Nanocomposites have been researched and commercially applied for approximately 60 years due to their advanced properties such as mechanical properties, thermal and electrical conductivity. The exceptionally high strength-to-weight ratio of nanocomposites makes them suitable for manufacturing micro-features. Among different micro-manufacturing techniques, mechanical micromachining is believed to be a potential adaption in manufacturing nanocomposites in terms of machined surface quality, dimensional accuracy and feasibility for a wide range of workpiece materials. However, mechanical micromachining of nanocomposites is deemed to be a complicated process due to the anisotropic, heterogeneous structure and advanced mechanical properties (i.e. high stiffness, strength, hardness) of these materials associated with the size effects in micromachining . This leads to lower machinability in terms of high cutting force, machined surface roughness and tool wear.

Dr Islam Shyha is the Director of postgraduate research in Faculty of Engineering and Environment and Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering with interdisciplinary research experience in advanced manufacturing technology and composite materials. Dr Shyha is also the leader of Advanced Manufacturing Technology Research Group at Northumbria University. He has a nationally and internationally excellent record of high quality research outputs and an excellent record of teaching in several higher education institutions together with an outstanding business engagement and knowledge transfer. He has been working as an academic and researcher in the higher education sector for the last 18 years. He supervised (or is supervising) more than 15 PhD and MSc students. Since he was graduated in 2000, he worked in Alexandria University (Egypt), Birmingham University, Rolls Royce and Northumbria University (UK). He also has several honorary positions at Newcastle University (UK) and Vietnamese German University (Vietnam). Dr Shyha is a member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) and a fellow of Higher Education Academy (HEA). His work is supported by Innovate UK, The British Council and industry. Dr Shyha is also an active researcher with high national and international impacts and has authored/co-authored more than 100 articles in peer-reviewed highly ranked journals and conference proceedings with an h-index of 17, editing a book on machining of composite materials and a patent on a novel composite machining tool.