Phil Sewell

Professor Phil Sewell

  • Associate Dean Education and Student Experience
  • Poole House P311, Talbot Campus, Fern Barrow, Poole, BH12 5BB
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Biography

Philip is an experienced leader in the higher education sector. As Associate Dean for Education and Student Experience he is responsible for providing strategic leadership to the Faculty of Media, Science and Technology in the development and implementation of Bournemouth University’s education, student experience and employability plans.

In his previous role he led the delivery and growth of Bournemouth University’s portfolio of apprenticeships and skills offerings to positively impact on the apprentice experience, enhance employability, and deliver regional engagement.

Philip's interests are in the areas of design simulation & modelling, mechanics of materials, artificial intelligence and medical engineering.

He has conducted research supported by EPSRC and the medical charity REMEDI developing methodologies for the clinical assessment of lower-limb prosthesis fit. This has also led to involvement with the International Paralympic Committee. He has also collaborated with BAE Systems Surface Ships Ltd...

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Research

Since joining BU I have been involved in developing research collaborations with Dorset Orthopaedics, Royal Bournemouth Hospital, Poole Hospital, Blatchford & Sons and BVT Surface Fleet, Poole and Bournemouth Hospitals, AECC and Hydreco Hydraulics. These collaborations have led to several bids for funding. In conjunction with Professor Noroozi and Professor Zahedi (Blatchford) we were awarded an EPSRC Case Award in 2009 to fund a PhD researcher for 3.5 years (£86k) to investigate utilising Inverse Problem Analysis in the design of new smart lower-limb prostheses.

I have also been awarded a matched funding studentship in collaboration with BVT Surface Fleet to investigate load measurement and monitoring in marine structures. This generated £26k of income to BU. On the strength of this collaboration and in conjunction with Professor Noroozi and Professor Cripps (BVT) we were awarded an EPSRC Case Award in 2009 to fund a PhD researcher for 3.5 years (£95k) to investigate new methods of flexible composite tooling for the marine industry.

Research in the field of lower-limb prosthetics design has led to being shortlisted as a finalist in the category of “Outstanding Engineering Research Team of the Year” at the National THE (Times Higher Education) Awards in 2010. It has also led to winning Vice-Chancellor's Award for "Research/Enterprise Project of the Year" in 2011.

In 2011 I was also awarded a full BU Studentship as Principal Investigator to investigate to research the dynamic characteristics of composite energy-storing-and-return (ESR) prosthetic feet...

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Journal Articles

Chapters

  • Sewell, P., Noroozi, S., Vinney, J., Amali, R., Andrews, S., 2008. An Artificial Intelligence Approach for Measurement and Monitoring of Pressure at the Residual Limb/Socket Interface- A Clinical Approach. Proceedings CM 2008 / MFPT 2008 - The Fifth International Conference on Condition Monitoring & Machinery Failure Prevention Technologies Edinburgh, Scotland, UK, 15-18 July 2008. CM and MFPT, 1294-1304.
  • Vinney, J., Noroozi, S., Sewell, P., Blount, G., 1999. The Case for a Case-Based Prosthetic Socket Design Assistant. In: Fiala, P., Smrc ek, L., eds. Proceedings of the First International Conference on Advanced Engineering Design, Prague, May 31 - June 2, 1999. Prague, Czech Republic: CTU Publishing House, 45-46.

