Supervisor bio: Dr Abass awarded his PhD in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Liverpool in 2011. Since he joined the University of Liverpool in 2007, he worked exclusively for Russell Group universities either in teaching or research (University of Liverpool & Cardiff University). He started his academic career in 1999, just after he graduated with a First-Class BSc Honours degree in Production Engineering and Mechanical Design (top of his class).
Dr Abass joined the School of Engineering at the University of Liverpool as a lecturer in Biomedical Engineering in August 2018. Dr Abass’ research projects contribute to a cohesive research plan focused on ocular topography and multi-scale modelling. In his engagements as a PhD, MSc and MPhil supervisor and examiner, Dr Abass extensively focuses on the link between research activity and market need. With his experience in working with healthcare business partners in the UK and overseas, Dr Abass aligns his research to apply digital-based technology to ocular applications. Having access to an effective digital twin of a real-life ocular application allows for testing of either new or high-risk existing technologies and treatments on the digital twin in a safe environment at a much lower cost with no risk of infection or damage on the physical twin.
In his teaching, Dr Abass puts the focus on the student’s learning outcomes through intensive use of deep learning techniques and shows his students how to relate new ideas to prior knowledge and everyday experiences. He stresses the need for evidence to support conclusions and examine the logic of his students’ arguments. As an academic lead in the School of Engineering Employability Group, Staff-Student Liaison Committee Convener, Chartered Engineer (CEng MIMechE), and as a fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), he has special experience in active learning where students get involved in the learning process in a Student-Centred Learning model.
Email: a.abass@liverpool.ac.uk
School: Engineering
Department: Engineering
Module code: ENGG290
Suitable for students of: Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering
Desired experience or requirements: MATLAB coding
Places available: 8
Start dates: 10 June 2024, 1 July 2024
Project length: 4 - 12 weeks
Virtual option: Yes - virtual, hybrid or in-person options
Project description:
Soft contact lenses are medical devices largely used to correct eye refractive errors for more than 125 million people worldwide. Unlike spectacle lenses which are used in conventional glasses, soft contact lenses should be designed to fit the user's eye besides being able to correct his vision. Not cleaning the lenses properly leads to the accumulation of protein on the lens. These can cause irritation of the cornea and impaired visual acuity. During the cleaning and fitting process, the surface of the contact lens deflects significantly. Therefore, damage or spoilage of contact lenses is more common with soft lenses than rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses. Damage may occur in the form of tears, cracks and chips. These may cause local irritation of the cornea. In this project, students will design the geometry, select the materials of a range of soft contact lenses, and then test their performance during the handling and fitting process. A MATLAB software code will carry out the product design process; however, the process of handling and fitting contact lenses to human eyes will be simulated by Abaqus finite element software, where the 3D change in the shape of contact lenses can be monitored and recorded. The student will then use the knowledge gained from this exercise to obtain design correction factors, in terms of dimensions and materials, that can be used to improve the performance of soft contact lenses during the handling process.
Additional requirements: Candidates are expected to use MATLAB software and the commercial finite element package Abaqus or the free finite element software package FE-BIO. They will need to use an external hard drive to save their simulation data.
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