UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Specialist
- Specialist in Digital Image Correlation
Dr Benjamin Cameron is a specialist in digital image correlation (DIC) - a method of measuring full strain and deformation fields which extracts rich data from mechanical tests. He also has extensive experience of metallurgy and mechanics of materials.
Benjamin designs and conducts the mechanical tests and analyses the resulting data using state-of-the-art DIC equipment, which includes cameras, software and optical set-ups, in the Testing and Structures Research Laboratory (TSRL) at the University of Southampton.
Having gained a PhD in materials science at Massachusetts Institute of Technology on a Fulbright Scholarship, Benjamin completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Georgia Institute of Technology before joining the University of Southampton. His industry experience includes projects with Novelis on the development of metal testing and analysis methods, and Exelon on hydrogen embrittlement.
Job Titles:
- Head of Operations
- Member of the NC 2 Team
- Principal Consultant
Dr Ilaria Corni, Head of Operations and Principal Consultant, heads up nC 2's industrial research and also uses her expertise in materials characterisation and electrochemical deposition in the labs. A talented project manager, she has oversight of all nC 2's activities as well as managing the consultancy's marketing and finances.
Ilaria joined us in 2016 having worked as a researcher at the University of Southampton since 2009. She has a master's degree in chemistry from the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia in Italy, a PhD in materials science from Imperial College London, and is a Member of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3).
Job Titles:
- CT Specialist, Μ - VIS X - Ray Imaging Centre
Job Titles:
- Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering
- Expert in Computational Fluid Dynamics ( CFD )
Dr Lindsay-Marie Armstrong is an Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering and an expert in computational fluid dynamics (CFD). She has more than 13 years' knowledge and experience of CFD research and applications, from fundamental science through to accelerating scale-up technologies.
Job Titles:
- President - Elect of the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors
- Specialist
- XRD Specialist, Head of the Materials X - Ray Diffraction Facility
While testing and analysis can be used to understand physical failure mechanisms, human factors explores how elements of the wider system, such as work practices, equipment design and safety culture, may have contributed to an incident, helping to identify more effective mitigations to prevent recurrence.
We can also call on Mark's expertise to support clients' applied research projects, for example if they are seeking the latest human factors thinking to inform product design or for inclusion in research funding proposals.
Having studied psychology, Mark completed a PhD in human factors in 2000 and joined Brunel University, where he applied human factors principles to vehicle automation design. He later spent 11 years as an investigator at the Rail Accident Investigation Branch, as well as contributing his expertise to investigations by the equivalent air and marine investigation bodies. He joined the University of Southampton as Professor of Human Factors in Transport in 2023.
Mark is President-Elect of the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors (CIEHF), is on the editorial board of the journal Ergonomics, and has authored over 70 peer-reviewed papers and several books on human factors.
Dr Mark Light is a specialist in X-ray diffraction (XRD) with more than 25 years' experience in this field of materials characterisation. He is Head of the Materials X-ray Diffraction Facility at the University of Southampton, a world-leading centre equipped to offer a wide range of XRD techniques.
Having gained a geochemistry degree and a PhD in crystallography, Mark secured a postdoctoral position with the EPSRC National Crystallography Services at Southampton, before taking up his current role in 2005.
We collaborate with Mark on projects with an XRD element; Mark advises us on the optimal techniques, carries out measurements using the Facility's state-of-the-art instruments, and analyses the data for us to include in our client report.
Having worked on industry projects throughout his career, he's well placed to understand our clients' needs, whether they are seeking to understand a material failure or optimise its properties.
Job Titles:
- Senior Experimental Officer in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
Dr Neil Wells is a Senior Experimental Officer in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy and manages the University of Southampton's NMR Spectroscopy Facility. He has more than 20 years' experience in the use of this advanced characterisation technique, including the provision of rapid, reliable services to industry clients in fields such as pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals.
Neil uses the Facility's specialist instruments to interrogate chemical samples in order to understand their composition, 3D structure and other key structural characteristics at a molecular level. Typically used in combination with other characterisation methods, it's an invaluable technique for quality control and product development, for example to compare different batches of chemical compounds, or to establish whether a new synthesis works and the identity and purity of the resulting compounds.
If a client is not sure exactly what they need, we can call on Neil's expertise to advise how to get the most useful data; he is also skilled in sample preparation and processing and interpreting the data as needed.
Neil's academic background includes an MRes and PhD, both looking at aspects of organic synthesis and involving extensive use of NMR spectroscopy. He joined the NMR Spectroscopy Facility in 2001 and became its manager in 2009.
Job Titles:
- Associate Professor
- Nanomechanics and Nanotribology Specialist, National Centre for Advanced Tribology Southampton
Dr Richard Cook, Associate Professor within the national Centre for Advanced Tribology at Southampton (nCATS), is a specialist in nanomechanical and nanotribological testing with over 15 years' research experience in this field.
