Dr Ross Peel MEng

Dr Ross Peel is a Research Fellow in the Department of War Studies and the Centre for Science & Security Studies (CSSS). In this role, he leads research activities on nuclear security and safeguards, and examines the role of nuclear power plants in war and as tools of international diplomacy. Ross also manages a variety of other activities within CSSS, covering topics on non-proliferation, strategic trade controls and open-source intelligence. Ross joined King’s College London as a Research Associate in June 2019 to lead work in nuclear safeguards, machine learning and intangible technology transfer, before taking on his current role in early 2020.

From 2017 to 2019, Ross was an Associate Partner and Nuclear Systems Consulting Engineer with Nuclear-21 Ltd, an international consultancy company specialising in providing critical decision support to nuclear science and technology stakeholders.

Ross gained his PhD from the University of Sheffield through the Nuclear FiRST Centre for Doctoral Training in September 2017, studying chemistry and physics aspects of thorium-based nuclear fuel cycles and spending three months working with AREVA in Paris. He holds an MEng in Mechanical Engineering with French from the University of Sheffield, which included a year studying abroad at INSA Lyon in France.

Research

• Nuclear security and safeguards, particularly of small modular and advanced reactors
• International ownership and control of nuclear energy assets
• Strategic trade controls, particularly intangible technology transfer
• Non-proliferation of WMD and delivery systems

Teaching

Ross is the module convener for 7SSWN077 / 7SSWM077 – Armchair Intelligence: Open Sources and Online Investigation, an MA module in the Department of War Studies.

Ross also contributes to other teaching within the Department of War Studies as an occasional guest lecturer on topics related to civil and military nuclear technologies.

Publications

• Peel, R., Aghara, S., 'Nuclear Security for Next Generation Reactors' in The Oxford Handbook of Nuclear Security. Hobbs, C., Tzinieris, S. & Aghara, S. (eds.). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
• Peel R., Foster G., Aghara S., 'Nuclear Security and Safeguards Considerations for Novel Advanced Reactors,' London, UK: King's College London, 2022.
• Chung J., Dewey K., Hobbs C., Homan Z., Park E., Peel R., Scott E., Tzinieris S., 'Nuclear Security within Academic and Research Organisations: A Handbook of Global Case Studies,' London, UK: King's College London, 2022.
• Peel R., Scott E., Trajkovska K., 'An Overview of Legislation and Guidance for Technology Transfer Management in Research Organisations,' Trade & Security 2 (2021): 76-85.
• Peel R., 'Nuclear Fuel Reserves,' in Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology. New York: John Wiley and Sons, Inc, 2021.
• Scott E., Peel R., Ruechardt F., Mitchell N., 'Catalogue of Case Studies on Intangible Technology Transfers from Universities and Research Institutes: Revised edition,' King's College London, 2020.
• Peel R., Van Den Durpel L., Ogden M.D>, Rhys Whittle K., 'Three-Component U-Pu-Th Fuel for Plutonium Irradiation in Heavy Water Reactors,' EPJ Nuclear Sciences & Technologies 2.

Further details

See Ross' research profile