Cohort One
Mercedes Baxter Chinery
Imperial College London
PhD: The Durability of Magnesium Silicate Hydrate Based Cements made From Brucite
Magnesium Silicate Hydrate Cement is a recently developed cement, which hardens when MgO reacts with a soluble silica source and water. The fuel ponds at Sellafield contain a brucite rich sludge, which could potentially be used to replace the magnesium component of encapsulating cements, leading to a significant volume reduction of waste. The focus of the research being conducted is determining the feasibility of using the sludge in cement and testing the durability and mechanical properties.
What hobbies do you have?
I spend a lot of time doing sport - I play cricket, tennis and have also recently started archery.
Where is your favourite place to be?
I love being in Cornwall - whether I am paddleboarding on the sea, doing a coastal walk, visiting the lovely gardens or enjoying the local food!
What is your favourite board game/ card game?
I love LINKEE, but I get very competitive…
Dominic Brennan
University of Cambridge
PhD: Researching use of Multi-Objective Optimisation Methods for the Improvement of MOX Fuels in LWRs
This project hopes to integrate optimisation capabilities with reactor physics and thermal hydraulics, with the aims of: demonstrating the effectiveness and utility of multi-objective optimisation for reactor fuel and core design; and developing UK capabilities in design of nuclear reactor fuel and nuclear reactor cores.
What hobbies do you have?
I am an avid tennis player and rower for my college. I entertain myself by playing piano and deafen myself by learning violin
What fictional character do you wish you could meet?
Gandalf
What did you want to be when you were younger?
A scientist of some type, although I envisioned white coats of some sort.
Tristan Calvet
Imperial College London
PhD: Experimental and Numerical Analysis of Creep-Fatigue Crack Growth in W-9Cr Steels Brazed Joints
Tungsten and reduced activation ferritic/martensitic steels are the main structural materials considered for the in-vessel plasma facing components of the DEMO fusion reactor. Brazing is the promising technique to join steel to tungsten. However due to the different thermal expansion of the material, the brazing process and the extreme heat fluxes on the in-vessel components will generate defects and significant stresses in the brazed joint region. The aim of this PhD is to study the creep fatigue crack growth in this region to improve the structural integrity assessment of fusion power plants.
What did you want to be when you were younger?
From a bacteria to an astronaut. I am pretty sure I will end up somewhere in the middle! All good then!
If you could time travel, where would you go?
1960-70s as a time of freedom without care of the limits!
Why did you want to do a PhD?
It’s still not simple to decide my favourite career path but research institutions related to energy have always interested me and with a PhD you gain easier access to those without closing doors for academia.
Aaron Chote
Imperial College London
PhD: ZrO2 Corrosion Layers and their Grain Boundary Networks
Zircaloy-4 (Z4) is the principal alloy used in fuel cladding in the nuclear industry. Zirconium has a high affinity for oxygen at high temperatures and consequently instantaneous oxidation at the surface of zirconium creates an oxide layer. The oxide growth process occurs in three stages and changes the properties of the layer. The ZrO2 oxide layer consists of two polymorphs (monoclinic and tetragonal) that exist in differing amounts dependent on the transition regime. The aim of the PhD is to characterise the various microstructures and determine their effects on the grain boundary networks observed in the oxide layer using multiple meso-to-nanoscale analytical techniques.
What hobbies do you have?
I am big fan of all aspects of theatre from direction to acting to lighting to watching. I was recently selected to be a director for ACT II, a London-based theatre festival, and NSDF, a national theatre festival celebrating all things to do with student-based theatre.
I also love football and I am avid Wolverhampton Wanderers fan!
If you could visit one place on earth where would you go?
I have always wanted to go to San Francisco. However, I am currently saving up for a trip so that dream may come true soon!
What did you want to be when you were younger?
I’ve wanted to nearly do every job under the sun! When I was between 7-10, the dream was to be an actor. Between 11-14 it was a politician. 14-16 was an actuary, and at 17 I had a fleeting romance with being a doctor before settling on chemistry and wherever a degree there would take me.
