Dr Laibing Jia

Senior Lecturer

Naval Architecture, Ocean and Marine Engineering

Contact

Personal statement

I am a Senior Lecturer in Fluid Mechanics at the University of Strathclyde. I specialise in Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI), bio-inspired propulsion systems, experimental and computational fluid dynamics (EFD and CFD), and data-driven engineering. My doctoral research on flexible structures interacting with fluid flows was published by Springer in the series "Springer Theses: Recognizing Outstanding Ph.D. Research."

After completing my BSc, BEng, and PhD at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), I gained international research experience through postdoctoral appointments in China, the US, and the UK, including a Royal Society K.C. Wong Postdoctoral Fellowship hosted at Strathclyde. In 2019, I returned to Strathclyde as a Lecturer and Chancellor’s Fellow, and was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2025.

My research integrates experimental and computational approaches with analytical and data-driven methods, addressing interdisciplinary challenges in marine engineering, renewable energy, and bio-inspired systems. By investigating complex interactions among fluid flows, structural responses, and natural phenomena, I aim to enhance performance, efficiency, and sustainability in diverse engineering applications.

Research Interests

Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI): My research combines experimental techniques, theoretical analysis, and numerical simulations to comprehensively understand interactions between flexible structures and fluid flows. Studies focus on performance optimisation and structural resilience, with practical applications across marine, offshore, and civil infrastructure sectors.

Bio-inspired Propulsion Systems: Inspired by natural locomotion mechanisms such as fish swimming and bird flight, my team investigates fundamental fluid mechanics phenomena to develop innovative propulsion technologies. Potential applications include underwater robotics, autonomous marine vehicles, and sustainable renewable-energy generation methods.

Machine Learning-enabled Digital Twins: By integrating numerical simulations, sensor fusion, and machine learning techniques, my research develops predictive and adaptive digital twin platforms. These real-time simulation environments enhance operational safety, improve efficiency, and promote sustainability in marine operations, offshore engineering, environmental monitoring, and infrastructure asset management.

Human-centred AI, Inclusive Technologies: Extending digital twin technology beyond traditional engineering contexts, my work leverages advanced image processing and machine learning techniques to digitally represent human physical and emotional states. This research supports innovations in inclusive education, maritime training, and athletic performance enhancement.

Going forward, my vision is to advance technological innovation through interdisciplinary collaboration and international partnerships, and translate research into practical outcomes that support sustainability, inclusion, and societal well-being. To realise this vision, I have co-founded two Strathclyde Centres for Doctoral Training: one dedicated to ocean forecasting through Artificial Intelligence (AI), and another focused on inclusive education using human-centred AI technologies. Through these initiatives, I am actively working towards building collaborative communities, mentoring the next generation of research leaders, and delivering meaningful societal impact.

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Area of Expertise

Experimental Fluid Mechanics: Measurement techniques and hydrodynamic experimentation.

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD): Multiphysics simulations, modelling of fluid-structure phenomena.

Machine Learning in Engineering: Integration of CFD, sensor data, and machine learning in predictive digital twins.

Image Processing & Human Factors: AI analytics of emotion and motion data for performance assessment.

Research Leadership: Management of multidisciplinary academic and industrial research projects.

Prize And Awards

First Place for Poster Presentation Award
Recipient
28/6/2023
Research Interns @ Strathclyde – Use of Additional Technology Award
Recipient
17/10/2022
Ig Nobel Prize
Recipient
9/2022
IEEE Oceanic Engineering Society (IEEE OES) Student Project Competition Award
Recipient
2021
Winner of IEEE OES SBC NAOME Poster Competition
Recipient
2020

More prizes and awards

Qualifications

PhD in Fluid Mechanics, published as Springer Thesis, University of Science and Technology of China (USTC).

BSc & BEng, Mechanics and Computer Science, USTC.

PGCert Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, University of Strathclyde.

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), UK.

Royal Society K.C. Wong Research Fellow.

Co-founder of two Strathclyde Centres for Doctoral Training (SCDTs): AI-based Ocean Forecasting, Human-centred AI Technologies for Educational Inclusion.

