Dr Hugo Williams: Biography & Research

Contact details and a list of publications are available on neighbouring pages.

Biography

Hugo studied Aerospace Engineering at the University of Bristol, graduating in 2005. He remained at Bristol to undertake a PhD in self-healing composite structures in the Multifunctional Composites Group, part of the Advanced Composites Centre (ACCIS), supervised by Professor Ian Bond. This work was funded by the University of Bristol via the award of a Convocation Scholarship, with additional funding from the UK Ministry of Defence. Hugo's PhD demonstrated, for the first time, a sandwich structure designed and built with an effective self-healing system embedded.

On completion of his PhD in 2008, Hugo joined the Civil Nuclear Advanced Concept Team of a global power systems and service company. He was responsible for the initial technical and project management work required to mature ideas for new components or systems through the first stages of their 'lifecycle', in the process developing a broad understanding of nuclear reactor technology, safety systems, design and safety requirements. He also had a leading role in graduate engineer recruitment and training.

Current research

In 2010, Hugo saw a rare opportunity to fuse his experience with aerospace and nuclear technologies and moved to the Space Research Centre at Leicester to join a team initiating development of radioisotope power and thermal control systems for space applications with a number of collaborating organisations.

Radioisotope power is a key 'enabling technology' for several future space missions. Hugo's particular interests are focussed on materials characterisation and selection, thermal properties, systems integration and testing and novel mission concepts enabled by radioisotope power sources.

Memberships & professional activity

Hugo achieved Chartered Engineer status in 2010 via membership of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and is also a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

He has undertaken peer-reviews for the Journal of Intelligent Materials, Systems and Structures, Composites A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, Composites Science and Technology, Measurement, Advances in Space Research and Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers G: Journal of Aerospace Engineering