Researcher on boat preparing hydrophone for acoustic surveys of marine mammals in the Antartic
Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute

Our people

Meet our academic experts and learn more about their research.

Browse the list of our academic members to learn more about our expertise at the Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute (SMMI).

If you’re looking to work with someone with specific expertise and need help getting connected, get in touch with us at [email protected].

Join the University of Southampton

The University of Southampton is building on our world-leading success by appointing new academics.

Ambitious researchers and academics are invited to join our university as we further strengthen our reputation for education, research excellence and enterprise. We aim to tackle complex societal and environmental challenges and build on the University’s existing strengths.

Find out more about why this is such an exciting time to join the University of Southampton.

Dr Ryan Reisinger PhD, FHEA, MRSSAf

Associate Professor

Accepting applications from PhD students

Connect with Ryan

Professor Sabu Padmadas

Professor of Demography & Global Health

Accepting applications from PhD students

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Professor Sally Brailsford

Professor of Management Science

Research interests

  • Healthcare modelling
  • Hybrid simulation
  • Behavioural Operational Research
Connect with Sally

Dr Sam Thompson

Associate Professor

Research interests

  • Chemical Biology
  • Organic Synthesis
  • Medicinal Chemistry

Accepting applications from PhD students

Connect with Sam

Dr Sandy Wright

Principal Research Fellow
Connect with Sandy

Dr Seyedvahid Vakili

Research Fellow

Research interests

  • Sustainable shipping;
  • Net zero emissions;
  • Alternative fuels for (maritime) net zero emissions;
Connect with Seyedvahid

Dr Sheida Afshan PhD, FICE, MIStructE, CEng, FHEA

Associate Professor

Research interests

  • High performance metallic materials and structures for applications in infrastructure and energy sectors
  • Experimental and numerical investigation of structural materials and components
  • Metallic materials for liquid hydrogen (LH2) fuel storage and transportation

Accepting applications from PhD students

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Dr Sien Van Der Plank PhD

Senior Research Fellow

Research interests

  • Multi-scale analysis using mixed methods of coastal flood risk management across policy domains, organisational stakeholders and households.
  • Risk attitudes and behaviours to the natural environment in relation to perceived, expected and experienced social and physical changes.
  • Mixed methods analysis of the form and evolution of stakeholder perceptions toward mining, expected impacts of mining, and experiences of consultation process.

Accepting applications from PhD students

Connect with Sien

Professor Simon Blainey PhD, FRGS, FHEA, MCIHT, CMILT

Professor of Sustainable Transport

Research interests

  • Rail demand and operations modelling
  • GIS and transport
  • Transport decision support systems

Accepting applications from PhD students

Connect with Simon