Mr
James EalesProfile page
Researcher
School Of Engineering and Built Environment
ABOUt
I am postdoctoral researcher in materials science, with specific research interests in glasses, ceramics, and their applications. This is includes commercial industrially produced materials and materials with specialised uses such as uses in the Nuclear and Space sectors.
I hold an integrated master’s degree in Physics from Nottingham Trent University, awarded in 2017. In 2018, I began a PhD at Sheffield Hallam University, funded in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy, where I researched the effects of high concentrations of iron(III) oxide on radioactive waste glasses produced at the Hanford site in the USA. In 2019, I had the opportunity to spend two months at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) as an Alternative Sponsored Fellow, gaining valuable experience in real-world research relevant to my field.
Alongside my doctoral studies, I contributed to consultancy research at SHU, working on projects that ranged from industrial decarbonisation to lab-based research supporting the development of satellite re-entry models. In 2023, I began my postdoctoral research career within the TransFIRe (Transforming Foundation Industries Research and Innovation) project, which aimed to bridge academia and foundation industries to help meet the UK’s environmental targets. I also continue to carry out consultancy work within the Mössbauer labs at SHU.
My principal research interests include materials science for the nuclear sector, particularly nuclear waste processing, and materials science applications in the space sector. I am also dedicated to supporting industrial decarbonisation in the glass and ceramics industries. As part of my commitment to the wider research field, I maintain membership with the Society of Glass Technology and regularly present at conferences. Additionally, I hold Associate Fellowship with the Higher Education Academy through my teaching contributions to engineering and physics courses.
DISCIPLINE (REF UOA)
- Engineering