Dr David Cheneler MEng (Hons), PhD, CEng, MIMechE, MIED, PgCAP, FIMMM, SFHEA
Senior LecturerResearch Overview
David is a chartered mechanical engineer with a research specialism in robotics, advanced manufacturing, biomedical technologies and material science. He obtained his PhD and MEng in mechanical engineering from the University of Birmingham. After his PhD he was employed as a research fellow conducting several multidisciplinary research projects in close collaboration with industry. He joined the School of Engineering at Lancaster University in 2013. His research interests include, but are not limited to, development of robotic and autonomous systems, biomedical technologies, modelling and characterisation of complex and biological materials and the development of sensing technologies, including for nuclear detection and environmental monitoring.
He is a member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and a Fellow of the IoM3 or the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Agency.
Professional Role
David is a Senior Lecturer in Engineering and is the Director of Undergraduate Teaching, and CTP Champion for the School of Engineering.
Sensor Engineering and Technology Cluster Co-ordinator
Cluster to support industry to deliver cutting edge sensing technologies and applications.
Sensor Engineering and Technology Cluster
Academic Lead for Eco-I North West DTC (Nov 2021-July 2023)
This role gives academic leadership and contributes to the Centre for Global Eco-Innovation’s Eco-I North West £14m business R&D programme. With over 50 PhD and Masters by Research projects, Eco-NW is a significant university Doctoral Training Programme which links businesses with academic research. This role will lead a group of 70+ academic supervisors linked to Eco-I NW, spanning across university departments and faculties. This role brings together these individuals to forge new research links, tackle academic issues as they arise and strategically lead the research undertaken within the Eco-I NW project.
https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/business/eco-i-nw-project/
Extreme Environments Theme Lead for Lancaster Intelligent, Robotic and Autonomous systems (LIRA) Research Centre
LIRA is a focal point for cutting-edge research into intelligent, autonomous and robotic systems bringing together world-leading expertise across Lancaster University aiming to advance this technology and its applications to the economy, society and the environment.
https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/lira/research/nuclear-and-decommissioning/
Previous roles include:
- Director of Internationalisation
- Deputy Admissions Director
- Director of the MSc in International Innovation
- Director of Engineering Teaching Partnerships (BJTU, COMSATS and Goenka)
- Prior to employment at Lancaster University:
- Fellow funded through Birmingham Science City: Innovative Uses for Advanced Materials in the Modern World (West Midlands Centre for Advanced Materials Project 2), with support from Advantage West Midlands (AWM) and part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
- Research Fellow on FP7 Programme (NANOBIOTOUCH Project: FP7-NMP-228844)
Qualifications
MEng (Hons), PhD, CEng, MIMechE, MIED, PgCAP, FIMMM, SFHEA
Research Grants
Selected recent research grants:
Soft robotic highly active cell and pipe explorer featuring SiC semiconductors to characterise alpha, beta, gamma and neutron contamination, (iCASE), (£53,985, 1/07/22 to 30/06/26), Co-I (PI: Dr Monk), partner: Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd.
MS4MSR (Molten Salt for Molten Salt Reactor), (Mitacs), (£64,130.15, 1/07/21 to 30/06/25), Co-I, (PI: Prof. Degueldre), partners: Corporation de L'Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal and Terrestrial Energy
LiNa-Wave: Development of a working model solid-state battery system for maritime applications (Innovate UK) 10007089, (£119,449 - total £387,551, 01/09/2021 to 31/03/2022), Co-I (LU PI: Prof Kennedy), partners: LiNa Energy Ltd. (lead) and Bibby Marine Services Ltd.
