The Adhesion Science Team at TWI

Professor Mehdi Tavakoli completed a BSc in Chemistry before obtaining an MSc and PhD in Polymers from University of Aston in Birmingham. He is a Technology Manager and Consultant on polymers/adhesives. Currently he is also the Programme Manager of the Health Technology Knowledge Transfer Network.
Dr Ewen Kellar is currently a Principal Project Leader within the Polymer Technology group. His experience ranges from adhesive selection and surface pre-treatment, through fractography to composites. He enjoys tackling challenging industrial problems where an innovative approach may be the best solution. Ewen is a member of the TWI Innovation Support Group, which aims to promote and support innovative 'green shoots' throughout the company.
Dr Farshad Salamat-Zadeh is a Senior Project Leader in the Advanced Materials & Processes Group. Prior to joining TWI he obtained a BSc in Polymer Engineering, MSc in Advanced Manufacturing Systems and PhD in Joining Technology. He has more than 12 years of consultancy and project management experience dealing with adhesion issues in manufacturing, construction and other industrial market sectors.
Dr Colin McLean has 17 years' experience in the development, commercialisation and use of advanced adhesives for semiconductor packaging, optoelectronics and medical device assembly applications. He has BSc and PhD degrees in chemistry from the University of Sheffield, is a Chartered Chemist and, in 2000, was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry.
Sue Dunkerton is Business Manager for Processes at TWI, supporting TWI's Technology Groups to develop market driven technologies and provide routes to exploitation. A metallurgist by training, she has broad materials knowledge, including polymers and adhesives, and specific experience in the medical, electronics and aerospace fields.
Norman Stockham is a business developer with more than 20 years' experience in microelectronic and sensor packaging. His knowledge covers a wide variety of process and assembly technology. including: wire, ribbon, flip chip, TAB, die attach, encapsulants, package sealing, hybrid circuits, COB, MCM, SMT, display and optical packaging.
Dr Marcus Warwick works on projects in composites and adhesives. He has worked extensively on the Clearweld ^® process, developing new applications for laser welding of polymers, notably in the field of textiles.
Chris Otter is a Senior Project leader in TWI's Microtechnology Section. He has wide ranging skills in welding and joining process development, including: die attachment; wire bonding; flip-chip assembly with conductive adhesives as well as laser resistance and ultrasonic welding.
Dr Simon Smith has developed modelling methods for welding and joining processes, including the effects of residual stresses and non-destructive testing. He has applied these methods to structures and materials in many industries. He is the Technology Manager for Numerical Modelling.
Paul Burling has extensive experience in project management of large commercial projects world-wide, which include in-depth knowledge of composite material for military and commercial applications. Paul's broad knowledge covers many engineering technologies but he specialises in composite materials and adhesives.
Dr John Rudlin was, for 10 years, a Research Fellow at University College London working on evaluation of NDT techniques for both topside and underwater applications. He is a Principal Consultant in NDT and has been working on applications of all methods of NDT, inspection reliability and qualification issues.
Nathan Decourcelle is a Project Leader in the Non-destructive Technology group. He has a Materials and Mechanical Engineering degree and a postgraduate degree in Non Destructive Technologies. His research work is focused on the development of NDT techniques for adhesive joints, with the aim of detect kissing bonds inside adhesive joints.
Steve Westgate is a consultant in TWI's Laser and Sheet Processes Group. Steve has had involvement in, and managed, a wide range of research projects in all resistance welding processes. He is also experienced with mechanical fastening systems, adhesives and hybrid techniques, largely related to sheet-metal joining.