Announcing new leadership within Royce at the University of Sheffield

Prof. Jackson who has tirelessly worked as Research Area Lead for AMP for the last 3 years, is stepping down to be succeeded by Prof. Christofidou. Subsequently her previous role of Technology Platform Lead will be passed to Dr. Azakli

Kathy Christofidou - IOM3 video

Katerina Chrisotfidou takes over the helm of Advanced Metals Processing at Royce at the University of Sheffield

Dr Kathy Christofidou

Prof. Katerina Christofidou has been an important part of the Henry Royce Institute’s University of Sheffield partnership since the beginning of 2022 when she took on the role of Materials Discovery and Prototyping Technology Platform Lead. Her career is littered with accomplishments, including being the recipient of the IOM3’s Grünfeld Medal for application of alloys to industry and more recently her  appointment as Chair in Digital and Sustainable Materials, the first woman to hold the position of Chair in Metallurgy in the department’s 140 year history. 

I am honoured to be entrusted with the role of Advanced Metals Processing Research Area Lead. I’m excited to work together with the team here in Sheffield, across the Henry Royce Institute and more importantly reaching out more broadly across the community to push the boundaries of our field and realise the potential of advanced sustainable metallurgical systems in delivering net-zero, digitalised technologies.

Prof. Kathy Christofidou

University of Sheffield

Prof. Christofidou succeeds Prof. Martin Jackson in the Royce role of Advanced Metals Processing Research Area Lead this month, ready to take this successful team forward as they continue their collaborative and multidisciplinary approach to driving innovation in the realms of research and development. 

Royce at Sheffield provides a world-leading centre of excellence for advanced metals manufacturing and we’re delighted that Kathy is stepping into this key leadership role which will oversee the development of the next generation of metals, working with both UK manufacturing and academia.

Sheffield is an important national hub for advanced manufacturing, with a history of steelmaking and advanced manufacturing - solving materials challenges will remain central to this endeavour and Kathy’s depth of knowledge, experience and her enthusiasm will build on the excellent Royce reputation developed by Martin.

Prof. David Knowles

CEO Henry Royce Institute

We greatly look forward to what Prof. Christofidou will bring to this position and the team at Royce at the University of Sheffield, and take this opportunity to thank Prof. Martin Jackson profusely for all he has done for the research area in his three years as lead.

Professor Martin Jackson

Yunus Azakli advances to Technology Platform Lead in the area of Materials Discovery and Prototyping at Royce at the University of Sheffield

Yunus Azakli

Furthermore, we are very proud to announce that Dr. Yunus Azakli will be succeeding Prof. Christofidou’s former position of Technology Platform Lead in Materials Discovery and Prototyping. 

I’ve never met anyone as talented and knowledgeable as Yunus Azakli when it comes to alloy melting.  From nuclear steels, high temperature refractory alloys through to next generation automotive materials, Yunus has been the unsung hero of the Royce over the last few years: always willing to provide world-class underpinning expertise that has enabled so many researchers and academics in the UK and beyond to publish their work and achieve grant capture.

Prof. Martin Jackson

University of Sheffield

Dr. Azakli is already a key member of the Royce at the University of Sheffield team in the realms of alloy development and will bring his vast knowledge, skills, experience and energy into this role as we continue realising the vast opportunities for novel alloys.

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