Research

Biography David A W Barton is Professor of Computational and Experimental Mathematics in the School of Engineering Mathematics and Technology at the University of Bristol (appointed 2023) and co-Director of the Data-Driven Engineering and Sciences doctoral training environment. He received his PhD from the University of Bristol in 2006, followed by postdoctoral fellowships as a Lloyds Tercentenary Foundation Fellow (2006–2007) and Great Western Research Fellow (2007–2010) at Bristol, with a period as International Scholar in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science at Duke University, USA (2009–2010). He was appointed Lecturer in 2010, Senior Lecturer in 2016, and Reader in 2018. ...

If you are interested in working with me, either as a PhD student or a Research Associate (post-doctoral) take a look at my page on opportunities for new researchers. Current doctoral research students Bingyu Li — working on the nonlinear dynamics of whirl flutter in the context of eVTOL aircraft and funded by a CSC scholarship (started September 2025, co-supervised by Djamel Rezgui). Keju Pu — working on tool use in tactile robotics and funded by a CSC scholarship (started September 2025, co-supervised with Nathan Lepora). Yidong Qiu — working on the nonlinear dynamics of whirl flutter in the context of eVTOL aircraft (started February 2025, co-supervised by Djamel Rezgui). Ningyuan Xu — working on scientific machine learning in the context of engineering biology and funded by a CSC scholarship (started January 2025, co-supervised with Lucia Marucci). Jun Wang — working on control-based continuation for experimentally investigating the nonlinear dynamics of a Hawk aircraft model (started September 2024, co-supervised with Mark Lowenberg). Wenhao He — working on multi-modal deep reinforcement learning for tactile robotics and funded by a CSC scholarship (started September 2024, co-supervised with Nathan Lepora). Brian Siu — working on machine learning for modelling material properties in nuclear fusion and co-funded by the UK Atomic Energy Authority and an EPSRC DTP (started September 2024, co-supervised with Burcu Tasdemir). Vaishnudebi Dutta — working on agent-based modelling of non-small cell lung cancer funded by an EPSRC DTP award (started January 2024, co-supervised with Lucia Marucci). Jonny Raines — working on an AI-based generative design assistant for engineers can make use of standard components as well as free-form design and funded by the Interactive AI centre for doctoral training (started October 2023, co-supervised with Ben Hicks). Andrew Shannon — working on scientific machine learning in neural dynamics and funded by the Interactive AI centre for doctoral training (started October 2022, co-supervised with Conor Houghton and Martin Homer). Harry Field — working on the use of large language models for the design of reward functions for reinforcement learning in tactile robotics and funded by the Interactive AI centre for doctoral training (started October 2022, co-supervised with Nathan Lepora). Max Yang — working on reinforcement learning for tactile robotics and funded by an EPSRC DTP award (started November 2021, co-supervised with Nathan Lepora). Kesheng Wang — working on optimal design of modular multi-level power converters (started October 2021, co-supervised with Ian Laird).

The projects below give a flavour of the kinds of research I supervise. They are intended as starting points for discussion rather than fixed plans — most are deliberately broad so there is plenty of room for you to shape your own direction. If you have a related idea that is not listed here, I am very happy to hear from you. For funding and application information, see the Work with me page. To apply, email david.barton@bristol.ac.uk with your CV and a short description of your research interests. Applications from all backgrounds are encouraged, especially under-represented groups. ...

I manage a collaborative and friendly team of researchers who strive to do excellent work at the intersection of applied mathematics, engineering, and machine learning. We work within the larger Engineering Mathematics Research Group and have strong connections to other areas such as the Dexterous Robotics Research Group, the Dynamics and Control Research Group, and the Mathematical Biology Research Group. It’s a very supportive environment, with researchers going on to a wide range of opportunities including lectureships (e.g., Imperial, Exeter, and Glasgow) and industrial careers (e.g., Dyson, Rolls Royce, and Renishaw). ...

Previous post-doctoral research staff Dongxiao Hong — worked on uncertainty quantification in hybrid testing and more generally for nonlinear systems funded as part of the EPSRC Programme Grant Digital twins for improved dynamic design (EP/R006768/1; May 2022 until July 2023). Went onto a research associate position at Imperial College London. Sandor Beregi — worked on control-based continuation and SciML funded as part of the EPSRC Responsive-Mode Grant Next-generation test methods for nonlinear structures (EP/P019323/1) and, subsequently, by the EPSRC Programme Grant Digital twins for improved dynamic design (EP/R006768/1; May 2019 until January 2023). Went onto a research associate position at Imperial College London. Alessandra Vizzaccaro — worked on hybrid testing with uncertainty as part of the EPSRC Programme Grant Digital twins for improved dynamic design (EP/R006768/1; November 2020 until December 2022). Went onto a research associate position at the University of Exeter. Qicheng Zhang — worked on the nonlinear behaviour of auxetic foams as part of the EPSRC Digital Manufacturing Grant (EP/R032793/1; from September 2019 until March 2022). Went onto a research associate position at the University of Swansea. Tatsuki Fushimi — worked on nonlinear control of particles using ultrasonic levitation (March 2020 until May 2020). Went onto a tenure-track position at the University of Tsukuba, Japan. Ludovic Renson — worked on control theory and related aspects control-based continuation (September 2014 until August 2019). Went on to a lectureship at Imperial College. Irene Tartaruga — worked on control-based continuation as part of the EPSRC Responsive-Mode Grant Next-generation test methods for nonlinear structures (EP/P019323/1; May 2017 to December 2018). Went on to work as a Loads and Aerodynamics Engineer at Stirling Dynamics. Previous doctoral research students Roussel Desmond Nzoyem Ngueguin — Learning to learn sequential dynamics: context-aware out-of-distribution adaptation for time series and physical systems (awarded PhD 9 December 2025; co-supervised with Tom Deakin). Went on to a research associate position at the University of Manchester, UK. Lizzie Stone — Feeling the way: creating versatile tactile robots through online learning for edge following (awarded PhD 23 January 2024; co-supervised with Nathan Lepora). Went on to be a software engineer at Renishaw. Kyoung Hyun Lee — Bifurcation-based ordinary differential equation model identification (awarded PhD 24 January 2023; co-supervised with Ludovic Renson). Went on to a research associate position at the University of Auckland. Kirsty Aquilina — Tactile perception and control of a soft shear-sensitive optical tactile sensor (awarded PhD 24 June 2021; co-supervised with Nathan Lepora). Went on to work as a data scientist at Aptiv (autonomous driving systems). Adam Zienkiewicz — Data-driven modelling of zebrafish locomotion and collective behaviour (awarded PhD 10 May 2016; co-supervised with Mario di Bernardo). Went on to work as a robotics engineer at Dyson. Dan Hewitt — Detecting freeplay in mechanical systems (awarded PhD 10 May 2016; co-supervised with Steve Burrow). Went on to work as a research engineer at MASS. Andrea Cammarano — Increasing the bandwidth of resonant vibration-based energy harvesters (awarded PhD 8 January 2013; co-supervised with Steve Burrow). Went on to a lectureship at the University of Glasgow and now a professor at the University of Southampton.

Academic life can progress in many different ways. As far as I can, I aim to provide a healthy work environment for all those I interact with. As such, I follow these principles taken from https://ukrio.org/publications/code-of-practice-for-research/2-0-principles/ and I strongly encourage others to follow them. (Note: the UKRI principles have been updated several times to encompass other aspects, but below is a good summary.) EXCELLENCE: organisations and researchers should strive for excellence when conducting research and aim to produce and disseminate work of the highest quality. This Code, its Principles and its Standards are intended to support these goals. ...