Welcome to the mfX research group!
We are a computational group at the University of Edinburgh investigating a range of multiscale flow problems that target important engineering challenges of the 21st century in health, transport, water and energy. Our research spans fundamental engineering science at the nano/micro/meso/macro scales, multiscale method development, highly parallel software development that run on supercomputers, and industry-focused engineering applications.
Examples of our recent work include: non-equilibrium gas transport through porous media for safer oil/gas reservoir management; nano/micro bubble cavitation dynamics for disease targeting; nano/micro-engineered surfaces with improved performance (e.g. anti-icing, marine drag reduction, nanotube water filtration membranes, evaporating cooling nanopipes); liquid-surface damage analysis; granular and pedestrian flow predictions.
We actively collaborate with researchers from the UK and around the world, and engage with various industrial companies to adapt our techniques for their problems.
The mfX group exhibited “When Bubbles Bite” at the Edinburgh Science Festival in Dynamic Earth from 10-13 April 2026. Over four days, Rohit and Duncan led a team that burst over 200 balloons underwater to demonstrate cavitation physics to kids aged 1 to 16 and their families. Visitors controlled mini propellers to create cavitation in real time, inspected erosion damage on a real ship propeller, and tested their knowledge on our interactive quiz app.
Thanks to all the mfX members and volunteers who helped run the stand: Jacqui, Brian, Tushar, Abhinav, Yuanye, Taher, Rachel, Janice, and Clara.
Pengxu Chen was invited by ARCHER2 to write a case study on our research into using surface vibrations to control ice nucleation for freeze desalination.
Duncan recently presented his research on nanobubble modelling with Molecular Dynamics simulations at the ARCHER2 webinar series. In case you missed it, the full webinar is available to watch on YouTube.
We are delighted to welcome Dr. Yuanye Zhou into mfX. Yuanye joins us as a Post-Doctoral Research Associate, working with Livio on machine learning and crowd dynamics. Welcome Yuanye!
We are delighted to welcome Zhaolun Li into mfX. Zhaolun joins us as a PhD student, having completed his MSc at TU Delft. He will be developing machine learning potentials for studying thermal problems at solid-liquid interfaces. Welcome Zhaolun!