Angad Panesar

As a Principal Lecturer (Associate Professor) at the University of Brighton, my role encompasses leadership on mechanical engineering course pathways, and research and development on a range of sustainable energy technologies.

Teaching Background

I have 14 years experience in impactful engineering education, allowing me to lead the implementation of comprehensive changes on our largest practice and skills module in 2022, resulting in an average 60% increase in all metrics linked to enriched student learning experience.

As the lead for masters and bachelors in Automotive Engineering, I have developed, managed and delivered our portfolio, resulting in the 5 year accreditation (gold standard) in 2020, by the Institution of Engineering and Technology, and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

To merge my professional experience with teaching opportunities, I founded the STEP Lab (Sustainable Technology and Engineering Projects) in 2020, aligning our curriculum with the emerging industrial skills and demands. This offers a multi-disciplinary project-based environment, to problem solve energy challenges in heating, cooling, power and energy conversion, in a tutor-student collaboration. This has resulted in numerous masters, bachelors, internships and shadowing students completing, authentic engineering experience via real-world projects, and featuring as the engineering employability case study by the University Learning and Teaching Hub.

As a Senior Lecturer, I was appointed as a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy in 2018 and received my PGCert (Merit) for my works focused on ‘Student Centred Teaching and Learning Approaches to Enhance Student Experience’.

I was awarded the ‘Inclusive Teaching Award 2017’ followed by the ‘Excellence in Facilitating and Empowering Learning Award 2018’ and a further ‘Excellence in Facilitating and Empowering Learning Award 2019’, all recognising my contributions in improving student engagement and achievement in engineering education at the institutional level.

I have served on the School Board, Industrial Advisory Board, School Education and Student Experience Committee, School Athena SWAN Committee etc. addressing sector wide priorities, from skills development to attainment gap.

Research Background

I have 14 years research and development experience (encompassing technology readiness levels 2 to 8), in energy conversion, energy storage and sustainable fuels, via simulation and experimental methods applied to transport and stationary applications. I have concept-to-commissioning experience on new large-scale energy recovery test facilities to operational experience on Euro 6 heavy-duty research engines.

I am a recognised scholar who has presented at conferences in UK, Italy, Malaysia, India, USA, Portugal, Poland and Spain. I have authored 20 peer reviewed publications with a ResearchGate score of 17 and my outputs have contributed to institutional Research Excellence Frameworks. My notable outputs include, sole authorship in high impact factor journals, such as in ‘Applied Energy’ for the work titled ‘An innovative Organic Rankine Cycle system for integrated cooling and heat recovery 2016’. I have also published via high impact special issue journal invitations, for instance in ‘Energy’ for the issue titled ‘Towards low carbon energy systems: engineering and economic perspectives 2016’.

My research outputs are the result of successful industry focused projects, these include ‘Development of high-grade heat storage for integration with liquid air energy storage via Innovate UK 2018 (£58K)’, ‘Engine efficiency challenge via Advanced Propulsion Centre 2018 (£20K)’, ‘Utilizing low grade heat via Ricardo Plc 2016 (£20K)’ and ‘Libertine waste heat recovery unit via Innovate UK 2016 (£220K)’.

As a Lecturer, I was recognised as a ‘Substantial Speaker’ as the sole author at the ‘Thermal Management Systems Symposium 2016’. As a Research Fellow in Thermal Storage and Waste Heat Recovery, I was awarded the ‘Best Paper Award’ as the lead author from over 120 submissions at the ‘International Conference on Production, Energy and Reliability 2014’.

Training Background

I received my PhD in Thermal Engineering themed research, with institutional award of ‘Best Presentation in the Faculty 2013’ in Computing, Engineering and Mathematics, and a further ‘Best Presentation in the Faculty 2014’. My specialisation was in ‘Waste heat recovery using fluid bottoming cycles for heavy duty Diesel engines’ at the Sir Harry Ricardo Laboratories. The academic impact of my earlier research resulted in my lead author conference paper being in the top quartile of over 170 submissions, and hence being chosen for publication in the International Journal of Engines (2013-24-0089).

I hold additional qualifications from University Alliance, Russell Group and Professional Institutions. I received my MPhil in Mechanical Engineering from City University London, MSc (Distinction) in Mechatronics from Kings College London, GradWeld I from the Welding Institute Professional Division and BEng (First Class Honours) in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Greenwich.

My specialisations included, ‘Performance prediction of energy systems with expansion performed by twin screw machines’, ‘Investigation into the fundamental problem of inverse dynamics method using an instrumented robotic test-rig’ (with Royal Veterinary College) and ‘Design, manufacture and commissioning of an instrumented drop weight impact tester’. In these I was awarded the ‘Best Overall Performance in Engineering’ and the ‘Best Industrial Board Innovation Project’.

