Featured Experts

Dr. Giles Blundred joined Lucideon in May 2007 and is an X-ray diffraction scientist specializing in XRD and the primary characterization of material properties. He holds an honors degree in Chemistry and Geology and a PhD in solid state chemistry, and has worked in the XRD field since 1998.

Before joining Lucideon, Giles spent two years in postdoctoral research at the University of Liverpool, working on the metal hydride reduction of mixed metal oxides. He has extensive experience in crystallographic structure and quantitative diffraction analysis, with particular expertise in traditional aluminosilicate-based ceramics, novel oxide-based materials, doped calcium phosphates, plastics, and electro-ceramics.

Giles is responsible for running Lucideon’s Bruker D8 Advance X-ray Diffractometer and supporting XRD testing work across a range of materials.

Joanne Booth is Business Manager for Construction at Lucideon, specializing in structural testing. She holds a degree in Construction Management from the University of Wolverhampton and is responsible for Lucideon’s structural testing services.

Her work covers a wide range of construction products, including reinforced concrete, aluminum and steel roofing, wall ties, straps, hangers, and masonry. This work supports standards compliance, certification, and product development across the construction sector.

Joanne's expertise includes large-scale roof testing and system build testing. During her 25-year career in the construction industry, she has worked with manufacturers and accredited bodies to develop new industry-accepted test methods and has written and presented papers on masonry, timber, concrete, and related topics.

Dr. Mark Cresswell joined Lucideon in October 2012 and is Business Manager for Formulations. A Chartered Chemist with a PhD, he specializes in synthetic chemistry, materials chemistry, sol-gel chemistry, formulation science, and controlled release technologies.

Mark works with the Formulations team to manage active projects and supports the commercial team by scoping new opportunities, developing statements of work, and planning budgets and resources.

He has contributed to the development of Lucideon’s iCRT controlled release technology platform and supports research programs and client projects across pharmaceuticals, consumer health, agrichemicals, and advanced ceramics.

Craig Donald joined Lucideon in August 2015 and is Head of Analysis and Evaluation. He specializes in organic chemistry and pharmaceuticals and holds a first-class BSc (Hons) in Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry from the University of Glasgow. He is also Lean Sigma Black Belt accredited.

Before joining Lucideon, Craig spent 19 years with AstraZeneca, working primarily in oncology and cardiovascular research. He later performed various project leadership and continuous improvement roles across the business.

Craig leads Lucideon’s UK Analysis and Evaluation department, overseeing more than 60 scientists, technicians, and support colleagues. His role focuses on operational performance, people development, and process improvement. He has more than 27 years of technical experience and is the author of more than 20 publications, including patents, papers, and book chapters.

Outside of work, Craig is a rugby enthusiast, follows Scotland and Glasgow Warriors, and enjoys walking the family dogs.

Mark Dudson joined Lucideon in autumn 2019 and is Director of Special Projects. He holds an MBA from Warwick Business School, a degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and a diploma in Ceramic Technology.

Before joining Lucideon, Mark held technical, R&D, and operations director roles in the UK ceramic tableware manufacturing sector. His experience includes ERP implementation, ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 accreditation, factory layout design, process automation, and the integration of an acquired European ceramics operation into a UK business.

Mark coordinates the growth of Lucideon's global ceramic consulting capability, supporting project delivery, team updates, and strategic development. He has also contributed to technology advisory boards and was involved in the installation of the Flexible Flatware system, a concept originally proven by CERAM Research, now Lucideon.

Outside of work, Mark enjoys sailing and home technology projects. He has also seen a Space Shuttle launch and hopes to see further rocket launches, including a future launch from UK soil.

Dr. Geoff Edgell joined Lucideon in August 1976 and is a Director and Principal Consultant specializing in construction, particularly masonry construction. He began his career as a research worker in masonry before moving into consultancy.

Geoff holds a BSc and PhD and is a member of the Lucideon Limited Board. He is also a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers and plays an active role in national and European standards work for masonry products, masonry design, and related test methods.

His consultancy work includes support for trade literature, regulatory consistency, and work programs to support product claims and CE or UKCA marking. Outside of work, Geoff is a keen swimmer.

