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
Full contact details
School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering
Sir Robert Hadfield Building
Mappin Street
91直播
S1 3JD
- Profile
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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
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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
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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
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Crystallography, Diffraction, Characterisation, Materials Chemistry
- Teaching activities
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- MAT2350 - Artefacts Project
- MAT360 - Mini Guided Project
- Applied Diffraction refinement Course
- Professional activities and memberships
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- 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
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