Conferences

  • Montalvao, D., Safari, S., Sewell, P., Abdelkader, A., Baxter, R., Johnston, I., McCluskey, D., 2025. ULTRASONIC FATIGUE RESPONSE OF VERTICALLY AND HORIZONTALLY PRINTED TI-6AL-4V AND INCONEL 718. In: 8th International Conference on Structural Integrity and Durability - ICSID 2025 16/09/2025 Dubrovnik, Croatia.
  • Batley, A., Sewell, P., Roberts, W., 2023. AN ADVANCED MANUFACTURING SUPPORTED SUPPLY CHAIN – EDUCATIONAL CASE STUDIES. Proceedings of the 25th International Conference on Engineering and Product Design Education Responsible Innovation for Global Co Habitation E and Pde 2023, 79-84.
  • Batley, A., Sewell, P., Roberts, W., 2023. AN ADVANCED MANUFACTURING SUPPORTED SUPPLY CHAIN - EDUCATIONAL CASE STUDIES. PROCEEDINGS OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ENGINEERING AND PRODUCT DESIGN EDUCATION, E&PDE 2023, 123, 79-84.
  • Saeed, A., Khan, Z., Sewell, P., 2020. In - situ Materials Deterioration Evaluation under the influence of Temperature - Humidity variations and Hygroscopic Salt Deposits. In: 10th International Conference on High Performance and Optimum Design of Structures and Materials 03/06/2020 Prague, Czech Republic.
  • Saeed, A., Khan, Z., Sewell, P., 2019. The Influence of Humidity-Temperature Variation and High-Salt-Particles on the Degradation of Cr, Cu and Mn Based Alloy Steel. In: 9th International Conference on Computational Methods and Experiments in Material and Contact Characterisation 22/05/2019 Lisbon, Portugal.
  • Craig, E., Noroozi, S., Sewell, P., Harvey, A., 2018. Unilateral Vs Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty With A Kinematic-Retaining Prosthesis: Does Unilateral Or Bilateral Lead To Improved Outcomes In The Kinematics Of Walking Gait? In: 19th European Federation of National Associations of Orthopaedics and Traumatology (EFORT) Conference 30/05/2018 Barcelona.
  • Aslani, N., Noroozi, S., Hartley, R., Harvey, A., Sewell, P., 2018. Kinematics study of the deltoid in Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty using Standard Pre and Post-Operative X-Rays. 15th International Conference on Condition Monitoring and Machinery Failure Prevention Technologies CM 2018 Mfpt 2018, 102-116.
  • Craig, E., Noroozi, S., Harvey, A., Sewell, P., 2017. Gait symmetry in walking and running after unilateral total knee replacement: Is there a relationship between walking and running symmetry? In: 26th Annual Meeting of the European Society for Movement Analysis in Adults and Children (ESMAC) 06/09/2017 Trondheim, Norway.
  • Dupac, M., Sewell, P., 2017. Quick 3D trajectory planning for rotating extensible manipulators using piecewise polynomial interpolation. In: Arias, I., Blanco, J.M., Clain, S., Flores, P., Lourenço, P., Ródenas, J.J., Tur, M., eds. Congress on Numerical Methods in Engineering 03/07/2017 Valencia, Spain, 3-5 July, 2017. , 1944-1949 Valencia, Spain: International Center for Numerical Methods in Engineering (CIMNE).
  • Davenport, P., Sewell, P., Noroozi, S., Zahedi, S., McCarthy, J., McGrath, M., 2017. Sensitivity of an inverse-problem socket pressure measurement system to changes in applied forces from standing. In: International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics 16TH World Congress 08/05/2017 Cape Town, South Africa.
  • Davenport, P., Noroozi, S., Sewell, P., Zahedi, S., McCarthy, J., McGrath, M., 2017. An augmented reality method of visualising transtibial socket pressures and limb orientation. In: International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics 16TH World Congress 08/05/2017 Cape Town, South Apfrica.
  • Hawkins, J., Noroozi, S., Dupac, M., Sewell, P., 2017. An investigation of the effect of boundary conditions on the mechanical characteristics of an energy storing and returning prosthetic foot subject to non-destructive testing. Wccm 2017 1st World Congress on Condition Monitoring 2017.
  • Davenport, P., Noroozi, S., Sewell, P., Zahedi, S., 2017. Monitoring the suitability of the fit of a lower-limb prosthetic socket using an artificial neural network in commonly encountered walking conditions. Wccm 2017 1st World Congress on Condition Monitoring 2017.
  • Noroozi, S., Aslani, N., Sewell, P., Ong, A., Khoo, M., 2017. Visualising kinematic of elastic Ossur ESR Prosthetic foot using novel low cost optical tracking systems. Wccm 2017 1st World Congress on Condition Monitoring 2017.
  • Sewell, P., Noroozi, S., Davenport, P., Bascou, J., Villa, C., Zahedi, S., 2016. Technological Innovations in prosthetic socket fitting – an external method to assess the residual limb/socket interaction. In: 20th National Scientifc Congress - ISPO France 17/11/2016 Lille, France.
  • Roberts, A., Thomas, B., Sewell, P., Aslani, N., Balmain, S., Balmain, I., Gillman, J., 2016. The potential of the water hammer in pico-scale tidal power systems: An experimental investigation. 4th International Symposium on Environment Friendly Energies and Applications Efea 2016.
  • Hawkins, J., Sewell, P., Dupac, M., 2016. Understanding the design variables that contribute to the response of a prosthetic foot: Part i - Rig design. 1st International Conference on Multidisciplinary Engineering Design Optimization Medo 2016.
  • Hawkins, J., Sewell, P., Dupac, M., 2016. Understanding the design variables that contribute to the response of a prosthetic foot: Part II - Rig validation. 1st International Conference on Multidisciplinary Engineering Design Optimization Medo 2016.
  • Davenport, P., Noroozi, S., Sewell, P., Zahedi, S., 2016. Applying ensemble neural networks to an inverse problem solution to prosthetic socket pressure measurement. 1st International Conference on Multidisciplinary Engineering Design Optimization Medo 2016.
