Dr Stephen Lee
Postdoctoral Researcher
Email: stephen.lee@tudublin.ie
ORCID | Google Scholar | LinkedIn
Biography
Dr Stephen Lee is a Postdoctoral Researcher at Technological University Dublin. He completed his PhD (2020-2024) in Advanced Manufacturing Technology at the University of Limerick, where his research focused on real-time digital twin and machine learning solutions for hole quality and tool condition monitoring in robotic drilling of composite materials. He holds a BSc in Aircraft Maintenance and Airworthiness Engineering from the University of Limerick/HAECO Xiamen Technical Training Centre (2015-2019).
During his doctoral studies, Stephen gained extensive experience in composite manufacturing, mechanical testing, and SEM analysis. He provided subject matter expertise on a 1.4M euro industrial robotic system, leading root cause analysis and preventive maintenance strategies. His most recent work developed a machine learning model for in-situ evaluation of drilling quality and tool condition, significantly reducing production time and improving cost efficiency in industrial settings. He has also contributed to academia through teaching and module coordination roles and has mentored MSc and BSc students in both laboratory and academic writing tasks.
Research Interests
- Digital twin technology
- Machine learning for manufacturing
- Robotic drilling and machining processes
- Composite materials and manufacturing
Selected Publications
- S.K.H. Lee, P.G. Mongan, A. Farhadi, E.P. Hinchy, N.P. O'Dowd, C.T. McCarthy, In-situ evaluation of hole quality and cutting tool condition in robotic drilling of composite materials using machine learning, Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing (2025). DOI
- S.K.H. Lee, A. Simeth, E.P. Hinchy, P. Plapper, N.P. O'Dowd, C.T. McCarthy, A vision-based hole quality assessment technique for robotic drilling of composite materials using a hybrid classification model, International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology (2023). DOI
- A. Farhadi, S.K.H. Lee, E.P. Hinchy, N.P. O'Dowd, C.T. McCarthy, The Development of a Digital Twin Framework for an Industrial Robotic Drilling Process, Sensors 22(19):7232 (2022). DOI
- A.K. Kadiyala, T. O'Shaughnessy, S. Lee, A. Portela, A. Comer, Influence of environmental conditioning on mechanical properties of carbon dry fibre preformed thermoplastic matrix composites, Composites Communications (2021). DOI
- A.K. Kadiyala, K. Devlin, S. Lee, A. Comer, Evaluation of the flexural properties and failure evolution of a hybrid composite, Composites Part A (2021). DOI
- A.K. Kadiyala, A. Portela, K. Devlin, S. Lee, A. O'Carroll, D. Jones, A. Comer, Mechanical evaluation and failure analysis of composite laminates manufactured using automated dry fibre tape placement, Composites Science and Technology (2020). DOI
Teaching and Supervision
- Module Leader, AS2312, University of Limerick (2023-2024)
- Teaching Assistant, ME4112 and ME4042 modules, University of Limerick (2020-2024)
- Mentoring and supervision of MSc/MEng and final-year project students