Rate My Professor Ekaterina Pavlovskaia

Professor Ekaterina Pavlovskaia serves as Head of the School of Engineering at the University of Aberdeen, holding a Personal Chair. A Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (CEng FIMechE), she joined the University in 2000 as a Research Fellow following her PhD in Applied Physics and Mathematics from the Institute for Problems of Mechanical Engineering, Russian Academy of Sciences (1998), and MEng in Mechanical Engineering (First class with distinction) from St. Petersburg State Polytechnical University (1996). Her career progression includes roles as Lecturer (2003-2007), Senior Lecturer (2007-2010), Reader (2010-2013), and Professor since 2013, culminating in her appointment as Head of School in October 2021. Prior to Aberdeen, she worked as a Research Fellow (SABIT Intern) at Ford Motor Company, USA (2000), Lecturer at St. Petersburg State University (1999-2000), and Junior Research Scientist at IPME RAS (1999).

Pavlovskaia's research centers on non-smooth systems, linear and nonlinear dynamics of continuous media, machines, and structures, as well as fracture mechanics, with emphasis on dynamic contact problems (stationary and non-stationary), impact, wave propagation in inhomogeneous media, crack growth, and dynamic testing of materials. Key publications include "Controlling dynamics of an SMA structure with thermomechanical couplings using time-delayed feedback control method" (Costa et al., 2026, Journal of Sound and Vibration), "Feedback control of chaos in impact oscillator with multiple time-delays" (Costa, Pavlovskaia & Wiercigroch, 2024, Chaos, Solitons & Fractals), "Switching between periodic orbits in impact oscillator by time-delayed feedback methods" (Costa et al., 2023, Physica D: Nonlinear Phenomena), "Non-smooth dynamics of Anti Stick–Slip Tool" (Osguei et al., 2023, Physica D: Nonlinear Phenomena), and "Dynamic Response Analysis of Combined Vibrations of Top Tensioned Marine Risers" (Wang et al., 2023). She has attracted substantial research funding, notably as co-investigator on ITI Energy's Resonance Enhanced Drilling projects totaling over £2.9 million (2008-2011), and principal investigator on Royal Academy of Engineering grants for offshore decommissioning collaborations. Pavlovskaia holds the position of Subject Editor for the Journal of Sound and Vibration and was appointed Director of the Global Subsea University Alliance in 2015. In recognition of her contributions, she received Hebei Province's highest award for international experts in 2025.