Dr Jean-Baptiste Souppez

Jean-Baptiste R. G. Souppez is a Senior Lecturer in Mechanical, Biomedical and Design Engineering at Aston University. He was awarded a National Teaching Fellowship for his outstanding impact on student outcomes and the teaching profession in higher education, acknowledging his international leadership in the implementation of learning and teaching strategies for diversity and inclusion, as well as real-world learning and authentic assessments for employability. He is also a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, recognising his sustained record of effectiveness in strategic leadership of high-quality learning, and chairs the Assessment and Feedback Research Group at Aston University. Thanks to his quality assurance expertise, he monitors the performance of professional bodies and the quality of education provided by higher education institutions on behalf of the Engineering Council, accredits higher education courses on behalf of both the Institute of Marine Science, Engineering and Technology (IMarEST) and the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA), and is a Quality and Standards Assessor for the Office for Students as well as an invited expert for the Erasmus+ Key Action 2: Cooperation for Innovation and Exchange of Good Practices.

Jean-Baptiste is also the Editor-in-Chief of the Society of Naval Architects & Marine Engineers (SNAME) Journal of Sailing Technology, the world's leading peer-reviewed journal for sailing research. His fluid dynamics research features a wide range of experimental techniques, supporting his expertise in hydrofoils and multi-award-winning research on the aerodynamics of yacht sails. As the UK Principal Expert in Small Craft Structures and Convenor for multiple ISO standards, he leads the development of international structural regulations (ISO 12215) thanks to his extensive knowledge of composites and structural design and analysis, for which he was awarded several prestigious medals, including a Medal of Distinction by RINA. Recognised as an international leader in yacht design and marine engineering, he is a Fellow of RINA, a member of SNAME and the IMarEST, sits on several prestigious and influential international committees, and oversees all small craft regulatory developments on behalf of the IMarEST. Furthermore, he contributes to the Erasmus Mundus Masters in Advanced Design of Ship and Offshore Structures (EMship+) and Sustainable Ships and Shipping 4.0 (Seas 4.0) as a Visiting Professor at the University of Liege and Naples Federico II, respectively.

• 01/20 - date    Senior Lecturer in Mechanical, Biomedical and Design Engineering. Aston University, UK.
• 08/24 - date    Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Sailing Technology. Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, US.
• 08/24 - date    Quality and Standards Assessor. Office for Students, UK.
• 10/23 - date    Project Leader for Small Craft Structures. International Organization for Standardization (ISO), Switzerland.
• 06/23 - date    Professional Engineering Institution Accreditation. Engineering Council, UK.
• 05/23 - date    Visiting Professor. New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE), UK.
• 06/22 - date    Visiting Professor. University of Naples Federico II (Seas 4.0), Italy.
• 07/20 - date    Liaison on the UK Small Craft Committee. Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology, UK.
• 02/19 - date    Associate Tutor (Research Supervisor). Marine Learning Alliance (MLA) College, University of Plymouth, UK.
• 09/16 - date    UK Principal Expert in Small Craft Structures. British Standards Institution, UK.
• 03/16 - date    Visiting Professor and Research Supervisor. University of Liege (EMship+), Belgium.
• 07/19 - 08/24    Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Sailing Technology. Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, US.
• 11/17 - 01/20     Senior Lecturer in Yacht Design and Composite Engineering. Solent University, UK.
• 10/15 - 11/17    Lecturer in Yacht Design and Composite Engineering. Solent University, UK.
• 07/14 - 12/14    Teaching Assistant. The University of Auckland, New Zealand.

• 2024   The Pyrgotelis Zoitos Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Advancement of Naval Architecture.
• 2023   National Teaching Fellowship awarded by Advance HE
• 2023   Inaugural Dr Darren Campbell Education Award for the Best Pedagogical Output of the Year at Aston University.
• 2022   Medal of Distinction awarded by the Royal Institution of Naval Architects for Research Merit.
• 2022   Jeom Paik Prize for the Best Paper in the field of Structures published in the International Journal of Maritime Engineering.
• 2021   Aston Academic Award for Best Learning Resources.
• 2021   Aston Achievement Awards for Best Newcomer (Nominee).
• 2021   Aston Academic Award for Best Personal Tutor (Nominee).
• 2020   Aston Recognition for Outstanding Work in Mentorship and Leadership Roles.
• 2019   Stanley Gray Fellowship (IMarEST) for Performance Enhancement of Modern Downwind Sails.
• 2019   Best Lecturer of the European EMship+ Master.
• 2018   Research, Innovation and Knowledge Exchange (RIKE) Award for Circular Arc Aerodynamics.
• 2017   Best Lecturer of the European EMship+ Master.
• 2016   STAR (Solent Teaching And Recognition) Award for Outstanding Teaching (Nominee).
• 2014   University of Auckland Yacht Engineering Master Scholarship.
• 2013   RINA and IMarEST Top Final Year Student Prize.

Current PhD Supervision:

• Lewis, R., Experimental fluid dynamics of stirred tank bioreactors.
• Vraitch, R., Modelling of the spinal cord for the greater understanding of the aetiology and management of compressive spinal cord pathology.
• Johnson, A., Optimisation of scaffolds for the bioprocessing of lab-grown meat.
• Hutchings, L., 3D printing of edible biomimetic scaffolds for the engineering of animal muscle tissue.
• Barton, E., Development of a novel in vitro vascular model for analysis of blood flow through medical devices.
• Lowe, J., Arterial fluid mechanics and their influence on cardiovascular disease. 
• Dages, B., Novel microcarriers for scalable clean meat production. 

• PhD in Experimental Fluid Dynamics, University of Edinburgh (shortlisted for UK Fluids Best Thesis Prize).
• PGC in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (Distinction). Solent University, UK.
• MEngSt in Yacht Engineering (1st). The University of Auckland, New Zealand.
• BEng (Hons) in Yacht and Powercraft Design (1st). Solent University, UK.
• Diploma in Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing (Distinction). Lowestoft College, UK.
• Diploma in Marine Construction, Systems Engineering and Maintenance & Diploma in Practical Traditional Wooden Boatbuilding (Distinction). International Boatbuilding Training College Lowestoft, UK.

• National Teaching Fellow, Advcance HE
• Chartered Engineer, Engineering Council
• Fellow, Royal Institution of Naval Architects
• Principal Felow, Higher Education Academy
• Member, International Federation of National Teaching Fellows
• Member, Association of National Teaching Fellows
• Member, Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers
• Member, Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology