Dr Varun Thangamani PhD, MS (by Research), B.Tech, FHEA 

Associate Professor, Aeronautics and Astronautics

Dr Varun Thangamani is an Associate professor in Aeronautics & Astronautics and is the Deputy Head of Mechanical engineering and Aeronautics & Astronautics programs at the University of Southampton Malaysia.

Varun’s undergraduate degree was in Mechanical Engineering from Kerala University, India. He later earned an MS research degree in Aerospace Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras. During this period, he studied the role of microjets in stabilising cavity oscillations in a supersonic flow. Upon completion, he pursued his PhD at Cranfield University, UK, on the effects of scaling on cavity oscillations and their control mechanisms. After completing his PhD in 2014, he worked as a Project Development Engineer with Frigesco Ltd, UK. He was part of the team that developed a much acclaimed and patented defrost technology which reduces the total energy consumption of commercial freezers by up to 20%.   

Varun’s research areas are mainly focused on experimental fluid dynamics, flow oscillations and, more recently, flow-induced energy harvesting. He has experience in leading or co-investigating government-sponsored research projects in UK and Malaysia. He is currently leading the development of a novel energy-harvesting method from self-sustained flow oscillations that can provide clean, green energy without using any rotary parts.  
 
Varun is also the lead Academic Integrity Officer (AIO) for the University of Southampton Malaysia. He is a member of the university-wide Academic Integrity Network and takes an active interest in training the staff and students about the university’s academic integrity requirements and regulations.