Research Projects and Themes

We work with supervisors and research groups from across the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences and beyond, developing the full breadth of topological research across a wide range of interdisciplinary projects.  Here you can find more information on the current research projects we support, and the research groups that form our wider academic network.  Please explore these links to find out more about topology and its applications and the wider research community at the University of Birmingham.

We are focused on understanding and exploiting the topological properties of structures to achieve specific combinations of desirable and exotic physical properties in new materials and devices.  We also work with research groups exploring the application of topology to soft matter, molecular chemistry, data science and security, biomedical devices and scanning, photonics and optics.

Research Themes

  • Topological Data Analysis
  • Topological Optimisation
  • Topological Materials

Current Research Projects

  • "Topology in self-assembled colloidal materials" - Jay Morris - Dr Dwaipayan Chakrabarti.

  • "From graph minor theory to 3-dimensions" - Emily Nevinson - Dr Johannes Carmesin.

  • “Time-dependent design of structures and materials in response to an external stimulus” - Barnaby Hawthorn - Dr Lauren Thomas-Seale. Co-funded by the MTC.

  • "Topological data analysis in biomedical images: understanding the interaction of cells and their microenvironment" - Sebastian Gilbert - Dr Fabian Spill.

  • "Investigating the F-Actin and GPIb complex distributions at IMS in megakaryocytes" - Orneste Buitkute - Prof Dirk-Peter Herten.

  • "Optimised optical topologies for quantum technology using metasurfaces" - Adam Seedat - Dr Michael Holynski.

  • "Theory for quantum entangled states in extreme nanophotonic devices" - Angus Crookes - Dr Angela Demetriadou.

  • "Quantum-enhanced single molecule detection for super-resolved biomedical imaging" - Joseph Baker - Dr Vincent Boyer.

  • "Development of advanced micro-nanotopographical platforms for point-of-care diagnostics (AMPs-4-PD)" - David Odetade - Dr Pola Goldberg-Oppenheimer.

  • "Topological data analysis of molecule positions from super-resolution data to map molecular nano-environments in immune cell" - Luca Panconi - Dr Dylan Owen. Co-funded by ONI.

  • "Topological physics using “synthetic dimensions” in ultracold atomic gases" - David Reid - Dr Hannah Price.

  • "Directionality and circularity in complex networks" - Niall Rodgers - Dr Samuel Johnson.

  • "Novel topological approaches to positron imaging in medicine and industry" - Jack Sykes - Dr Kit Windows-Yule.

  • "Mathematical modelling 3D plant growth and additive manufacture" - Amy Tansell - Dr Rosemary Dyson

  • "Development of additive layer manufacturing technology for aeroengine compact air oil heat exchanger" - Francesco Careri - Prof Moataz Attallah. Co-funded by TWI.
  • "Designing colloidal open crystals for multifunctional materials" - Adam Walker - Dr Dwaipayan Chakribarti.
  • "The synthesis and characterisation of topological magnets" - Amie Troath - Dr Lucy Clark.
  • "Topological design in manufacturing and 3D printing" - Dina Fouad - Prof. Moataz Attallah.
  • "Combining topological optimisation and 3D printing to create smart auxetic arterial stents - Ellis Williams - Dr Khamis Essa.
  • "High-power filters with novel temperature-compensation techniques and multi-domain topological co-design" - Emelia Hayward - Dr Yi Wang. Co-funded by the European Space Agency.
  • "Foundation of optical vortex lens microscopy" - Kerr Maxwell - Prof Mark Dennis.
  • "Investigating topological algorithms for digital image processing in prompt-gamma detection" -  Kiran Nutter - Dr Tzany Kokalova Wheldon.
  • "Machine learning accelerated topological design of metal-organic frameworks" - Mario Ongkiko - Dr Andrew Morris.
  • "Tunable topological metasurfaces and applications on microwave/millimetre-wave antennas and circuits for future mobile and satellite communications" - Vinothan Vaneesan - Dr Alexandros Feresidis. Funded by QinetiQ.
  • "Topological metasurfaces in local area networks" - Joshua Barrass - Prof. Costas Constantinou.
  • "Development of Specific Micronanoengineered Advanced Reliable Tunable (SMART) platforms for multifunctional coatings" - Bryan Chan - Prof. Pola Goldberg-Oppenheimer.
  • "Structural integrity of W-CuCrZr composite with optimised topology for nuclear fusion" - John Cooper - Dr Biao Cai. Funded by the UKAEA.
  • "Theory for quantum correlations in extreme nanplasmonic devices" - Luke Hands - Dr Angela Demtriadou.
  • "Controlling peptide topology to access a new class of MRI contrast agents" - Kate Hadley - Dr Anna Peacock.
  • "Origami based design of ingestible medical instrumentation" - Guy Harrop - Dr Gerard Cummins.
  • "Novel designs of bone-like scaffolds using topology optimisation and additive manufacturing" - Lizzie Iles - Dr Adel Abdelwahab.
  • "Topological analysis of topological optimisation: Facilitating transdisciplinary design engineering using topological methodology" - Joe Jayakody - Dr Lauren Thomas-Seale.
  • "Topological design of anti-fouling surfaces for biomedical devices" - Kathryn Langley - Dr Nan Gao.
  • "Topological molecules for semiconducting materials" - Thomas Lawson - Dr Tim Barendt.
  • "Evolution of topological microstructures during irradiation in Ti alloys for particle accelerator facilities and fusion reactors" - Jatinder Singh - Dr Biao Cai. Supported by the UKAEA.

Research Groups in our Academic Network

If you are working in a field related to topology and would like to explore opportunities to work with the CDT and its students, please contact us at cdt-topologicaldesign@contacts.bham.ac.uk.  You can join our mailing list to find out news and events at the CDT by completing the form on our Research Supervisors page.