Dr Jikai Zhang

Jikai Zhang is a Research Fellow in the School of Engineering, Physics and Mathematics at Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. He obtained his Master's degree in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Leeds in 2020 and his PhD in Physics from Northumbria University in July 2025. His doctoral research focused on flexible thin-film surface acoustic wave (SAW) technologies for enhanced transdermal drug delivery, particularly the development of wearable and wirelessly powered acoustic devices for biomedical applications.

He has extensive research experience in acoustofluidics, piezoelectric thin films, flexible acoustic wave devices, biomedical microdevices, transdermal drug delivery and wireless power transfer. His expertise includes acoustic device design and characterisation, piezoelectric thin-film deposition, microfabrication, high-speed imaging and finite element modelling. His research also covers acoustic streaming, droplet dynamics, biosensing, and acoustic wave–liquid interactions, with applications ranging from biomedical engineering to functional surfaces and advanced materials.

He has participated in several EU-funded Horizon Europe research projects, including ZEvRA, BIOntier and GIANCE, involving international collaboration with academic and industrial partners on sustainable materials, circular economy technologies and advanced materials characterisation.

His current research interests focus on advancing flexible SAW technologies and their applications in biomedical devices, acoustofluidics, droplet impact dynamics and ice protection systems. He is particularly interested in translating fundamental acoustic wave phenomena into practical, energy-efficient technologies for sustainable materials, advanced engineering and healthcare applications.