James Le Houx Email & Phone Number

Harwell, England, United Kingdom

Joint appointment between the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source and the Faraday Institution to lead battery research across the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL).Working across ISIS, the Diamond Light Source and the Central Laser Facilities, my role is to use a combination of neutrons, muons, photons and electrons to tackle some of the most pressing issues in battery science, such as improving performance, safety, and sustainability. I collaborate across the 27 partner universities of the Faraday Institution, and engage with industrial and government partners.

Harwell Campus, England, United Kingdom

Collaboration across the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, the Diamond Light Source, and the Central Laser Facilities, to develop experimental capability in battery research. Supporting the development of scattering tomography (XRD-CT, PDF-CT, 3DXRD) techniques at Diamond.

Harwell Campus, England, United Kingdom

Working across the imaging and crystallography science groups, representing 11 scientific instruments. My role was leading technique development for scattering tomography techniques (Tomo-SAXS, XRD-CT, 3DXRD, PDF-CT) and working in close collaboration with the NXCT (National X-ray Computed Tomography) consortium, consisting of the University of Manchester, University of Southampton, University of Warwick and University College London (UCL). I led my own research group developing operando battery characterisation techniques, and worked closely with the Faraday Institution.

Harwell Campus, England, United Kingdom

Research position at the Dual Imaging And Diffraction (DIAD, K11) beamline, disseminating OpenImpala to a wide range of users. Creating an automated, operando pipeline for the reconstruction, segmentation and simulation of tomographic data for beamline users. Development of documentation, set-up of continuous integration and engaging with users to assist with experiments.

Southampton, England, United Kingdom

Visiting fellow agreement to collaborate with the School of Engineering on synchrotron research and energy materials.

Kensington, England, United Kingdom

Collaboration agreement across the Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering and Materials departments as part of the INFUSE project

Southampton, United Kingdom

Founded my own spinout which involved consulting for government organisations and SMEs, and leading a team of researchers. Experience performing feasibility studies on deploying technology across the TRL scale, organising workshops with industrial experts for stakeholders and writing technical reviews.Experience as a consulant researcher, adding value to client's patents through technical reports and advanced simulation techniques.

Advanced characterisation techniques of lithium-ion batteries. Utilising micro-CT images of battery electrodes to characterise performance, this uses OpenImpala, my own C++/Fortran code, that calculates transport coefficients for multi-phase porous structures (electrodes). Management and use of a 12-step lithium-ion pouch cell manufacturing line.

Returning to Xtrac as a graduate, I undertook a role with more responsibility, leading a high profile design project for use in motorsport. In this role I: schemed and designed the entire assembly, including a complex hydraulic assembly; led a team of four engineers, managing the distribution of detailing and production work; and maintained a close working relationship with the customer.

Worked on two high profile motorsport projects. These involved working in small design teams of around four people, meaning I was often tasked with the design of complex components including: pump systems, hydraulic systems and CNC machined end covers. I was heavily involved in the upgrade process of the CAD system, tailoring the new training course for company specific tasks, working in the testing team to identify new problems and acting as the first point of contact during the implementation of the new system.

Meng Mechanical Engineering/ Automotive, 1St Class

Activities and Societies: Southampton University Formula Student Team

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Energy Storage (Lithium Ion Batteries), Pass