Professor Chris Race

School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering

UKAEA Chair in Fusion Materials

Royal Society University Research Fellow

Henry Royce Institute Research Area Lead for Modelling and Simulation

Co-Director EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Developing National Capability for Materials 4.0

Headshot of Chris Race (white male with mid-dark hair)
Profile picture of Headshot of Chris Race (white male with mid-dark hair)
Christopher.Race@sheffield.ac.uk
Sir Robert Hadfield Building

Full contact details

Professor Chris Race
School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering
Sir Robert Hadfield Building
Mappin Street
Sheffield
S1 3JD
Profile

Professor Chris Race is the UKAEA Chair in Fusion Materials and a Royal Society University Research Fellow within the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the ±¬ÁÏTV. His research group uses the tools of atomistic simulation to investigate the behaviour of a variety of materials and material evolution processes.

Before Chris joined Sheffield in December 2023, he was a Dalton Research Fellow and then Royal Society University Research Fellow in the Department of Materials at the University of Manchester. Before that, he spent three years in the Department of Computational Materials Design of the Max Planck Institute for Iron Research (Eisenforschung) (MPIE) in Dusseldorf Germany, latterly as an Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellow. Chris completed his PhD in 2010, in the Department of Physics, Imperial College London, under the supervision of Adrian Sutton and Matthew Foulkes.

"I am a physicist by training and a materials scientist by inclination. I am attracted to materials science by the links it draws between the behaviour of real materials - things we experience and use in our everyday macroscopic lives - and what happens in the microscopic world of atoms and electrons. Materials science involves the application of fundamental theories of physics to solve real-world problems. As a bonus, these problems are often extremely complex, involving a hierarchy of processes across a range of length and time scales. To model them we need to use a broad range of tools, each with its own strengths and weaknesses."

Research interests

My work uses computer simulations to understand why materials behave the way that they do. Much of the behaviour of real materials in our everyday lives originates at the scale of atoms, propagating upwards through the complex hierarchical structure of the material. For example, the useful lifetime of a component in a fusion reactor depends ultimately on the way fast neutrons from the fusion reaction rearrange the atoms in the crystal structure. By understanding the behaviour of atoms via simulations, we can help to steer the development of improved materials, better suited to meet the challenges faced by society.

Key research interests: 

  • Microstructural evolution in nuclear materials
  • Electronic effects in irradiation damage
  • Mechanisms and kinetics of grain boundary migration
Publications

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All publications

Books

  • Race C (2010) Modelling of Radiation Damage in Metals Using Ehrenfest Dynamics.

