Naval Architecture, Ocean & Marine EngineeringWomen in Naval Architecture Ocean and Marine Engineering

The Naval Architecture Ocean and Marine Engineering department is dedicated to providing equal opportunities to all of our students and staff. We strive to nurture an environment of diversity and inclusion in order to best support our research and teaching activities.  We are holding an Athena SWAN bronze award. The award recognises our 'commitment to advancing women's careers in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine.

We celebrate and promote the excellent teaching and research work carried out by women in NAOME to encourage a supportive, inclusive, equal and diverse culture. Please meet our female role models in NAOME to recognise their excellent achievements:-

 

Julia Race smiling at the camera

Prior to starting her academic career, Professor Julia Race worked in industry for over 20 years, latterly in the pipeline industry for 7 years as an integrity consultant for GE Oil and Gas. In this role, she was responsible for providing fitness-for-purpose, remaining life and corrosion assessments for onshore and offshore pipelines. She has also worked as a materials engineer in the petrochemical and power generation industries involved with the operation, maintenance and design of chemical and power plant. Her primary research interest, developed since her move to academia from industry, is in the use of pipeline infrastructure to deliver pathways to Net Zero – primarily in the transportation of carbon dioxide (CO2) for Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) schemes and hydrogen as a replacement for oil and gas in the energy mix. In this area her research topics have included: - material and specification requirements for CO2 and H2 pipelines, - techniques for conducting Quantitative Risk Assessments, including pipeline failure frequency and consequence analysis - hydraulic network design and developing system flexibility, techno-economics and wider economy impacts. Her wider research interests include the modelling of structural damage and corrosion on structures, particularly relating to onshore and offshore energy infrastructure.
Selda looking at camera

Prof Selda Oterkus joined the department of Naval Architecture, Ocean and Marine Engineering (NAOME) at University of Strathclyde in August 2015. She is currently a professor (Chair) and the co-director of PeriDynamics Research Centre (PDRC). She's also the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion group lead in NAOME department. She received her PhD degree from the University of Arizona in mechanical engineering with minor degree in civil engineering and engineering mechanics. Her research mainly focuses on multi-physics modelling of materials and structures including damage prediction due to various loading and environmental conditions. This includes fluid-structure interaction modelling, ships & offshore structures, offshore renewable energy, floating wind and solar energy devices, desalination & water treatment, ice-structure interactions, fire damage in composites, corrosion damage, and poroelasticity.
Qing looking at camera

Professor Qing Xiao graduated with a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the National University of Singapore, where she studied through experimental measurements the stability and bifurcation of Taylor-Couette flow and investigated how ‘flow history’ and Taylor-Couette geometries affect the flow regime development.
Lynne Samson looking at camera

Lynne Samson began her career at the University of Strathclyde in June 2000 working as a modern apprentice secretary within the Secretary to the University and Principal’s office. Lynne has worked in various roles and departments over the years including central Finance, Strathclyde Institute of Pharmaceutical & Biomedical Science and was appointed Department Operations Manager within the department of Naval Architecture, Ocean and Marine Engineering in October 2020 following a successful period as Department Finance Administrator.

Dr Ana Mesbahi completed her PhD in Hydrodynamics of High Speed Craft at Newcastle University, where she proceeded with her Academic career. Prior from joining the Department of Naval Architecture, Ocean and Marine Engineering she was a lecturer at Newcastle University in Singapore where she taught Naval Architecture subjects. She is currently a Research Associate in the Department working in the area of alternative fuels. She has always had an interest in environmental impacts within the marine industry and has worked on projects related to life cycle assessment, ship emissions, ballast water and currently alternative fuels. Outside of work she enjoys being involved in the community and volunteers at her children’s school and sports clubs. 

Hollie is a PhD student in the Maritime Human Factors Centre (MHFC). With a background in mathematics and statistics, she completed her Master’s degree at Strathclyde in 2022. Her research focuses on the application of artificial intelligence to safety in both the maritime and offshore wind domains. She is currently working on using machine learning and natural language processing techniques to automate the analysis of maritime accident reports—helping to identify human and causal factors more efficiently and with less reliance on expert input.

Dr Xue Xu is a Research Associate at the department of Naval Architecture, Ocean & Marine Engineering. Her research interests include offshore renewable energy development, decarbonisation of shipping, and risk and reliability analysis.

Fiona Mackie started her career at the University of Strathclyde in the Department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering in July 2004 working as a secretary within the Ship Stability Research Centre (a research unit of the department at the time). She proceeded to work as the postgraduate taught administrator from 2008 to the present day with NAOME. "I often wonder how many students I have come into contact with over the last 20 years and what are they doing now but really hope they enjoyed their time studying with us. The university is a great place to work where I have met lots of Incredible people throughout the years. In my spare time, I like to spend time with my husband and ten year old son, playing football and going on day trips. I love a good book, Netflix drama and a glass of wine."

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