Rainer Groh (2011 cohort)
Please provide a brief summary of your PhD project.
Designing lightweight structures requires tools for predicting accurate stresses within structures. The analysis of composite structures is particularly difficult as different layers can feature vastly different elastic behaviours, and because stresses in the thickness direction are particularly pernicious in terms of the failure behaviour. The focus of my PhD was therefore to develop a computational model that is able to make very accurate stress predictions while keeping the computational cost to a minimum to allow for rapid design.
Did you choose to continue your XP project as a PhD? Why or why not?
I continued my XP project as a PhD as I was fascinated by the project and had a very constructive working relationship with my supervisor. He allowed me to shape the research question as freely as I wanted while providing timely guidance regarding which directions could be most fruitful.
How did the taught component benefit your PhD research?
The most valuable aspect of the taught component was the multi-disciplinary teaching covering not only the mechanics of composites but also inspiration from nature, resin chemistry, manufacturing and novel materials.
How did the cohort structure benefit your PhD research?
The cohort structure benefited me in two ways. Firstly, it was comforting to share the experience with a group of like-minded individuals and secondly, the cohort structure creates a motivating environment to do your best work.
What did you most value about being part of a CDT?
The multi-disciplinary focus of the first year curriculum and the cohort structure.
What was the 'impact' of your research?
My research is being used by collaborative partners at NASA and sparked collaborations with other universities in Italy and Switzerland.
What was your destination on leaving the CDT?
Postdoctoral Research Associate at ACCIS, University of Bristol.
What are your main responsibilities?
I am a postdoctoral research associate in the nonlinear structures group of Dr Alberto Pirrera. This means I am leading on some of the topics of Dr Pirrera's fellowship and co-supervising PhD students.
Where do you see yourself in five to ten years' time?
As an academic leader in my field at a prestigious international university.
How have the skills and knowledge you acquired during your time in the CDT helped develop your career?
The technical skills within applied mathematics have obviously been invaluable for my further development. Furthermore, the CDT values conference presentations and journal publications and hence I have been able to hone my public speaking and written skills. Finally, finishing a four-year project on time is not an easy task, and my ability to do so reflects some of the organisational skills I have learned during my time at the CDT.