About M2i2:
Materials Modelling Leaders
​Physics-based multiscale modelling software for material-centric approaches, offering predictive capabilities for materials engineering.
Our Mission
At M2i2, we provide cutting-edge physics-based multiscale modeling software that focuses on material-centric approaches. Our software offers predictive capabilities, empowering materials engineers to establish crucial process-structure-property relationships.
Our Vision
​To develop advanced computational solutions for multiscale materials modelling and informatics, enabling the simulation of materials behaviour and manufacturing processes.
Meet the Team
Professor of Metallurgy
Prof. Hector Basoalto
Professor Hector Basoalto has worked both within industry and academia, leading research teams at QinetiQ, the AFRC (HVM Catapult) as well as computational groups at the University of Birmingham and now at the University of Sheffield. His research activities focus on the development of multi-scale materials models to establish causal relationships between material microstructure, manufacturing routes and component in-service behaviour.
Research Associate
Dr. Lucia Scotti
Dr Lucia Scotti is a computational engineer with experience in mathematical modelling in materials science, and has worked closely with both SMEs and large enterprises. Her research interests include modelling liquation and solidification in welding and additive manufacture using CFD to developing an architecture for Digital Treads.
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Research Associate
Prashant Jadhav
Mr. Prashant Jadhav has worked with AFRC (HVM catapult) and the aerospace sector to deepen the understanding of material-process-property relationships. His research encompasses multi-scale modelling of various processes such as additive manufacturing (PBF, LMDw, welding), pressure quenching, forging-forming, microstructure modelling and the integration of machine learning techniques towards process control.
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Research Associate
Sourabh Supanekar
Sourabh Supanekar is a Mechanical Engineer specialising in Computational Mechanics with experience in developing physics based computational models and high-performance computing to simulate material behaviour. He has also worked in software development for the space industry (ESA/ESOC). His research interests focus on but are not limited to multiscale materials modelling, ICME, Crystal Plasticity, Welding. He is currently working on a Rolls-Royce plc. funded project focusing on understanding the microstructural changes during Rotary Friction Welding (RFW).
Research Associate
As a PhD student at the University of Birmingham sponsored by Rolls-Royce, Miguel Espadero Sachez-Crespo is currently studying the flow stress behaviour for the rotary friction welding process. He has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in mechanical engineering. His research interests include the physical behaviour of the metals and alloys, as well as the welding and manufacturing processes.
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PhD Students
PhD Candidate
Daniel Calderwood
Daniel is a PhD student at the University of Birmingham working on a Rolls-Royce sponsored project. Daniel achieved an MEng in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Birmingham in 2019, completing a final year project on high temperature oxidation of nickel superalloys. His research now focusses on microstructural process modelling, specifically investigating microstructural changes during the machining of nickel superalloys.
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PhD Candidate
Dominic Brennan
Dominic Brennan studied undergraduate degrees in Mechanical Engineering at TU Dublin and Mathematical Physics at Maynooth University, Ireland. He went on to complete a Master’s degree in Theoretical Physics with Applications at the University of Cergy-Pontoise, France. His current PhD research within the M2i2 group uses crystal plasticity theory to study the evolution of crystal orientation in Ni-Based superalloys. This project focuses on single crystal materials which are modelled under deformation conditions using numerical simulation techniques to show the development of texture due to multiaxial stress states acting on the materials.​​​
PhD Candidate
Yanheng Xie
I am a PhD candidate at the University of Sheffield, focusing on particle nucleation and growth in magnesium alloys during solidification, along with particle diffusion and precipitation during heat treatment. I have a background in Materials Science and Engineering (BEng and MSc) and am deeply interested in the characterisation, thermodynamic behaviour, heat treatment and thermomechanical processing of metals. I am honoured to be part of a dynamic research group collaborating on cutting edge projects. My passion lies in exploring the complexities of materials science and I am excited to contribute to the continued advancement of this field.
PhD Candidate
Hugh J Banes
Hugh Banes studied Physics as an undergraduate at the University of Bristol, before moving to be a PhD student at the University of Sheffield. Supervised by Dr. Magnus Anderson, Prashant Jadhav and Prof. Hector Basoalto, his project looks at modeling the microstructural evolution of Ti-6Al-4V.
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PhD Candidate
Bonaventure C Ugwuanyi
My PhD study at The University of Sheffield is on Next Generation Multi-Component Statistical Models for Steel, which involves the development of a statistical model of phase transformations in steel. Currently, I am actively exploring the field of physical metallurgy of steels, while gaining invaluable experience in mathematical modeling and the implementation and resolution of boundary value problems. My bachelor's and master's degree are in the field of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering. It is an opportunity to find myself in this renowned research group made up of vibrant research fellows. Together, we shall explore more in this field.​​​​
PhD Candidate
Zeyu Cao
Zeyu Cao is a PhD candidate at the University of Sheffield, focusing on the mean-field modeling of precipitation in Nickel-based superalloy. He studied Materials Processing and Control engineering in Bachelor's degree and Aerospace Materials in Master's degree. Currently, supervised by Dr. Magnus Anderson, Prof. Hector Basoalto and Prof. George Panoutsos, his project aims to increase model complexity and develop high throughput capability with regards to physical based microstructure modelling through the utilisation of machine learning models in Pytorch, Tensorflow and Matlab.​​
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PhD candidate
Mostafa Salem
Mostafa Salem completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Bristol with First Class Honors. He is a Ph.D. candidate in multi-physics modelling of microstructure and defect evolution. His main interests lie in Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPB-F), and how models can be used to predict microstructure and control the manufacturing process.
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PhD candidate
Conor McVeigh
Conor is researching microstructure based computational models of flow stress in titanium alloys as part of an ICASE PhD program with Rolls Royce. He graduated with a first class honours degree in materials science and engineering at Swansea University and holds both the armourers and braziers award for his first year studies and the tin plate workers award for his metallurgical studies.
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PhD candidate - Software Development
Vladislav Mogilev
Vlad Moligev is a dedicated PhD candidate specialising in multiphase fluid flows and their applications to additive manufacturing and laser welding of engineering alloys. His research focuses on incorporating realistic physical descriptions for the forces driving fluid flow and phase transitions in order to establish computationally correlations between key process parameters and melt pool evolution. Vlad is also part of the M2i2 software development team, working on the integration of APIs into the M2i2 multiscale computational modelling tools.
PhD candidate
Connor E Cladingboel
Connor Cladingboel is a material scientist currently completing a PhD investigating the Zircaloy system and the formation of hydrides in collaboration with the National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL). Research areas include CALPHAD approach to describing material systems, modelling of precipitate evolution primarily via mean-field statistical approaches and investigation of materials for civil nuclear fission applications. Prior experience consists of a masters degree in Material Science and Engineering with Nuclear Materials obtained at the University of Sheffield​​​​