Journal articles

  • Larranaga M, Frankel PG & Race CP (2026) . Journal of Nuclear Materials, 626, 156588-156588.
  • Yankova MS & Race CP (2025) . Physical Review Materials, 9(7).
  • Barzdajn B & P Race C (2025) . Modelling and Simulation in Materials Science and Engineering, 33(2).
  • Barzdajn B & Race CP (2024) . Computational Materials Science, 245, 113315-113315.
  • Yildirim E, Mummery PM, Greaves G, Race CP & Jimenez-Melero E (2024) . Nuclear Materials and Energy, 39, 101672-101672.
  • White MD, Nimmal Haribabu G, Thimukonda Jegadeesan J, Basu B, Withers PJ & Race CP (2024) . Computational Materials Science, 240, 112992-112992.
  • Ungár T, Ribárik G, Balogh L, Thomas R, Koc O, Preuss M, Race CP & Frankel P (2024) . Journal of Nuclear Materials, 589, 154828-154828.
  • Warwick AR, Thomas R, Boleininger M, Koç Ö, Zilahi G, Ribárik G, Hegedues Z, Lienert U, Ungar T, Race C , Preuss M et al (2023) . International Journal of Plasticity, 164, 103590-103590.
  • White MD, Tarakanov A, Withers PJ, Race CP & Law KJH (2023) . Computational Materials Science, 218, 111985-111985.
  • Yankova MS, Garner A, Baxter F, Armson S, Race CP, Preuss M & Frankel P (2023) . Nature Communications, 14(1).
  • Garrett AM & Race CP (2022) . Journal of Nuclear Materials, 569, 153923-153923.
  • Plowman AJ & Race CP (2022) . Journal of Nuclear Materials, 568, 153853-153853.
  • Wilson BT, Robson JD, Shanthraj P & Race CP (2022) . Modelling and Simulation in Materials Science and Engineering, 30(3).
  • Maric M, Thomas R, Nunez-Iglesias J, Atkinson M, Bertsch J, Frankel P, Race C, Barberis P, Bourlier F, Preuss M & Shanthraj P (2022) . Journal of Nuclear Materials, 559, 153442-153442.
  • Garrett AM & Race CP (2021) . Journal of Nuclear Materials, 556, 153185-153185.
  • Barzdajn B, Garrett AM, Whiting TM & Race CP (2021) . Modelling and Simulation in Materials Science and Engineering, 29(8), 085006-085006.
  • Dorin T, Babaniaris S, Jiang L, Cassel A, Race CP, Eggeman A, Kelly DJ, Haigh SJ & Robson JD (2021) . Acta Materialia, 216, 117117-117117.
  • Ungár T, Frankel P, Ribárik G, Race CP & Preuss M (2021) . Journal of Nuclear Materials, 550, 152945-152945.
  • Ungár T, Ribárik G, Topping M, Jones RMA, Dan Xu X, Hulse R, Harte A, Tichy G, Race CP, Frankel P & Preuss M (2021) . Journal of Applied Crystallography, 54(3), 803-821.
  • Leteba GM, Wang Y-C, Slater TJA, Cai R, Byrne C, Race CP, Mitchell DRG, Levecque PBJ, Young NP, Holmes SM , Walton A et al (2021) . Nano Letters, 21(9), 3989-3996.
  • Adrych-Brunning A & Race CP (2021) . Journal of Nuclear Materials, 547, 152808-152808.
  • Hulse R & Race CP (2021) . Journal of Nuclear Materials, 546, 152752-152752.
  • Garrett AM & Race CP (2021) . Computational Materials Science, 188, 110149-110149.
  • Wilson BT, Robson JD & Race CP (2020) . MATEC Web of Conferences, 326, 04006-04006.
  • Zhao H, Eggeman AS, Race CP & Derby B (2020) . Acta Materialia, 185, 110-118.
  • Wang Y-C, Slater TJA, Leteba GM, Roseman AM, Race CP, Young NP, Kirkland AI, Lang CI & Haigh SJ (2019) . Microscopy and Microanalysis, 25(S2), 400-401.
  • Race CP (2019) . Modelling and Simulation in Materials Science and Engineering, 27(6), 064002-064002.
