Current Research Projects
Assess the consumer preference of brown seaweeds added to Ultra Heat Treated plant based milk drinks in Lower Saxony & Scotland
This research project investigates consumer acceptance of a novel plant-based oat drink enriched with seaweed in Lower Saxony, Germany, and Scotland. Given the health benefits of plant-based diets and the environmental advantages of regional products, this study aims to create a sustainable and nutritious product.
Dementia and everyday experiences of care and caring across formal and informal care relationships
This research project aims to explore the complex dynamics of care relationships involving people with dementia. It acknowledges the significant impact of dementia not only on those diagnosed but also on their caregivers, emphasising the importance of understanding these relationships within their broader social and policy contexts.
Novel miniaturised piezoelectric electro-optical modulator for space- and energy-saving photonic circuits
This project focuses on developing a miniaturised piezoelectric electro-optical modulator to create more compact, energy-efficient, and cost-effective photonic circuits. With the increase in digital data traffic and sensor-based analyses, integrated photonics is critical for addressing these challenges due to its bandwidth and efficiency advantages.
Geothermal Potential in Reiche Zeche: Leveraging Research Mine Infrastructure for Sustainable Energy Solutions
This project explores the potential of mine water energy as a renewable energy source, utilising geothermal heat from abandoned, flooded mines. By transforming these voids into ‘geo-batteries,’ it aims to store surplus heat from renewable sources like solar and wind.
Refugee entrepreneurship in the agri-food sector in Lower Saxony and Lanarkshire
The proposed research project aims to investigate the motivations and challenges faced by tenured refugees engaging in entrepreneurship within the agri-food sector in Lower Saxony, Germany, and Lanarkshire, Scotland, and to understand how refugees’ entrepreneurial activities can be leveraged to improve their labour market participation and contribute to rural socio-economic development.
Structured vector light for advanced spectroscopy and metrology
This collaboration will explore the interaction and propagation of structured vector light beams in magnetised atomic media, leveraging the theoretical and experimental strengths of both groups. Unlike traditional Gaussian light beams, vector beams exhibit complex polarisation textures and phase singularities, making them promising for applications such as laser-frequency locking schemes.