Dr. Martin Davy

Biography

Professor Martin Davy is a Mechanical Engineer with a unique background in Oxford academia. After leaving school in 1978, he worked in various roles, including construction laborer and motorcycle shop receptionist, before entering the automotive sector, culminating in helping run a motor racing team in Brazil. At 32, he heeded his late father’s advice to pursue a proper job, completing his undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering at University College London (UCL) in 1996 and earning a PhD in 2000. Martin joined the University of Oxford as a professor in the Engineering Science Department in 2013, having previously held faculty positions at UCL, the University of British Columbia, and Loughborough University. His major research interest lies in internal combustion engines, with a focus on combustion processes in compression ignition engines and pollutant reduction. He also studies in-cylinder heat transfer and the use of alternative fuels for transportation. Martin leads several research initiatives, including the EPSRC Prosperity Partnership focused on hybrid thermal propulsion systems and was formerly involved in projects aimed at ultra-efficient engines and fuels. In teaching, he covers various engineering topics and supervises laboratory classes and projects in thermofluids and energy systems.

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Awards