Dr Daniel Zhang
Senior Lecturer in Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning
Daniel joined Falmouth University in 2023 as a Senior Lecturer in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. Previously, he played a key role in the Computational Engineering & Design Group at the Rolls-Royce University Technology Centre (UTC) within the University of Southampton, focusing on aircraft engine design, optimisation, and computational engineering with AI/ML techniques.
Throughout his career, Daniel has collaborated with industry leaders like Rolls-Royce and Airbus, and renowned universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, Loughborough, Queen's University Belfast, and Cranfield. He has contributed significantly to over ten software and production tools for projects funded by organisations like the European Research Framework, Rolls-Royce, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), among others. His research interests encompass Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Software Engineering, Programming & Algorithms, Computational Engineering, Design Optimisations, and Image/Video Processing.
In 2020, Daniel received the Rolls-Royce Pioneering Digital Award for his work on a military aircraft engine exhaust optimisation project funded by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Royal Air Force. He continues to be a prominent figure in academia, driving innovation in his field at Falmouth University.
Qualifications
Qualifications
| Year | Qualification | Awarding body |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | PhD in Computer Science and IT | University of Gloucestershire |
| 2009 | MSc with Distinction in Computer Science and Applications | University of Warwick |
| 2004 | BEng in Electrical Engineering and Automation Science | Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics |
Honors and awards
| Year | Description |
|---|---|
| 2020 | Rolls-Royce Pioneer Digital Awards, Rolls-Royce plc. (UK) |
| 2009 | Unique PhD Scholarship, University of Gloucestershire (UK) |
| 2009 | Distinction MSc Degree, University of Warwick (UK) |
| 2000 | 1st Class Outstanding Scholarship, Beijing University of Aeronautics & Astronautics (China) |
Research Interests
Research interests and expertise
- Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning (AI / ML)
- Neural Networks (ANN, CNN, GAN, etc.)
- Programming & Algorithms / Software Engineering
- Design Optimisations / Parametric Geometry Definition
- Computer Aided Design (CAD) / Computer Aided Engineering (CAE)
- Finite Element Analysis (FEA) / Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
Research Topics
- AL/ML applications in computational engineering
- 2D/3D CAD model generation
- Graph neural networks
Research Outputs
Publications and research outputs
Externally funded research grants information
| Collaborators | Currency | Funder | HESA Category | Project title | Value | Year ending | Year starting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rolls-Royce, Queens Belfast University, Cambridge University Fluid Dynamics Group, Cranfield University |
Rolls-Royce, UKRI | COLIBRI - Collaboration Across Business Boundaries | 2023 | 2020 | |||
| Rolls-Royce, Loughborough University |
UK Ministry of Defence (MoD), the Royal Air Force | Exhaust Integration in CD99 | 2020 | 2019 | |||
| Rolls-Royce Bangalore R&D Centre |
Rolls-Royce | Pedestal Tile Cooling Feed Hole Optimisation Package | 2019 | 2018 | |||
| Oxford University, Rolls-Royce Germany, other EU institutions |
European Research Framework, Rolls-Royce | Smart System for Thermal Analysis of Combustor, part of CleanSky2 | 2017 | 2015 | |||
| Rolls-Royce Derby, Rolls-Royce Bristol, Rolls-Royce Northern American, Rolls-Royce Germany |
Rolls-Royce | Prometheus | 2014 | 2012 |
Research Students
Current research students
Gerico Vidanes (University of Southampton).
- Gerico is working on Point-based Graph Neural Networks for 3D Geometry Feature Recognition.
Thomas Weichlein (University of Gloucestershire)
- Thomas is focusing on the load balancing network automation. He has finished the writing-up of his final thesis and preparing for submission since Oct 2023.
Teaching
Areas of teaching
- Computational Mathematics
- Classical Artificial Intelligence
- Machine Learning
Courses taught
- Artificial Intelligence for Games MSc
