Dr. Md Atiqur Rahman

I am an early-career engineering researcher specialising in sustainable biofibre-reinforced polymer composites for advanced aerospace and automotive applications. I completed my PhD in Engineering in February 2026 at the University of Greater Manchester. I currently hold a permanent position as an Engineering Lecturer at Blackpool and the Fylde College (an approved institution in Academies), where I combine teaching with independent research and supervision of engineering apprentices from major multinational companies, including BAE Systems, Airbus and Rolls-Royce. My research focuses on industry-led projects addressing real-world engineering challenges. My work targets a key priority aligned with UKRI: developing high-performance structural materials that support net-zero and sustainability goals. It contributes directly to the UK Net Zero Strategy, the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement by advancing low-carbon alternatives to conventional synthetic composites in high-value engineering sectors.

Across all my peer-reviewed publications, I am the first and corresponding author, demonstrating ownership of research conception, methodology development, experimental design, analysis and dissemination. All my research is conducted in accordance with recognised industry standards, encompassing physical, mechanical, thermal, viscoelastic, chemical, morphological and outgassing compliance testing. This standards-led approach ensures reproducibility, transferability and direct alignment with industrial qualification pathways, positioning my work for real-world adoption with minimal optimisation.

My work is characterised by original methodological contributions that address recognised gaps in the evaluation and qualification of sustainable composite materials.I have introduced novel analytical parameters and first-in-field adaptations of established testing methodologies within recognised industry and aerospace standards. Notably, I developed a predictive thermal parameter, IPDH, derived from TGA to estimate the specific heat capacity of biofibres, addressing a limitation in conventional thermal analysis and validated this approach using DSC. This contribution enables more efficient thermal characterisation of anisotropic materials. In viscoelastic analysis, I introduced a quantitative phase angle lag parameter through DMA, enabling more rigorous numerical characterisation of material behaviour beyond traditional damping metrics. This provides enhanced understanding of interfacial performance, glass transition behaviour and structural damping, which are critical for engineering design.

In material testing, I was the first to apply four-point bending methods to curved biocomposite specimens, enabling accurate assessment of non-planar geometries relevant to aerospace structures. I also conducted the first standards-based static and dynamic outgassing evaluation of biocomposites, addressing limitations to use in space environments. While clearly acknowledging material limitations, my results demonstrated compliance with aerospace contamination thresholds for internal satellite structures, supporting the feasibility of sustainable materials in high-reliability applications.

I have delivered distinguished, keynote and plenary presentations at national and international conferences, indicating growing recognition within the global research community, and I serve as a peer reviewer for multiple international journals, contributing to research quality and integrity in my field. Beyond publications, I actively support research development and knowledge exchange, including delivering an invited guest speaker at a UK FE institution on sustainable biocomposites for engineering apprentices, emphasising their role in industrial decarbonisation. This reflects recognition of my expertise beyond academia and my ability to communicate complex concepts to diverse audiences. Based on this, I plan similar outreach during my visit to Bangladesh, where I will engage students and apprentices to promote sustainable materials, environmental stewardship and the urgent need for industrial decarbonisation.

I am developing clear evidence of research leadership and trajectory. I mentor early career researchers and have supported seven students progressing into PhD programmes at the UGM. I also supervise industry-linked research projects involving engineering apprentices, contributing to knowledge transfer between academia and industry while building experience in collaborative research environments. My future research plan is focused on establishing predictive, standards-aligned qualification frameworks for biofibre-based composites in aerospace and automotive industries. This includes addressing challenges related to mechanical reliability, viscoelastic performance, thermal stability and environmental compatibility, particularly for demanding applications, like satellite structures.