Within the Materials Science and Engineering research cluster at the University of Dundee, Dr. Jones supports industrially driven research by investigating new manufacturing techniques and processes (£0.5 M, EP/Y024974/1). His main focus is on metal continuous casting, which is the large scale (1 - 100 ton) manufacture of metals, with the goal to improve casting-ability and to explore new alloy production methods. 

He utilises computational techniques based around finite analysis, montecarlo potts, phase-field, with softwares Ansys and FEniCS; and employs machine learning techniques, to predict manufacturing behaviours in terms of heat transport and metal solidification. With this, he has contributed to defect reduction with industrial partners and supported industry to maintain leading edge technological capabilities. 

Dr. Jones has expertise developing new manufacturing techniques and processes, which implement devices such as Laser, additive manufacturing (3-D printing and inkjet) and traditional metal casting. From this he has implemented innovative light-assisted processing for the development of microelectronics onto surfaces, enabling the realisation of ‘smart-devices’, such as sensors within fabrics, antimicrobial coatings on metal surfaces and additive manufactured materials, such as polymers and ceramics.

Dr. Jones supervises PhD students who projects past and present include investigating metals and their production; high-efficiency, novel fuel cell development; novel solar cell synthesis; the inkjet-printing of highly conductive Noble metals; the investigation of corrosion resistant coatings; and the synthesis of antimicrobial coatings in catheters using unique nanoparticle formulations. He also oversees MSc and BSc student honours projects.

Dr. Jones’s research is closely tied to industrial developments and supported by UKRI and private sector organisations:

• metal continuous casting, developing computer models of industrial processes for industry 4.0.
• chemical sensors, investigating novel DNA extraction methods for pathogen detection;
• the Printed Circuit Board industry, developing original electrochemical manufacturing techniques and Ultrasound medical imaging devices;
• Microelectronics, the implementation of additive manufacturing of electronics features and devices.

Dr. Thomas D.A. Jones is a Baxter Fellow (Lecturer), in the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Business, at the University of Dundee. His duties are divided between teaching (module lead), research and administration. He lectures and master module on Advanced Manufacturing and undergraduate modules on Materials Science and Circuits; he contributes to admin as as exam officer and has a history of materials cluster research lead; and delivers research on the development of innovative production techniques and materials for industry.

Dr. Jones received a Bachelors of Science degree in Nanoscience from Heriot-Watt University, UK, in 2011, a masters of science in Nanoelectronics and Mechanics from the University of Sheffield, UK, in 2012, an Engineering Doctorate in Photonics and Optics Technologies from Heriot-Watt University, UK, in 2017, and a PgCert in Academic Practice (Associate) from the University of Dundee, 2019.

• Research Engineer for the Printed Circuit Board Manufacturer, Merlin PCB, UK, (2015 and 2017), on the delivery of innovative electronics devices for medical applications and the development of new manufacturing techniques/processes.
• Post-doctorate Researcher, Heriot-University, (2017 – 2018), working to improve direct metallisation techniques onto high value, additive manufactured polymer substrates for circuitry formation.
• Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP), the University of Dundee and Rautomead Ltd, UK (2018 – 2020). Improved on existing and new manufacturing processes using Finite Volume simulation models (Ansys FluentTM) of computation fluid dynamics (CFD) in metal casting processes.
• Baxter Fellow (Lecturer Teaching and Research), University of Dundee, (2020 – onwards).