Ben’s academic career started by completing an MChem in Chemistry degree at the University of St Andrews, graduating in June 2021 with First Class honours. During this time, Ben undertook an industrial placement year at the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, supervised by Dr Alexandra Gibbs, to establish structure-property relationships in layered perovskites using neutron powder diffraction techniques.

In October 2021, Ben started his PhD in Chemistry at the University of Warwick under the supervision of Dr Mark Senn, which was successfully defended in May 2025 and graduated in July 2025. In his thesis “Symmetry-motivated analysis of charge and orbital order in perovskites”, Ben explored both ubiquitous and novel manganite perovskite systems that demonstrate complex, strongly correlated interplays between structural, electronic and magnetic degrees of freedom. A crucial theme of his thesis was utilising crystallographic analysis methods of symmetry mode analysis, in conjunction with Landau theory, to rationalise the mechanisms through which symmetry-breaking phase transitions due to charge, orbital and magnetic order occur by. From this, Ben had honed his craft in using synchrotron X-ray and neutron powder diffraction techniques, and developed strong skills in X-ray total scattering (PDF) analysis.

In August 2025, Ben began his Research Associate position within the MOSAIC group at the University of Sheffield. Supervised by Dr Lewis Owen, the role aims to characterise the local structure of dielectric materials, using X-ray PDF, neutron PDF and microscopy techniques, for high voltage applications in order to pinpoint the structural mechanisms for their intriguing physical properties. The role contains strong collaboration with Professor Derek Sinclair and Professor Ian Reaney (University of Sheffield), Dr Ge Wang (University of Manchester) and Professor Richard Beanland (University of Warwick).  

Outside of academia, Ben is a keen golfer, boulderer, hiker, and in general enjoys being outside exploring the peaks, countryside and coast.