  • Hawkins, J., Noroozi, S., Dupac, M., Sewell, P., 2015. An Investigation of the Ground Contact Point and Sagittal Plane Displacement of Energy Storage and Return (ESR) Composite Lower-Limb Prosthetic Feet during Running. In: International Society for Prosthetics & Orthotics (ISPO) World Congress 2015 22/06/2015 Lyon, France. Abstract Book - ISPO World Congress 2015, 18.
  • Davenport, P., Noroozi, S., Sewell, P., Zahedi, S., 2015. A proposed system for automatic categorisation of lower-limb prosthesis alignment using Learning Vector Quantisation and an inverse problem pressure measurement approach. In: International Society for Prosthetics & Orthotics (ISPO) World Congress 2015 22/06/2015 Lyon, France.
  • Romouzy Ali, A.M., Noroozi, S., Sewell, P., Humphries-Smith, T., 2012. The Barriers Hindering Rapid Prototyping Deployment within Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Which Should Come First? In: Twelfth International Conference on Knowledge, Culture and Change Management 06/07/2012 Chicago, USA.
  • Sewell, P., 2010. Enhancing Design students’ engagement in technology-based subjects: A practical learning and online assessment strategy. In: DEC E-learning seminar 26/05/2010 Bournemouth University, England.
  • Dyer, B.T.J., Noroozi, S., Sewell, P., Redwood, S., 2010. An Argument for Assessing Lower-Limb Sprinting Prostheses Technology. In: 13th ISPO World Congress 10/05/2010 Leipzig, Germany.
  • Khandan, R., Noroozi, S., Sewell, P., Vinney, J., 2010. Smart Passive Adaptive Control of Composite Plates. In: ASME 2010 International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition 12/11/2010 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
  • Khandan, R., Noroozi, S., Sewell, P., Vinney, J., 2010. Optimum Design of Fibre Orientation Angles in Composite Laminate Plates for Minimum Thickness. In: ASME 2010 International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition 12/11/2010 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
  • Sewell, P., 2010. Enhancing design student’s engagement in technology-based subjects: A practical learning and online assessment strategy. In: Education Enhancement Conference 2010 20/05/2010 Bournemouth University.
  • Noroozi, S., Sewell, P., Vinney, J., 2006. The Application of a Hybrid Inverse Boundary Element Problem Engine for the Solution of Potential Problems. In: 7th International Conference on Boundary Element Techniques 04/09/2006 École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées (ENPC) Paris, France.
  • Behnia, M., Amali, R., Sewell, P., Vinney, J., Noroozi, S., 2006. Application of Artificial Intelligence to Predict the Effect of Fertilizers on Saffron Production. In: 2nd International Symposium on Saffron Biology and Technology 28/10/2006 Mashhad, Iran.
  • Amali, R., Noroozi, S., Vinney, J., Sewell, P., Andrews, S., 2002. A Novel Approach for Predicting Interfacial Pressure Between a Prosthetic Socket and a Residual Limb. In: Annual Reception at the House of Commons for Britain's Younger Engineers from UK University, Industrial and Public Sector Laboratories 09/12/2002 London, England.
  • Andrews, S., Noroozi, S., Sewell, P., Vinney, J., 2001. A Novel Transducer to Aid the Assessment of Prosthetic Socket Fit. In: Seventh Annual Conference of the British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists 06/04/2001 Nottingham, England.
  • Andrews, S., Noroozi, S., Vinney, J., Amali, R., Sewell, P., 2001. A Novel Approach to Assess Prosthetic Socket Fit Based on Combining Experimental and Empirical Techniques. In: Hughes, J., Jacobs, N.A., eds. Proceedings of the 10th World Congress of the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics (ISPO 2001) 01/07/2001 Glasgow, Scotland. International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics.
  • Amali, R., Noroozi, S., Vinney, J., Sewell, P., Andrews, S., 2001. A Novel Approach for Assessing Interfacial Pressure Between the Prosthetic Socket and the Residual Limb for Below Knee Amputees using Artificial Neural Networks. In: IJCNN '01. International Joint Conference on Neural Networks 15/07/2001 Washington, DC. , 2689-2693 Washington DC, USA: IEEE Press.
  • Sewell, P., Noroozi, S., Vinney, J., Andrews, S., 2000. A Tool to Aid Below-Knee Prosthetic Socket Fitting. In: Special Reception in 2000 for Britain's Younger Engineers 04/12/2000 The House of Commons, London.
  • Noroozi, S., Vinney, J., Sewell, P., Al-Rawe, A., 2000. An Empirical Model of the Structural Characteristics of Un-ribbed Cylindrical GRP Tanks. In: Horváth, I., Medland, A.J., Vergeest, J.S.M., eds. TMCE 2000 Third international symposium on tools and methods of competitive engineering 18/04/2000 Delft University. , 571-580 Delft, The Netherlands: Delft University Press.
  • Noroozi, S., Sewell, P., Vinney, J., Andrews, S., 2000. Introduction of a Novel Tool for Real-Time Monitoring and Assessment of Prosthetic Socket Fit. In: Pusey, H.C., Rao, R.B.K.N., eds. Condition monitoring and diagnostic engineering management : COMADEM 2000 : proceedings of the 13th International Congress. 03/12/2000 Houston, Texas, USA. , 597-605 Elsevier.
  • Noroozi, S., Vinney, J., Wait, D., Sewell, P., 1999. The Use of Boundary Element Analysis as a Design Aid to Analyse Complex Aspects of Aircraft Landing Gear Joint Design. In: 1st International Conference in Boundary Element Techniques 07/1999 Queen Mary College, London. , 425-436.
  • Noroozi, S., Vinney, J., Sewell, P., 1999. The Application of Redundant Industrial Robots In Bio-Mechanical Engineering. In: Advanced Robotics Development Conference on Medical Robotics 23/09/1999 Pisa, Italy.

