Dr Payam Khazaeinejad
Faculties, departments and locations
- Faculty of Engineering, Computing and the Environment
- Department of Mechanical Engineering
- Department of Aerospace and Aircraft Engineering
- Department of Electrical, Electronic and Robotic Engineering
- School of Engineering
- Roehampton Vale
Associate Professor & School Director of Learning and Teaching
- Email:
- [email protected]
About
I am an associate professor in solid mechanics, a chartered engineer (CEng) and chartered scientist (CSci), with a PhD in Engineering from the University of Edinburgh. I am a senior fellow of advance HE (formerly the Higher Education Academy) and a fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). My professional affiliations include senior member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and membership of the Institute of Physics (IOP), the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), the EPSRC Peer Review College, and the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). I also contribute to scholarly publishing as a reviewer of journal papers and book manuscripts, and through editorial work with leading journals in my field.
Currently, I serve as director of learning and teaching in the School of Engineering at Kingston University London. I am also the scheme owner for the University's Monitored Professional Development Scheme (MPDS), accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). In addition, I chair the IMechE's Structural Technology and Materials Group (STMG) and contribute to the IMechE's Technical Strategy Board, the IMechE Council, and the Applied Mechanics Group of the Institute of Physics (IOP) where I serve as an elected member.
My professional involvement in higher education includes serving as chief external examiner at UWE Bristol (2024 to present), and as external examiner at Manchester Metropolitan University (2024 to present) and the University of East London (2023 to present). I have also served on programme revalidation panels for engineering degrees at several universities.
My research combines computational modelling with bio-inspired design to create materials and structures with tailored, high-performance properties. I develop high-fidelity algorithms that optimise internal architectures, from the microscale to full structural systems, to improve efficiency, resilience, and adaptability. Through high-fidelity simulations, I reveal underlying mechanical mechanisms that guide safer and more reliable engineering designs.
Across all projects, I focus on the relationship between materials design and structural integrity. By combining computational analysis with targeted experiments, I uncover how geometry, hierarchy, and material distribution interact under various loading and environmental conditions. This multiscale approach provides a holistic understanding of structural performance and highlights the synergistic load-carrying mechanisms within architected systems.
A distinctive aspect of my work is the application of bio-inspired design principles. Drawing on nature's evolved strategies, I develop materials and structures that exhibit remarkable efficiency, robustness, and adaptability. Advances in simulation and optimisation enable me to explore design spaces that are difficult to access experimentally, opening new avenues for innovation. I also study failure mechanisms in structures exposed to extreme thermo-mechanical environments, ensuring that the resulting designs meet the highest standards of safety and reliability.
Qualifications
- 2024: Machine Learning for Materials Informatics - MIT Professional Education
- 2024: Chartered Scientist (CSci) – UK Science Council
- 2023: Chartered Manager Bootcamp (CMI Level 5 Diploma in Management and Leadership)
- 2021: Chartered Engineer (CEng) – UK Engineering Council
- 2021: Certificate in Innovation in Teaching (Laspau – Affiliated with Harvard University)
- 2016: PhD in Engineering - The University of Edinburgh
- 2015: Fire Dynamics & Fire Safety Engineering Design Certificate – The University of Edinburgh
- 2006: MSc Mechanical Engineering - Applied Mechanics
- 2004: BEng Mechanical Engineering - Solid Mechanics
Domains
- Established partnerships with leading engineering companies, embedding live-brief projects in engineering modules.
- Winner of the Provost's Award for Learning and Teaching Excellence 2025 – Kingston University
Current projects
- Project BRIDGE (Benchmarking Retention, Inclusion & Degree-Awarding Gap in Engineering)
- Targeted Mathematical Support to Promote Inclusive Student Achievement
Qualifications
- Senior Fellow of Advance HE (SFHEA)
- Becas Santander Skills: Innovation in Teaching - Laspau (Affiliated with Harvard University)
- Kingston Academic Practice Standards Framework (KAPS) Certificate - Kingston University
- Edinburgh Award (Work Experience) - The University of Edinburgh
- Engineering Mechanics and Materials
- Computer-Aided Engineering
Courses taught
My research focuses on understanding and engineering the internal architectures of materials and structures to achieve tailored, high-performance behaviour. I study how geometry, material distribution, and multiscale organisation shape structural response, and I use this knowledge to create efficient, resilient, and application-specific design frameworks. By treating internal architecture as a design variable, I develop systems that adapt and perform with the sophistication seen in natural structures.
Architected materials
I design architected materials whose microstructures, ranging from conventional lattices to advanced metamaterials, are tailored to enhance stiffness, toughness, thermal response, and energy absorption. Through multiscale modelling and optimisation, I link microscale geometry to macroscale performance, enabling customised and lightweight engineering solutions.
Bio-inspired design
Nature offers powerful strategies for structural efficiency and adaptability. I translate these principles into engineered components using lattice networks, hierarchical patterns, and self-adaptive behaviours to develop robust, multifunctional designs.
