I made a significant career shift in January 2025: moving towards Bioengineering, Bioinspiration, and Biomimetics. I was appointed as Head of The Institute for Bioengineering at The University of Edinburgh.
This live essay covers my motivation for this shift and outlines some of the directions that I am pursuing via this leadership role.
Background and Motivation
In 2023 I gave a talk to the Institute for Engineers in Scotland which was all about my journey and my interest in Bioengineering, Bioinspiration, and Biomimetics. This talk has been transcribed and recorded in the Transactions of the Journal of the Institute, and preparing for that talk really did give me some cause for reflection on my journey and future plans.
I was born in Scotland into a religious family, my father was a minister. Whilst, at that time, my father studied the spiritual, I found myself drawn to the material. I questioned how the world worked and took things apart to find the answers. This curiosity drove me through degrees in Electronics and Electrical Engineering, Biomedical Sciences, and Analytical Chemistry at the University of Edinburgh.
A pivotal moment for me came during my fellowship at Harvard’s Wyss Institute for Bioinspired Engineering under Professor George Whitesides. I arrived expecting to work on point-of-care diagnostics but found myself immersed in robotics, materials science, and optics. There, I learned that engineering provides a unique lens for biological understanding. We can observe nature (science), or we can build with its principles (engineering).
I returned to Edinburgh and climbed the academic ladder—from Lecturer to Professor. I founded the Soft Systems Group and I was part of the core team that led founded the Edinburgh Centre for Robotics and The National Robotarium. My work in soft robotics challenges conventional rigid designs, drawing inspiration from the octopus and the starfish. I see my work in the broader context, soft robotics is but one branch of a larger tree of machines, systems, materials, agents… My motivation for shifting my primary focus back to bioengineering is simple: the field stands at a tipping point. We possess the tools not just to observe biology, but to engineer it. As Chair of Bioinspired Engineering and Head of the Institute for Bioengineering (IBioE), I intend to lead this charge.
Vision for the Institute
The Institute for Bioengineering will be the UK’s leading centre for translating biological insights into engineering solutions. We will move beyond observation. Our goal is to harness bioinspired innovation, digital biology, and interdisciplinary collaboration to solve global challenges in healthcare and sustainability.
We must distinguish “Bioengineering” from “Engineering Biology.” Engineering biology applies engineering principles to biological systems. Bioengineering combines diverse substances—some biological, some synthetic—to build products that serve a purpose. My vision is to integrate these fields. We will transform IBioE from a research unit into an innovation engine, where chemical, civil, electrical, and mechanical engineers unite under bioinspired design principles. We will translate scientific discovery into practical application.
Strategic Focus Areas
Our (emerging and developing) strategic areas of focus bridge the gap between biological potential and engineering reality.
- Biosensing, Diagnostics and Medical Devices
- Developing cutting-edge biosensing technologies, diagnostic systems, and medical devices that interface with biological systems for therapeutic and diagnostic applications. This includes microfluidics for organ-on-chips, near-patient rapid diagnostics, and advanced diagnostic techniques such as Raman spectroscopy for disease detection, including cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.
- Advanced Biomechanics and Biomechanical Modelling
- Expanding computational models and measurement techniques to predict and simulate human tissue behaviour under various conditions. This encompasses mathematical modelling of biological materials, computer simulation, and direct measurement using techniques like atomic force microscopy and finite element analysis, with applications in orthopaedics and cardiovascular health.
- Synthetic and Systems Biology for Sustainable Solutions
- Utilising synthetic biology to develop sustainable environmental solutions and agricultural/food production systems. This includes bioengineering organisms to clean pollutants, produce biofuels, optimise enzyme blends for biomass processing, and develop solutions for agricultural productivity and food security, creating sustainable solutions for global challenges.
- Cybergenetics, Generative AI and Virtual Cell Models
- Establishing the Institute as a leader in digital biology through cybergenetic twins of bioprocesses, generative AI applications in biological systems, and virtual cell models. This represents a strategic positioning at the intersection of computational biology, artificial intelligence, and synthetic biology, providing computational frameworks that enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of biological research and applications.
- Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering
- Pushing the boundaries in tissue engineering by incorporating 3D bioprinting technologies, biofabrication methods, and smart 3D structures to create complex tissue structures and eventually whole organs. This includes scaffolds for multiple tissue types, organoids, cell therapies for animal and human health applications, and lab-on-chip microfluidic technology for disease modelling and drug development.
- Biomedical Imaging and Bioinformatics
- Leveraging advancements in imaging and spectroscopy by integrating computational tools, AI, and bioinformatics to enhance image resolution and interpretation. This includes electrochemical techniques, Raman spectroscopy, second harmonic generation, and multimodal microscopy for live cell and tissue analysis, using machine learning to improve diagnostics and treatment strategies.
- Entrepreneurship in Bioengineering
- Dedicated to translating research into commercial products and services. This includes fostering startup culture, patenting innovations, engaging with industry partners, and creating pathways from research to market impact, with particular emphasis on lab automation, systems integration, and scalable solutions.
Leadership Approach
My leadership style is empowering and direct. I set clear directions and provide coaching, but I reject micromanagement. Innovation requires the freedom to fail.
I believe in the power of “play” in science—the Prometheus approach of creating out of curiosity, rather than the Talos approach of building strictly to specification. We must allow for serendipity. I will break down silos by introducing cross-cutting research themes that force chemists to talk to mechanical engineers and data scientists to work with biologists. We need shared challenges, not isolated empires.
Commitments
I make the following commitments to the Institute and our community:
- Impact: I will drive the Institute to make measurable contributions to global health and sustainability. We will not just publish papers; we will solve problems.
2. Growth: I will exploit the opportunity presented by our new estate to expand our research capabilities and industry partnerships.
3. Ambition: I will not settle for the status quo. We will aim for a top 10 global ranking, targeting £10M+ in annual research income and launching a fleet of spin-out companies.
4. Service: I am ready and eager to serve. I will lead a team that pushes the boundaries of science to create a better, more resilient world.