Jamie Davidson
Imperial College London
PhD: Development of W-B Composites for Fusion Reactor Neutron Shielding
The proximity of the toroidal field coils to the plasma in the spherical tokamak design creates an issue with neutron radiation. Most conventional shielding materials are unable to provide adequate protection to the magnets providing the toroidal confinement, leading to increased degradation and heat deposition, reducing lifetime and performance. Studies have shown that tungsten borides are able to provide high levels of neutron shielding due to the high scattering cross section of the tungsten and the high neutron capture cross section of boron. The manufacturability of tungsten borides is limited, however development of W-WB composites may improve mechanical performance.
Why did you want to do a PhD?
Being able to manage my own time and work on the things I want to work on. Also to force all my family and friends to call me Dr Davidson
Where is your favourite place to be?
A pub in the Mumbles, just outside Swansea, called the Park Inn. It’s basically just a converted living room of a house but its one of the best pubs I’ve ever been too.
Would you rather have invisibility or flight, why?
Flight, entirely because I am always running late, and I hate the tube
Todd Freeman
University of Cambridge
PhD: Influence of microstructure on hydrogen diffusion in steels
Hydrogen embrittlement was first characterised as a phenomenon in steels almost 150 years ago, but to this day it remains poorly understood. Modern techniques for its prevention rely upon expensive and lengthy heat treatments, with parameters derived purely from rules of thumb. My PhD hopes to model this process, such that the parameters can be optimised, and therefore allow for more cost-effective manufacture of at-risk components. In particular this relates to the reactor pressure vessel of which the heat treatment costs are extremely high.
What fictional character do you wish you could meet?
Mongo from Shrek 2
If you could rename yourself, what name would you pick and why?
X Ӕ A-Xii, Toddy McToddface, or Superman IV – The Quest for Peace
Would you rather have invisibility or flight, why?
If my fanatical late-night reading sprees of H.G. Wells have taught me anything, which I’m really not sure they have, it’s that invisibility is a curse.
Edmund Jones
Imperial College London
PhD: Analysis and Interpretation of Creep-Fatigue Crack Growth Behaviour
Analysing the non-destructive testing techniques used during creep crack growth and creep fatigue crack growth testing. With an aim of improving the accuracy and reliability of these measurement techniques and maybe even implement an in situ measurement system!
What Hobbies do you have?
I play and follow far too many sports but cycling and triathlon take up much of my time. I don’t spend enough time on my photography and musical pursuits
Where is your favourite place to be?
London is my favourite place, it feels like home now and there is so much to do
Would you rather have invisibility or flight, why?
Flight to be able to travel the world!
James Hargreaves
University of Bristol
PhD: The Effects of Fusion Plasma excursions on the Microstructure of Eurofer 97 Steel
The reliable confinement of 150,000,000 °C fusion plasmas is a prerequisite of fusion energy - a safe, low-carbon and sustainable source of electricity. My PhD explores the effects of plasma excursions on the advanced reduced-activation steel Eurofer 97, which will be used to construct the next generation of fusion devices. Excursions occur when the hot plasma becomes unstable and catastrophically crashes into the wall of the reactor, exerting high transient thermal loads on tokamak structural components. These may raise the temperature of Eurofer 97 components beyond their design limits, leading to the degradation of Eurofer 97’s mechanical, chemical and thermal properties. To explore this problem, I am using a combination of computer simulation (thermal FEA) in Comsol Multiphysics and experimental work using high-powered lasers to reproduce the effects of these high transient thermal loads in the laboratory.
What hobbies do you have?
I enjoy vegan cookery, triathlon, watching and reviewing weird short films and playing video games.
If you could visit one place on Earth where would you go?
ITER - the International Thermonuclear Reactor. It is the biggest international fusion experiment in the world and it’s presently under construction in the south of France. I would love to be there when they finally turn it on!
If you could chose two famous people (dead or alive) to have dinner with, who would you chose?
Empress Catherine the Great and Diana Ross
Josh Langcaster
Imperial College London
PhD: Fast Efficient Microstructural Modelling of Delayed Hydride Cracking in Nuclear Fuel Cladding
Delayed Hydride Cracking in Zr Fuel Cladding is a failure mode of significant interest in the nuclear industry. Current modelling incorporates limited information on grain structure and including this in the simulation is computationally expensive. My research is focused on using Machine Learning to approximate these simulations so many can be run for statistical models of the cracking.
What hobbies do you have?
I play Goalie for the Imperial Devils Ice Hockey Club and played for the Cambridge Huskies during my undergrad.
Why did you want to do a PhD?
