Mr Daniel Johnston

Teaching Assistant

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Personal statement

As a member of the teaching team in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, I focus on incorporating formative, active, and innovative learning strategies into my modules. My approach is informed by my own background, which includes a 1st-class MEng from the University of Strathclyde and research into applied mathematical modelling, nonlinear dynamics, and control systems design.

My interest in effective pedagogy is reflected in my Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA) certification and my use of formative assessment to support student development. Underscoring my commitment to student support, I also hold qualifications in Applied Suicide Intervention Skills (ASIST) and Leading First Aid for Mental Health. I currently teach modules including Dynamics and Control (Level 3) and Advanced Topics in Mechanics and Dynamics (Level 5).

Expertise

Back to staff profile

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

Back to staff profile

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

Back to staff profile

Teaching

I currently have broad involvement in teaching and student-facing roles. As the Adviser of Studies for first-year students, I offer academic guidance and run workshops to help them transition successfully to university life and its demands.

In my Dynamics and Control module, I employ active learning strategies and problem-based tasks to help students apply theoretical concepts to engineering challenges. Across this and other contributions to teaching, 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

Back to staff profile

Research Interests

My research centres on applying mathematical modelling to solve complex problems in engineering dynamics and control systems. My PhD work introduces a new method for tackling nonlinear, coupled systems, with a focus on developing practical approaches for model-predictive control.