Research Associate in Structural Damage Assessment & Data Analysis (Blast Loading)

Academic Division: Civil Engineering

Email: wm369@eng.cam.ac.uk

Research interests

I am a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Cambridge, where I have been based since January 2025. My research focuses on the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and satellite remote sensing for earth observation. In my current role, I work on AI-enabled large-scale disaster damage assessment (such as blasts, floods, and fires) as part of the EPSRC-funded MicroBlast project. Prior to joining Cambridge, I completed my PhD in Computer Science at Cardiff University in 2024. Working within the Visual Computing Group under the supervision of Dr Oktay Karakus (Remote Sensing) and Prof Paul Rosin (Computer Vision, Fellow of the IAPR), my doctoral thesis explored 'Towards Minimal Supervision for Semantic Segmentation of Remote Sensing Imagery.' Previously, I received a Master's degree with Distinction in Image and Video Communication and Signal Processing from the University of Bristol (2021), where my dissertation focused on "Ship Wake Detection in SAR Imagery Using Dual-Tree Complex Wavelet Transform (DT-CWT)".

My research focuses on advanced computer vision, with particular emphasis on "minimal supervision" approaches aimed at reducing the labelling burden in training machine learning models. These include semi-supervised learning, active learning, and multi-modal fusion. I am interested in bridging the gap between theoretical AI and its practical applications in satellite remote sensing imagery. In particular, my work aims to develop solutions for pressing real-world challenges, including rapid large-scale disaster damage assessment (floods, hurricanes, and explosions), marine monitoring, and urban infrastructure detection.

Department role and responsibilities