The development of 1kWh sodium nickel chloride battery system and associated manufacturing processes (Faraday Battery Challenge), (£84,128, 1/08/21 to 30/04/22), Co-I (LU PI: Prof Kennedy), partner: LiNa Energy Ltd. (lead)
ASUNDER - Adaptable Semiautonomous Underwater Decommissioning Sample Retrieval Robot (UK Japan Civil Nuclear Research Programme Phase 7) EP/V027379/1 (250k - total £500k, 02/11/2020 to 31/03/2023), PI (Co-Is Dr Monk, Dr Montazeri), partners: Dr So Kamada - National Maritime Research Institute (NMRI), Dr Masayuki Hagiwara – High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK)and Dr Keisuke Okumura - Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA)
Low Cost High Reliability Radiation Hardened Electronics System (Innovate UK) 104026 (£114,113 - total £327,537, 01/11/2020 to 31/08/2021), PI, partners: Radmod Research Ltd., and Kallisto Consultancy Limited
ITAR: Innovative Technologies Towards Building Affordable and Equitable Global Radiotherapy Capacity, (STFC), (£54,593.92, 1/04/20 to 31/03/21), Co-I (LU PI: Prof. Burt)
Thin Neutron Detector on a Chip Utilising Silicon Carbide (UK Japan Civil Nuclear Research Programme Phase 5) EP/S020411/1 (240k - total £490k, 01/10/2018 to 30/06/2021) Co-I (PI: Dr Monk), partners: Prof Tsuyoshi Misawa, Institute of Integrated Radiation and Nuclear Science, Kyoto University
PhD Supervisions Completed
Previous Successfully Completed PhD Supervisions:
Dr Gabriel Lau: Modelling and Analysis of Isotropic Thermal Conductivity Enhancement in Laser Melting and Welding, 2025 (with Dr A. Pinkerton)
Dr Nile Dixon: Tritium Detection in Groundwater around Sellafield - Building a Sensitive Radioisotope Detector for Use in Water, 2024 (With Dr S. D. Monk and Dr J. Graham (Sellafield))
Dr Amy Crisp: Understanding Biofilms: Plasma Polymer Coatings to Prevent Biofilm Formation and Understanding the Chemical Pathway to Their Formation by Spectroscopy, 2024 (with Prof. I. Rehman and Prof. R. Short)
Dr Nile Quane: Optimised Self-calibrating Microfluidic Systems Towards Design Optimisation, 2022 (with TelLabs Ltd.)
Dr Chris Nyamayaro: Practical and Theoretical Investigation of Underwater Laser Cutting for Decommissioning Applications, 2022 (with Dr A. Pinkerton and A. Khan, P. de Bono from TWI)
Dr Tomas Fried: In situ Mechanical Analysis of Sludge in Hazardous Environments, 2021 (with Dr S. Monk)
Dr Hajir Al Hamrashdi: The Design and Testing of a Novel Compact Real-time Hybrid Compton and Neutron Scattering Instrument, 2020 (with Dr S. Monk)
Dr Tilly Alton: In-situ Monitoring of Groundwater Radionuclides with Emphasis on Tritium Detection, 2019 (with Dr S. Monk)
Previous Successfully Completed MSc Supervisions:
Joe Henshall: CellSight: Machine Vision Defect Detection During Automated Cell Assembly, 2023 (with Cellerate Ltd)
Faro, Abdulfatai Ayodeji: Researching the Impact of Wind Patterns in Urban Areas for Bladeless Wind Turbine Implementation, 2023 (with O-Innovations Ltd)
Jordan Kelly: Development and Validation of an Electrical Energy Harvesting System Utilising the Seebeck Effect for use in AUV/Submarines (with Delkia)
Marcia Pryce: An Experimental and CFD Based Analysis on Industrial Biomass Drying Production, 2021 (with Dr F. Aiouache and Bowland Bioenergies Ltd.)
Joshua Ingham: Surface Temperature Equalisation through Automated Laser Vaporisation of Thick Film Electrical Heating Elements, 2019 (with 2D Heat Ltd.)
Paul Adesoji: Turkey Leg Tendon: a Model System for Collagen Mineralisation, 2018 (with Dr J. Kerns)
PhD Supervision Interests
Simulation and fabrication of lattice/composite structures, Radiation detection and environmental monitoring, Robotics for nuclear decommissioning and automation Biomedical technology development, Prosthetics,
Selected Publications
Acoustic Monitoring of Joint Health
Spain, L., Cheneler, D. 17/03/2021 In: Data Acquisition. InTech ISBN: 9781839680366. Electronic ISBN: 9781839680373.
