Background:

Mark completed his undergraduate degree in Automotive Materials at Loughborough University in 2004 in the Department of Materials. He then went on to study for a PhD in oxidation of stainless steels with Dr Rebecca Higginson which he completed in 2008.

He went on to start his research career as a post-doctoral Research Associate at the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Sheffield studying secondary electron dopant contrast using scanning electron microscopy. During this time, he conducted pioneering research into the use of Helium microscopes (HeIM) for the examination of semiconductors in collaboration with Harvard University and Carl Zeiss.

In 2010, Mark returned to Loughborough University to start his work on powerplant materials, initially as a Research Associate with Professor Rachel Thomson, and then as a lecturer where he worked closely with industry on the development and characterisation of steels and welds used in high temperature applications such as thermal power generation.

Between 2020 and 2023, Mark was Academic Director of the LMCC where he was a Co-I for the new National Facility in Cathodoluminescence.

Recent work includes characterisation of waste to energy grate bar materials which are an interesting microstructure operating within a highly aggressive and variable environment – work here includes complex interactions between corrosive gases, chromium, wear and temperatures up to 1000°C.

Qualifications:

• BEng, Automotive Materials, Loughborough University, 2004
• PhD, Materials – Oxidation of Stainless Steels, Loughborough University, 2008

Professional affiliations:

• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
• Fellow of the Royal Microscopical Society

Outline of main research interests:

• Characterisation of steels for power generation including boiler tubes and pipework, grate bars for waste to energy systems.
• Development of techniques for analysis of secondary electron images from scanning electron microscopy.

Grants and contracts: 

• 2016 – 2019: IMPULSE – Advanced Industrial Manufacture of Next-Generation MARBN Steel for Cleaner Fossil Plant
• 2016 – 2019: IMET – Increasing manufacturing capabilities of advanced materials for high efficiency turbine components
• 2020 – 2023: IMPLANT – Advanced Materials and Manufacturing for Improved Power and Process Plant Performance

Current teaching responsibilities:

• Part B Materials Processing – MPB312
• Part C Automotive Component Design – MPC120
• Part D Group Design Project – MPD101
• Part C Project – MPC110
• Acting Admissions tutor

Current administrative responsibilities:

• Acting Admissions tutor

 View central publications database

Coghlan, L., Yan, S., Shin, A., Pearson, J., Jepson, M.A.E., Higginson, R.L. (2020) Dispersion of complex carbides at the oxidation front during the oxidation of 9Cr-1Mo steel. Corrosion Science, 165. 10.1016/j.corsci.2019.108389

Guo, J., Xu, X., Jepson, M.A.E., Thomson, R.C. (2019) Influence of weld thermal cycle and post weld heat treatment on the microstructure of MarBN steel. International Journal of Pressure Vessels and Piping, 174. 10.1016/j.ijpvp.2019.05.010

Benaarbia, A., Xu, X., Sun, W., Becker, A.A., Jepson, M.A.E. (2018) Investigation of short-term creep deformation mechanisms in MarBN steel at elevated temperatures. Materials Science and Engineering A, 734. 10.1016/j.msea.2018.06.063

Jepson, M.A.E., Rowlett, M., Higginson, R.L. (2017) The Effect of Surface Preparation on the Precipitation of Sigma During High Temperature Exposure of S32205 Duplex Stainless Steel. Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A: Physical Metallurgy and Materials Science, 48(3). 10.1007/s11661-016-3914-8

Kyaw, S., Jones, A., Jepson, M.A.E., Hyde, T., Thomson, R.C. (2017) Effects of three-dimensional coating interfaces on thermo-mechanical stresses within plasma spray thermal barrier coatings. Materials and Design, 125. 10.1016/j.matdes.2017.03.067

Kyaw, S., Jones, A., Jepson, M.A.E., Hyde, T., Thomson, R.C. (2017) Corrigendum to “Effects of three-dimensional coating interfaces on thermo-mechanical stresses within plasma spray thermal barrier coatings” [Mater. Des. 125 (2017) 189–204] (S0264127517303234) (10.1016/j.matdes.2017.03.067)). Materials and Design, 131. 10.1016/j.matdes.2017.07.015

Yao, Z., Degnan, C.C., Jepson, M.A.E., Thomson, R.C. (2016) Microstructural and Chemical Rejuvenation of a Ni-Based Superalloy. Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A: Physical Metallurgy and Materials Science, 47(12). 10.1007/s11661-016-3790-2

External Roles and appointments:

• Member of the Electron Microscopy Section of the Royal Microscopical Society

Key Awards:

• IOM³ Cook-Ablett award 2008
• EPRI best paper award, Energy Materials Conference 2016
• School of Science Teaching award for most engaging lecturer: foundation programme, May 2017

Teaching awards from the School of AACME:

• For contribution to teaching of Part C students, June 2017
• For contribution to practical work teaching, June 2016
• For contribution to teaching of Part A students, June 2015