  • Cassell AM, Robson JD, Race CP, Eggeman A, Hashimoto T & Besel M (2019) . Acta Materialia, 169, 135-146.
  • Topping M, Harte A, Ungár T, Race CP, Dumbill S, Frankel P & Preuss M (2019) . Journal of Nuclear Materials, 514, 358-367.
  • Wang Y-C, Slater TJA, Leteba GM, Roseman AM, Race CP, Young NP, Kirkland AI, Lang CI & Haigh SJ (2019) . Nano Letters, 19(2), 732-738.
  • Gillen C, Garner A, Plowman A, Race CP, Lowe T, Jones C, Moore KL & Frankel P (2018) . Materials Characterization, 141, 348-361.
  • Topping M, Ungár T, Race CP, Harte A, Garner A, Baxter F, Dumbill S, Frankel P & Preuss M (2018) . Acta Materialia, 145, 255-263.
  • Adrych-Brunning A, Gilbert MR, Sublet J-C, Harte A & Race CP (2018) . Journal of Nuclear Materials, 498, 282-289.
  • Harte A, Jädernäs D, Topping M, Frankel P, Race CP, Romero J, Hallstadius L, Darby EC & Preuss M (2017) . Acta Materialia, 130, 69-82.
  • Race CP (2015) . Molecular Simulation, 41(13), 1069-1073.
  • Hafez Haghighat SM, von Pezold J, Race CP, Körmann F, Friák M, Neugebauer J & Raabe D (2014) . Computational Materials Science, 87, 274-282.
  • Race CP, Mason DR, Foo MHF, Foulkes WMC, Horsfield AP & Sutton AP (2013) . Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter, 25(12), 125501-125501.
  • Race CP, Mason DR & Sutton AP (2012) . Journal of Nuclear Materials, 425(1-3), 33-40.
  • Race CP, Mason DR, Finnis MW, Foulkes WMC, Horsfield AP & Sutton AP (2010) . Reports on Progress in Physics, 73(11), 116501-116501.
  • McEniry EJ, Wang Y, Dundas D, Todorov TN, Stella L, Miranda RP, Fisher AJ, Horsfield AP, Race CP, Mason DR , Foulkes WMC et al (2010) . The European Physical Journal B, 77(3), 305-329.
  • Race CP, Mason DR, Le Page J, Finnis MW, Foulkes WMC & Sutton AP (2009) . MRS Proceedings, 1229.
  • Race CP, Mason DR & Sutton AP (2009) . Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter, 21(11), 115702-115702.
  • Horsfield AP, Finnis M, Foulkes M, LePage J, Mason D, Race C, Sutton AP, Bowler DR, Fisher AJ, Miranda R , Stella L et al (2008) . Computational Materials Science, 44(1), 16-20.
  • Mason DR, le Page J, Race CP, Foulkes WMC, Finnis MW & Sutton AP (2007) . Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter, 19(43), 436209-436209.
  • Rigby-Bell MTP, Natu V, Sokol M, Kelly DJ, Hopkinson DG, Zou Y, Bird JRT, Evitts LJ, Smith M, Race CP , Frankel P et al () . RSC Advances, 11(5), 3110-3114.
  • Cassell AM, Robson JD, Race C, Eggeman A, Hashimoto T & Besel M () . SSRN Electronic Journal.
  • Hadian R, Grabowski B, Race CP & Neugebauer J () . Physical Review B, 94(16).
  • Race CP, Hadian R, von Pezold J, Grabowski B & Neugebauer J () . Physical Review B, 92(17).
  • Race CP, von Pezold J & Neugebauer J () . Physical Review B, 89(21).
  • Pei Z, Zhu L-F, Friák M, Sandlöbes S, von Pezold J, Sheng HW, Race CP, Zaefferer S, Svendsen B, Raabe D & Neugebauer J () . New Journal of Physics, 15(4), 043020-043020.
  • Mason DR, Race CP, Foo MHF, Horsfield AP, Foulkes WMC & Sutton AP () . New Journal of Physics, 14(7), 073009-073009.
  • Race CP, Mason DR & Sutton AP () . New Journal of Physics, 12(9), 093049-093049.
  • le Page J, Mason DR, Race CP & Foulkes WMC () . New Journal of Physics, 11(1), 013004-013004.