Chapter
A fast and portable imager for neutron and gamma emitting radionuclides
Al Hamrashdi, H., Cheneler, D., Monk, S.D. 11/02/2020 In: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment. 953, 31 p.
Journal article
Beta particle energy spectra shift due to self-attenuation effects in environmental sources
Alton, T.T., David Monk, S., Cheneler, D. 10/2017 In: Nuclear Engineering and Technology. 49, 7, p. 1483-1488. 6 p.
Journal article
Power output and efficiency of beta-emitting microspheres
Cheneler, D., Ward, M.C.L. 01/2015 In: Radiation Physics and Chemistry. 106, p. 204-212. 9 p.
Journal article
Transient bioimpedance monitoring of mechanotransduction in artificial tissue during indentation
Cheneler, D., Bowen, J., Kaklamani, G. 9/09/2014 In: Journal of Electrical Bioimpedance. 5, p. 55-74. 20 p.
Journal article
Optimised determination of viscoelastic properties using compliant measurement systems
Andrews, J., Bowen, J., Cheneler, D. 2013 In: Soft Matter. 9, p. 5581-5593. 13 p.
Journal article
The impact of post manufacturing treatment of functionally graded Ti6Al4V scaffolds on their surface morphology and mechanical strength
Khrapov, D., Koptyug, A., Manabaev, K., Leonard, F., Mishurova, T., Bruno, G., Cheneler, D., Loza, K., Epple, M., Surmenev, R., Surmeneva, M. 1/03/2020 In: Journal of Materials Research and Technology. 9, 2, p. 1866-1881. 16 p.
Journal article
All Publications
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Supramolecular Polymer-Based Biomaterials
27/10/2025 → 28/10/2026
Research
-
SATURN CDT : Remotely deployed sensor network to characterise 50mm pipework
01/10/2025 → 30/09/2029
Research
-
SATURN CDT : Automated Beta-emitting Radioisotope Identification and Monitoring in Boreholes
29/09/2025 → 28/09/2029
Research
-
IAA: Roadmapping for Through Life Enabled Lighting Systems
12/02/2025 → 31/08/2025
Research
-
IAA: SMART Subsea Connector Technology
12/02/2025 → 31/08/2025
Research
-
Core Equipment 2024
01/01/2025 → 30/06/2026
Research
-
Edge-based human augmentation technology (Extension)
01/01/2025 → 30/06/2025
Research
-
IAA: End of Renewable Asset Life Decisions II
11/10/2024 → 10/10/2025
Research
-
IAA: Biomorphic Personnel Health Monitoring
01/11/2023 → 30/04/2025
Research
-
SL: Edge-based human augmentation technology
01/10/2023 → 30/06/2025
Research
-
iCASE: Soft robotic highly active cell and pipe explorer featuring SiC semiconductors to characterise alpha, beta, gamma and neutron contamination
01/07/2022 → 30/06/2026
Research
-
MSI: Towards 3D printing medical devices in vivo
04/10/2021 → 04/10/2022
Research
-
MSI: Project LiNa-Wave: Development of a Working Model Solid-State Battery System for Maritime Applications
01/09/2021 → 31/03/2022
Research
-
MSI: Development of 1 kWh sodium nickel chloride battery system and associated manufacturing processes
01/08/2021 → 31/07/2022
Research
-
MS4MSR (Molten Salt for Molten Salt Reactor)
01/07/2021 → 30/12/2025
Research
-
Adaptable Semiautonomous Underwater Decommissioning Sample Retrieval Robot
02/11/2020 → 30/06/2023
Research
-
Low Cost High Reliability Radiation Hardened Electronics System
01/11/2020 → 31/08/2021
Research
-
Robot Lightweighting
13/07/2020 → 26/09/2020
Consultancy
-
ITAR: Innovative Technologies Towards Building Affordable and Equitable Global Radiotherapy Capacity
01/04/2020 → 30/06/2021
Research
-
Energy efficiency in forced drying of wood chip biomass
01/10/2019 → 30/09/2020
Research
-
Finite Element Analysis Modelling of Force Resistance Sensors for Next Generation Human-Machine Interfaces (HMI)
01/07/2019 → 27/09/2019
Consultancy
-
Thin neutron detector on a chip utilising silicon carbide
01/10/2018 → 30/06/2021
Research
-
Biomorphic Sensors for Condition Monitoring & Inspection in Critical Environments
01/09/2018 → 30/06/2019
Research
-
Feasibility study project for sensor technology in innovative fitness training device
11/06/2018 → 11/12/2019
Research
-
Bird strike prevention using video analytics.
