People

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Research interests

  • Flexible and reconfigurable production technologies.
  • Laser beam monitoring and control
  • Ultrafast laser matter interactions
  • Dynamics of micro and macro laser cutting
  • Rapid manufacturing technologies
  • Ultrahigh velocity particulate impacts
  • Nanoscale fabrication technologies
  • Engineering systems for synthetic biological applications
  • Micro engineered medical therapeutics

 

Current situation

Professor William (Bill) O'Neill is an academic and researcher at the University of Cambridge, where he serves as the Professor of Laser Engineering and Director of the Centre for Industrial Photonics. He is internationally recognised for his contributions to the fields of laser technology, materials processing, and advanced manufacturing.

 

He is a graduate of the Department of Physics, University of Essex, (Applied Physics B.Sc (Hons) 1985), (Laser Physics MSc, 1986) and The Royal School of Mines, Imperial College London (Laser matter interactions, PhD, DIC, 1990). He has since held various academic positions: Royal Society BOC Gases Research Fellow, University of Liverpool 1991-1994; Lecturer, University of Liverpool, 1994-1998; EPSRC Advanced Research Fellow, University of Liverpool, 1998 -2003. He joined the Institute for Manufacturing at Cambridge in 2003 and established the Centre for Industrial Photonics, working closely with industry partners to bring cutting-edge laser technologies from research labs to commercial applications.

 

His current research focuses on developing: innovative laser-based techniques for ultra-precision engineering; ultra-fast pulsed laser deposition of transition metal oxide thin films; high throughput array and phase-controlled laser powder bed additive manufacturing; laser assisted cold spray for large scale additive manufacturing; reduced hydrogen outgassing of high energy microwave systems through laser induced microstructural surface modifications; and enhanced field emission from carbon nanotubes for low earth orbit electric satellite propulsion.   His work has significant applications across industries, including space, aerospace, process, automotive, bio-medical, and electronics.

 

In addition to his academic achievements, Prof. O'Neill is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Institute of Physics, and the Laser Institute of America. He holds multiple patents related to laser technologies and materials processing. He is also an active consultant for major international companies.  His work bridges the gap between academia and industry, contributing to the advancement of next generation manufacturing capabilities.

 

 

Publications

You can view a list of Bill O'Neill's publications on the Research Gate website.

Contact Details

T: +44 (0) 1223 764834
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