], as well as features in the WMI Magazine and the Council for Mathematical Sciences small grant scheme highlight (p. 8-9).

University Challenge Seed Fund 16684

• A new dual-channel needle for the extraction of oocytes during the in vitro fertilisation (IVF) process

• Award: £12,000 (Round I) + £85,500 (Round II), active 03/2021 - 09/2022, with partners at the University of Oxford (John Radcliffe Hospital and Department of Engineering Science), Vitrolife and Paragon.

• Reduction to practice funding for International Patent Application PCT/GB2020/052316, filed 09/2020.

IVF techniques have revolutionised the field of reproductive medicine. Despite the popularity of IVF, the live birth rate (LBR) remains low. It is accepted that oocyte (egg) yield is linked to LBR. Follicular flushing was introduced in an attempt to improve oocyte yield. However, a recent comprehensive review suggested no improvement in oocyte yield or LBR with flushing, likely because the flushing technique is suboptimal. We have developed a new follicular flushing needle, which we have shown increases oocyte yield in silico by more than 30% through redirection of the flushing fluid flow. The UCSF funding represents the first step to help transfer the computational modelling improvements into realistic prototypes and enable early-stage testing.

Associated publications: [f22], patent [p2] and features in the Warwick Newsroom, BBC News and Femtech World. 

Travel and conference grants

Over the years I have obtained several awards from national organisations (IMA, LMS, EPSRC) or individual research centres (INI, ICERM, ICMS, BIRS), typically of O(1000) £, to attend, present at or organise workshops in the UK, Europe and North America. Some of these sources are highlighted below: