Nicholas Watson

Nik is a Chartered Engineer with a MEng in Mechanical Engineering (University of Hull, 2006) and PhD in Chemical Engineering (University of Leeds, 2010). Nik Joined the University of Nottingham in 2014 and is an Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering. Since joining the University of Nottingham Nik has published over 30 journal articles and led projects funded by Innovate UK, EPSRC, STFC and the Royal Academy of Engineering.

Nik's research is focused on data-driven in-process sensing to deliver sustainable, safe and productive food manufacturing systems. Data-driven sensing combines cost-effective in-process sensors (e.g. optical and ultrasonic) with machine learning techniques and overcomes many of the challenges associated with utilising sensors to produce actionable information within manufacturing environments. Current areas of research include multi-sensor data fusion and emerging machine learning techniques such as transfer and distributed learning. Nik is an active member of the UK's Digital Manufacturing research community and currently a Co-Investigator on the EPSRC's Digital Manufacturing Network: Connected Everything.