Mr Daniel Johnston

Teaching Assistant

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Personal statement

I graduated with a 1^st-class MEng degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Strathclyde in 2020. During these undergraduate studies, my thesis looked at the application of Padé-type approximations to a range of problems, including the classical Van der Pol oscillator. I later secured funding from the Carnegie Trust Vacation Scholarship scheme to continue this area of research, this time focusing on applications of rational approximations to the Blasius boundary layer problem in fluid dynamics.

While hoping to continue an active and engaging research profile, I am currently focused on my role as part of the teaching team in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. In this role, I am particularly interested in exploring formative assessment techniques in undergraduate modules. Beyond this, I have demonstrated a continuing commitment to enhancing student well-being and experience: achieving my Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA) certification; and, voluntarily completing Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) as well as Leading First Aid for Mental Health (SCQF Level 6).

I currently teach modules on engineering dynamics and control systems in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. Specifically, these include Engineering Mechanics 2 and Dynamics and Control (for Levels 2 and 3 respectively).

Expertise

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Area of Expertise

Mathematical modelling of dynamic systems
Control systems design
Padé-type approximations
Approximate analytical solution approaches
Simscape/Simulink modelling
MATLAB programming
Mathematica programming

Publications

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Publications

Application of the ADAP method to model-based control of the FutureForge manipulator: Johnston D, Cartmell MP; Journal of Sound and Vibration Vol 617 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsv.2025.119302
A novel approximation method for the solution of weakly nonlinear coupled systems: Johnston Daniel, Cartmell Matthew; Nonlinear Dynamics Vol 111, pp. 16271-16292 (2023); https://doi.org/10.1007/s11071-023-08723-0
The FutureForge manipulator and an approximate analytical solution algorithm for its nonlinear dynamics: Johnston Daniel, Cartmell Matthew, Wynne Bradley, Pakrashi Vikram, Kovacic Ivana; 10th European Nonlinear Dynamics Conference, pp. 774-783 (2022)

More publications

Teaching

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Teaching

I currently have broad involvement in teaching and student-facing roles. In particular, I serve as the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering's Adviser of Studies for first-year students. In this role, I run a number of personal development workshops designed to help students get the most out of their university experience.

I currently teach a third-year undergraduate module entitled Dynamics and Control. I have introduced several innovative teaching and assessment processes into this module and look forward to continuing to enhance it over time. Across this and other modules I deliver, I am proud to maintain an open, transparent, and respectful dialogue with students. I am a huge advocate for student-centred learning: students are at the heart of what we do, and we should continue to make their growth and development the ultimate goal of any innovations we pursue.

Research

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Research Interests

I engage in research centred on engineering dynamics, mathematical modelling, and control systems. My present focus is on concluding my PhD thesis wherein I've developed a new approach to solving nonlinear, coupled systems with particular applications to model-predictive control.