AMPLab team

Adam Jackson started his PhD in October 2023 on the Powder Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIPping) and Diffusion Bonding of Vanadium alloys for nuclear fusion applications in the Advanced Materials Processing Laboratory (AMPLab), University of Birmingham. This PhD is funded by the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) in Coventry, with technical guidance from Tokamak Energy, Oxfordshire. The main aim of Adam’s PhD is to investigate the powder HIPping of V-4Cr-4Ti and to produce a crack free bond between V-4Cr-4Ti and pure tungsten, followed by characterisation and mechanical testing.

Adam graduated from the University of Birmingham with a 1^st class with honours in MEng Nuclear Engineering in June 2023. For his master’s thesis he investigated the NbTiVZr type High Entropy Alloys for nuclear cladding applications, which followed from a summer internship in 2022 funded by the Henry Royce institute. He received a scholarship from the school of Metallurgy and Materials for outstanding academic performance, and in 2021, completed a short-listed essay on Addressing the Climate Challenge for the COP26 climate summit.

• Jackson, A. Powder HIPping and Diffusion Bonding of V alloys for nuclear fusion applications. 14^th International Conference on Hot Isostatic Pressing, 2025, Aachen, Germany

• Jackson, A. Tackling climate change using nuclear power, 2024.

Dina is a final year PhD Student, in the Advanced materials processing Laboratory (AMPLab) at the school of Metallurgy and Materials funded by the EPSRC Centre of doctoral training (CDT) in topological design, University of Birmingham. Dina is working on the topological design and microstructural control of additively manufactured porous Ti-6Al-4V structures. She is investigating the potential of tailoring the microstructure of Ti-6Al-4V intricate topological lattice structures fabricated by the laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) technique as means of improving the structural and functional requirements of biomedical orthopedic implants.

Dina Fouad graduated with a BSc and MSc in Mechanical Engineering from the American University in Cairo (AUC), where- for the later-she was awarded the Medhat Haroun Scholarly Excellence award (2018) for Best Masters dissertation at AUC and the national prize for best engineering masters dissertation awarded by the Egyptian Supreme Council of Universities (2020). In her master’s research, Dina evaluated the material properties processed by a novel and provisionally patented severe plastic deformation technique known as the “Multi-Channel Spiral Twist Extrusion”. The novel technique produced enhanced material properties that have a promising application for dental implants.

Publications

• Fouad,D.M., El-Garaihy,W.G., Ahmed,M.Z., Albaijan I., Seleman, M.S. & Salem, H.G.(2021). Grain structure Evolution and Mechanical properties of Multi-Channel Spiral Twist Extruded AA5083. Metals, 11, 1276. 

• Fouad,D.M., Moataz,A.,El-Garaihy,W.G., & Salem, H.G.(2019). Numerical and Experimental analysis of multi-channel spiral twist extrusion processing of AA5083. Materials Science and Engineering A, 764. 

• Fouad,D.M., Moataz,A.,El-Garaihy,W.G., & Salem, H.G. (2018). Multi-Objective of Multi- Channel Spiral Twist Extrusion Process using a Response Surface Approach and finite Element Analysis. MS&T 2018: Conference Proceedings.

• Fouad, D.M.,El-Garaihy, W.G., M.M.Z. Ahmed & Salem, H.G.(2018). Influence of multi- channel spiral twist extrusion (MSCTE) processing on structural evolution, crystallographic texture and mechanical properties of AA1100. Material Science and Engineering A, 737, 166-175. 

• El-Garaihy, W.G., Fouad,D.M. & Salem, H.G. (2018). Multi-Channel Spiral Twist Extrusion (MCSTE): A Novel Severe Plastic Deformation Technique for Grain Refinement. Metallurgical and Materials Transaction A, 49, 2854-2864.

(Book chapter): Dina Fouad, Mahmoud Farag (2019). Design for sustainability with Biodegradable composites. Design engineering and Manufacturing, Intech Open. 

Conference presentations

• Multi-objective Optimization of Multi-Channel Spiral Twist Extrusion Process Using a Response Surface Approach and Finite Element Analysis. MS&T conference, 2018, Columbus, Ohio, USA.

