James Marrow

Professor James Marrow holds the James Martin Professorship in Energy Materials at the University of Oxford, serving concurrently as Acting Head of Department, Associate Head of Department (Teaching), and Partner Lead for the Henry Royce Institute. His research bridges fundamental materials science with critical energy infrastructure needs, focusing on structural materials for nuclear and electrical storage applications.

His primary research investigates degradation mechanisms through microstructural analysis using advanced techniques:

• 3D X-ray computed tomography for volumetric damage imaging
• Digital image correlation for quantitative strain mapping
• Synchrotron/neutron diffraction for crystal-scale strain measurement
• Electron microscopy with EBSD for high-resolution microstructural characterization

Professor Marrow applies these methods to develop graphite and silicon carbide composites for Generation IV nuclear reactors and novel electrical energy storage materials. He emphasizes the 15-20 year development cycles required for energy materials, which must then perform reliably for 40-80 years in service—necessitating deep understanding of aging mechanisms to avoid catastrophic performance failures.

In his leadership capacity, he oversees academic operations and teaching within the department while representing Oxford in the national Henry Royce Institute consortium, driving collaborative research in advanced materials for energy applications.