Dr Fiona Sillars, BEng (Hons) PhD

AMRL and Knowledge Exchange Director

Dr Sillars is the AMRL and Knowledge Exchange Director, part of Women in Hydrogen, leads Strathclyde’s knowledge exchange Faculty Forum, sits on the IMechE Energy Transition Working Group and EPSRC Materials Experts Panel. She’s part of the supervisory team for the EPSRC’s Net-Zero Aviation CDT with Cranfield and Cardiff Universities. She is an expert in developing novel materials engineering solutions across many sectors including O&G, renewables, defence, aerospace, process industries and more recently towards the energy transition.

Dr Sillars has a wide range of research expertise in materials characterisation: under extreme environments (e.g. hydrogen and cryogenic), failure analysis, damage and degradation mechanisms, electrochemical engineering, porous materials and energy storage devices. Project topics include ‘Evaluation of vintage pipeline materials in hydrogen environment’ for Energy Networks Association (ENA), TARGET H2 technology advancement through research, build and test for liquid hydrogen integration for Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) and the Emerging Energy Technologies Fund - Hydrogen Innovation Scheme (EETF-HIS) for Green Hydrogen Integration at Sullom Voe.

Dr Tiziana Marrocco, BEng (Hons) PhD CEng FIMMM

AMRL Operation Lead & Senior Knowledge Exchange Manager

Dr Marrocco is the AMRL Operation Lead & Senior Knowledge Exchange Manager, Strathclyde Advanced Manufacturing & Materials (AMM) Strategic Theme Lead, with responsibilities for leading research and Knowledge Exchange initiatives and cross-disciplinary collaborations. She is also the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) Advisory Councillor for Scotland, advising the Institute Executive Board on major strategic decisions and planning.

With over 25-year experience in materials science and engineering, and specialised expertise in surface engineering and coating technologies, Dr Marrocco has established her reputation in these fields through national and international recognition. she led the installation of the first commercial Cold Spray system in the UK, won the Horizon Cold Spray Radical Solutions for Aeronautic Improved Repairs.

At the AMRL, she provides consultancy to commercial clients across all sectors of engineering and has partnered in multidisciplinary projects (by EPSRC, Scottish Institute of Remanufacturing, Energy Technology Partnership, Innovate UK, Scottish Enterprise). She supports NMIS’ Additive Manufacturing Team in the R&D programme, including the delivery of the ReMAKE Glasgow project.

Dr Ashlee Espinoza MSc, Phd, MIMMM

Tribocorrosion Lead

Dr. Espinoza has been working in engineering materials and structures since 2012 and has been affiliated with AMRL since 2019. Her expertise is in the area of tribology and corrosion working across a broad range of material types and sectors, including, offshore renewable energy and mining. Her work encompasses standard testing procedures in addition to bespoke test design for tribology and corrosion. She has researched the effect of additive manufacturing, coating systems and environmental parameters on material wear.

Dr. Espinoza is a member of IOM3 and works closely with the university's strategic industrial partner The Weir Group. Prior to her time at Strathclyde she was a structural analysis engineer with Boeing. She supervises PhD, MSc and undergraduate students who conduct work within the AMRL. Dr. Espinoza holds a BSc in Aerospace Engineering from California State University, Long Beach and a MSc and PhD from the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering department at the University of Strathclyde.

Obey Suleyman, MEng, AIMMM, CAPM

Knowledge Exchange Assistant & PhD Student

Obey Suleyman is a Knowledge Exchange Assistant and PhD Student at the AMRL with expertise in materials science and engineering. Building on a first-class MEng in Mechanical Engineering, his research focuses on material-based strategies to improve the durability and circularity of cast iron wind turbine components - applying advanced metallurgical and mechanical techniques to support net-zero goals. With experience in a wide range of experimental methods, Obey bring a practical, research-driven approach to failure analysis and component reuse, skills which directly applicable for his Knowledge Exchange role. 

Obey is CAPM-certified and an associate Member of the IMechE. He serves as the Youth Representative for The Scottish Association for Metals, affiliated to the IOM3. He has co-supervised MSc research projects and lead undergraduate teaching across several modules. Obey has been the recipient of two awards: the Young Person's Green Energy Award 2025, awarded by Scottish Renewables, and the Frank Fitzgerald Medal & Travel Grant, awarded by IOM3.

Anthony Reilly, MEng, AIMMM

Knowledge Exchange Assistant & PhD Student

Anthony prior to starting his PhD, graduated from the University of Strathclyde with a distinction in Aero-Mechanical MEng. As part of this course, he completed his master’s dissertation with the AMRL on a project assessing the feasibility to remanufacture wind turbine components working alongside Renewable Parts Ltd.

As a Knowledge Exchange Assistant, Anthony supports cutting-edge materials research and fostering collaboration between academia and industry. Contributing to industrial projects, utilising advanced materials characterisation techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and mechanical testing. Responsibilities include managing laboratory operations, engaging in knowledge exchange activities, and ensuring compliance with health and safety standards. Anthony is also the Advisory Councillor for students within the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3).

Caleb Griffin, MEng

PhD Student

Caleb began his PhD in October 2024, following the completion of a master's in mechanical engineering at the University of Strathclyde, where he graduated with distinction. During his undergraduate studies, Caleb designed and built a smart composter controlled by embedded sensors, which optimised composting conditions for heat recovery. For his master's dissertation, conducted in collaboration with the AMRL, he focused on the materials characterisation of wind turbine components to support improved reuse, repair, and remanufacturing strategies.

Natalie Beveridge 

Senior Finance Officer

Ms Beveridge, additionally to her primary role as Assistant for the Head of the Department, supports the AMRL with its financial aspects. These include account allocation, transfers or resources, customers invoicing, capital acquisitions, budget monitoring and planning.

Ms Beveridge graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Business Studies and Financial Management in 2011; she began working for the University of Strathclyde in 2014 and has been working with the AMRL since 2016.