Following a degree in biomaterials and a PhD in bone biomechanics, Richard became a lecturer in dental materials at the University of Otago, New Zealand, before returning to the UK and joining nCATS in 2009. His extensive research experience includes numerous application-focused industry projects.
Richard brings his expertise to our clients' projects, using nCATS' state-of-the-art nanomechanical and nanotribological testing facilities. He can provide nanoindentation - the use of tiny probes to test the mechanical properties of material surfaces on a very fine scale - and nano scratch testing, which involves scratching a surface in a highly controlled way to provide information on properties such as coating adhesion.
Job Titles:
- Polymer Chemist, National Centre for Advanced Tribology Southampton
Dr Simon Dennington is a materials chemist with a special interest in polymers and extensive experience of polymer research in industry and academia. We call on Simon's expertise for client projects that involve physical and chemical analysis techniques such as differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and molecular weight distribution of polymers.
After completing a chemistry degree, Simon spent more than 30 years in industrial polymer research, including work on synthetic fibres, marine antifouling paints, building materials and the development of new polymer products. During this time he gained a PhD for research into the effects of polymer colloid additives on the hydration reactions of Portland cement. He also qualified as a ‘Black Belt' in Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) while working in Sweden.
In 2008 he joined the University of Southampton's national Centre for Advanced Tribology (nCATS), where he continues to apply his specialist knowledge to a range of polymer research projects.
Simon has a particular interest in reducing the environmental impact of plastic materials; much of his industry work has involved removing solvents and other harmful substances from polymer formulations.
Job Titles:
- Expert
- Friction and Wear Testing Expert, National Centre for Advanced Tribology Southampton
Dr Terry Harvey is an expert in friction and wear testing with 25 years' experience in the field of tribology, including numerous industry consultancy projects. He is a Senior Research Fellow and Facility Manager for the national Centre for Advanced Tribology at Southampton (nCATS).
We call on Terry's specialist knowledge for friction and/or wear testing projects, particularly those involving non-standard requirements. Using his in-depth knowledge of nCATS' tribometers, Terry advises us on the optimum test design to meet clients' needs, sets up the tests, including any modifications such as clamps for unusually shaped samples, and programmes the equipment.
Having worked on industry projects throughout his career, he's well placed to understand our clients' needs, whether they are seeking to understand a material failure or optimise its properties.
We may also ask Terry to join our initial client meeting for projects with a friction and/or wear testing element, helping to ensure the specifications are right from the outset.
Terry, who has an applied chemistry degree and a PhD on corrosion inhibitors, has been with the University since 1997 when he joined the Surface Engineering Group, which later became nCATS. Since 2004 he has regularly undertaken consultancy projects with companies such as Rolls-Royce, John Crane, Honeywell, McLaren, Mars Space Limited, Clyde and Co and BP.
Dr Wendell Bailey heads up the University of Southampton Cryogenic Services (UOSCS), a leading centre that draws on four decades of cryogenics research and industry engagement. Having worked at the cutting edge of cryogenics science for 20 years, Wendell has undertaken more than 200 industry consultancy projects, for clients including Shell and Siemens.
For cryogenic testing projects we involve Wendell in our initial client meetings, calling on his expertise to scope out customers' requirements and recommend the optimum test regime.
He then designs, sets up and carries out the tests, either using the UOSCS's existing instrumentation or a bespoke set-up, and processes and analyses the data.
After graduating as a mechanical engineer, Wendell joined the University of Southampton in 2002 to complete a PhD within the Institute of Cryogenics. He remained at the Institute in a postdoctoral role as a cryo researcher for the CERN Large Hadron Collider, before moving into consultancy in 2011. He became Head of the UOSCS in 2018. Alongside industry consultancy, Wendell continues to expand the cryogenics knowledge base through applied research, including ongoing work at CERN, and through Innovate UK and EPSRC projects.
Dr Spencer Court, Senior Corrosion Consultant, is nC 2's cavitation, corrosion and environmental testing expert. He joined us in 2016, bringing 15 years' experience of corrosion-related projects in the marine and oil/gas industries. He has since used his specialist knowledge to help clients across many industry sectors including defence and manufacturing.
Spencer has a degree in applied chemistry and a PhD in corrosion science, and is a professional member of the Institute of Corrosion.
A highly skilled and experienced administrator, Sue Bradbury has worked within enterprise units at the University of Southampton since 1988. She became part of the nC 2 team in 2020, bringing her super-efficient approach to the consultancy's administration.
Job Titles:
- Senior Consultant
- Senior Consultant, Joined the Team in 2021 Having Worked on Various NC 2 Projects As a Contractor since 2016
Rachel Triggs, Senior Consultant, joined the team in 2021 having worked on various nC 2 projects as a contractor since 2016.
With a chemistry degree from the University of Southampton and 15 years' experience working on corrosion control projects at the MOD, she brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her work at nC 2.
Job Titles:
- Senior Administrator Enterprise
I enjoy seeing all the exciting projects nC² and the Wolfson Unit are involved in.