Structural integrity under extreme environments
I investigate how materials and structures behave under fire, heat, dynamic loading, and harsh marine conditions. By modelling these complex scenarios, I develop strategies to mitigate failure and extend the service life of critical components.
Qualifications
- UK EPSRC Summer School on Meshless Methods in Mechanics, Cardiff University (UK)
- Open System for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (OpenSees), The University of Edinburgh (UK)
- Fire Dynamics & Fire Safety Engineering Design CPD, BRE Centre for Fire Safety Engineering (UK)
- Fire Science and Fire Investigation CPD, BRE Centre for Fire Safety Engineering (UK)
- Computer-Aided Engineering
- Engineering Mechanics and Materials
Specialisms
- Computational modelling and simulation
- Smart materials, structures and systems
- Bio-inspired design and biomaterials
- Architected materials and structures
- Failure mechanisms of structural systems and components
Scholarly affiliations
- Chartered Engineer & Fellow, Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE)
- Chartered Scientist, Institute of Physics (IOP)
- Member, EPSRC Peer Review College
- Senior Member, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
- Member, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
Led registration and accreditation of KU in IMechE's Monitored Professional Development Scheme (MPDS) to integrate professional competencies into curricula for engineering programmes.
Contributed to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT)’s Automotive Industry Career Guide.
Spearheaded reaccreditation and accreditation of undergraduate mechanical engineering programmes.
Qualifications and expertise
- Chief External Examiner – UWE Bristol (2024-present)
- External Examiner – Manchester Metropolitan University (2024-present)
- External Examiner – University of East London (2023-present)
- External Adviser – University of Wales (2024)
- External Panel Member – University of Northampton (2023)
Professional and scholarly affiliations
- Chair - IMechE Structural Technology and Materials Group (STMG)
- Chartered Fellow - Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE)
- Elected Member - Applied Mechanics Group - Institute of Physics (IOP)
- Chartered Member - Institute of Physics (IOP)
- ‘Friends of Committee’, Structures Technical Committee, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
- Senior Member - American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
- Member - EPSRC Peer Review College
- Member - American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
- IMechE MPDS Scheme Owner - Kingston University
- Book Reviewer - Pearson Global Editions
- Industrial Advisory Board (IAB) Liaison Officer - Department of Mechanical Engineering
- Winner of Enterprising Value Award - Kingston University People Awards 2024
Qualifications and expertise
- CMI Chartered Manager Bootcamp (CMI Level 5 Diploma in Management and Leadership)
University responsibilities
- Academic Rep - University's Amplifying our Identity and Brand Workstream: Working Group 1 (2025-present)
- ECE Faculty Rep - University Academic Advisory Group: Central Apply (2025-present)
- Member - University Learning, Teaching, and Assessment Group (2025-present)
- ECE Faculty Rep - University Education Committee (2024-present)
- Member - ECE Faculty Education Committee (2024-present)
- Member - ECE Faculty CMMP (Course & Module Modifications Panel) (2024-present)
- Member - ECE Faculty Learning & Teaching Group (2024-present)
- Member - ECE Faculty Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Action Group (2024-present)
- Member - ECE Faculty Course Portfolio Task Group (2023-present)
- Member - School of Engineering Education Committee (2024-present)
- School Director of Learning and Teaching - School of Engineering (2024-present)
- Founding Member - Engineering Simulation Group (2024-present)
- Member - University's Regulatory Framework Committee (2024-2025)
- Member - SDLT (School Directors of Learning & Teaching) Forum (2024-2025)
- Course Director of Undergraduate Mechanical Engineering Programmes (2020-2024)
- School Director of Postgraduate Research - School of Engineering (2020-2024)
- Industrial Advisory Board (IAB) Liaison Officer - School of Engineering (2022-2024)
- Member - ECE Faculty Research Degrees Committee (2019-2024)
- Member - Mechanical Engineering Student Voice Committee (2023-2024)
- Learning, Teaching & Assessment Development Lead Tutor - Department of Mechanical Engineering (2020-2023)
- Extra-Curricular Events & Activities Tutor - Department of Mechanical Engineering (2020-2023)
- Member - Mechanical Engineering Staff-Student Consultative Committee (2020-2023)
Gallery of work
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KU People Awards 2024
Enterprising Value Award
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The SMMT Automotive Industry Careers Guide
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The SMMT Automotive Industry Careers Guide
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The SMMT Automotive Industry Careers Guide
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The SMMT Automotive Industry Careers Guide
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The SMMT Automotive Industry Careers Guide
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The SMMT Automotive Industry Careers Guide
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Monitored Professional Development Scheme (MPDS)
www.imeche.org
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Future Skills Launch
The Kingston Approach
Videos of my work
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PhD research: Sadaf Akbari
Researching how smart materials could be used to replace damaged bones within the human body
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Future Skills Launch
The Kingston Approach