• Functional polymers, Fibres, Fabrics and Clothing systems
• Recycling and Upcycling of used and production waste textiles
• Engineering Design Flexible 2D/3D Structures for performance and technical textiles
• 3D printing for advanced textile and clothing systems
• Micro/Nano encapsulation of chemicals for thermal management textiles and clothing
• Engineering-design textile and clothing systems for extreme conditions
• Modelling of textile materials, structures and property prediction
• Techniques and Processes for Sustainable Textiles
• Textile Finishing for added functionality and value 
• High- and low-velocity impact flexible materials and structures
• Plasma-assisted Technology for low-carbon-emission textile production processes

 Dr M.O.R.Siddiqui         Dr K.Iqbal            Dr F.Zhu,PDRA     Dr M.Chen,PDRA       

   (2013 - 2016)                (2012 - 2016)         (2012 - 2013)          (2017 - 2019)                     

Dr Yasin,Research Fellow  Dr G. Dunn            Dr S. Dearlove          Lila Maciel-Pires      

       (2018 - 2020)                (2015 - 2018)         (2015-2021)                                                                            

Dr S. Channa         Milda Lebedyte    Dr A.M.Thakker          Madiha Ahmad

 (2019 - 2024)             (2020-2022)          (2019-2022)                (2021 -   )

     Zhan Xu            Sylvia Donkor      Nimra Nawaz      Muhammad Zohaib Fazal
     (2022 -  )             (2022 -    )            (2023 -   )                  (2024 -       )

Dr Danmei Sun is an Associate Professor in Advanced Textile Materials & Engineering. She obtained a BSc degree in Textile Engineering from Qingdao University. She then worked in a large-scale textile company for 12 years as a Textile Engineer before pursuing a PhD in investigating sustainable techniques and processes for textile dyeing and finishing at Heriot-Watt University. She conducted research on various textile properties and processes affected by plasma surface modification.  Following the PhD completion, she became a Post-Doctoral Research Associate working on a three-year MOD (UK) funded project at the School of Materials, Manchester University. The research involved 2D/3D fabric development for improved impact performance and Finite Element Modelling to understand the impact mechanisms.

Since joining the School of Textiles and Design, Heriot-Watt University as an assistant professor in 2010, Dr Sun has been extensively involved in research of the development of smart/functional textile materials for thermally regulated garments, thermal analysis of textiles using the Finite Element technique and development of shock absorbing polymers for anti-ballistic application, development of active thermal clothing systems, and wearable electronics for various applications. Her research interests lie in the areas of functional fibres/filaments for smart textiles, eco-friendly printing and dyeing, anti-ballistic materials for soft body armour, understanding material properties through Finite Element Analysis, and surface modification of textile materials using plasma technology. Her research activities are supported by various funded projects from funders such as UK Dstl/MoD, Textiles Future Forum, Harris Tweed, Oil and Gas Innovation Centre, Iron and Ocean Ltd., Scottish Funding Council etc.

Dr Sun has served as an external examiner for PhD in universities both in the UK and internationally. She is a member of the EPSRC College and Fiber Society, associate editor and editor for AUTEX Research Journal and Journal of Textile Science & Fashion Technology, respectively, and editorial board member of the following journals: Journal of Industrial Textiles and Advance Research in Textile Engineering.