Dr. Carolyn Grimley joined Lucideon as a Commercial Engineer in Ceramics and is Manager, US Advanced Materials. She specializes in ceramic processing and characterization and holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Virginia and a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from North Carolina State University.

Carolyn supports the development of Lucideon’s ceramics expertise in the United States, providing technical input across the processing and characterization of ceramic materials. Her work also includes supporting the US arm of Lucideon’s Field Enhanced Sintering team.

Her technical interests include novel sintering techniques and microstructural optimization in technical ceramics.

Rosie Jones joined Lucideon in March 2019 as a Pharmaceutical Microbiologist and has since progressed to the role of Microbiology Delivery Manager. She holds a BSc in Biology and held previous roles in a QC Microbiology testing lab, gathering extensive industry experience in pharmaceutical microbiology.

In her current role, Rosie is responsible for supporting the coordination of the microbiology laboratory and team, ensuring the successful delivery of a wide range of client projects and routine testing. Her expertise encompasses numerous microbiological testing disciplines, including sterility testing, microbial limits testing, microbial identification, and environmental monitoring, performed in accordance with a variety of recognized test methods and industry standards.

Outside of work, Rosie enjoys spending time outdoors and with her dogs.

Gary W. Kagel joined Lucideon in November 2006 and is Senior Chemist for Analytical Chemistry. He holds an MS in Chemistry and has more than 30 years of experience working in regulated environments, including FDA, EPA, ISO, nuclear, and aerospace settings.

Gary’s role includes electron microprobe analysis and coordination of safety programs across Lucideon’s Greenville, Raleigh, and Schenectady sites. His experience supports analytical work in regulated and technically demanding sectors.

He is a member of ASM International, the American Chemical Society, Microanalysis Society, and the Microscopy Society of America. He serves on the executive committee of his local ASM chapter. Outside of work, Gary enjoys hiking, fishing, and gardening when family commitments, men’s ministries, and dog ownership allows.

Dr. Robert F. Kraus joined the Lucideon team as Mechanical Testing Technical Leader in 2018 and is Manager, Physical Testing. He specializes in corrosion and physical test operations and holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York.

Based in Schenectady, New York, Bob’s role includes administering the SCC Corrosion Lab and supporting the effective operation of the Creep Testing Lab.

Bob has more than three decades of experience in the field, including a background as an electrical power generator design engineer at General Electric in Schenectady. His current role marks his second period with Lucideon, having previously worked in the mechanical test group from 1988 to 2005.

Stuart Maclachlan joined Lucideon in January 1999 and is Director of R&D. He specializes in collaborative R&D project development and management, materials strategy, and Lucideon’s MIDAR technology.

Stuart holds a BSc (Hons) in Materials Science and Technology, an MSc in Physical Metallurgy focused on the oxidation of austenitic stainless steels, and an MBA. His work supports emerging ceramic technology themes, AMRICC activities, and collaborative project development.

His role includes developing and writing proposals for collaborative R&D projects, many of which are funded through organizations such as UK Research and Innovation, Innovate UK, and the European Commission’s Horizon program. He also supports exploitation strategies for new and emerging technologies.

Outside of work, Stuart has continued learning Spanish online and is planning trips to test his progress in real-life settings.

Karen Nash joined Lucideon in March 2021 as Development Microbiologist. She specializes in microbiology and has more than 29 years of experience, including senior roles in pharmaceutical microbiology contract laboratory environments.

Before joining Lucideon, Karen was General Manager at a pharmaceutical microbiology contract laboratory, where she managed site operations across microbiological testing, quality assurance, and safety. Her earlier career included laboratory management and research roles in food and pharmaceutical sectors, as well as work with the HSE and the University of Manchester.

Karen holds a BSc in Microbiology from the University of Sheffield and an MSc in Medical Mycology from the University of Manchester. At Lucideon, she focuses on client microbiology projects, including cleaning and sterilization projects that may involve chemical analysis such as TOC and protein analysis.

Karen is an active member of the Royal Society of Biology. Outside of work, she enjoys dancing, yoga, and birdwatching, and is a member of the RSPB.

