Biography
Dr Sykes is a Royal Society funded postdoctoral research assistant in fluid dynamics, working with Alfonso A. Castrejón-Pita in the Fluid Dynamics Laboratory. Before moving to Oxford, he completed an undergraduate Mathematics degree (BSc, Leeds, 2016), followed by an integrated PhD and MSc at the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Fluid Dynamics at the University of Leeds in 2020. His work has been published as articles in several leading peer-reviewed journals, which have attached the attention of international popular and scientific media outlets (e.g. Popular Mechanics, FY Fluid Dynamics, Bioengineer.org). Please feel free to contact Tom to discuss any aspect of his work.
Research Interests
Tom's research focuses on various aspects of fluid dynamics, especially multiphase flows with free surfaces, specialising in droplet dynamics (coalescence, splashing, mixing, breakup, collisions, etc.), interfaces and complex fluids (colloids, surfactants). He adopts a highly-interdisciplinary approach to research, utilising a range of techniques including numerical simulations, laboratory (high-speed camera) experiments and mathematical modelling, usually in combination. Specific application areas of interest include microfluidics, inkjet and biomaterial printing, additive manufacture, aerosols (especially generation), infectious disease transmission (airborne and droplet) and environmentally-friendly crop sprays.
Examples of past and current research include:
- Internal flows in coalescing droplets (PhD thesis);
- Droplet splashing;
- Sedimentation of colloidal suspensions (MSc thesis);
- Binary droplet collisions.
Research Groups
Related Academics
Recent Publications
Drop-on-demand electrohydrodynamic printing of nematic liquid crystals
Kamal W, Li M, Sykes T, Castrejon Pita A, Elston S et al. (2024), Advanced Engineering Materials, 26(13)
BibTeX
@article{dropondemandele-2024/5,
title={Drop-on-demand electrohydrodynamic printing of nematic liquid crystals},
author={Kamal W, Li M, Sykes T, Castrejon Pita A, Elston S et al.},
journal={Advanced Engineering Materials},
volume={26},
number={2400245},
publisher={Wiley},
year = "2024"
}
Effect of surfactants on the splashing dynamics of drops impacting smooth substrates
Varghese N, Sykes TC, Quetzeri-Santiago MA, Castrejón-Pita AA & Castrejón-Pita JR (2024), Langmuir, 40(17), 8781-8790
BibTeX
@article{effectofsurfact-2024/3,
title={Effect of surfactants on the splashing dynamics of drops impacting smooth substrates},
author={Varghese N, Sykes TC, Quetzeri-Santiago MA, Castrejón-Pita AA & Castrejón-Pita JR},
journal={Langmuir},
volume={40},
pages={8781-8790},
publisher={American Chemical Society},
year = "2024"
}
Simulation of bidisperse colloidal centrifugal sedimentation using a mixture viscosity model
Chen H, Sykes T, Kivan O, Jia X, Fairweather M et al. (2023), Physics of Fluids, 35(12)
BibTeX
@article{simulationofbid-2023/12,
title={Simulation of bidisperse colloidal centrifugal sedimentation using a mixture viscosity model},
author={Chen H, Sykes T, Kivan O, Jia X, Fairweather M et al.},
journal={Physics of Fluids},
volume={35},
number={123306},
publisher={AIP Publishing},
year = "2023"
}
Simulation of bidisperse colloidal centrifugal sedimentation using a mixture viscosity model
Chen H, Sykes TC, Kivan O, Jia X, Fairweather M et al. (2023), Physics of Fluids, 35(12)
BibTeX
@article{simulationofbid-2023/12,
title={Simulation of bidisperse colloidal centrifugal sedimentation using a mixture viscosity model},
author={Chen H, Sykes TC, Kivan O, Jia X, Fairweather M et al.},
journal={Physics of Fluids},
volume={35},
year = "2023"
}
Droplet impact dynamics on shallow pools
Sykes T, Cimpeanu R, Fudge B, Castrejon-Pita JR & Castrejon Pita A (2023), Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 970
BibTeX
@article{dropletimpactdy-2023/9,
title={Droplet impact dynamics on shallow pools},
author={Sykes T, Cimpeanu R, Fudge B, Castrejon-Pita JR & Castrejon Pita A},
journal={Journal of Fluid Mechanics},
volume={970},
number={A34},
publisher={Cambridge University Press (CUP)},
year = "2023"
}
On-demand pitch tuning of printed chiral nematic liquid crystal droplets
Kamal W, Orr A, Sykes T, Castrejon-Pita A, Elston S et al. (2023), Materials Today Advances, 19
BibTeX
@article{ondemandpitchtu-2023/8,
title={On-demand pitch tuning of printed chiral nematic liquid crystal droplets },
author={Kamal W, Orr A, Sykes T, Castrejon-Pita A, Elston S et al.},
journal={Materials Today Advances},
volume={19},
number={100416},
publisher={Elsevier},
year = "2023"
}
Droplet impact dynamics on shallow pools
Sykes TC, Cimpeanu R, Fudge BD, Castrejon-Pita JR & Castrejon-Pita AA (2023), JOURNAL OF FLUID MECHANICS, 970
BibTeX
@article{dropletimpactdy-2023/,
title={Droplet impact dynamics on shallow pools},
author={Sykes TC, Cimpeanu R, Fudge BD, Castrejon-Pita JR & Castrejon-Pita AA},
journal={JOURNAL OF FLUID MECHANICS},
volume={970},
number={ARTN A34},
year = "2023"
}
Intersymbol interference for electrophoretic molecular communication in circular duct channels
Cho S, Coon J, Thomas S & Castrejon-Pita A (2022), IEEE Communications Letters, 26(10), 2307-2311
BibTeX
@article{intersymbolinte-2022/7,
title={Intersymbol interference for electrophoretic molecular communication in circular duct channels},
author={Cho S, Coon J, Thomas S & Castrejon-Pita A},
journal={IEEE Communications Letters},
volume={26},
pages={2307-2311},
publisher={IEEE},
year = "2022"
}
Droplet splashing on curved substrates
Sykes TC, Fudge BD, Quetzeri-Santiago MA, Castrejón-Pita JR & Castrejón-Pita AA (2022), Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 615, 227-235
BibTeX
@article{dropletsplashin-2022/1,
title={Droplet splashing on curved substrates},
author={Sykes TC, Fudge BD, Quetzeri-Santiago MA, Castrejón-Pita JR & Castrejón-Pita AA},
journal={Journal of Colloid and Interface Science},
volume={615},
pages={227-235},
publisher={Elsevier},
year = "2022"
}
Electrophoretic molecular communication with time-varying electric fields
Cho S, Sykes T, Coon J & Castrejon Pita A (2021), Nano Communication Networks, 31
BibTeX
@article{electrophoretic-2021/11,
title={Electrophoretic molecular communication with time-varying electric fields},
author={Cho S, Sykes T, Coon J & Castrejon Pita A},
journal={Nano Communication Networks},
volume={31},
number={100381},
publisher={Elsevier},
year = "2021"
}
