New staff bring broad range of skills and interests

From improving the commercialization of photovoltaic technologies to waste management and creative writing related to civil engineering, our three new academic members of staff possess a wide range of research interests and teaching skills.

Dr Jay Millington, Dr Nia Owen and Dr Zhe Li have all recently joined the School to support our teaching and research activities.

Jay has worked at the University of the West of England for 12 years as a lecturer in hydraulics and surveying with a research interest in hydropower and its use for the water industry. As well as a PhD in Engineering Jay has an MA in Creative Writing and he has developed a strong interest in engineering pedagogy. In particular, he would like to do more work on the use of creative writing and engineering. Jay will be working to help improve our teaching and scholarship in civil engineering as part of our plan to further develop our innovative teaching and provide our students with an inspiring and up-to-date learning experience which prepares them for the future.

Outside work, Jay is interested in mountain biking, motorcycling and fiction writing.

Nia has joined the School from Ricardo Energy and Environment where she was a Principal Consultant and Knowledge Leader and, like Jay, she will also be providing support to develop the way we teach our students so that our pedagogy remains as innovative and exciting as we can make it. She will be teaching environmental engineering and management and she has extensive experience working in waste management and regulation and supporting businesses in these areas. She will be familiar around the corridors of the School as she completed her undergraduate degree and PhD here and has been a guest lecturer for many years.

In her spare time she enjoys hiking in the Brecon Beacons, following rugby, travelling and photography, where she combines her work and creative interests by developing a photo collection which she has titled “Great Bins of the World”, much to the mystification of her friends and family!

Zhe will be part of the Magnetics and Materials Research Group as a Ser Cymru II Research Fellow and will be lecturing in Energy Materials. After completing his PhD at the Cavendish Laboratory at the University of Cambridge, Zhe worked at Swansea University and Imperial College London as a researcher. He is particularly interested in solar energy and he has been working on improving the commercialisation potential of next generation photovoltaic technologies by making them more efficient and stable. He will be a welcome addition to the School’s strong research themes of energy and environment.

When he is not working he enjoys photography, jogging, cycling and watching films.

Head of School, Professor Sam Evans said: “I am delighted that we have three new members of staff with such diverse skills and interests joining our team. I look forward to seeing how they bring their varied interests and backgrounds to support both the research and teaching activities of the School.”