Dr Michael Aspinall
Reader in Nuclear EngineeringResearch Interests
Dr Aspinall's research began during his degree in Mechatronic Engineering (2005) with contributions towards the design and implementation of an advanced neutron spectrometer funded by an EPSRC Instrumentation Development Award (GR/R38538/01). His PhD (2008) was sponsored by the Think Crime! EPSRC research project (EP/C008022/1) which formed the DISTINGUISH consortium. His work here specifically focused on real-time digital assay of mixed radiation fields with prominent developments in real-time, digital pulse-shape discrimination of neutrons and gamma rays. Further extensive work led to the embodiment of these findings into technology with a TRL 9 that has served several nuclear establishments supporting additional research in nuclear safeguards, non-proliferation, neutron imaging and fast-neutron multiplicity analysis. Most notably he oversaw the delivery of the bespoke processing hardware and software for the ADRIANA liquid scintillator array at Lancaster University as part of the National Nuclear User Facility (NNUF) (EP/L025671/1). From 2017 to 2021 he was part of a £1.6M EPSRC funded (EP/P018505/1) TORONE project that developed remotely operated instrumentation for the characterisation of extreme nuclear environments. He held an EPSRC UK-Japan Civil Nuclear Research Programme Phase 6 project to develop radiation tolerant criticality monitoring instrumentation (EP/T013532/1). As an embedded researcher applying transformative technologies for a NERC funded (NE/W007320/1) project, he is developing instrumentation to enable the field deployment of a novel waterborne tritium detection technique developed also at Lancaster University. He is a NERC Senior Member of the Constructing a Digital Environment (CDE) Expert Network 2022/23, previously a CDE Embedded Fellow 2021/22. He currently leads the STFC SWIMMR S5 projects (ST/W001810/1 and ST/X002241/1) to design, implement and deploy a new generation of ground-level neutron monitor (NM) to enhance the space weather monitoring capabilities of the Met Office Space Weather Operations Centre (MOSWOC). He also leads an EPSRC UK-Japan Civil Nuclear Research Programme Phase 9 project to develop radiation tolerant robotics for remote inspection (EP/X022331/1), working closely with experts from the University of Manchester, Okayama University and Kobe City College of Technology.
Career Details
Reader in Nuclear Engineering, August 2023 - present
Details: Lancaster University, Engineering Department.
Director of Postgraduate Teaching, undergraduate project supervision, postgraduate project supervision, PhD supervision, PDRA supervision. Convenor of two undergraduate modules; Engineering Project Managment and Instrumentation and Control.
Senior Lecturer in Digital Engineering, August 2020 - July 2023
Details: Lancaster University, Engineering Department.
Director of Postgraduate Teaching, undergraduate project supervision, postgraduate project supervision, PhD supervision, PDRA supervision. Convenor of two undergraduate modules; Engineering Project Managment and Fundamentals in Digital Electronics.
International Senior Lecturer in Digital Engineering (LUC-BJTU), May 2017 - July 2020
Details: Lancaster University, Engineering Department.
Lancaster University College at Beijing Jiaotong University (LUC-BJTU) is a joint institute established near Weihai, Shandong province, China.
"This joint institute offers the chance to study in China for a degree designed and accredited in partnership by two leading UK and Chinese universities. Lancaster University College at Beijing Jiaotong University offers degree programmes to both Chinese and international students. Courses are taught by Lancaster University and BJTU academics and graduates receive a qualification from both universities, as well as a joint academic transcript."
I currently deliver three undergraduate modules at the LUC-BJTU institute for the Electronics and Communications Engineering degree programme. These include Computers and Control, Fundamentals in Digital Electronics and Digital Electronics.
Lecturer in Biomedical Engineering, December 2015 - April 2017
Details: Aston University started the Biomedical Engineering degree in September 2014. I started lecturing on the program in September 2015 and took a permanent position in December 2015. I was the first-year tutor, personal tutor of sixteen students across the three year-groups and supervise two third-year projects. Whilst in my position at Aston University I;
- Designed and taught entirely new modules and assisted in curriculum design
- Applied for and secured external funding
- Conducted and disseminated research
- Attended international conferences
- Initiated internal Presentation of Research, Evaluation and Planning (PREP) meetings
- Led introductory summer classes for sixth-form students
- Established industry relations for fourth-year student placements and demonstration visits
- Led innovation in teaching and learning
- Acted as the Student Representative for the 2015/16 PGCert cohort
- Trained as a STEM Ambassador and provided voluntary support for local events
- Represented Aston University at the Big Bang Fair 2016 and the World Skills Show 2016
Contact: Prof James Wolffsohn, Pro vice chancellor, School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, B4 7ET.
Senior Systems Engineer, January 2010 - November 2015 (reduced to 1 day per week from December 2015 - present)
Details: Hybrid Instruments Ltd. is a Lancaster University spin out company specialising in solutions for real-time digital acquisition and analysis of signals arising from radiation detectors. My PhD research has been at the core of Hybrid's technology since 2008.
Contact: Dr Frank Cave, Commercial Director, Hybrid Instruments Ltd., The Gordon Manley Building, Lancaster Environmental Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YW.
