Dr Huidong Wei is a Lecturer at School of Computing and Engineering, University of Huddersfield (UK). He received his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Queen’s University of Belfast (UK). During his PhD stage, he spent six months as a visiting researcher at Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology (Caltech, US). After his PhD, he worked as a KTP associate and managed a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) project funded by Innovate UK for more than two years between Aston University (UK) and Rayner Intraocular Lenses Limited. He then joined School of Engineering, Newcastle University (UK) as a Research Associate by working on an EPSRC funded project until his appointment of lectureship at Huddersfield. Dr Wei has eight years’ industrial experience as a senior mechanical design engineer in offshore oil and gas industry and he is recognised a Chartered Engineer with Engineering Council (UK) by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).

Dr Wei’s research interests focus on polymer processing, material modelling and biomechanics. He has strong expertise in material characterisation and modelling of biodegradable polymers. He used state-of-the-art technology of digital image correlation and finite element analysis to investigate the rate dependence of mechanical behaviour of biopolymers. He participated the world’s first experimental establishment at Caltech to observe the microstructural evolution of polymers in-situ under synchrotron X-ray scattering, aiming to enhance the mechanical function of bioresorbable stents. 

Dr Wei developed a novel in-vitro lens biomechanics testing platform together with an artificial capsular bag to mimic the dynamic accommodation of human eyes, which empowered the R&D of next generation ophthalmic implants in medical device industry. He worked on anti-microbial coatings of polymeric materials to inhibit the bacterial infections of urinary catheters. He developed a methodology of in-vitro dynamic culture of bacteria and in-situ investigation of biofilm growth in artificial urine. He characterised the rheological behaviour of biofilms and developed viscoelastic models to gain deep insight into the biomechanics of soft biological materials under dynamic process.