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Publications

Rapid and continuous regulating adhesion strength by mechanical micro-vibration
Shui Langquan, Jia Laibing, Li Hangbo, Guo Jiaojiao, Guo Ziyu, Liu Yilun, Liu Ze, Chen Xi
Nature Communications Vol 11 (2020)
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-15447-x
Significant and stable drag reduction with air rings confined by alternated superhydrophobic and hydrophilic strips
Hu Haibao, Wen Jun, Bao Luyao, Jia Laibing, Song Dong, Song Baowei, Pan Guang, Scaraggi Michele, Dini Daniele, Xue Qunji, Zhou Feng
Science Advances Vol 3 (2017)
https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.1603288
Effect of leading and secondary vortices on the propulsion performance of an undulating swimmer in the periodic vortex street
Li Ruoxin, Wang Pengfei, Jia Laibing, Han Yang, Yu Kai
Applied Ocean Research Vol 150 (2024)
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apor.2024.104119
Viscous influences on impulsively generated focused jets
Cheng Xianggang, Chen Xiao-Peng, Ding Hang, Zhang Chun-Yu, Hu Haibao, Jia Laibing
Physical Review Fluids Vol 9 (2024)
https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevFluids.9.L082001
Data-driven control design for UAV autolanding : a pitch-only case study
Tian Qiuyang, Chen Weiwen, Wang Zelin, Sun Mingxuan, Zhu Bo, Jia Laibing, Hu Tianjiang
2024 3rd Conference on Fully Actuated System Theory and Applications (FASTA) The 3rd Conference on Fully Actuated System Theory and Applications, pp. 1493-1497 (2024)
https://doi.org/10.1109/FASTA61401.2024.10595378
Optimising floating wind turbine layouts with wake modelling and reinforcement learning
Lewis Jack, Jia Laibing
11th PRIMaRE Conference (2024)

More publications

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Professional Activities

44th International Conference on Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering
Participant
25/6/2025
Wave Measurement and Wave-Driven Vehicle
Speaker
26/8/2024
PhD Viva Convener
Examiner
13/8/2024
PhD Internal Examiner
Examiner
14/5/2024
Wave Motion (Journal)
Peer reviewer
2024
Journal of Applied Fluid Mechanics (Journal)
Peer reviewer
2024

More professional activities

Projects

Hybrid Ocean Renewables in A Changing Climate
Kamranzad, Bahareh (Principal Investigator) Suryasentana, Stephen (Co-investigator) Jia, Laibing (Co-investigator) Arredondo Galeana, Abel (Co-investigator)
EPSRC Research Excellence Award Studentship
01-Jan-2024 - 01-Jan-2028
Underwater Radiation noise
Dai, David (Principal Investigator) Black, Steven (Co-investigator) Jia, Laibing (Co-investigator)
15-Jan-2024 - 01-Jan-2024
Research Interns @ Strathclyde (RI@S) Summer Internship
Gorska, Kaja (Principal Investigator) Jia, Laibing (Principal Investigator)
26-Jan-2023 - 08-Jan-2023
Human-centred AI Technologies for Inclusion in Education and Society
Abel, Andrew (Principal Investigator) Wang, Yuchen (Principal Investigator) Jia, Laibing (Principal Investigator)
Strathclyde Centre for Doctoral Training 2023 (approx. £260,000)
01-Jan-2023 - 30-Jan-2027
A low-cost wind load modelling technique for offshore floating wind tank testing (International Exchanges 2022)
Dai, David (Principal Investigator) Jia, Laibing (Co-investigator) Yuan, Zhiming (Co-investigator)
31-Jan-2023 - 30-Jan-2026
Lagrangian particle tracking and flow field measurement using event-based cameras
Jia, Laibing (Principal Investigator)
01-Jan-2022 - 31-Jan-2024

More projects

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Contact

Dr Laibing Jia
Senior Lecturer
Naval Architecture, Ocean and Marine Engineering

Email: l.jia@strath.ac.uk
Tel: Unlisted