I really enjoyed doing my Masters research project and I want to go into research as a career. Also it let me continue playing Ice Hockey in university leagues. Also putting Dr on all my forms will feel pretty good.
If you could choose two famous people (dead or alive) to have dinner with, who would you chose and why?
Mac DeMarco and Thundercat
Tan Zi Liang
University of Cambridge
PhD: Predictive Modelling of Nuclear Reactor Systems
The true values of system parameters are never perfectly known. Uncertainties in system parameters are propagated onto subsequent calculations. On the other hand, measurement is also never a perfect process. Hence, calculated and measured system responses never capture true values, but must be interpreted together for optimal estimates of the system’s state. The project investigates the application of a new methodology for data assimilation to nuclear problems for source and parameter estimation.
Where is your favourite place to be?
Asleep in my warm, comfy bed
What is the one food you can never bring yourself to eat?
Kimchi, never got the hang of it :(
Would you rather have invisibility or flight, why?
Flight, and then I’ll never be late again
Fabio Martini
Bangor University
PhD: Design and Manufacture of Enhanced Composite Nuclear Fuels
Uranium dioxide is the most used fuel material in commercial nuclear reactors around the world. While its thermal, mechanical and chemical stability are exceptional, its thermal conductivity and its uranium density – both of which positively affect the in-reactor performance of a nuclear fuel – are not as high as those of certain other uranium compounds. The aim of this project is to develop novel preparation routes for the aforementioned compounds and to combine them with uranium dioxide, so as to obtain composite fuel materials that offer enhanced performance in power generation.
What hobbies do you have?
I love cooking, reading science fiction and training with weights.
What did you want to be when you were younger?
The classics: astronaut, firefighter, engineer, scientist – anything that involved the use of enough fascinating machinery. I guess my seven-year-old self would not be disappointed to know that I’m working with uranium.
What is your favourite board game / card game?
Axis&Allies and Terraforming Mars for board games, the timeless Italian classic briscola (best in its five-player version) for card games.
Chris Morris
Imperial College London
PhD: Characterising the Creep Crack Growth Behaviour in Austenitic Steel Welds
The fleet of Advanced Gas Reactors (AGR) used in the UK run at high temperatures, up to 550°C. At these temperatures, a process known as creep occurs where metallic components, weakened due to the high temperatures, will slowly deform under a constant stress.
Welded components are of particular interest as they have a reduced toughness and residual stresses present. Therefore, better understanding how the creep process occurs in welds will allow for the safe continued operation of the AGR reactors.
What hobbies do you have?
I have taken up the art of zen rock balancing! Give it a google search, it’s a wonderful way of clearing the mind.
Where is you favourite place to be?
The beach! And or Dartmoor, though at first glance these may both seem very different – they are both very tranquil in their own ways.
What is your favourite genre of music?
Lounge, picture the soundtrack to a sunset – Relaxing, smooth and Balearic.
Kene Nwebgu
Imperial College London
PhD: Fluid Flow Solver for Nuclear Reactors using Automatic Code Generation
Thermal hydraulic analysis of nuclear reactor systems is performed using system codes, sub-channel codes and CFD codes to model the safety margins at different scales. However, automatic code generation could have an impact on modelling done at all three scales. In this project, a fluid flow solver will be developed for thermal hydraulic analysis in Devito - a domain specific language and automatic code-generation framework for finite difference equations. Validating this solver and will be done continuously throughout the project using benchmarks of thermal hydraulic analyses.
What hobbies do you have?
I actively follow a lot of sport and most often play tennis, table-tennis or football.
Why did you want to do a PhD?
I enjoyed the computational modelling involved in my undergraduate degree and wanted to pursue this field further. This PhD project aligns with this interest and my desire to learn about nuclear engineering.
Megan Owen
Bangor University
PhD: The Role of Alloying Elements on Grain Boundary Structure
Zirconium alloys are used within the nuclear industry as cladding for fuel pellets. Throughout its operational lifetime, the cladding is exposed to water enriched environments enhancing corrosion. Mechanisms of corrosion in zirconium alloys are not fully understood, due to the growth of oxide layers across the metal-water interface. Grain boundaries between oxide layers could be potential routes for oxygen and hydrogen ingress, accelerating the corrosion process. My project will identify whether zirconium alloy corrosion can be accelerated along grain boundaries, and whether grain boundaries act as super-highways for oxygen and hydrogen transport.
