Dr Lewis Owen

PhD

School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering

Lecturer in Metallurgy Characterisation

Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellow

X-ray Laboratory Lead

Outreach Lead

Seminar Lead

Dr Lewis Owen
Profile picture of Dr Lewis Owen
lewis.owen@sheffield.ac.uk

Full contact details

Dr Lewis Owen
School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering
Sir Robert Hadfield Building
Mappin Street
91直播
S1 3JD
Profile

I completed my undergraduate studies in Natural Sciences (focussing on Chemistry) at the University of Cambridge. Subsequently, I carried out my doctoral studies joint between the University of Cambridge and ISIS Neutron and Muon Source. In 2018, I began a research fellowship at Gonville and Caius College. In 2021, I moved to the University of 91直播 as a Lecturer in Metallurgy Characterisation and Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellow.

In addition to my research I am the academic lead of the X-ray laboratory. I work closely with the UK national research facilities (ISIS and Diamond) and sit on review panels at both. I am also incredibly involved with outreach, and have recently started a podcast - Materials Unlocked.

My research focuses on the use of total scattering techniques for the study of local effects in alloy systems. Total scattering is a method where both the diffuse and Bragg scattering are considered simultaneously. This provides insight into the local effects occurring in alloys beyond the average structure that is obtainable from the Bragg data alone.

Using a combination of X-ray and Neutron scattering, we are able to probe the short-range order in metallic compounds, understanding the material on the atomic scale. A combination of small (PDFGui) and large box modelling (RMCProfile) modelling techniques are used to interpret the data.

Of particular interest are the distortions in the local structure, and variations in order that occur prior to phase transitions in the system. The knowledge of the local structure is of key importance to the structure-property relationships of the material. The systems under study range from simple binary alloys, to industrially relevant systems (e.g. Nickel superalloys) and novel materials (e.g. High-entropy alloys) for radiation damage tolerance.

Qualifications

2021 - Present 鈥 Lecturer in Metallurgy and Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellow

2018 - 2021    Research Fellow, Gonville and Caius College, University of Cambridge

2017 - 2018    PDRA in the Rolls-Royce UTC, Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, University of Cambridge

2013 - 2017    PhD in Materials Science and Metallurgy University of Cambridge / ISIS Neutron and Muon Source 鈥 鈥淭he analysis of local structural effects in alloys using total scattering and reverse Monte-Carlo Techniques鈥
Prize awarded for research by the Cambridge Society for the application of research (CSAR)
Malvern PANalytical Thesis Prize for Physical Crystallography (British Crystallographic Association)

2009 - 2013 - MSc/BA University of Cambridge 鈥 Natural Science Tripos (Chemistry)
Departmental prize 鈥 Norrish Prize for Distinction in Physical Chemistry
College Exhibition, Bachelor and Foundation Scholarship at Queens鈥 College

Research interests

My work focuses on the development of new methods and techniques for the characterisation of materials. In particular, I am interested in using advanced X-ray and Neutron scattering to understand local structure (effects on the atomic scale) within a material. Primarily I focus on metallurgical systems, from simple binary alloys to compositionally complex materials; however, I am also interested in any system where these methods can be applied (including functional materials and glasses). Beyond local structure, I also work on more standard diffraction characterisation, with a particular interest on performing in-situ experiments at UK central facilities.

Key research interests:

  • Local structure
  • Characterisation
  • Compositionally complex materials
  • X-ray and Neutron diffraction
  • Crystallography
  • In-situ characterisation
Publications

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Teaching interests

Crystallography, Diffraction, Characterisation, Materials Chemistry

Teaching activities
  • MAT2350 - Artefacts Project
  • MAT360 - Mini Guided Project
  • Applied Diffraction refinement Course
Professional activities and memberships
  • Chair - Physical Crystallography Group (PCG) of the British Crystallographic Association and Structural Condensed Matter Physics Group (SCMP) of the Institute of Physics (IOP)
  • Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
  • Fellow of the British Crystallographic Association