Dr Mike Knowles is originally from Coventry, UK and studied at the University of Birmingham gaining the degrees of Master of Engineering (MEng, 2002) and PhD (2006). Mike’s PhD thesis was focussed on detecting and tracking moving objects in video sequences captured using moving cameras such as those mounted in moving vehicles.

Following his PhD Mike worked as a consultant on various projects including one using video as a means to examine the gait and posture of stroke victims. From January 2007 he was a Postdoctoral Research Assistant in the Hybrid Intelligent Systems (HIS) group at the University of Sunderland working with Professor Stefan Wermter on the EU FP6 project “NESTCOM – What it means to communicate”.

In January 2009, Mike joined the Institute for Automotive and Manufacturing Advanced Practice (AMAP) and worked on a range of projects including the FP6 Project “Poseidon” which developed intelligent condition monitoring solutions for marine lubricating oil, a project funded by DEFRA investigating energy use in commercial refrigeration and a range of projects looking at applications of intelligent software to condition monitoring and advanced maintenance.

During his time at AMAP, Mike also engaged in research on Electric and Low Carbon Vehicle use – focussing on the Asset Management of these vehicles working with colleagues from CENEX and Cranfield University with “seedcorn” funding from the EPSRC Centre for Through Life Engineering Services.

Mike has also supervised a number of KTP projects working with companies wanting the develop new products to support their core business – and to embed the capability to innovate, manufacture  and market intelligent devices and software.

In 2013 Mike became a Senior Lecturer in Engineering at the University of Sunderland and began to investigate pedagogy with a particular emphasis on project work, the application of authentic assessment on a range of topics, the impact of gender on subject choice and student experience and, more recently, on the digital skills required by the engineers entering the profession.

During his time at Sunderland, Mike also contributed as Research Student Tutor, Programme Leader for a range of degrees and lead developer for a number of programmes including the successful Degree Apprenticeship suite. Mike was also seconded as Team Leader from October 2018 to January 2020 with responsibility for managing the academic staff and delivery of all the programmes within the School.

Mike joined Teesside University as Principal Lecturer (Research and Innovation) in the School of Computing, Engineering and Digital Technologies in October 2021.

Mike is a Chartered Engineer (CEng) and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA).

Mike has a wide range of research interests that focus on:

• The application of digital technology and intelligent system to real world engineering problems including condition monitoring, advanced maintenance and asset management
• New product development (NPD) processes for electronic systems and the role of off the shelf hardware systems in prototyping and manufacturing.
• Engineering pedagogy and identifying the skills needed by Engineers and the ways that these can be developed using teaching, learning and assessment.

Mike is keen to supervise PhDs in any of the above areas.

Mike has experience of working with a wide range of companies across different industries on commercially funded research and on Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) supporting companies in developing their capabilities in terms of delivering digital and electronic solutions to meet their business needs and as a means of diversifying their activities into product development.

Mike has worked extensively with Professional bodies and other institutions over the course of his career, with examples including:

• Chair of IET Northumbria Local Network (2018 to present)
• Member of IET Automotive and Road Transport Systems ARTS Executive Team (2013 to 2017)
• External Examiner on PhDs for several Universities
• External Examiner for Taught Courses for Cumbria University and the Open University/Hull College.
• Reviewer for a number of International Journals and Conferences.

Mike is also a Professional Registration Advisor (PRA) for the IET and is happy to advise candidates for registration as a Chartered Engineer and Incorporated Engineer on their application.