Spotlight on Dr Ben Hanson

This week the spotlight is on Dr Ben Hanson, Lecturer,

mecheng.ucl.ac.uk/" target="_self">Department of Mechanical Engineering.

What is your role and what does it involve?

I'm a lecturer in the Mechanical Engineering Department, which is amazingly diverse: our work involves everything from tiny nano-particles, through biomedical engineering, to the design of low-carbon global shipping strategies.

Part of my role involves teaching undergrad and postgrad students aspects of electricity, control and cardiovascular engineering. These subjects all involve the application of theoretical techniques to real world devices and systems, and that's important to me.

I'm lucky enough to be able to pursue research that I find interesting and challenging: using engineering in medicine and healthcare. I spend quite a bit of time at St Thomas' Hospital with cardiologists, where we're investigating the control mechanisms of the heart.

My contribution involves modelling and analysis techniques that could apply to any feedback system, but the heart is just so intriguing to study. Our studies involve measuring electrical signals from within people's hearts, while conversing with them and directing them through tasks such as mental arithmetic and breathing exercises; all this is a bit out of the ordinary for an engineer, but is fascinating to me and, I hope, worthwhile.

How long have you been at UCL and what was your previous role?

I've been at UCL for six years now and while I never thought I would last that long in London, I really appreciate being surrounded by the most interesting, diverse and high-calibre academics.

This is my first lectureship: I came to UCL following a PhD and post-doctoral work at the University of Leeds. The research project there involved creating and testing a heart-assist device; the goal was that if someone's heart had become physically weakened by disease, this device could be implanted and wrapped around the heart to provide a 'squeeze'.

For that project, I created a mechanised model of a human heart in order to test the prototype assist device and evaluate it in the relative comfort of an engineering lab.

Another gadget that I created during that time was a little device to measure the visco-elastic (gooey) properties of bone cement, which could be used in an operating theatre during orthopaedic surgery, e.g. hip replacement.

This little gadget then got me involved with another medical application that is still ongoing: investigating the mechanics of swallowing and, particularly, disorders of swallowing (dysphagia), which can occur with stroke, or head and neck cancer.

This research aims to improve quality of life through understanding the mechanical properties of foods and thickened drinks, so that diets can be designed to minimise choking risk, while still being as appealing as possible.

What working achievement or initiative are you most proud of?

I organise an annual conference for our Mechanical Engineering PhD students, and that event fills me with a great deal of pride in our students and their work. Seeing the range of projects that they undertake every year, it strikes me that their work is so universally useful: they are all solving problems.

The students do a great job presenting and creating posters, and they are rewarded at the end of the day with a drinks-and-nibbles social occasion and a very positive prize-giving ceremony.

What is your life like outside UCL?

In London, I've always lived quite centrally; at the moment, I'm sandwiched between the Gherkin and Brick Lane. Having so much on my doorstep there is always something to tempt me out: I like the little galleries around Shoreditch, especially the free drinks on opening nights.

I love the history and architecture of the City, and how it's so accessible on the weekends; I like to go for runs along the South Bank to Big Ben and back. Getting a break from the city is important too, and I'll very often go for a nice walk or bike ride with my girlfriend in the Kent countryside. Fresh air, exercise and a well-earned pub lunch.