Research Interests

Stephen Monk is a chartered engineer (IET) and senior lecturer; appointed in 2007. Previous to taking up the lectureship, Steve undertook a research associate post building a novel neutron spectrometer. Even earlier than this he undertook a PhD at the University of Glasgow, building an ultra sensitive ethane detector.

He has research interests generally in Nuclear and Robotic Engineering, with over 60 academic publications in these areas, as well as more left field subjects such as the generation of Bessel beams using an axicon. Previous robotics projects have involved the autonomous cutting of pipework using a hydraulically actuated dual arm system, using a UR3 robotic arm to scan over uncharacterised radioactive materials using a semi-autonomous control and vision system, the development of a small bore soft robot to navigate and characterise pipework within nuclear decommissioning environments, and the development of an adaptable semi-autonomous underwater decommissioning sample retrieval robot in partnership with the National Maritime Research Institute (Japan). Similarly, nuclear projects and areas have included a novel neutron spectrometer for high altitude assay, a neutron/gamma camera, tritium sensing, Magnox storage pond characterisation, a novel viscometer for use in uncharacterised sludge and silicon carbide neutron sensor development in partnership with Kyoto University.He has successfully supervised seven PhD students to completion within subject areas such as neutron spectrometry, robotics in decommissioning applications, monitoring boreholes for tritium, assay of magnox ponds and characterisation of sludge tanks.

Steve also teaches three undergraduate modules; 1^st year introduction to C programming, 2^nd year Nuclear decommissioning and disposal and 2^nd year practical engineering projects.

When not at work, Steve likes to go running and play badminton with a local badminton club.