Rate My Professor Robert Lancaster

Professor Robert Lancaster holds the position of Chair in Materials Science within the Institute of Structural Materials at Swansea University, where he is also Professor of Materials Science and Engineering. Qualified with a BEng, PhD, CEng, PGCHE, FHEA, and MIMMM, he leads a 10-member research team specializing in thermo-mechanical fatigue (TMF) of additive manufactured materials, advanced additive technologies, and small punch testing (SPT). His professional career encompasses roles such as Senior Project Leader at TWI in Port Talbot from 2007 to 2011, followed by a series of advancing positions at Swansea University: Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) from 2011 to 2012, ISM Lecturer from 2012 to 2013, Senior Lecturer from 2013 to 2015, Associate Professor from 2015 to 2017, and Professor since 2020. Additionally, he serves as Materials Science & Engineering Year 2 Coordinator and ISM Postgraduate Research Coordinator.

With a grant portfolio valued at over £2.25 million from funders including EPSRC, Horizon 2020, Innovate UK, and ATI, Professor Lancaster collaborates with industry leaders such as Rolls-Royce plc, Rolls-Royce Nuclear Submarines, GKN Aerospace, and Cummins Turbo Technologies. Renowned as the UK national expert in SPT, he has pioneered its application to additive structures, developing a unique SP fatigue testing capability. His contributions include over 60 peer-reviewed journal and conference publications, an invited book chapter on small punch creep, and guest editorships for special issues in Materials and Theoretical & Applied Fracture Mechanics on SPT and AM mechanical properties. Notable publications encompass "The Effects of Energy Density and Heat Treatment on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Laser Additive Manufactured Haynes 282" (2021), "Characterising the high temperature tensile behaviour of laser powder bed fused duplex stainless steel 2205 using the small punch test" (2022), "On the Design Optimisation of Direct Energy Deposited Support Structures to Repair Aero-Engine Turbine Segments" (2022), and "The influence of surface finish and build orientation on the low cycle fatigue behaviour of laser powder bed fused stainless steel 316L" (2023). Professor Lancaster chaired the 5th International Small Sample Test Techniques conference (SSTT2018) in Swansea, serves on the BSi ISE/101/01 Uniaxial Testing Committee, and holds secretary positions in IOM3 committees.