01/05/2018 → 01/05/2019
Research
-
Self Expanding Foam-Based Medical Devices
02/04/2018 → 02/07/2018
Research
-
Proximity to Discover: Industry Engagement for Impact
31/03/2018 → 30/11/2019
Research
-
Bonds Precision Castings
13/01/2018 → 05/06/2019
Consultancy
-
Automation of a post-production treatment to produce large surface area uniform heating
08/01/2018 → 28/12/2018
Research
-
Potable Water for Rural Africa Project Development
01/03/2017 → 31/07/2017
Research
-
Optimised self-calibrating Microfluidic Systems for In-Situ Enviromental Monitoring
05/12/2016 → 31/08/2020
Research
-
Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing) of Electrodes for Fundamental Neuroscience
03/10/2016 → 30/06/2017
Research
-
Development of a hybrid coded aperture Compton Camera
01/08/2016 → 01/08/2017
Other
-
IAA: Innovative Physics
01/08/2016 → 30/09/2017
Research
-
In situ measurement and analysis of sludge using robotic platform
01/08/2016 → 31/08/2021
Research
-
In-situ real-time monitoring of water borne low energy betas
01/06/2016 → 01/07/2023
Research
-
Hyperspectral imaging of neutrons with a Compton Camera and Coded aperture
02/11/2015 → 02/05/2019
Research
-
Detection of Waterborne Tritium
06/10/2014 → 06/10/2017
Other
-
The Development of a Semiconductor based Hybrid Pixelated Multi-modal Spectroscopic Gamma and Neutron Radiation Detector
06/10/2014 → 06/10/2020
Other
-
EUMINAfab
01/02/2011 → 01/02/2012
Other
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IAA Pit Products
01/01/1900 → …
Research
-
SL: Edge-based human augmentation technology
01/01/1900 → …
Research
-
SL: Edge-based human augmentation technology
01/01/1900 → …
Research
10th International Conference on Nuclear and Radiochemistry
Participation in conference - Academic
Lancaster University Education Conference 2024
Participation in conference - Academic
Stimuli-responsive materials for drug delivery
Oral presentation
Landscape Report: Towards Bioprinting Devices In vivo
Consultancy
Info Session on the Transfer Pathways Available to SLTC Engineering Students
Invited talk
Use Cases for Sustainable Manufacturing Processes
Invited talk
Design, prototyping and test of a dual-arm continuum robot for underwater environments
Oral presentation
Extreme Environments LIRA Sandpit
Participation in workshop, seminar, course
Benedicte Thiebaut
Types of Business and Community - Hosting of external, non-academic visitor
Meeting re: collaborative PhD studentship
Types of Business and Community - Hosting of external, non-academic visitor
Virtual RMS AFM & SPM Meeting 2020
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Quantifying Extracellular Matrix Changes in Osteoarthritic Human Cartilage and Subchondral Bone Using Raman Microspectroscopy
Oral presentation
Proceedings of the 6th World Congresson Mechanical, Chemical, and Material Engineering
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Diagnosing Arthritic Knees using Vibration
Invited talk
Nesrin Horzum
Hosting an academic visitor
Özlem Kap
Hosting an academic visitor
UK-Russia Bioinspired Materials Conference
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Production of conductive composite electrodes for extracellular recording and stimulation
Invited talk
2nd International Conference on Advanced Structural and Functional Materials
Participation in workshop, seminar, course
2nd International Conference on Advanced Structural and Functional Materials
Invited talk
Self-Monitoring, Self-Healing Biomorphic Sensor Technology
Oral presentation
16th Rapid Design, Prototyping & Manufacturing Conference
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
The Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (External organisation)
Member of an organisation
Prevention of microbial contamination of biomaterials for tissue regeneration and wound healing
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Physical Degradation of PECVD Deposited CFxOy Films
Invited talk
Nigerian National Materials Characterisation Laboratory Meeting
Other
Materials Research Exchange 2018
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Materials Research Exchange Conference
Participation in workshop, seminar, course