Reports

Theses

PhD Students

  • Ryan Krishnamohan. I2AM-BirD: Innovative Integration of Advanced Materials for Bird-tracking tag antenna Design, (In progress)
  • Sattam Alharbi. Developing Clinical Guidelines for Socket Fit in Lower Limb Prostheses: Utilizing the Delphi Technique, (In progress)
  • Jacqueline Rix, 2022. Biomechanical Effects of Spinal Manipulation - a Feasibility Study, (Completed)
  • Abigail Batley. An Investigation into composite additive manufacturing of dynamic response paediatric prosthetic ankle-foot devices, (Completed)
  • Mohammad Reza Ramazani. Load Measurement of In-service Marine Structures to Influence their Design
  • James Hawkins. Dynamic characteristics of composite energy-storing-and-returning (ESR) prosthetic feet
  • Ahmed Romouzy Ali. A Strategy to Deploy Rapid Prototyping within SME’s
  • Bryce Dyer. An Insight into the Acceptable Use & Assessment of Lower-limb Running Prosthesis used in Disability Sport
  • Rasoul Khandan. Smart Passive Adaptive Control of Laminated Composite Plates (Through Optimisation of Fibre Orientation)
  • Richard Glithro. Design and Optimisation of Conformal Cooling Channels for Injection Moulding Tools
  • Navid Aslani. a novel transducer to measure or estimate the deltoid tension in Reverse Shoulder Replacement
  • Philip Davenport. Development and clinical application of a prosthetic socket interface pressure measurement system using artificial neural networks

