Biographical note

Professor Alexander Korsunsky is a world-leader in mechanical microscopy and rich tomography of materials systems and structures for the optimisation of design, durability and performance. He heads the Multi-Beam Laboratory for Engineering Microscopy (MBLEM) in the University of Oxford, and the Centre for In situ Processing Science (CIPS) in the Research Complex at Harwell Oxford. He consults Rolls-Royce plc on matters of residual stress and structural integrity, and is Editor-in-Chief of Materials & Design. In the last two decades, Alexander Korsunsky has been the most active proponent of eigenstrain theory for the analysis of inelastic deformation and residual stresses in materials and components. He teaches widely across the world, and each year gives several keynote and plenary lectures at major international conferences on engineering and materials. The broader context of Prof Korsunsky’s research interests concern improving the understanding of integrity and reliability of engineered and natural structures and systems, from high-performance metallic alloys to polycrystalline ceramics to natural hard tissues, such as human dentin and seashell nacre. He has co-authored books on fracture mechanics and elasticity and has published over 300 papers in scholarly periodicals on subjects ranging from multi-modal microscopy, neutron and synchrotron X-ray analysis, contact mechanics and structural integrity to micro-cantilever bio-sensors, size effects, and scaling transitions. Prof Korsunsky plays a leading role in the development of large-scale research facilities in the UK and Europe. He has chaired the Science Advisory Committee at Diamond Light Source, and is member of UK delegation to ESRF Council. His activities expand the range of applications of large-scale science to problems in real engineering practice. Prof Korsunsky’s research has received support from EPSRC and STFC (major UK Research Councils), the European Commission, the Royal Society, Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng), CNRS (France), DFG (Germany), NRF (South Africa), and other international research foundations, as well as industrial partners, such as Rolls-Royce, Oxford Instruments, and Tescan-Orsay.