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Contact

Email

k.c.johnston@dundee.ac.uk

Phone

+44 (0)1382 384500

Biography

Dr. Keith Johnston is a lecturer in Biomedical, Mechanical Engineering and is the programme lead for MSc for Healthcare and Assistive Technologies.

Keith obtained his undergraduate degree at the Mechanical Engineering department, University of Dundee in 2012. After graduation Keith went on to obtain a PhD for his research in discovering the origins of the 'cavitation subharmonic' signal and building detectors optimised to detect this signal. Keith PhD was completed at the Institute for Medical Science and Technology and Ninewells hospital.

In 2016, Keith was appointed as a lecturer and teaches in both Mechanical, Biomedical undergraduate and post-graduate programs. Keith’s main teaching subjects include: Medical Ultrasound Systems, Engineering materials, Computer Aided Design, Mechanics of Machines, Biomechanics & Biomaterials and Bioinstrumentation. Currently, Keith supervises both Honours year Mechanical, Biomedical Engineering students and MSc Biomedical Engineering students on a range of projects related to his current research interests.

Keith's role within the school is Partnerships Director.

Research

Dr. Keith Johnston's PhD thesis was entitled 'The cavitation subharmonic signal: mechanistic source and optimised detection'. During his research degree, Keith developed, unique, bespoke experimental setups, which included using high-speed cameras and laser nucleation methods to study cavitation. Keith’s current research interests are focused on medical ultrasound, specifically in relation to understanding and controlling acoustic cavitation for therapeutic purposes in High Intensity Focused Ultrasound. This requires the design, fabrication of piezoelectric transducers, hydrophones for passive acoustic cavitation detection and acoustic cavitation nucleation devices.

During Keith’s PhD, he was awarded the IEEE IUS Best student paper award, best poster prize 'Cavitation – cloud manipulation in dual frequency focused ultrasound' from the National Physics Laboratory, London and best poster prize for 'Cavitation Detector Optimisation using PZFLex'.

In addition, Keith’s other research interest includes developing piezoelectric energy harvesting device for biomedical applications and ultrasonic devices to increase ion detection in mass spectrometry.

View full research profile and publications