Thomas C. Sykes

Thomas C. Sykes

Postdoc & Lecturer

University of Oxford & Wadham College

I am a CBET/EPSRC-funded postdoctoral research assistant in fluid dynamics at the Department of Engineering Science of the University of Oxford, working with Alfonso A. Castrejón-Pita in the Fluid Dynamics Laboratory. I am concurrently a lecturer in engineering at Wadham College, Oxford, teaching undergraduate engineers mathematics, thermofluids, and computer-related electrical engineering. Previously, I completed an undergraduate Mathematics degree (BSc, Leeds, 2016) and an integrated PhD/MSc in the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training/ Leeds Institute for Fluid Dynamics (LIFD) at the University of Leeds in 2020.

My research interests lie in fluid dynamics, especially of droplets, interfaces and complex fluids. I adopt a highly-interdisciplinary and collaborative approach to research, utilising a range of techniques including numerical simulations, laboratory (usually high-speed imaging) experiments and mathematical modelling, often in combination. Specific application areas of interest include microfluidics, inkjet and biomaterial printing, additive manufacture, aerosols (especially generation), infectious disease transmission (airborne and droplet), molecular communication and environmentally-friendly crop sprays.

Please feel free to contact me about any aspect of my work.

Interests

  • Fluid dynamics.
  • Droplets (coalescence, splashing, mixing, breakup, collisions, etc.).
  • Interfaces.
  • Complex fluids (colloids, molecules, surfactants, polymers).

Education

  • PhD & MSc in Fluid Dynamics, 2020

    University of Leeds (EPSRC CDT in Fluid Dynamics)

  • BSc in Mathematics, 2016

    University of Leeds (School of Mathematics)

Recent Publications

Effect of surfactants on the splashing dynamics of drops impacting smooth substrates

We present the results of a systematic study elucidating the role that dynamic surface tension has on the spreading and splashing …

Simulation of bidisperse colloidal centrifugal sedimentation using a mixture viscosity model

Understanding the sedimentation behavior of bidisperse colloidal suspensions is critical in determining their stability and separation. …

Droplet impact dynamics on shallow pools

When a fast droplet impacts a pool of the same fluid, a thin ejecta sheet that dominates the early-time dynamics emerges within the …

Recent and Upcoming Talks

Droplet impact on liquid pools

Invited talk: LIFD 5th Birthday Celebration Event

Droplet splashing on dry and wet surfaces

Invited talk: Leibniz Institute for Polymer Research Colloquium

High-speed drop impact onto moving pools: ejecta sheets and splashing

76th Annual APS DFD Meeting (Session ZC20.1 – 12:50 Tuesday)