James Maguire

I investigate how we can build the world around us in a more sustainable way using new materials and manufacturing processes.

James Maguire

Lecturer in Composites

I grew up on the border of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, in County Monaghan - famous for poets, boxers, and poultry. In 2012, I graduated with a BEng in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Galway (f.k.a. NUI Galway), as well as a Diploma in Spanish — ¡Olé! In 2019, I graduated with a PhD in Materials and Processes from the University of Edinburgh. My thesis was titled, "Processing of Thick Section Epoxy Powder Composite Structures". Primarily, the thick sections I was interested in were those found in wind and tidal turbine blades, e.g., the root of the blade and spar caps. During this time, I collaborated with industry and academia, including research visits to Suzlon Energy Ltd. in the Netherlands and the University of Delaware and Purdue University in the US.

Since graduating, I have worked as a postdoctoral research associate on several projects at the University of Edinburgh, such as:

• Structural testing of wind turbine blades
• Fibre-metal laminates for marine renewable energy applications
• Fire testing of carbon-fibre/acrylic composites for aerospace applications

During this time, I also took out two years to work part-time as a carer, walk the border of NI/RoI, and figure out how to have a sustainable career in academia.

I have been involved in teaching courses on materials and mechanical engineering at both undergraduate and postgraduate level, including Advance Composite Materials, and Vibrations and Control Systems. I have also co-supervised students at BEng, MEng, MSc, and PhD level - all graduated successfully and we even picked up a few awards along the way!

Recently, I've been doing more to try and spread any impact I can have, including organising outreach workshops on marine plastic waste for IntoUniversity and developing search tools for sustainability resources.