Daniel Eakins

Dr. Daniel Eakins is a Professor of Engineering Science and Associate Head of Department (Graduates) at the University of Oxford. He serves as Director of the Rolls-Royce UTC for Solid Mechanics and holds affiliations with Wadham College. His research focuses on extreme materials science, shock physics, and dynamic measurement techniques, utilizing advanced X-ray imaging and laser-driven experiments. He leads investigations into material behavior under extreme conditions, including porous/cellular materials and heterogeneous systems. Key roles include Deputy Director of the Institute of Shock Physics (Imperial College London) and Magnesium Fellowship at Oxford. Awards include the Director’s Postdoctoral Fellowship at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Education:

• PhD in Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology (2007)
• Director’s Postdoctoral Fellowship, Los Alamos National Laboratory (2007-2010)

Research Interests:

• Dynamic material behavior under shock loading
• X-ray imaging techniques for material characterization
• Additive manufacturing lattices and granular mixtures
• Thermodynamic phase transitions under high pressures

His work bridges experimental and computational approaches, with contributions to synchrotron-based imaging and electric gun design for hypervelocity studies.

Awards & Fellowships:

• Director’s Postdoctoral Fellowship, Los Alamos National Laboratory
• Magnesium Fellowship, University of Oxford (2017)

Labs & Teams: Director of the Rolls-Royce UTC for Solid Mechanics. Collaborations include European XFEL and ESRF synchrotron facilities.