Dr. Shruti Mandhani PhD, MSc, BTech

About

I am a materials scientist specialising in mechanical metamaterials, with particular expertise in auxetic materials. I have a PhD in Auxetic Materials from Sheffield Hallam University, an MSc in Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine from the University of Sheffield, and a Bachelor of Technology (BTech) from the National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK) Surathkal.

My research combines experimental mechanics, finite element analysis, and analytical modelling. I am especially interested in nature-inspired approaches to material design and their applications in biomaterials and sustainable solutions. My broader professional interests include smart materials, bioinspired design, and understanding structure–property relationships across scales in polymers, composites, and cellular solids. I have experience in working across disciplines and collaborating with industry.

In addition to my research, I am an award-winning science communicator. I won the UK national Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition in 2019 and regularly deliver talks and outreach events to schools, public audiences, and policymakers. I am passionate about making science accessible, engaging, and inclusive, and I enjoy using storytelling to make complex ideas clear and relevant - both in academic settings and beyond.

Teaching

School of Engineering and Built Environment

College of Business, Technology and Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

Research

• Industry and Innovation Research Institute

1. Auxetic Liquid Crystal Elastomer Composite Laminates

2. Wetting of Auxetic Metamaterials

3. Additive Manufacturing of Auxetics

4. Intrinsically Auxetic Polymers

My academic collaborators include: Universities of Leeds, Exeter, Sheffield, Bristol, Edinburgh, Manchester Metropolitan University, Northumbria University, and McGill University (Canada).

My industrial partners include: Michelin (France), and Auxetec Ltd.

Publications