Dr. Ashwath Pazhani is an Assistant Professor/Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Cumbria, based within the Institute of Engineering, Computing and Advanced Manufacturing. He is a Chartered Engineer, Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and an internationally active researcher in advanced materials, sustainable manufacturing, hydrogen technologies, additive manufacturing, and engineering education.

His academic and professional background spans mechanical engineering, advanced materials, manufacturing engineering, aerospace materials, and hydrogen energy systems. Dr. Pazhani holds a BEng in Mechanical Engineering, an MSc by Research in Advanced Materials and Manufacturing, and a PhD in Aerospace Braking Evaluation on Surface-Processed Aluminium Alloy Composites. His doctoral and postdoctoral research has focused on the design, processing, testing, and performance evaluation of lightweight metallic and composite materials for safety-critical engineering applications.

Dr. Pazhani’s research is centred on the development of sustainable advanced materials and manufacturing technologies for clean energy, aerospace, nuclear, healthcare, defence, and industrial decarbonisation applications. His current research investigates graphene-reinforced aluminium and aluminium-lithium metal matrix composites, hydrogen-compatible materials, circular composite liners, additive manufacturing, microwave-assisted processing, and AI/ML-enabled materials selection. A major strand of his work focuses on materials and manufacturing solutions for hydrogen storage and transfer systems, including hydrogen embrittlement mitigation, permeability reduction, lightweight storage architectures, and circular design approaches using recycled material streams.

He is the founder and lead of the Group for Innovation in Hydrogen Research and Sustainability, which supports interdisciplinary research in hydrogen materials, advanced manufacturing, clean energy infrastructure, and net-zero technologies. His research vision is to accelerate the transition from conventional high-carbon engineering materials towards sustainable, reusable, re-engineerable, and low-carbon materials systems suitable for future hydrogen, energy, and critical infrastructure applications.

Dr. Pazhani has developed and contributed to several major research and innovation initiatives, including projects on graphene-reinforced metal matrix composites for liquid hydrogen storage, hydrogen embrittlement in high-entropy alloys, circular composite liners for hydrogen storage, resource-efficient net-zero advanced materials and manufacturing, and electron beam additive manufacturing infrastructure for hard-to-process materials. His work involves collaboration with universities, national facilities, and industrial partners across the UK, India, and Europe, including partnerships in hydrogen technologies, additive manufacturing, composite materials, and engineering skills development.

His research interests include:

• Advanced materials for hydrogen storage and transfer
• Graphene-reinforced aluminium and aluminium-lithium metal matrix composites
• Hydrogen embrittlement, permeability, and materials compatibility
• Sustainable and circular composite liner technologies
• Additive manufacturing and electron beam processing of hard-to-process materials
• Microwave-assisted post-processing and energy-efficient manufacturing
• AI/ML-driven materials selection and design optimisation
• Life cycle assessment and circular economy approaches in materials engineering
• Engineering materials for aerospace, energy, nuclear, healthcare, and defence applications
• Engineering education, curriculum development, transnational education, and industry-led skills training

Alongside his research, Dr. Pazhani is strongly committed to teaching, student development, and inclusive engineering education. He has led and delivered modules across engineering design, materials, manufacturing, digital skills, mechanical principles, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and electrical systems. His teaching practice integrates applied engineering challenges, project-based learning, digital tools, laboratory activities, sustainability, and industry-informed case studies to prepare students for modern engineering careers.

Dr. Pazhani is also actively involved in international collaboration, research supervision, mentoring, and equality, diversity, and inclusion initiatives. He has supported undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral students in research projects, publications, laboratory work, and career development, with a particular interest in widening participation in STEM and promoting opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds.

Through his combined research, teaching, and knowledge exchange activities, Dr. Pazhani aims to deliver engineering innovation that supports net-zero transition, strengthens regional and national industrial capability, and develops the next generation of engineers equipped to address global challenges in energy, sustainability, manufacturing, and critical infrastructure.