Dr Hugh P. Rice

Profile

Analysis of complex datasets using state-of-the-art techniques and the commensurate bespoke code development are themes running through my research.

Since 2022 I have been a member of the SIPHER research consortium (details here: https://sipher.ac.uk/).

From 2019-2022 I was a member of the Design Configuration Spaces (DCS) project (details here: https://configuration-spaces.leeds.ac.uk/design-config-spaces/) in the School of Mechanical Engineering, my role in which was to develop the mathematical tools necessary to represent multiple design of engineering products in a single data structure, and to implement those tools in a software prototype, StrEmbed (available here: https://github.com/paddy-r/StrEmbed-5-6).

Between 2012 and 2019 I was a postdoctoral research fellow in the School of Chemical and Process Engineering (formerly the School of Process, Environmental and Materials Engineering), after finishing my Ph.D. studies.

Previous to my Ph.D. I worked as an accelerator physicist, with a particular focus on accelerator design and electron beam dynamics, at Daresbury Laboratory (STFC), and before that as a higher scientific officer for the Radiation Protection Division of the Health Protection Agency (now part of UKHSA), concentrating on the radiological assessment and remediation of contaminated land and food production systems.

Research interests

Most recently I have joined the SIPHER research consortium in the School of Geography. I was a member of the Design Configurations Spaces research consortium based in the School of Mechanical Engineering (2019-2022), and previous to that my research focused oncharacterisation of complex multiphase liquid-solid flows, in particular on nuclear-analogue suspensions, with a view to providing solutions to the challenges associated with the transport, processing and disposal of nuclear waste.

There follows a short, non-exhaustive list of research topics in which I have an interest.

• Investigation of the effect of policy implementations on the physical and mental wellbeing of populations via multi-agent modelling (SIPHER consortium, School of Geography, 2022-2024)
• Mathematical methods (set and order lattice theory) and software development (Python, Perl) for design configuration spaces to aid the design user experience (DCS project, School of Mechanical Engineering, 2019-2022)
• Characterisation of complex flows and suspensions (various projects, School of Chemical and Process Engineering, 2012-2019)
  • Measurement of suspended particle concentration in arbitrary flows using an acoustic dual-frequency inversion method
  • In-line rheometry for high-viscosity flows using a combined acoustic velocimetry/pressure-drop method
  • Measurement and modelling of critical deposition velocity in pipe flow using an acoustic backscatter method for bed depth identification
  • Categorisation of bedforms (stationary/moving beds of solid particles) in multiphase pipe flow
  • Measurement of thermophysical properties of nanoparticle suspension via speed of sound variations

Qualifications

• Ph.D. Leeds
• M.Sc. Manchester
• M.Phys. Leeds

Student education

I have contributed to a number of undergraduate and postgraduate modules, including as a demonstrator (mathematical skills, numerical techniques, programming), tutor/marker (engineering project design for undergraduates, assistance with research students) and speaker (nuclear waste management, sustainable energy systems, acoustic characterisation techniques).

Research groups and institutes

• Nuclear Leeds