Dr Shaokoon Cheng's professional practice is in the area of Mechanical Engineering design. His current research work spans aerosol drug delivery, biomechanics and design optimisation using machine learning. Shaokoon pioneered the Mechanical Engineering undergraduate program, and more recently, the Master's in Mechanical Engineering program in MQ. His scientific contributions have led to over 140 peer-reviewed publications, six patents, and numerous competitive research funding as the chief investigator, including international grants from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. As a founding director and chief technology officer of ASKSCIENTIA, Shaokoon also leads the translation of cutting-edge research into manufacturable and scalable technologies in aerosol diagnostics and biomedical devices. He currently leads a team of 9 higher degree research students, 2 postdocs, and has successfully supervised 18 HDR students to completion. He offers a highly supportive and responsive mentorship, that provides training from fundamental research, ways to derive innovation, to ultimately their translation.  

We are looking for bright and enthusiastic Masters or PhD students with a strong passion to find solutions to improve the quality of lives through engineering. 

BIOMECHANICS and PART (Particles And Respiratory Technology) research group

Current projects:

1. Biomechanics of inhaled drug delivery. 
2. Novel organ-on-chip devices. 
3. Mechanical design and machine learning. 
4. Design and development of real-time sensors. 
5. Experimental characterisation of aerosol flow and deposition. 
6. 3D printing for biological applications. 
7. Mechanical design for thermal management systems.
8. Structural and mechanical design of drone platforms.

Equipment:

1.  Stereoscopic PIV system for velocity measurement including a micro-PIV system.
2.  High Speed (10KHz) and high resolution (2um) Particle Visualization and Sizing System.
3.  High-Speed Data Acquisition (1-2MHz) and Instrument Control Capabilities.
4.  Tabletop tensile machine (MTS, exceed testing system, E42.503).
5.  Micro-tensile testing machine - SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) compatible. 
6. Advanced additive manufacturing capabilities to develop optically accessible and highly-complex geometries for any biological organs. 
7.  In house capabilities and facilities to develop organ-on-chip devices.
8.  MR Elastography system. 
9. Optical coherence tomography system (multiple channels) with extended capabilities in flow and elastography measurements. 

Teaching Research

My current teaching research interests are in the area of understanding students career information literacy and the development of teaching pedagogies and tools to help improve students' employability and entrepreneurial capabilities.