Personal Statement
My research focuses on developing the technologies and systems needed to deliver a secure, resilient and net zero energy future. While my career began in materials chemistry, specialising in nuclear and energy materials, my research now spans the entire energy system, from generation and storage through to transmission, distribution and end use. By combining expertise across engineering, materials science and energy policy, I investigate how emerging technologies can be integrated into practical, low carbon energy systems.

I joined the University of Liverpool in 2015, having previously held research positions at the University of Sheffield and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO).

My current research interests include:

- Nuclear materials development and in service behaviour, including radiation damage, transmutation and materials performance in extreme environments.
- Zero carbon energy generation technologies, including nuclear fission, fusion, hydrogen, wind and maritime energy.
- Whole energy system integration, linking energy generation with storage, distribution, demand and consumption.
- The role of policy in enabling the development, deployment and adoption of new energy technologies across electricity, heat and transport.

Alongside my research, I am committed to developing the next generation of engineers and researchers. I am the Liverpool Director of the Fusion Engineering CDT, funded by UKAEA and FOSTER, where I help train future leaders in fusion engineering. I also serve as Co-Director of the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Net Zero Maritime Energy Solutions(N0MES), supporting interdisciplinary research and training to accelerate the decarbonisation of the maritime sector.

Research Overview
Achieving a secure, affordable and net zero energy future requires more than developing individual technologies. It demands an integrated understanding of how energy is generated, stored, transported and used, together with the materials that enable these systems and the policies that support their deployment.

My research spans the complete energy landscape, combining materials science, engineering and energy systems to address the scientific and technological challenges of decarbonisation. A major focus is the development of advanced materials for nuclear energy, including both fission and fusion reactors, where understanding radiation damage, transmutation and long term material behaviour is essential to improving reactor performance, extending operational lifetimes and enabling the next generation of reactor technologies.

Alongside nuclear materials research, I investigate a broad range of zero carbon energy technologies, including hydrogen, wind and maritime energy systems. My work explores how these technologies can be integrated into resilient, low carbon energy networks, considering not only how energy is generated, but also where it is generated, how it is transported and how it can best meet future patterns of demand.

An important aspect of my research is the interaction between technology and policy. Scientific advances alone are not sufficient to achieve net zero. Policy decisions influence where energy infrastructure can be located, how rapidly new technologies are adopted and whether investment can be sustained over the timescales required for energy transition. My research therefore examines how policy frameworks shape the deployment of technologies such as offshore wind, nuclear power and hydrogen, while identifying opportunities to improve system resilience, encourage innovation and maximise societal benefit.

Through this interdisciplinary approach, my research aims to accelerate the transition to a low carbon energy system by developing the technologies, materials and evidence needed to support a sustainable, secure and economically viable energy future.