Research Team

Davide Filingeri, PhD

Principal Investigator

Professor in Human Thermal Physiology
University of Southampton

I research how human skin senses temperature and wetness, how this influences our body temperature regulation and thermal behavior, and how this integrated system is impaired by neurodegeneration in the form of Multiple Sclerosis.

Following on my doctorate, I received an Endeavour Research Fellowship to investigate thermoregulation in multiple sclerosis at the University of Sydney (awarded by the Australian Government). I then held a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of California at Berkeley, where I researched patterns of skin thermosensing across the body in healthy individuals (funded by the US Dept. of Energy).

In October 2016, I was recruited to a research-intensive Vice Chancellor’s Lectureship by Loughborough University, where I set up the THERMOSENSELAB. In March 2021, I joined the University of Southampton’ Skin Sensing Research Group as an Associate Professor, and I was subsequently promoted to Full Professor in August 2025.

At Southampton, I continue to investigate how the skin, this marvellous organ that wrap us all, detects and reacts to the thermal challenges posed by our surrounding environments.

Ralph Gordon, PhD

Lecturer
University of Southampton

Dr Ralph Gordon is a Lecturer in Skin Sensing Research in the School of Health Sciences, at the University of Southampton. After completing a BSc (Cardiff Metropolitan University, UK) and MSc (University of Roehampton, UK), Ralph obtained his PhD in thermal and neuromuscular physiology (University of Roehampton, UK).
Following his doctorate Ralph held academic lecturing positions at the University of Bedfordshire and Anglia Ruskin University. He then joined the Skin Sensing Research Group to undertake a postdoctoral research fellowship at the University of Southampton, in September 2023.
Ralph is an active researcher within the fields of thermal physiology, neuromuscular function and thermomechanical interactions at the skin interface. Ralph’s research aims to investigate complex physiological interactions within these fields on the human body, with application to healthy and clinical populations.

Charlotte Stevens, PhD

Nuno Koch Esteves, PhD

Postdoctoral research fellow
University of Southampton

Dr Charlotte Stevens is a Research Fellow in the School of Health Sciences at the University of Southampton. Charlotte completed a BSc in Medical Sciences (University of Leeds) and an MSc in Human and Applied Physiology (King’s College London) before completing her PhD entitled ‘The Development and Evaluation of a Novel 2-day Condensed Heat Acclimation Program’ at the University of Portsmouth. Following her doctorate, Charlotte worked as a Research Associate within the Occupational Performance Research Group at the University of Chichester until joining the Skin Sensing Research group at Southampton. She is currently working on a Medical Research Council funded project titled: “Temperature Modulation Of Skin Tolerance To Applied Mechanical Loading And Shear”.

Research Interests: Extreme environment physiology; thermal physiology; exercise physiology; heat acclimation/acclimatisation; skin cooling.

Dr Nuno Koch Esteves is a Research Fellow in the School of Health Sciences at the University of Southampton. Nuno has a BSc (hons) and MSc in Sport, Health and Exercise Science from Brunel University London, where he recently also completed a PhD investigating the haemodynamic responses to local heat stress and exercise in young and elderly humans. He is passionate about cardiovascular, exercise and thermal physiology. He is currently working on a NERC funded project titled: “Co-developed Environmental Solutions to Mitigate the Impact of Temperature Extremes on the Health of Vulnerable Populations”.
In addition to his research studies, Nuno has held numerous significant roles including Unit Leader for Research & Enquiry and Research Design & Statistics Lecturer at the University College of Osteopathy. Aside from academia, Nuno is a former Portuguese National Champion in fencing and is currently coaching the junior athletes at Camden Fencing Club, many of which have won national titles and international team selection.

Hannah Blount, MSc

PhD Researcher
University of Southampton

I completed a BSc in Sport and Exercise Science at the University of Leeds (Dissertation: The effects of Nike Vaporfly shoes on the mechanics of natural foot springs and running economy in male and female runners) and an MSc in Human and Applied Physiology at King’s College London (Dissertation: The physiology and biomechanics of ambulation in partial gravity with the use of a simulated microgravity horizontal suspension system).

I joined the ThermosenseLab in September 2022, to conducted a PhD )funded by Nike and EPSRC) that will investigates female thermoregulation across the lifespan with applications to new sportswear for females.

