Research Interests

Dr Andrew Parker is a Senior Research Associate with a wide range of interests and experience. His research is focused on applied gamma-ray detection and its use in nuclear decommissioning techniques, environmental radionuclide monitoring, and radiation detection and characterisation. Andrew started his research career by receiving a distinction on the prestigious Sir John Fisher Foundation MSc by Research (2010) then completing a Nuclear Decommissioning Authority sponsored PhD (2014) at the School of Engineering, Lancaster University. During his PhD, he was twice nominated for the Faculty of Science and Technology’s Dean’s Award.

Andrew’s current role is a researcher on Work Package 1 of the Autonomous Inspection for Responsive Sustainable Nuclear Fuel Manufacture (AIRS-NFM, EP/V051059/1, £1.9M). In this Work Package he works closely with industrial partners (Westinghouse Springfields Nuclear Fuels, and the National Nuclear Laboratory) to develop passive gamma-ray detection techniques to measure uranium enrichment in nuclear fuel pellets. He has previously been part of a £250k EPSRC funded project (REACTION, EP/T013532/1) developing radiation tolerant criticality monitoring instrumentation and a £50k NERC funded project to detect tritium in aqueous media (DERiVATE ST/W001810/1), amongst others.

Andrew led a successful £17k application to National Nuclear Users Facility’s 12^th funding call in 2023. The project, entitled ‘the Fast non-destructive characterisation of nuclear fuel pellets via hyperspectral imaging (National Nuclear Users Facility, £17k), aims to assess the viability of using hyperspectral cameras in post-irradiation examination. It is collaboration with the colleagues at University of Strathclyde. In addition, he been awarded >£20k in Impact Accelerator, Early Career, and Travel grants.

Prior to returning to Lancaster in 2020, Andrew was a Lecturer of Radiation Protection and Nuclear Science at the University of Cumbira (2014-2017) where he was module leader on several undergraduate teaching modules. At UoC, he was Co-Investigator and academic lead on the successful bid to setup up the Centre for Innovative Nuclear Decommissioning (CINDe, £250k), a Doctoral scheme embedding research students at NNL Workington. During his time at UoC, Andrew completed a PgC in Academic Practice and became a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

In addition to research, Andrew has a demonstrable track record in research assessment management. He worked as REF Project Manager on the University of Central Lancashire’s (UCLan) successful REF2021 submission from 2017-2020. Andrew’s contribution included lead the institutions Annual Research Assessment, developing performance modelling, and delivering in-person updates to Senior University Management. As a result of the UCLan climbed 10 places in the THE league table, from its 2014 position.