Prof Richard Prager (rwp12)

Richard, although not new to the University or the department, has recently become the Head of Cambridge University Department of Engineering.  He is a fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, Queens' College Cambridge and of the Institution of Engineering and Technology. He is also one of the leaders of the Medical Imaging Group and from 2014-2018 was Head of Cambridge University School of Technology.

His research focuses on the development of better non-invasive diagnostic medical imaging systems based on ultrasound.

He founded the Medical Imaging Group in Cambridge Engineering Department in 1992.  Significant projects have included new fast and accurate calibration systems for tracked 3D ultrasound, the development of a high definition tracked 3D ultrasound system, innovative work on image-based freehand 3D ultrasound without an external tracking device, real-time 3D ultrasound deconvolution for image enhancement and three-dimensional elastography.  He also led a project to develop a hybrid scanner that combines the benefits of both tracked and mechanically-swept 3D ultrasound.

Dr Robert Foster (rmf41)

Rob has a BA in Philosophy from the University of Wales, Cardiff, and an MEng in Civil & Architectural Engineering from the University of Bath. He spent two years in practice as a structural engineer in London before coming to Cambridge to carry out a PhD in the Department of Engineering. Following his PhD, Rob spent time as a post-doctoral Research Associate in the Department of Architecture at the University of Cambridge and as Senior Lecturer in Structures in the School of Civil Engineering at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia.

Research Interests:

Rob's research addresses ways in which structural engineering understanding can help us design healthier and more sustainable cities. He is interested in the relationship between local and global behaviour in structural systems, with a particular emphasis on the implications for design with heterogeneous materials. His work explores ways in which better structural assessment, reconfiguration and retrofit can help us make better use of our enormous inventory of existing concrete structures; the use of timber and other plant based materials for lightweighting and vertical extension of existing buildings; and the design of more sustainable tall buildings.

Somenath Bakshi is a new University Lecturer in Synthetic Biology. He is a single molecule biophysicist by training. He did his PhD in University of Wisconsin Madison under Professor James Weisshaar – developing super-resolution imaging technologies to study central cellular processes in microbes. After finishing his PhD, he moved to Harvard University for his postdoc with Professor Johan Paulsson. During his postdoc Somenath developed high-throughput timelapse imaging technologies of single microbes in controlled complex growth-conditions. He has also developed a novel self-erasable fluorescence barcoding system, which enables harnessing the throughput for boosting multiplexing capabilities, without any need for cloning and sequencing. Historically, a major challenge to rationally design synthetic circuits is the lack of robust and effective ways to evaluate them. The methods mentioned above facilitate this process enormously. Though much of his work has focused on methods and approaches to synthetic biology, he remains interested in quantifying the dynamics and control of natural circuits. In fact much of the work from his postdoc focused on real biological circuits, studying circuits involved in stress-response regulation and their impact on persistence of microbes towards antibiotics.

Edwin Bahrami Balani    (eb677)

IIA SSJC Rep & UG Faculty Board Rep

Edwin is a third year student at Magdalene. Here are a few words from Edwin:

My goal is to be an approachable representative, as much for third-years as for engineering students in general. I’ve been in such a community-focused position as a JCR officer in my college community for the past two years, and I would love to do the same for my subject community too.

In essence, I don’t mind — nay, I want — to be bumping into peers in the DPO/Engineers’ Café/bike racks/etc., to have a chat about ‘things’, whatever they might be! I’m a firm believer in (cliché alert:) being the change that one wants to see; I aim to turn those chats I have with people into tangible improvements.

Finnian Baseley (fb455)

UG Faculty Board Rep

Hi, I’m Finn. I’m a third year aerospace and information engineer. In my spare time I’m an RAF reservist and enjoy skiing and flying. My work on the faculty board will mainly be about representing student’s views at the top level of the department but I would also like to focus on modernisation of the course, the welfare of students and the value to students of any activity. 

Jonathan Carter  (jfc43)

IIA SSJC Rep

Michaela Chan  (mkyc2)

IIB SSJC Rep

Malar Chellasivalingam (mc2076)

PG Faculty Board Rep

I am a PhD student with Prof. Ashwin A. Seshia in the Department of Engineering and I belong to Queens’ college. My research focuses on designing MEMS sensors that could serve as efficient air-pollution monitors.

“Shoot for the Moon; Even if you miss, you will land among the stars”, is my motto. With that in mind, I aspire to contribute to solving air pollution through the MEMS sensors that we design.

It is with no doubt that all graduate research students in Cambridge have such ambitious goals. To achieve this, appropriate guidance and support from the high-level expertise (Professors/Supervisors) in the Department is necessary.

Tek Kan Chung (tkc26)

IB SSJC Rep

Radhika Gupta (rg601)

IA SSJC Rep

Timo Herberz    (th560)

PG Faculty Board Rep

Michael Hutchinson       (mjh252)

IIB SSJC Rep

Hi I’m Michael, a 4th year engineer currently at Christ’s specialising in Info with a bit of Bio. Outside of Engineering I enjoy sport, hiding in the backstage of theatres and playing Jazz poorly.

I hope in my time on the SSJC I can help use some of the lessons I’ve learned over the past 3 years doing the course, and the thoughts of other students, to find better practises for teaching in the department and to help make the course better for everyone on it!

If you have any thoughts about things that could improve in the department, academic of not, please get in touch!

Shivam Kapila   (sk991)

IA SSJC Rep

I’m Shiv, a first-year undergraduate representative. One of my primary goals in this position is to improve access within the department, by encouraging under-represented groups to apply for engineering and to portray the course at Cambridge in a realistic, informative light to potential applicants. I also hope to make the committee more visible to the Part IA and IB cohort, to accelerate change and strengthen staff-student links. The SSJC is a fantastic way to voice the opinions of the student body and I am more than happy to pass on views and suggestions you may have to the committee.

Miruna Rapeanu  (mr741)

IB SSJC Rep