Christopher Hobbs is Professor in Science and International Security at King’s College London, within the Department of War Studies. He was previously Director of the King’s Institute for Applied Security Studies (KIASS) and Co-Director of the Centre for Science and Security Studies (CSSS). A scientist by training he holds a PhD in physics from the University of London and a MPhys from Oxford University.

His research encompasses nuclear security, non-proliferation, supply chain security issues, as well as the use of open-source information for investigative and intelligence purposes. Professor Hobbs has long record of engagement with the policy community and industry, including executive education, professional development and advisory activities. He currently serves a Director of the UK’s Nuclear Security Capacity Building Programme (NSCBP), a government-academic-industry initiative focused on reducing global nuclear security risks. Previously he led the UK’s Nuclear Security Culture Programme (NSCP), from 2014 to 2022.

Professor Hobbs is a member of the Executive Advisory Board for the International Nuclear Security Forum (INSF), an Associate Fellow of Advance HE, an Academic Expert Fellow at SPRITE+ and is a former Chair of the International Nuclear Security Education Network (INSEN).

Research

• Nuclear Security
• WMD Proliferation
• CBRN Terrorism and Counter-terrorism
• Insider Threats and Security Culture
• Supply Chain Security
• Open Source Intelligence and Investigation

Recent Teaching

• Science and Security of Nuclear and Biological Weapons (MA)
• Current Issues in Science and Security (MA)
• Armchair Intelligence: Open Sources and Online Investigation (MA)
• CBRN Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism (MA)

Professor Hobbs is currently on sabbatical and unable to provide additional PhD supervision until September 2026.

Publications

Books

• ‘The Oxford Handbook of Nuclear Security’ (Oxford University Press, 2024) [with Sarah Tzinieris and Sukesh Aghara].
• ‘Trust in Nuclear Disarmament Verification’ (Palgrave Macmillan, 2018) [with Wyn Bowen, Hassan Elbahtimy and Matthew Moran].

• ‘Open Source Intelligence in the Twenty-First Century: New Approaches and Opportunities’ (Palgrave Macmillan, 2014) [with Matthew Moran and Daniel Salisbury].
• ‘Exploring Regional Responses to a Nuclear Iran: Nuclear Dominoes?’ (Palgrave Macmillan, 2013) [with Matthew Moran].

Articles and book chapters (selected)

• ‘Securing the Nuclear Supply Chain: Addressing the Issue of Counterfeiting’, International Journal of Critical Infrastructure Protection, Vol. 50 (September 2025) [with Zoha Naser and Sarah Tzinieris].
• ‘Systematic Analysis of Security Advice on the Topic of Insider Threats’, Computers & Security, (July 2025) Vol. 154 [with Andrew Stewart].
• ‘The United Kingdom’s Transition from Prescriptive to Outcome-Focused Nuclear Security Regulation’ The Oxford Handbook of Nuclear Security, (May 2023) [with Tom Parkhouse].
• ‘Exploring the Human Dimension of Nuclear Security: The History, Theory and Practice of Security Culture’,Non-Proliferation Review, Vol. 28, Issue 4-6 (June 2022) [with Matthew Moran].
• ‘Data Science in Support of Radiation Detection for Border Monitoring: An Exploratory Study’, Science and Global Security, Vol. 28, Issue 1, pp. 28-47 (February 2020) [with Peter McBurney and Dominic Oliver].
• ‘Fusing algorithms and analysts: open-source intelligence in the age of ‘Big Data’, Intelligence and National Security, Vol. 33, No. 3, p. 391-406 (Feb 2018) [with Chris Eldridge and Matthew Moran].

Policy papers and handbooks (selected)

• ‘Counterfeiting, Artificial Intelligence, and Supply Chains in the Nuclear Sector’, Vienna Centre for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation (April 2025) [with Zoha Naser].
• ‘Securing the Nuclear Supply Chain: A Handbook of Case Studies on Counterfeit, Fraudulent and Suspect Items’, CSSS Occasional Paper (August 2024) [with Zoha Naser, Daniel Salisbury and Sarah Tzinieris].
• ‘Nuclear Security Briefing Book’, CSSS Occasional Paper (December 2022)
• ‘Insider Threats: An Educational Handbook of Nuclear and Non-Nuclear Case Studies’, CSSS Occasional Paper (August 2015) [with Matthew Moran].

Please see Professor Hobbs' PURE profile for a full list of publications.