Jade Ward, MSc

PhD Researcher
University of Southampton

I completed my undergraduate in Sports Science and MSc in Applied Sport and Excise Physiology at St Mary’s University, Twickenham. After completing my MSc, I joined the English Institute of Sport for over 4 years as a physiology laboratory technician. During my time at the Institute, I had a role as a rehab scientist working in the Intensive Rehabilitation Unit, supporting athletes' return to training and competition after injury, and as a Physiologist with GB Hockey, delivering the heat acclimation project for both the male and female senior squad and staff members leading up to Tokyo Olympic Games.

I joined the ThermosenseLab in September 2022 to conduct a PhD (funded by Procter & Gamble) that will investigate the physiological and perceptual mechanisms of sweat-induced skin wetness sensing at the underarm with appplications to anti-perspirant deodorants.

Chenyu Fan, MSc

PhD Researcher
University of Southampton

I completed a BSc in Clothing Design and Engineering at Soochow University and an MSc in Clothing Comfort and Function at Donghua University. My previous topic focus on skin comfort in relation to textiles, specifically wetness perception in dynamic touch (dissertation: Fabric Wetness Perception Signal Collection and Feature Analysis) and airflow comfort in ventilation garments.

I joined the ThermosenseLab in September 2024 to conduct a PhD funded by China Scholarship Council that will explore the fundamentally common mechanism and models of wetness perception in skin interactions with the external world, integrating with various materials (solid, textile, liquid, microclimate, etc. and hybrid conditions).

Aislin Fields, MSc

PhD Researcher
University of Southampton

Aislin Fields is a PhD Researcher in the School of Health Sciences at the University of Southampton. She completed a BSc in Human Biology at Queen’s University of Belfast (Dissertation: Mediators of systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD): systematic review and meta-analyses). Following this she completed an MSc in Sport and Exercise Science with Physiology (Dissertation: Durability in Marathon runners: Investigating the impact of fatigue over an extended exercise bout on plasma IL-6 and other physiological variables in trained runners) at Cardiff Metropolitan University.

During her MSc, Aislin interned as a support physiologist with Welsh Athletics, predominantly working with endurance runners and race-walkers. Following her MSc Aislin worked for 5 months as a physiologist with the British Sailing Team, delivering heat acclimatisation, physiological profiling and programming in the lead up to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Aislin joined THERMOSENSELAB at the University of Southampton in Sept 2024 to conduct a PhD funded by the institute for Life Sciences and lululemon atl. that will investigate individual differences in behavioural thermoregulation.

Lab alumni

Dr Callie Merrick (PhD researcher) [Wetness perception in absorbent products] - Loughborough University
Dr Kate Christogianni (PhD researcher) [Thermoregulation in Multiple Scleroris] - Loughborough University
Alessandro Valenza (Visiting PhD researcher) [Sex differences in wetness perception and thermal behaviour] - University of Palermo    Flavia Figlioli (Visiting PhD researcher) [Effects of menstrual cycle on somatosensation] - University of Palermo
Dr Kaltrina Feka (Visiting PhD researcher) [Sensorimotor role of wetness sensing] - University of Palermo
Oliver Typolt (MSc student) [TRPM8 channels and wetness sensing] - Loughborough University
Bijou Bukhori, Adam Jones, Harry Mounter (MSc students) [Ethnic differences in regional skin properties in females ]- University of Southampton
Thomas McCartney, Aidan Wooldrige, Daniel Clarke, Kiara Patel (BSc students) [Ethnic differences in regional skin properties in males]- University of Southampton
Riley Wootten (BSc student) [Wetness sensing in children] - University of Southampton
Jasmin Dearden (BSc student) [Wetness sensing in older women]- University of Southampton
Charlie Wildgoose (BSc student) [Wetness sensing in older men] - Loughborough University
Jasmine O'Garro (BSc student) [Thermal sensitivity in Multiple Sclerosis] - Loughborough University
Chris Dennis (BSc student) [Warm droplet skin sensing] - Loughborough University
Helena Cowley (BSc student) [Thermoregulation and babywearing] - Loughborough University
Iona Davis (BSc student) [Upper limb thermosensing for neuroprostetics development] - Loughborough University
James Hilton (BSc student) [Upper limb mechanosensing for neuroprostetics development] - Loughborough University
Ella Ross-Jewell (BSc student) [Passive heating effects on thermosensing] - Loughborough University
Harry Charlier (BSc student) [The interaction of thermal stress and mental fatigue on manual dexterity] - Loughborough University