I am Associate Professor in Materials Physics within the School of Physics at the University of Bristol. I am associated with the Interface Analysis Centre research group and the Cabot Institute as part of the Materials and Devices theme. My research uses advanced microstructural characterisation techniques to characterise the structure and chemistry of materials for nuclear power plants, semiconductor devices and aerospace. In addition I supervise final year undergraduate and PhD projects, and teach courses for the MSc in Nuclear Science and Engineering and at undergraduate level in Physics.

My research aims to take a holistic approach to materials characterisation that uses a combination of experimental techniques and computer modelling to understand the mechanisms behind materials behaviour. This includes characterisation techniques such as atom probe tomography, focused ion beam, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray tomography and photoemission spectroscopy, complemented by computational work using density functional theory, CALPHAD phase chemistry modelling and finite element modelling of stresses. 

I link closely with colleagues in the Schools of Physics, Engineering, Chemistry and Earth Sciences, using my expertise in materials characterisation and modelling to aid research projects beyond my own. I have a number of PhD students in metallurgy and corrosion for nuclear fission, fusion, aerospace and renewable energy and work with many industrial partners including EDF Energy, NNL, Rolls Royce and UKAEA.