Get to know your department
Personal tutor
Your personal tutor will be your main point of contact and link to the department. They will be there to support you with both academic and personal matters, take an interest in your progress, and offer guidance on your personal development.
Your personal tutor will be in touch with you prior to your arrival through email, this will ensure that we know when you will be arriving and for us to cater to any of your needs.
If you do not receive an email from your personal tutor by the 14 September, or if you have any questions about your course in the meantime, please email Ez-FEPS@nottingham.ac.uk
In addition to your personal tutor, the department has a support network of academic staff in place to help answer your questions:
Head of Department
- Rowland Travis
I am very pleased to welcome you to the Department of Foundation Engineering Physical Sciences (FEPS). We are passionate about giving you an outstanding learning experience that will provide you with the best possible starting point for your undergraduate studies. I have spent approximately half my career in universities and half my career working in engineering industry, and today. I am the Head of Department in FEPS. My favourite thing about engineering is that we need good engineers and good engineering to resolve many of the challenges that we all face – and much of my engineering has been aimed at developing solutions to future energy demands. You will have your own passion that technology, engineering and science can help resolve.
Deputy Head
- Moe Elmaghrbi
I lecture on the Computer Methods module, where students learn coding from an engineering perspective. I also help in delivering the pastoral care support for students as well as helping create an inclusive environment for all. I think that the best thing about engineering is that it can be applied to anything in life. Once you learn how to approach problems, find and deliver solutions, that is it, you are set up for life.
Director of Education and Student Experience
- Rachel Moore
I lecture on the mechanics course, supervise various engineering projects and help deliver pastoral support. As Director of Education I look after the curriculum, timetable, and teaching and learning to help you have the best experience we can give you. My favourite thing about engineering is exploring how we can make physics work for us – building machines, designing electronics, making chemicals at scale, and building the infrastructure that helps us come together as a society.
Admissions Tutor
- Tom Westby
I teach and support on the engineering and science modules, particularly on the topic of electromagnetism. I also help to deliver pastoral support and am also the FEPS Admissions Tutor. I really love learning new ideas in physics and maths and finding surprising new ways in which they manifest themselves, in nature and in human applications. Astrophysics is a passion of mine and in addition I am very keen on music, literature and drama, creativity is a big part of Science and Engineering.
Senior Tutor
- Francesco Piga
I lead on the Professional Experimental and Academic Competencies modules. I am Senior Tutor so I oversee the tutorial provision and look after Extenuating Circumstances claims. I am also the Department’s Academic Misconduct Officer. My degrees are in chemistry and I have experience teaching chemistry and physics A levels. In this role I have learned to appreciate how engineering can be applied to looking after our environment and each other, for example making industrial processes more efficient, or building affordable housing (e.g. with 3D printing).