Book chapters

  • Sakaël C, Domain C, Ambard A, Race CP, Thuinet L & Legris A (2023) , Zirconium in the Nuclear Industry: 20th International Symposium (pp. 495-519). ASTM International100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959
  • Frankel P, Garner A, Plowman A, Hanlon SM, Gillen C, Phillion A, Race CP, Donoghue J, Anghel C, Ambard A & Daymond MR (2021) , Zirconium in the Nuclear Industry: 19th International Symposium (pp. 904-926). ASTM International100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959
  • Armson SAJ, Garner A, Baxter F, Yankova MS, Race CP, Cole-Baker A, Riley C, Preuss M & Frankel P (2021) , Zirconium in the Nuclear Industry: 19th International Symposium (pp. 878-903). ASTM International100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959
  • Topping M, Harte A, Frankel P, Race C, Sundell G, Thuvander M, Andrén H-O, Jadernas D, Tejland P, Romero JE , Darby EC et al (2018) , Zirconium in the Nuclear Industry: 18th International Symposium (pp. 796-822). ASTM International100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959
  • Race C (2011) , Springer Theses (pp. 9-13). Springer Berlin Heidelberg
  • Race C (2011) , Springer Theses (pp. 103-111). Springer Berlin Heidelberg
  • Race CP (2011) , Springer Theses (pp. 15-66). Springer Berlin Heidelberg
  • Race C (2011) , Springer Theses (pp. 133-152). Springer Berlin Heidelberg
  • Race C (2011) , Springer Theses (pp. 223-245). Springer Berlin Heidelberg
  • Race C (2011) , Springer Theses (pp. 113-131). Springer Berlin Heidelberg
  • Race C (2011) , Springer Theses (pp. 189-222). Springer Berlin Heidelberg
  • Race C (2011) , Springer Theses (pp. 67-100). Springer Berlin Heidelberg
  • Race CP (2011) , Springer Theses (pp. 171-187). Springer Berlin Heidelberg
  • Race C (2011) , Springer Theses (pp. 153-170). Springer Berlin Heidelberg
  • Race C (2011) , Springer Theses (pp. 3-8). Springer Berlin Heidelberg
  • Race C (2011) , Springer Theses (pp. 247-253). Springer Berlin Heidelberg
  • Race C (2011) , Springer Theses (pp. 255-297). Springer Berlin Heidelberg

Conference proceedings

  • Sakaël C, Domain C, Ambard A, Race CP, Thuinet L & Legris A (2023) . ASTM Special Technical Publication, Vol. STP 1645 (pp 495-519)
  • Hadian S, Grabowski B, Race C & Neugebauer J (2015) Molecular dynamics study of the migration kinetics of asymmetric grain boundaries. Ptm 2015 Proceedings of the International Conference on Solid Solid Phase Transformations in Inorganic Materials 2015 (pp 775-776)
  • Mason DR, Race CP, Foulkes WMC, Finnis MW, Horsfield AP & Sutton AP (2011) . Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms, Vol. 269(14) (pp 1640-1645)
  • Race CP, Mason DR, Le Page J, Finnis MW, Foulkes WMC & Sutton AP (2010) Aiding the design of radiation resistant materials with multiphysics simulations of damage processes. Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings, Vol. 1229 (pp 1-6)

Preprints

  • Barzdajn B & Race CP (2024) , arXiv.
  • Barzdajn B & Race CP (2024) , arXiv.
  • Yankova MS & Race CP (2023) , arXiv.
  • White MD, Tarakanov A, Race CP, Withers PJ & Law KJH (2022) , arXiv.
  • Race CP, Ungar T & Ribarik G (2022) , arXiv.
  • Race CP, Ungar T & Ribarik G (2022) , arXiv.
  • Leteba GM, Wang Y-C, Slater TJA, Cai R, Byrne C, Race CP, Mitchell DRG, Levecque PBJ, Young NP, Walton A , Kirkland AI et al (2021) , arXiv.
  • Yankova M, Garner A, Baxter F, Armson S, Race C, Preuss M & Frankel P (2021) , Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
  • Barzdajn B, Garrett AM, Whiting TM & Race CP (2020) , arXiv.
  • Plowman AJ & Race CP (2020) , arXiv.
  • Hulse R & Race CP (2020) , arXiv.
  • Warwick AR, Thomas R, Boleininger M, Dudarev SL, Koc Ö, Zilahi G, Ribarik G, Hegedues Z, Lienert U, Race CP , Ungar T et al () .
Teaching activities

MAT4900/6900 Advanced Reactor Systems