Rob's research in Materials Science has focused on the joining of materials with an emphasis on modelling, generally in collaborative programmes with industry. Applications include predicting the performance of joints in electronic devices, improving jet engine components and enhancing the fabrication of car bodies.
Rob has taught extensively in the University in different capacities which include Materials Science, Personal and Professional Development courses, setting up and running outreach courses (for primary school kids, prospective students, teachers and the public more generally) as well as summer science programmes (he is a former Director of the University’s Science Summer School). He currently lectures extensively to raise awareness about sustainability and separately to introduce Materials Science to undergraduates from across the world on summer programmes.
In addition to departmental research and teaching, Rob is a former Vice-Provost at King's College where he also was Senior Tutor for six years (hence responsible for the education and welfare of the college’s undergraduates and graduates), and subsequently for seven years was responsible for running the University’s Senior Tutors’ Committee and its various sub-committees. More recently, he was the University's Director of Postdoctoral Affairs (now the Postdoctoral Academy) to support and advocate for the University’s 4,000 postdoctoral early career researchers. Thus, he has been involved at a senior level in a wide range of University and inter-Collegiate issues.
