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Engineered Materials and Structures Laboratory (EMSL)
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Welcome to our interdisciplinary research group, where we integrate theoretical, computational, and experimental approaches across solid mechanics, engineering design, and materials science.
Our research focuses on the modelling, design, fabrication, characterization, and performance assessment of advanced materials and structural systems. Core research themes include machine learning-assisted mechanics and materials design, uncertainty quantification, multifunctional and sustainable composites, origami- and kirigami-inspired structures, flexible and adaptive systems, vibration-based energy harvesting, and mechanical metamaterials. We develop physics-based, data-driven, and hybrid computational frameworks to investigate complex structural phenomena, including nonlinear deformation, instability, vibration, wave propagation, multiphysics coupling, damage, and functional adaptation. These theoretical and numerical capabilities are complemented by experimental facilities for advanced material fabrication, mechanical testing, structural characterization, and validation.
Our research addresses a broad range of engineering applications spanning aerospace, mechanical, structural, civil and multifunctional systems. Target application areas include adaptive aerospace structures, space technologies, robotics, biomedical devices, civil infrastructure, consumer products, energy systems, mechanical design, and intelligent machines. By combining fundamental mechanics with emerging computational and manufacturing technologies, our group aims to develop lightweight, resilient, sustainable, and functionally adaptive materials and structures for next-generation engineering applications.
Further information about our current projects, research themes, and scholarly outputs is available on our Research and Publications pages.
We regularly welcome applications from highly motivated undergraduate and postgraduate researchers, doctoral candidates, postdoctoral researchers, and visiting scientists interested in contributing to our interdisciplinary research programme.
Prospective candidates are encouraged to contact Dr Naskar by email (s.naskar@soton.ac.uk / drsusmitanaskar@gmail.com) with a CV or résumé, accompanied by a concise statement outlining their research backgroud, and motivation for joining the group. Candidates can also submit a brief informal application through the link.
Immediate openings:
We are looking for students for multiple positions to join our lab, especially those with experience in the scientific machine learning algorithm, solid mechanics, composite, mechanics of material, design of folding structures, energy harvesting etc. If you are interested please contact Dr. Naskar (S.Naskar@soton.ac.uk)
News & Events
Group HIGHLIGHTS
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🌟Expressions of Interest are now open for the Mechanical Metamaterials Summer School, taking place from 10–14 August 2026 at the University of Southampton in collaboration with the UK Metamaterials Network.
The week-long programme will feature expert lectures, coding sessions, hands-on tutorials, group projects, poster presentations, and networking with leading researchers and industry professionals.
Open to PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, academics, and industry participants worldwide—submit your Expression of Interest through this link and join us in Southampton for an inspiring week of learning and collaboration. -
🌟We are delighted to share the launch of a new topical collection on Adaptive and Multifunctional Metamaterials and Composites in Discover Composites, where Dr. Naskar is serving as an editor of this collection alongside Prof. Anastasiia Krushynska, Prof. Nicholas Fang, and Prof. Muamer Kadic. LINK for submission: LINK
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We are organising a special session on "MS226 - Mechanical metamaterials, metasurfaces and soft robotics: advances in computational mechanics of architected materials" at the WCCM-ECCOMAS 2026 conference in Munich, Germany, from 19th-24th July, Link for paper submission: LINK
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EMSL PhD student Aditi's research work on shape morphing and space deployment through origami architechture got accepted in Space: Science and Technology, Science Publication LINK
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We are organising a special session on "Digital Twins for Structural Health Monitoring of Complex Mechanical Systems" at the 12th European Workshop on Structural Health Monitoring (EWSHM 2026) will be held on 7–10 July 2026 in Toulouse, France, at the Centre de Congrès Pierre Baudis, Link for paper submission: LINK
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We have organized a week-long Mechanical Metamaterials Summer School with UK Metamaterial Network in August 2025 bringing together an inspiring mix of master’s students, PhD researchers, postdocs, and industry participants from across the UK, Europe, the USA, and India, creating a truly international and interdisciplinary environment.
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We are editing a special issue in this emerging field for one of the oldest and most prestigious Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing journal on the topic: Generative AI for V&V in Mechanical and Structural Systems. Please submit suitable high-quality papers covering the broad domain of Generative AI. LINK
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Congratulations to EMSL PhD student Priyanka Patil for passing her Ph.D. Defense on the topic of "Influence of material and geometrical uncertainties on the natural frequencies of reducible composite structures".
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We are editing a special issue in this emerging field for one of the oldest and most prestigious IOP Publishing NANO journals. Please submit suitable high-quality papers (including review articles) covering the broad domain of 2D materials, twisted 2D materials and heterostructures, nano-architected 2D materials etc LINK
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Congratulations to EMSL PhD student Soumyadeep for publishing his first PhD work as blog on Nature, in the Nature Portfolio's Communications Engineering!! LINK
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