CV
Education
- PhD, Modelling of Heterogeneous Systems, University of Warwick, 2023
- Thesis title: “Atomic Arrangements in Multicomponent Alloys: First-Principles Theory, Atomistic Modelling, and Implications for Magnetic Properties”. Full thesis available on WRAP: https://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/183055/.
- Supervisor: Prof. Julie B. Staunton (University of Warwick).
- Examiners: Prof. James R. Kermode (University of Warwick), Prof. Stephen B. Dugdale (University of Bristol).
- Studentship within the EPSRC funded Centre for Doctoral Training in Modelling of Heterogeneous Systems (HetSys).
- PGDip, Modelling of Heterogeneous Systems, University of Warwick, 2021
- Including modules covering scientific software development, predictive modelling, uncertainty quantification, and machine learning. Additional courses on fluid dynamics, solid mechanics, density functional theory, and molecular dynamics.
- BSc MMathPhys (Hons), Mathematics and Physics, University of Warwick, 2019
- Broad selection of optional modules taken from across both Mathematics and Physics departments, with a particular focus on condensed matter physics and scientific computing.
- Final Year Project: “Antiferromagnetic Modulations in Dipolar Ferromagnets”, supervised by Dr Nicholas d’Ambrumenil (University of Warwick).
Technical Skills
- Programming languages
- Fortran, C, C++, Python, Unix shell scripting, LaTeX.
- Parallel Programming
- Proficient with both shared and distributed memory parallelism: OpenMP, MPI. Experience with CUDA for GPU acceleration.
- Applications
- Microsoft Office, Mathematica, Vi/Vim, GNU Make, git (including use of GitHub).
- Codes
Experience
- October 2023 - Present: Research Fellow, University of Warwick
- Based in the group of Prof. Julie B. Staunton.
- Employed on a joint UK-US research project funded by the EPSRC (UK) and the NSF and DOE (US). The project is focussed on the design, synthesis, and manufacture of novel rare-earth-lean and rare-earth-free permanent magnets.
- I use DFT calculations, a linear-response theory, and atomistic modelling to understand the phase behaviour of these complex, magnetic alloy systems. There is close collaboration with theoretical colleagues at the University of Oxford (UK) and with experimental colleagues at Northeastern University and the University of Delaware (US).
- October 2019 - September 2023: PhD Student, University of Warwick
- Supervisor: Prof. Julie B. Staunton (University of Warwick).
- Project Title: “Physics of magnets and the arrangements of atoms comprising them
- In this project, a first principles computational modelling technique for studying atomic arrangements in multicomponent alloys has been developed. Integrated within the same framework, we are able to go on to examine the effects of these atomic arrangements on a material’s magnetic properties. The approach is being used to study next-generation, novel materials for a range of applications. Systems studied include Galfenol (an Fe-Ga alloy used in sensor and actuator applications), and two families of high-entropy alloys which are of interest for engineering applications including in fusion reactors. The project has now moved on to study the Fe-Ni system and potential additives, working with the experimental group of Prof. Laura H. Lewis at Northeastern University (Boston, USA) with the aim of searching for candidate materials to be used as rare-earth-free permanent magnets.
- October 2018 - July 2019: Final-Year Project Student, University of Warwick
- Supervisor: Dr Nicholas d’Ambrumenil (University of Warwick)
- Project title: “Antiferromagnetic Modulations in Dipolar Ferromagnets”
- This project studied the high-field, low temperature, ferromagnetic phase of Gadolinium Gallium Garnet, a geometrically frustrated antiferromagnet. A number of aspects of the system were studied, and a measure of the modulation of the ferromagnetic state as a function of external field was delivered. The work was a combination of analytics and numerics, initially in Mathematica but also later in C for efficiency.
- Summer 2017: URSS Student, University of Warwick
- Supervisor: Dr Michal Kreps (University of Warwick, CERN).
- Project Title: “Feasibility of Measurement of $\Xi_b$ Polarisation at the LHCb Experiment”.
- This project was part of a feasibility study for the measurement of the “production polarisation” of a particular particle decay chain. The angular distribution for the particle decay chain was derived - working largely in Mathematica. Some existing C++ code was adapted to run simulations and determine the accuracy with which physical parameters could be measured.
Professional Memberships
- Member, Institute of Physics (UK)
Publications
For information on my publications, please see the publications page of this site.
Peer Review
I have reviewed articles for a range of international physics and materials science journals, including the Journal of Applied Physics, npj Computational Materials, and Acta Materialia.
Conference Presentations
For information on my conference presentations, please see the talks page of this site.
Teaching
For information on my teaching experience, please see the teaching page of this site.
Prizes, Awards, and Funding
- Winton Thesis Prize in Physics.
- Awarded annually by the Department of Physics at the University of Warwick for an outstanding PhD thesis examined in the previous calendar year.
- May 2023.
- PhD studentship within the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Modelling of Heterogeneous Systems (HetSys) at the University of Warwick.
- “Physics of magnets and the arrangements of atoms comprising them” - EPSRC Grant number: 2229181
- October 2019 - September 2023.
- Approximately £120,000.
- Warwick Undergraduate Research Summer Scheme (URSS) bursary.
- “Feasibility of Measurement of $\Xi_b$ Polarisation at the LHCb Experiment”.
- July 2017 - August 2017.
- £1600.
Hobbies and Interests
For information on my hobbies and interests, please see the hobbies page of this site.