MarRI-UK is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Xue (Amanda) Xu as the new Programme Manager, effective July 2024. Amanda brings a wealth of maritime experience and expertise to the MarRI-UK Core Team, strengthening our commitment to advancing maritime research and innovation.
Amada obtained her BEng (Hons) degree in Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering from the University of Strathclyde in 2013. She continued her academic journey at the same institution, earning her PhD in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering in 2020. Her doctoral research has contributed significantly to the field, particularly in areas related to clean shipping and offshore wind energy.
Prior to joining MarRI-UK, Amanda served as a Research Associate in the Department of Naval Architecture, Ocean and Marine Engineering (NAOME) at the University of Strathclyde since 2019. During her tenure, she played a pivotal role in delivering seven high-impact research projects. These include EPSRC-funded projects on offshore wind energy development, such as INNO-MPP and HOME-Offshore, as well as H2020-funded projects focused on the transition to zero-emission shipping, including TrAM and ShipFC. Amanda has also been actively involved in the preparation of several H2020 and EPSRC proposals, emphasizing the clean shipping transition and the impact of climate change on the maritime sector.
In her new role as the Programme Manager at MarRI-UK, Amanda will oversee the management of MarRI-UK projects and programmes, ensuring their successful execution and alignment with our strategic goals. She will be responsible for creating and distributing weekly newsletters, driving business development activities, engaging new members, and establishing both a national and regional presence for MarRI-UK. Additionally, Amanda will promote and lead knowledge exchange activities and work to identify and secure research and innovation funding in collaboration with our members.
Our Director Simon Reid said “Amanda brings a wealth of sector knowledge and experience, and I am delighted to welcome her to our team.”
We are thrilled to have Dr. Xu on board and look forward to her contributions in driving MarRI-UK’s mission forward.