• Multi-channel Spiral Twist Extrusion (MCSTE)-A Novel Severe Plastic Deformation Method: A Numerical and Experimental study. ICMSE-RAC,2018, Egypt.

• Multi-stages Spiral Twist Extrusion: A Novel Severe Plastic Deformation Technique for Bulk Nanostructured Materials. TMS,2017, San Diego, CA., USA.

Further information

• Google Scholar profile
• LinkedIn profile
• YouTube video

Alice is currently in her fourth year of a PhD program at the University of Birmingham, collaborating with TWI Ltd, the National Structural Integrity Research Centre (NSIRC), and Lloyd’s Register Foundation. Her research focuses on the impact of powder Hot Isostatic Pressing (p-HIP) on the microstructure, mechanical performance, and irradiation properties of Oxide Dispersion Strengthened (ODS) steels for nuclear fusion applications.

She earned her MEng in Materials Engineering from the University of Birmingham in 2021. During her studies, Alice contributed to projects evaluating the feasibility of recycling NdFeB magnets through hydrogen decrepitation in partnership with SUSMAGPRO. Her master's research involved developing strip casting techniques for samarium cobalt 2:17 magnets with Less Common Metals Ltd, exploring the potential to refine microstructure for improved powder processing and magnetisation.

Conferences and Publications 

Conference Presentations

• A Appleby, R Khan, M Attallah: Hot Isostatic Pressing of Oxide Dispersion Strengthened Steels: Microstructure and Mechanical Properties. TMS Powder Materials Processing and Fundamental Understanding Seminar, March 2024, Orlando (USA).
• A Appleby, R Khan, M Attallah: Influence of PM-HIP consolidation temperature on ODS PM2000 steel for irradiated environments. International Conference on Hot Isostatic Pressing, April 2025, Aachen (Germany).

Publications

• Sheridan, R, Farthing, JG, Appleby, A & Brown, M 2024, 'Strip Casting of Sm2 TM17-Type Alloys for Production of the Metastable SmTM7 Phase', Metals, vol. 14, no. 5, 517.

Abdulrahman is a PhD candidate at the AMPLab research group, in the School of Metallurgy & Materials, working since 2022 on the Additive Manufacturing of High-Temperature Nickel-Based Superalloys for Aerospace Applications. His research focuses on improving the printability and densification of non-weldable alloys processed by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF), through an extensive optimisation of both process parameters and scanning strategies. He is currently delivering a collaborative project with Siemens (Materials Solutions, UK) to support industrial adoption of these materials.

He holds a First-Class Honours BSc in Mechanical Engineering from King Khalid University (Saudi Arabia) and an MSc in Nanomaterials and Materials Science from the University of Sheffield (UK), awarded with Distinction.

Conferences and Publications

Publications

• Alhijaily, A., Alqarni, A., Kilic, Z.M. et al. Development of a mobile 3D printer and comparative evaluation against traditional gantry systems. J Intell Manuf (2024).
  

Conferences

• A Alqarni, T Alshammari, M Attallah: Scanning Strategies: A Tool to Control Cracking in Cracking Susceptible Ni-Based Superalloys CM247LC in LPBF. TMS Additive Manufacturing: Process-induced Microstructures and Defects — Cracking, Porosity, and Other Defects Seminar, March 2024, Orlando (USA).
• A Alqarni, K Ma, T Alshammari, Y Tang, M Attallah: Probing the Influence of Nanoparticles on Enhancing the Processability of SX Ni-based Superalloy in LPBF. Microstructure Control in AM Workshop. February 2025, Imperial College London (UK).

Talal T. Alshammari is a PhD student within the Advanced Materials Processing Lab, pat of the School of Metallurgy & Materials, at the University of Birmingham. His research project focuses on designing sustainable aluminium alloys for additive manufacturing applications, particularly using laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) methods.

With a background in mechanical, material science, and manufacturing engineering, he leverages technology to develop sustainable industrial solutions. In addition to his PhD studies, Talal lectures in the Mechanical Engineering Department at Jubail Industrial College. He holds a master's degree in material science engineering from King Saud University and is committed to making a positive impact on the industry.