Dr. Pareen Patel joined Lucideon in 2019 and is Head of Chemistry. He holds a PhD in Analytical Chemistry, is a Chartered Chemist through the Royal Society of Chemistry, and is also a qualified project manager.

Before joining Lucideon, Pareen worked in the nuclear industry, specializing in inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. He later gained project management qualifications and moved into operations management roles.

Based in Stone, Pareen leads Lucideon’s chemistry business unit within the Analysis and Evaluation department. He supports clients across aerospace and defence, ceramics, construction, energy, and healthcare.

Dr Alan Paul joined Lucideon in 2002, after part of the surface science group at UMIST was spun out as a private company, providing commercial analytical and consultancy services, was acquired by Lucideon. He currently works in the Surface Science Group as Operations Manager and Surface Analyst. He has a PhD in X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and has considerable expertise in other surface analysis techniques such as Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToFSIMS).

He is an analytical chemist specialising in the surface characterisation of materials and has spent the last 35 years working for clients worldwide in a diverse range of industry sectors such as Healthcare, Pharmaceutical, Automotive, Aerospace, Packaging/Printing.  His day-to-day role regularly includes product testing, quality control, problem-solving, failure analysis, new product development and consultancy.

Dr. David Pearmain is Business Manager for Technology Engagement and Partnerships at Lucideon. He has over a decade of experience in technology development and commercialization, with particular expertise in sintering technologies. He establishes strategic partnerships in line with the AMRICC Centre to develop material and process technologies through the TRLs to manufacturing scale and industry adoption.

David holds an MSc in Physics and a PhD in Nanophysics from the University of Birmingham, as well as a diploma in Applied Business Management from Warwick Business School. During his PhD, he used aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy to characterize nanoparticles for catalytic applications in the automotive industry.

David has led Lucideon’s Flash Sintering team since its early development. His experience includes publicly funded projects through Innovate UK, the Strength in Places Fund, and the Regional Growth Fund, as well as academic collaborations and commercial work across advanced and traditional ceramics.

Outside of work David enjoys bouldering and triathlons, keeping him very busy most of the year round.

Dr. Sara Randall joined Lucideon in October 2010 and is Technology Lead for Materials Science. She specializes in materials science and engineering and holds a BSc from Virginia Tech and a PhD from the University of Florida, where her dissertation focused on the metastable liquid immiscibility of Fe-Cu alloys using electromagnetic levitation.

Sara manages the metallurgical and mechanical teams and leads the Greenville operations team. She provides technical leadership, training, and guidance to engineers, works with commercial colleagues to define client project scopes, and supports quality assurance activities.

Before joining Lucideon, Sara worked at AVX, where she coordinated scale-up and managed a multi-shift pilot operation supplying ceramic slip and metal inks for high-CV ceramic multilayer capacitors. She also worked on thin-film termination systems and, in an engineering consultancy role, carried out failure analysis and developed testing for stress corrosion cracking and hydrogen embrittlement.

Sara has taught science labs at elementary school level, completed postdoctoral research at the University of Florida, and has several publications and one patent. Outside of work, she has two children and is an ordained ruling elder for PC-USA.

Dr. Virtudes Rubio joined Lucideon in February 2026 as Head of Advanced Materials, bringing 14 years of experience in ceramic matrix composite materials across industry and academia. Her background includes work at the University of Birmingham and the National Composites Centre.

At Lucideon, Virtudes is responsible for project review, resolving technical challenges, and contributing to company strategy, with a focus on advanced materials and ceramic matrix composite technologies.

Dr. Gebre Tadesse joined Lucideon in July 2013 and is a Microscopist specializing in the characterization of material microstructures, surfaces, and failure analysis. He holds a PhD in Geochemistry, alongside MSc and BSc degrees, and has more than 16 years of experience in the field.

Gebre’s technical expertise spans electron and optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, optical interferometry, ceramic materials hardness testing, and failure analysis.

Before and during his time at Lucideon, Gebre has worked on research and development projects focused on sustainable products and processing techniques. This has included the synthesis and characterization of high-temperature minerals, delamination and acid leaching of clays for composite use, and laboratory-based characterization of materials, minerals, and products.

