Dr Samuel Guerin
High-throughput material synthesis and characterisation
Profile
Dr Samuel Guerin is a specialist in high-throughput material synthesis and characterisation with 25 years’ experience in developing high-throughput workflows using the facilities in place at the Material Innovation Laboratory (MiLab). He is head of the MiLab facility, a unique setup dedicated to high-throughput material discovery, combining thin film synthesis, automated material characterisation and data analysis.
Samuel’s interest in high-throughput technologies started 25 years ago when the high-throughput synthesis concept used in the MiLab was invented. He subsequently became a co-founder of Ilika Technologies Ltd, working at the company for 16 years and becoming one of its technical directors. The company was then a world leader in high-throughput material discovery, focusing on research projects for the energy, electronic and aerospace sectors.
During this period, the high-throughput methodology was further developed to address novel material needs, with companies such as Toyota, Murata, Shell, Jonhson Matthey, Boeing and many others using the technology and expertise of Ilika and the University of Southampton. Samuel led many of those projects, involving customer interactions and technological developments.
Samuel holds a master’s in physics form Tours University (France), a DEA (MPhil) in material science from Bordeaux University (France) and a PhD from Southampton University. Following a postdoctoral position he joined the School of Chemistry as an Experimental Officer in the Material Combinatorial Centre which led to the creation of Ilika. He re-joined the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering in 2024 to lead the Material Innovation Laboratory.
Samuel is a member of the Institute of Physics and the Royal Society of Chemistry.