 Conferences and Publications

• Alshammari, T.T., Alqarni, A., Attallah, M. (2023). "Developing A Sustainable Aluminum Alloys Designed for Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) Using In-Situ Alloying." Presented at the Alloys for Additive Manufacturing Symposium (AAMS) 2023
• Careri, F., Khan, R.H.U., Alshammari, T.T., & Attallah, M.M. (2025). Development of a novel heat treatment in L-PBF fabricated high strength A205 Al alloy: Impact on microstructure and mechanical properties. Materials Science and Engineering: A, 933, 148278.
• Alshammari, T.T., Ijaz, M.F., Alharbi, H.F., & Soliman, M.S. (2023). Effect of the Cu/Mg ratio on mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of wrought Al–Cu–Mg–Ag alloy. Crystals, 13(6), 908.
• Alshammari, T.T., Alharbi, H.F., Soliman, M.S., & Ijaz, M.F. (2020). Effects of Mg content on the microstructural and mechanical properties of Al–4Cu–xMg–0.3Ag alloys. Crystals, 10(10), 895.

Dominik has been a PhD student within AMPLab, in the School of Metallurgy & Materials, since October 2023, researching the microstructural control of nickel superalloys for creep applications using PBF-LB (powder bed fusion, with a laser beam heat source). His project, carried out jointly between AMPLab and BAM (Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing) in Berlin, aims to optimise production parameters to improve the creep life of superalloy ATI 718Plus manufactured additively. The process will then be used to produce specimens with a tailored multi-modal microstructure, which will undergo creep testing with digital image correlation techniques for quantification.

D. Bielak, J. Olbricht, B. Skrotzki, M.M. Attallah: Microstructural control in Nickel superalloy ATI 718Plus during laser powder bed fusion. Materials Science & Engineering Conference 2024, September 2024, Darmstadt (Germany).

Stylianos is a first year PhD student in the Advanced Materials Processing Laboratory (AMPLab) at the school of Metallurgy and Materials, University of Birmingham. He commenced his studies in January 2025. Funded by the UKAEA, Stylianos is using additive manufacturing and netshape manufacture methods, including LPBF and HIPing, to develop and investigate high-quality V-4Cr-4Ti alloys to be used as Tritium-breeders, in nuclear fusion reactors. Thanks to its irradiation resistance and mechanical properties, this alloy would eliminate the need for Beryllium neutron multipliers, introducing a safe, yet efficient and feasible way to produce the necessary amounts of Tritium for the successful operation of Nuclear fusion plants.

Anastassia Milleret was a PhD student with AMPLab where she was working on 4D printing of Magnetic Shape Memory Alloys. Anastassia’s research focused on ferromagnetic materials exhibiting a plastic reversible transformation under a magnetic field, in particular, NiMnGa for Defence applications.

She qualified with an MEng in Mechanical Engineering and Materials sciences from the University of Technology of Belfort-Montbéliard (UTBM) in France. She continued her studies by spending one year at Bauman Moscow State Technical University, where she researched the nanostructures of multi-layered materials produced by cold rolling.

Dan finished his PhD at the School of Metallurgy and Materials, University of Birmingham in April 2025. He was working with industry partners such as DSTL and Alloyed to help with the discovery, processing, and characterisation of reactive structures. For this, he has investigated a novel laser shock plume analysis method for measuring material reactivity in a lab-based environment. He has also investigated the general microstructure of new reactive materials and is hoping to investigate the applicability of Selective Laser Melting (SLM) to the manufacturing process.

Kun Sun

Kun Sun was a PhD student with AMPLab. Kun’s research focused on improving the magnetocaloric properties of Ni-Mn based magnetic shape memory alloys by optimizing the process parameters of Laser Powder Bed Fusion and heat treatment processes via both experimental and numerical methods.

Emily completed her PhD at the School of Metallurgy and Materials, University of Birmingham in 2024. She was working with the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) to investigate the additive manufacture and oxidation performance of Ni-based superalloys. For this, she is investigating Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) as a potential means of producing Inconel 625 components. Her expertise lies in the microstructural characterisation of Ni-based superalloys at high temperatures.

• E.R. Lewis, M.P. Taylor, B. Attard, N. Cruchley, A.P.C. Morrison, M.M. Attallah, S. Cruchley, ‘Microstructural characterisation and high-temperature oxidation of laser powder bed fusion processed Inconel 625’, Materials Letters, Volume 311, 2022.