I also hold certification in ‘Management, Leadership and Business’ from Roehampton University London and in ‘Development through Philosophy’ from City University London.

Early Career Background

My notable responsibilities, in the early years of my career included, Intern Engineer in US energy sector with Electratherm Inc., Lecturer at City University London and Course Facilitator for Smallpeice Trust. I also served an advisor to 3 UK higher education institutes on administration and operation of University Accommodations. For my service, I received commendation and bronze award from the University of Greenwich.

My research interests cover the wider theme of sustainable energy production, conversion and storage, with a strong focus on waste heat recovery, thermal energy storage, high efficiency engines, renewable fuels, life cycle assessment in emerging fields. At the systems level, this includes, heat to power technologies, fluid bottoming cycles, energy recovery expanders, working fluids, nano-particles, concentrated solar power plants, molten salt thermal batteries, compact heat exchangers, liquid air energy storage systems, NOx/CO2 emissions, heavy-duty and split cycle engines, carbon free fuels, ammonia combustion, process integration, techno-economic evaluations, exergy analysis, hazard and operability studies, research methodology to improve technology readiness level, system wide modelling, optimisation, control and validation, and quantifying environmental impacts of a products, services and materials. I have investigated most of these research strands via simulation and experimental methods as part of knowledge transfers, industrial consultancies and research grants.

I am a member of the Advanced Engineering Centre and the Thermal Efficiency Spoke of the Advanced Propulsion Centre. My industrial (e.g. Dolphin N2) and university supported, live doctoral research projects include:

Combustion Chemistry for Optimisation of Advanced Propulsion Cycles with E-fuels - by Elisa Wylie

Universal Life Cycle Emissions Tool Applied to Electric Vehicles in Automotive Sector - by Aleksandra Skalba

Micro-Power Volumetric Machines as Energy Recovery Expanders in Two-Phase Conditions - by Ian Kemp

I have been invited speaker and session chair at international conferences, such as ‘Experimental and Computational Tools for Combustion Optimization in Marine and Automotive Engines 2016’ and ‘European Conference on Renewable Energy Systems 2019’. I have acted as a reviewer for funding bodies, high impact journals and international conferences, for instance EPSRC, Energy Conversion and Management, and Heat Powered Cycle Conference.

My expertise in improving the technology readiness level of energy systems has resulted in industrial impact via development and delivery of continuous professional development courses for global engineering companies, for example BorgWarner Inc 2016. I have also co-delivered accelerated courses, for example ‘Powertrain thermal management 2015’ via Training and Development for automotive engineering professionals.

I have co-delivered consultancy for small and medium enterprises, ‘Automotive hydrogen engine concept 2020’ consultancy for Clean Automotive Engineering Ltd, ‘Cryogenic waste heat recovery 2016’ consultancy via Green Growth Platform innovation voucher for Dearman Engine Company Ltd and ‘Free piston expander testing 2016’ consultancy via Department of Energy and Climate Change for Libertine FPE.

My pedagogy focuses on developing cross disciplined, multi-skilled and solution focused engineering graduates with ingrained fundamental principles. I have stepped up to the challenge of developing and implementing, a range of active teaching approaches and embedding learning opportunities, for the benefit of maximum students for our aeronautical, automotive, design, electrical and mechanical engineering courses.

To pave the way from the theoretical concepts to practical engineering for diverse and large cohorts, I have implemented various methods in my practice, these include problem based learning, reverse engineering, puzzle based learning, conscious inclusivity, practice based learning, feedforward plans, peer based learning, real world case studies and simulators as virtual training tools.

I have taught a range of forward thinking as well as core subjects including, Renewable Technologies, Engineering Practice, Energy Systems, Product Design, Aircraft and Automotive Systems, Instrumentation and Testing, Thermodynamics, and Engineering Design, Innovation and Management.

I have presented my pedagogic works such as ‘Student Centred Teaching and Learning Approaches to Enhance Student Experience 2019’ at the Pedagogic Research Conference, and ‘A Mixed Mode Teaching and Learning Cycle in Engineering Education 2018’ at the Learning and Teaching Conference.

My supervision interests in the theme of energy engineering via simulation and experimental methods are aligned with my research interests in energy recovery, energy storage, advanced engines, sustainable fuels, low carbon transport and life cycle assessment. I welcome correspondence from potential Placement, PhD and Post-Doctoral applicants, and new academic and industrial collaborators.