Open University Validation Partnerships (External organisation)
Member of Advisory Panel
Rapid Prototyping Journal (Journal)
Publication peer-review
Applied Physics Letters (Journal)
Publication peer-review
Nuclear Science (Journal)
Editorial activity
Bonds Foundry
Business Engagement
Bonds Foundry
Business Engagement
24th International Symposium on Room-Temperature Semiconductor X- and Gamma-ray Detectors (RTSD)
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
UK Nuclear Academics Meeting
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Dik Barton
Types of Business and Community - Hosting of external, non-academic visitor
27th International Conference on Advancements in Nuclear Instrumentation Measurement Methods and Their Applications
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
27th International Conference on Advancements in Nuclear Instrumentation Measurement Methods and Their Applications
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Journal of Materials Chemistry B (Journal)
Publication peer-review
23rd International Symposium on Room-Temperature Semiconductor X- and Gamma-ray Detectors (RTSD)
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Materials Science Institute Conference
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Intelligent Robotic and Autonomous Systems Conference
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Integrative Biology (Journal)
Publication peer-review
UK Materials Characterisation Seminar 2015
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part N: Journal of Nanomaterials, Nanoengineering and Nanosystems (Journal)
Publication peer-review
Cell Adhesion Century: Culture Breakthrough,
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
SPIE Photonics Europe 2014
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
RSC Postgraduate Symposium on Nanotechnology
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Euro Nano Forum 2013
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
4th International Conference from Nanoparticles and Nanomaterials to Nanodevices and Nanosystems (IC4N)
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
International Symposium on Discrete Element Modelling of Particulate Media
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
HRI 2012
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
ORS2012
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Modern Applied Science (Journal)
Publication peer-review
MNE 2011, 37th International Conference on Micro and Nano Engineering
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
UK-China Particle Technology Forum III
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Proceedings of 5th International Granulation Workshop
Participation in workshop, seminar, course
Micro and Nano Letters (Journal)
Publication peer-review
Review of Scientific Instruments (Journal)
Publication peer-review
Sensors (Journal)
Publication peer-review
MNE 2010, 36th International Conference on Micro and Nano Engineering
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Sensors and Actuators A: Physical (Journal)
Publication peer-review
Applied Rheology (Journal)
Editorial activity
128th American Water Works Association’s Annual Conference and Exposition
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
9th International Symposium on Agglomeration and 4th International Granulation Workshop
Participation in workshop, seminar, course
Chartered Engineer (CEng)
Election to learned society
Member of the Engineering Council
Election to learned society
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
Fellowship awarded competitively
Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers
Election to learned society
Fellow of Birmingham Science City Research Alliance
Fellowship awarded competitively
Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (FIMMM)
Election to learned society
Best Paper Award
Prize (including medals and awards)
Member of Institution of Engineering Designers
Election to learned society
- Energy Lancaster Nuclear
- Lancaster Intelligent, Robotic and Autonomous Systems Centre
- LIRA - Advanced Manufacturing
- LIRA - Biomedical
- LIRA - Environmental Modelling
- LIRA - Extreme Environments
- Robotics and Control