Research Associate, October 2008 - December 2009
Details: Neutron spectrometer design upgrade and characterisation
Contact: Professor Malcolm Joyce, Head of Engineering Department, Lancaster University.
Design Consultancy, April 2008 - June 2008
Details: Neutron spectrometer design and manufacture
Contact: Dr Frank Cave, Commercial Director, Hybrid Instruments Ltd.
Research Assistant, June 2004 - August 2004
Details: Neutron spectrometer development
Contact: Professor Malcolm Joyce, Head of Engineering Department, Lancaster University.
Drawing Office Assistant, Summer 2000, 2001, 2002
Details: Site measuring, CAD drawing
Contact: Mr Graham Wallace, Jenkins Design Services Ltd.
Research Grants
Support of several industry-based grant applications and awards totalling over £600k. I was the engineer responsible for the delivery of the digital analysers as part of the ADRIANA apparatus funded by an EPSRC/DECC equipment grant of £1,040k.
Current research grants as PI
Ground Level Enhancement Event Monitor (GLEEM) – Implementation Phase, STFC, £1,259,443.11, 18th months, awarded September 2022
Radiation Hardened Robotics for Remote Inspection (RHINO) – UK-Japan Civil Nuclear Research Programme Phase 9, EPSRC, £269,835.73, awarded June 2022.
Boron-10 nitride neutron detecting material growth and device fabrication – Int. Exchange, The Royal Society, £11,900.00, awarded September 2021.
Past research grants
Could the sun fry chips on Earth? – Monitoring extreme space weather events, The Royal Society, £2,000.00, complete July 2022.
DERIvATE - Deployable ElectRochemIcally Assisted Tritium dEtection, Principal Investigator, Natural Environment Research Council (NERC, Embedded Researchers applying Transformative Technologies) (ST/W001810/1), 6 months, £55k, completed May 2022.
GLEEM - Ground Level Enhancement Event Monitor, Principal Investigator, Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) (ST/W001810/1), 12 months, £174k, completed June 2022.
Neutron time-of-flight spectroscopy, Principal Investigator, Joy Welch Educational Charitable Trust, 4 months, £4k, completed August 2020.
REACTION - Radiation tolErant rApid CriTicality mONitoring, Primary Investigator, EPSRC (EP/T013532/1), 30 months, £247k, completed May 2022.
Measurement of water borne tritium via electrochemical preconcentration, Principal Investigator, FST Impact Fund, 2 months, £3k, completed August 2021.
PISA - PosItion sensitive neutron detection by pulse Shape Analysis, Principal Investigator, UK NDN, 24 months, £35k, completed June 2021.
TORONE - TOtal characterisation for Remote Observation in Nuclear Environments, Co-Investigator, EPSRC (EP/P018505/1), 36 months, £1,579k, completed July 2021.
Rapid, interference free measurement of waterborne tritium, Principal Investigator, Joy Welch Educational Charitable Trust, 4 months, £4k, completed July 2020.
ARM - Advanced Real-time Multiplicity, Principal Investigator, National Nuclear Laboratory Ltd. (NNL), 12 months, £5k, completed March 2019.
Qualifications
HEA Fellow, Distinction in the Post Graduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, Aston University, November 2016
PhD, Real time digital assay of mixed radiation fields, Lancaster University, November 2008
BEng, First Class Honours, Mechatronic Engineering, Lancaster University, July 2005
Thesis Title
Real time digital assay of mixed radiation fields
Supervised By
Professor Malcolm J. Joyce
Supporting an Integrated adsorptive distillation project for the detritiation of radioactive waters of Fukushima site
01/12/2023 → 29/02/2024
Research
Advancing helium-3 alternative detector technologies for nuclear security
03/07/2023 → 02/09/2023
Research
Radiation Hardened Robotics for Remote Inspection
01/11/2022 → 31/03/2025
Research
Ground Level Enhancement Event Monitor (Implementation Phase)
01/09/2022 → 31/03/2024
Research
Ground Level Enhancement Event Monitor (Implementation Phase)
01/09/2022 → 15/10/2024
Research
Could the sun fry chips on Earth? - Monitoring extreme space weather events
01/04/2022 → 31/07/2022
Research
Research on key technologies of boron-10 nitride neutron detecting material growth and device fabrication
01/04/2022 → 31/03/2024
Research
Research on key technologies of boron-10 nitride neutron detecting material growth and device fabrication
31/03/2022 → 31/03/2025
Research
DERIvATE: Deployable ElectRochemIcally Assisted Tritium dEtection
08/11/2021 → 08/05/2022
Research
Ground Level Enhancement Event Monitor (GLEEM)
28/06/2021 → 27/06/2022
Research
Position Sensitive Neutron Dectection by Pulse Shape Analysis
11/11/2019 → 30/09/2020
Research
Radiation tolerant real-time recriticality monitoring
01/11/2019 → 30/04/2023
Research
Advanced Real-time Multiplicity (ARM)
01/03/2018 → 01/03/2019
Research
The Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition
Festival/Exhibition/Concert
- Nuclear