People

Area of Expertise

Modelling and simulation, multiphase flows, hydraulic transport.

Publications

> 221 publications.

Achievements

Wide range of collaborations with University colleagues within the UK, EU and worldwide, including: Chalmers University, Dalian University, Imperial College London, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, University College London, Xiamen University, and Universities of Cambridge, Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield and Uppsala.

Similar collaborations with industry, regulatory bodies and national research centres including: BGR, CanmetENERGY, CEA, Gexcon, Health & Safety Laboratory, ICHTJ, Ineris, MMI Engineering, National Center for Scientific Research Demokritos, Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, National Nuclear Laboratory, Ocas, Paul Scherrer Institute and Sellafield Ltd.

IChemE Frank Lees Medal (2010). £7.2M funding from: BNFL, EC, EPSRC, MoD, National Grid, NDA, NNL, TSB.

Area of Expertise

Research on porous inorganic solids for the uptake of radionuclides and characterisation of materials using synchrotron X-ray and neutron techniques.

Publications

> 100 peer reviewed publications (H-index 25).

Achievements

PI/CoIon > £5M of funded proposals, PI on 35 synchrotron X-ray and neutron facilities beamtime awards (ca. 280 days) in last 10 years. Served on beamtime allocation panels at both DLS and ISIS, including chairing a DLS panel from June 2009 to May 2011, member of 3 DLS beamline development groups and is an elected member of the Diamond User Committee.

Area of Expertise

Research on the structure, corrosion and ageing behaviour of nuclear materials.

Publications

> 30 publications.

Achievements

Directorof the Interface Analysis Centre (IAC) and academic lead for the Sellafield CoE for Uranium and Reactive Metals. Technical expert on uranium corrosion for AWE and Sellafield.

Area of Expertise

Research on understanding/control of ceramic microstructures, and impact on properties in nuclear wasteforms.

Publications

> 350 publications (H Index 36).

Achievements

Director Centre for Nuclear Engineering at Imperial College (ICL) and Deputy Chair of Government Advisory Committee on Radioactive Waste Management. PI/CoI on £47m of funded proposals, including £5.5M Centre for Advanced Structural Ceramics. IAEA technical expert on wasteform processing. IOMMM Rosenhain Medal (1999), Pfeil Award (2000), Kingery Award of ACerS, USA (2012).

Area of Expertise

Research is focussed on the physical/process chemistries of the actinides and actinide materials and how these influence their behaviour throughout the fuel cycle.

Publications

160 publications including >60 reports for the nuclear industry.

Achievements

Director of the Lloyd’s Register Foundation Centre for Nuclear Decommissioning and Energy Lancaster research institute of >40 staff. Named applicant on >£13M of funded research proposals.

Area of Expertise

Environmental radioactivity, radionuclide migration, speciation and effects of organics.

Publications

> 100 journal and conference papers and reports and acted as an expert advisor to the DTi.

Achievements

>£2M from RCUK, EU, NDA and the nuclear industry for geological disposal and environmental remediation in the UK and overseas. Has led the UK contribution to the EU projects FUNMIG, ReCOSY and SKIN. He is the Secretary of the RSC Radiochemistry Group.

Area of Expertise

Research in the field of radiation effects working closely with the UK NDA and previously the US DoE.

Publications

Co-authored 4 policy documents for the Office of Science of the US DoE. >100 peer-reviewed publications (H-index 25).

Achievements

Director of the University of Manchester’s Dalton Cumbria Research Facility. Chair of the Miller Trust for Radiation Chemistry (registered UK charity) and elected member of the Faraday Council (physical chemistry) of the Royal Society of Chemistry. Recipient of the 27th Michael Fry Radiation Research Award in 1999.

Area of Expertise

Research on relationship between composition, speciation, structure and properties of materials for radioactive waste management and disposal.

Publications

>130 publications.

Achievements

Royal Academy of Engineering/NDA Chair in Radioactive Waste Management; Director of the Immobilisation Science Laboratory, Co-Director of the EPSRC Nuclear First DTC, and IAEA Technical Expert. >£7M from EPSRC, EU, NDA and Site Licence Companies.

Area of Expertise

Research on engineering geosciences.

Publications

>35 publications

Achievements

Member of UK Nuclear Research and Development Advisory Board and Committee for Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM). PI on two EPSRC research consortia for nuclear decommissioning and disposal: £1.9M ‘Biogeochemical Applications in Nuclear Decommissioning and Disposal’ (BANDD) and £1.3M ‘Systems Approach For Engineered Barriers (SAFE Barriers)’. Geological Society’s Aberconway Medal 2011. PI > £4M of funded research from EPSRC, NERC, Total Oil, NDA, EA.

Area of Expertise

UK expert in computational quantum chemistry of f elements.

Publications

> 140 publications (H-index 31).

Achievements

Led UCL component of “DIAMOND” nuclear consortium; International Advisory Group of the EPSRC Nuclear FiRST CDT; founder member of the board of the Theoretical User Laboratory of ACTINET and ACTINET I3 (EU Framework 6 and 7 networks). 20 PhD students completed

Prof. Simon Biggs is now the  Executive Dean of Engineering, Architecture and IT at the University of Queensland in Australia. 

Prof. Michael Fairweather (University of Leeds) has replaced Simon as the programme PI and project leader.

Area of Expertise

Research on engineering science of solid-liquid systems.

Publications

>250 referred publications (H-index 41).

Achievements

Previous roles as PI on £4.2 M EPSRC funded ‘DIAMOND’ consortium and Nuclear Wastes theme leader in £6.2 M EPSRC funded ‘KNOO’ consortium. Completed 30 PhD students. PI/CoI on > £30 M of funded research proposals. RSC/SCI/IMMM Bielby Medal (2005). 2011  & 2012 IChemE Core Chemical Engineering prizes (with Sellafield) for research and technical work on nuclear waste sludge.

Area of Expertise

Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS)

Background

Worked at British Nuclear Fuels Ltd from 1995 to 1999 developing laser based methods for remote, in situ,characterisation of materials.

From 1999 to 2003, worked at Applied Photonics Ltd and developed the technique, culminating in a range of instruments capable of operating in harsh industrial environments.  Has continued to work with APL since joining the University of Leeds in 2003.

Works along with Sellafield Ltd, managing the Sludge Centre of Expertise based at Leeds and manages the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Centre for Doctoral Training.

Achievements

Managed and assisted on a large number of projects, including BNFL-Leeds University Research Alliance in Particle Technology and the EPSRC funded DIAMOND Consortium.