Profile of Teaching PG

  • MEng Project
  • Design Simulation

Profile of Teaching UG

  • Materials and Technology A
  • BEng Project
  • Materials and Technology B

Grants

  • Degree apprenticeships funding competition (Office for Students, 01 Feb 2024). In Progress
  • Degree apprenticeships funding competition (Office for Students, 01 Feb 2024). In Progress
  • Quantitative imaging biomarkers for nonspecific low back pain (BU PhD Match Funded Studentship, 01 Oct 2019). Completed
  • Institution of Mechanical Engineers Placement Scheme (IMechE, 01 Jun 2019). Completed
  • Institution of Mechanical Engineers Placement Scheme (IMechE, 01 Jun 2019). Completed
  • Biomechanical Effects of Spinal Manipulation - a Feasibility Study (BU PhD Match Funded Studentship, 01 Oct 2018). Completed
  • An advanced manufacturing supported supply chain – Enhancing the efficiency of the RNLI (Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF), 01 Sep 2017). Completed
  • Investigation of the design of a new generation of hydraulically driven mechanical drive systems (Bournemouth University and Hydreco Hydraulics, 01 Jan 2015). Completed
  • Investigating the next generation of controls systems for novel hydraulic actuator systems (Bournemouth University and Hydreco Hydraulics, 01 Jan 2015). Completed
  • Gait cycle analysis after Total Knee Replacement (Bournemouth University and Poole Hospital, 01 Dec 2014). Completed
  • Investigation to Improve Lower-Limb Amputee Prosthesis Fit through the Design of a Smart Socket (EPSRC, 01 Apr 2014). Completed
  • An Optimised Tidal Energy Design for Poole Harbour (Balmain Charitable Trust, 06 Jan 2014). Completed
  • Investigating the ideal Deltoid Tension in Reverse Shoulder Replacements (Bournemouth Hospital and Bournemouth University, 01 Oct 2013). Completed
  • Dynamic characteristics of composite energy-storing-and-returning (ESR) prosthetic feet (Bournemouth University, 02 Jan 2012). Completed
  • Load Measurement of In-service Marine Structures to Influence their Design (BVT Surface Ships Ltd and Bournemouth University, 01 Oct 2009). Completed

External Responsibilities

  • Instiution of Mechanical Engineers, Integrated Schemes Assessment Committee Membership (2024-)
  • University of South Wales, External Examiner (2023-2027)
  • Solent University, Module External Examiner (2022-2026)
  • University of Northampton, External Examiner - MSc Engineering (2019-2023)
  • University of Brighton, External Examiner (2018-2022)
  • Institution of Engineering Designers (IED), Chair of the Education and Training Committee (2017-), http://www.institution-engineering-designers.org.uk/
  • Institution of Engineering Designers (IED), Vice-Chair of the Education and Training Committee (2014-2017), http://www.institution-engineering-designers.org.uk/
  • Northumbria University, External Examiner (2014-3112019)
  • University of Derby, External Examiner (2014-2018)

Qualifications

  • PGCert in Research Degree Supervision in Research Degree Supervision (Bournemouth University, 2008)
  • PhD in The application of photoelastic analysis for the a (University of the West of England, Bristol, 2003)
  • BEng (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering (University of the West of England, Bristol, 1998)

Honours

  • International Award for Excellence for research into deploying Rapid Prototyping in SMEs (International Journal of Knowledge, Culture and Change Management: Annual Review., 2013)
  • Vice-Chancellor's Award for "Research/Enterprise Project of the Year (Bournemouth University, 2011)
  • Runner up in the category of “Outstanding Engineering Research Team of the Year” (Times Higher Education, 2010)
  • BU Award for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning (Bournemouth University, 2009)

Memberships

  • Institution of Engineering Designers (FIED), Fellow (2020-),
  • Higher Education Academy, Senior Fellow (2018-),
  • Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), Member (2015-),
  • Higher Education Academy, Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2012-3042018),
  • Institution of Engineering Designers (MIED), Member (2011-2020),
  • Engineering Council UK, Chartered Engineer (2011-),
The data on this page was last updated at 22:00 on February 13, 2026.