Outside of work, Gebre enjoys camping, walking, swimming, and playing football.

Laura Taylor joined Lucideon in February 2023 and is Head of Quality. She has a background in pharmaceutical and healthcare product development and process technology, with experience across new product development, regulatory submissions, analytical equipment qualification, and manufacturing process improvement.

Before joining Lucideon, Laura spent ten years in the FMCG healthcare sector. Her roles included leading a team of process technologists, performing process and cleaning validation, leading technology transfers, and supporting root cause analysis within a healthcare manufacturing facility.

Laura holds an MChem in Chemistry from the University of York. At Lucideon, she leads the Quality team across ISO 17025 and GMP quality management systems, hosts regulatory and client audits, and supports client environmental monitoring qualification projects.

Dr. Dominic Wadkin-Snaith joined Lucideon in August 2024 and is Head of Data Science and Computational Modelling. He specializes in materials science, with a particular focus on polymers and computational modeling, and holds an MSc and PhD in Theoretical Physics from the University of Birmingham.

Dominic has more than a decade of experience in the field. His research has focused on the physics of polymers, including atomistic modeling to predict solubility and mechanical properties, coarse-grained simulations of crystallization, and finite element modeling of polymer, ceramic, and composite systems.

At Lucideon, Dominic leads the Data Science and Computational Modelling team. His role includes solving client project challenges, developing and executing advanced simulations, supporting commercial activity, and mentoring colleagues.

Outside of work, Dominic is a climber and outdoor enthusiast. He has traveled widely to pursue bouldering and can often be found climbing, hiking, or mountain biking in the Peak District.

Elaine West joined Lucideon in April 2026, bringing more than 20 years of expertise in nuclear materials testing and advanced characterization. She holds a PhD in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Michigan, where she focused on the behavior and performance of materials in irradiation environments.

Before joining Lucideon, Elaine spent much of her career at the Naval Nuclear Laboratory. Her roles included serving as an engineer supporting stress corrosion cracking and corrosion‑fatigue testing, managing an advanced characterization laboratory, and working as an Advisor Engineer for irradiation test programs and post‑irradiation mechanical testing.

Outside of her technical work, Elaine enjoys reading, gardening, marathon training, traveling, and adventures with her family.

Dr. Richard White joined Lucideon in November 1989, when the organization was still known as British Ceramic Research Limited. He began as manager of the microstructure section, covering microscopy and XRD, before progressing into testing leadership and his current role as Principal Consultant for Materials.

Richard’s career has focused on understanding how the relationship between materials and processing affects the structure and performance of ceramics. His work spans large commercial contracts in defense and nuclear applications, medical device projects involving regulatory submissions to the US FDA for hydroxyapatite-coated implants, and consultancy assignments.

Richard is also involved in Lucideon’s activities in the Japanese market and sits on a range of standardization bodies covering ceramics, including medical devices, refractories, technical ceramics, construction materials, and tableware. As a Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining, he also sits on the Ceramic Science Committee and the Defence, Security and Safety Committee.

Richard occasionally acts as an expert witness on legal projects and once had dinner cooked for him by a Thai princess.

Prof. Xiang Zhang joined Lucideon in 2010 and is Principal Consultant and Head of Medical Materials. He specializes in materials science and completed his PhD and postdoctoral research at Cranfield University, focusing on materials physics, nano- and micro-mechanics, and fracture mechanics of polymeric hybrid materials.

Following four years of industrial research, Xiang was awarded an industrial fellowship at the University of Cambridge in 1995, where he carried out pioneering research in fundamental nano-mechanics and fracture mechanics. In 2012, he became the first scientist to be awarded the title of Royal Society Industry Fellow at the University of Cambridge.

With more than 40 years of combined academic and industrial experience, Xiang is recognized for expertise in materials for aerospace, medical implants, and medical technologies, as well as polymers and polymeric hybrid materials.

Xiang’s recent work includes developing lightweight thermoplastic composites based on high-performance poly(ether ketone ketone) for applications including additive manufacturing, aerospace, humanoid robotics, batteries, and transportation. He currently serves as Head of the Lucideon Cambridge School of Advanced Materials and Head of Medical Materials and Devices.