What hobbies do you have?
My main hobbies outside of my PhD include yoga, attending the gym, and my dogs! I have 9 dogs at the moment, so that’s enough to keep me busy!
Why did you want to do a PhD?
From my third-year dissertation project, I liked being able to research independently into a subject area that interested me. Being able to do this for three years and potentially discovering new aspects of science and engineering was the main reason I chose to apply for a PhD.
What did you want to be when you were younger?
When I was younger, I wanted to be an architect! That soon ended once I realised I couldn’t really draw…
Dimitris Samaras
University of Bristol
PhD: An Investigation into Corrosion and Leaching of Carbide Fuels in a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) Setting
Uranium Carbide is one of the so-called “exotic fuels”, having been part of the early UK nuclear research programme, along with its utilisation as accelerator target in facilities like CERN. This compound is well-known among researchers for its interactions with water and oxygen. This PhD will inquire onto the interaction of carbides with these two corrodents, both being present in the groundwater, to which they will inevitably come in contact with inside the environment of a geological disposal facility setting.
What did you want to be when you were younger?
An Astronaut - exploring the unknown vastness of space, going to worlds where no-one has gone before, (potentially!) meeting new forms of sentient life!
If you could choose two famous people (dead or alive) to have dinner with, who would you choose?
Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius - both of them having been two of the greatest philosophers of all time, both proponents of Stoicism and the latter being one of the few (not more than a handful) good Roman Emperors.
Would you rather have invisibility or flight - why?
Flight, I could travel all around the world and reach places that are unreachable (it would probably not be a very wide distance range, but it would be enough)!
Cameron Sanderson
University of Bristol
PhD: Investigating the Geometrical effects of Weldments
In the process of verifying structural integrity of welds there has been a simplification when it comes to analysing the geometry. This has led to tolerances given to welded components to be quite pessimistic – using more material than they might otherwise have to. My project aims to develop a more sophisticated system of grouping and classifying of weldments such that components engineered in the future can push the boundaries as to what might be acceptable today. This will be done using techniques such as FEM, using ABAQUS, and Digital Image Correlation on bending, tensile and cyclic materials tests.
Where is your favourite place to be?
I love being in Hilly or Mountainous places – from the Cairngorms to the Alps or the Jura. Anywhere with a decent bit of elevation is bound to have stunning views and fewer people – both big wins in my book.
If you could visit one place on earth where would you go?
Chile – particularly both the Atacama and Patagonia
What is your favourite board game / card game ?
I have lots! – throughout lockdown I have had the chance to try many out on tabletop simulator, but it is hard to disrupt my top 5: (in no particular order) Settlers of Catan, Blokkus, Carcassonne, Connect 4 Advanced and Poker.
Gareth Stephens
Bangor University
PhD: Complex grain boundary behaviour in ZrO2 - Impact of coolant chemistry
Studying the complex grain boundary behaviour of zircaloy and the impact of coolant chemistry at Bangor University’s Nuclear Futures Institute, with Dr Simon Middleburgh. The project, which began in 2019, is funded by Wood Plc and the Nuclear Energy Futures EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training. The focus of Gareth’s project is to study the mechanism of zircaloy corrosion whilst subject to a lithiated water environment. Primarily, computational simulation and analysis will be adopted to gain an understanding of possible mechanisms including oxygen, hydrogen and lithium transport through the material which will then be verified by traditional experimental methods including characterisation.
If you could visit one place on Earth where would you go?
The Star Wars area in Disney World.
What fictional character do you wish you could meet?
Iron Man! Classy guy!
If you could choose two famous people (dead or alive) to have dinner with, who would you chose?
I believe Stephen Hawking was a lot of fun. So him and Freddie Mercury. Think that would be messy!
Jack Anthony Wilson
Bangor University
PhD: High Entropy Alloy Multi-Component Coating Systems for Gen IV Nuclear Fuel Cladding
Chromium-based coatings have been recently developed to increase fuel cladding corrosion resistance, wear resistance, as well as reduce H2 gas generation under accident conditions. Interdiffusion between coating and cladding produces Laves phase intermetallic ZrCr2 which is brittle in nature and promotes spallation of the coating. This project investigates the feasibility of deploying a high entropy alloy barrier between these two materials in the hope of enhancing coating performance.