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.

After his PhD he worked as a 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 to take a position as a Research Associate in the Department of Materials working with Professor Rachel Thomson on steels and superalloys for power plant applications and was promoted to Lecturer in Metallurgy and Microscopy in July 2012.

• Oct 2001 – Jul 2004 – B.Eng in Automotive Materials, Loughborough University
• Oct 2004 – Apr 2008 – PhD in oxidation of stainless steels, Loughborough University
• Sep 2007 – Feb 2010 – Research Associate, The University of Sheffield
• Feb 2010 – Jul 2012 – Research Associate, Loughborough University
• Jul 2012 – Feb 2017 – Lecturer in Metallurgy and Microscopy, Loughborough University
• Feb 2017 – Present – Senior Lecturer in Metallurgy and Microscopy, Loughborough University

Qualifications:

• BEng (Hons) – Automotive Materials, Loughborough University
• PhD – Oxidation of Stainless Steels, Loughborough University

Mark's research is primarily focused on the study of microstructural evolution of metallic materials for high temperature service, typically in power generation equipment or pipe-work. Members of the team that Mark supervises in this topic explore: steels and stainless steels for high-temperature steam pipes, additive manufactured superalloys for turbines, oxide growth on steel tubes and water droplet erosion of stainless-steel steam turbines. In addition, Mark has an interest in the effect of processing routes on the inclusions within steels and how to optimise characterisation processes for their analysis.

All this work is underpinned by the fantastic facilities within our Loughborough Materials Characterisation Centre (https://www.lboro.ac.uk/research/lmcc/) where Mark has also supervised work into the comparison of secondary energy filtering methods, specifically with a view to enhance the characterisation of steels.

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:

• FYF321 Materials and Materials Processing
• MPB312 – Materials Processing
• MPC120 – Vehicle and Component Design
• MPC311 – Advanced Processing Methods
• Part C project and MSc project supervision

Current administrative responsibilities:

• Energy Materials Research Theme leader
• Post-Graduate Researcher Champion - Materials

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

 View central publications database

External collaborators:

• Siemens Industrial Turbomachinery
• Uniper Technologies
• Goodwin Steel Castings
• European Technology Development
• Lincoln Welding Consumables
• University of Birmingham
• University of Nottingham

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