Personal profile
Memberships of committees and professional bodies
Qualifications
BSc (Hons), Paper Science (UMIST), 1989.
PhD, Paper Science (UMIST), 1992.
Biography
Bill Sampson graduated from UMIST with a BSc (1989) and PhD (1992) in Paper Science; on award of his PhD, he joined the Faculty as a Lecturer, becoming Senior Lecturer in 2004 and Professor in 2013. Sampson was Head of the School of Materials from 2015 to 2019 and Chief Scientific Officer of the University’s Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre from 2020 to 2025. He is currently Foundation Industries Challenge Lead for the Henry Royce Institute for Advanced Materials, and Academic Lead for the pilot for the Centre of Expertise in Advanced Materials and Sustainability (CEAMS) delivered through the Royce.
Bill is a Chartered Scientist and Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining. He is a Director and Trustee of the Pulp and Paper Fundamental Research Society and a Trustee of the Cotton Textiles Research Trust.
Bill’s research involves the application of scientific methods to the modelling, simulation and characterization of heterogeneous materials, with emphasis on their structure and its influence on properties. Current projects include the development of statistical theoretical frameworks for the self-assembly of aggregating colloidal systems, including cellulose nanocrystals, and experimental development of cellulose nanocomposites, including multi-functional cellulosic fibres and filaments. His group also studies percolation and transport properties in nanoparticulate composites, silver nanowire networks for transparent conductive displays, toughness of composites for aerospace and automotive applications.
Research interests
- Structure-property relationships in heterogeneous materials
- Percolation and conductivity of nano-particulate materials systems
- Composite mechanics
- Statistical geometry
Research Beacons, Institutes and Platforms
- Sustainable Futures
- Christabel Pankhurst Institute
- Digital Futures
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 4 Quality Education -
SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy -
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Electrical percolation behaviour of hybrid nanocarbon-polycarbonate composites
Lin, K., Deng, Y., Bissett, M. A., Kinloch, I. A. & Sampson, W. W., Apr 2026, In: Composites Science and Technology. 277, 111548.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Enabling the recycling of polycarbonate through reinforcement with graphene nanoplatelets
Zehni, O. C., Khan, T., Deng, Y., Bissett, M. A., Sampson, W. W., Young, R. J. & Kinloch, I. A., Jul 2026, In: Composites Part B: Engineering. 320, 113668.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Optimization of interfacial bonding between graphene-enhanced polyethylene liners and CFRP composites using plasma treatment for hydrogen storage applications
Ubaid, J., Andrew, J. J., Sandaruwan, C., Cantwell, W. J., Khan, K. A., Sampson, W., Potluri, P. & Umer, R., 1 Jan 2026, In: Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing. 200, 109336.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Influence of thermoplastic fibre-epoxy adhesion on the interlaminar fracture toughness of interleaved polymer composites
Dinç, Z. S., Öz, Y., Potluri, P., Sampson, W. W. & Eren, H. A., Feb 2025, In: Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing. 189, 108619.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile51 Downloads (Pure) -
Multifunctional ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene nanocomposites produced through controlled segregation of graphene nanoplatelets
Khan, T., Zehni, O. C., Deng, Y., Bissett, M. A., Sampson, W. W., Young, R. J. & Kinloch, I. A., Dec 2025, In: Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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RAI: Centre for Robotics and Artificial Intelligence
Cangelosi, A. (PI), Lennox, B. (PI), Weightman, A. (CoI), Dennis, L. (CoI), Dixon, C. (CoI), Fisher, M. (CoI), Herrmann, G. (CoI), Dickson, A. (CoI), Lanzon, A. (CoI), Stancu, A. (CoI), Miller, A. (CoI), Freitas, A. (CoI), Nini, A. (CoI), Voronkov, A. (CoI), Brass, A. (CoI), Vijayaraghavan, A. (CoI), Parslew, B. (CoI), crowther, W. (CoI), Grieve, B. (CoI), Adorno, B. (CoI), Jay, C. (CoI), Wang, C. C. L. (CoI), Todd, C. (CoI), Soutis, C. (CoI), Arsene, C. (CoI), Dresner, D. (CoI), Barrett, E. (CoI), Gowen, E. (CoI), Arvin, F. (CoI), Podd, F. (CoI), Brown, G. (CoI), Reger, G. (CoI), Cooper, G. (CoI), Mairs, H. (CoI), Yin, H. (CoI), Kinloch, I. (CoI), Eleftheriou, I. (CoI), Li, J. (CoI), Carrasco Gomez, J. (CoI), Ainsworth, J. (CoI), Sinha, J. (CoI), Ozanyan, K. (CoI), Smith, K. (CoI), Twomey, K. (CoI), Margetts, L. (CoI), Ren, L. (CoI), Zhang, L. (CoI), Cordeiro, L. (CoI), Rattray, M. (PI), Bissett, M. (CoI), Elliot, M. (CoI), Alvarez, M. (CoI), Luján, M. (CoI), Nabawy BSc, MSc, PhD, MRAeS, SMAIAA, FHEA, M. (CoI), Peek, N. (CoI), Marjanovic, O. (CoI), Dorn, O. (CoI), Dudek, P. (CoI), Green, P. (CoI), Connolly, P. (CoI), Da Silva Bartolo, P. J. (CoI), Gardner, P. (CoI), Martin, P. (CoI), Potluri, P. (CoI), Curtis, R. (CoI), Schmidt, R. (CoI), Banach, R. (CoI), Batista-Navarro, R. T. (CoI), Kaski, S. (CoI), Midson, S. (CoI), Watson, S. (CoI), Holm, S. (CoI), Furber, S. (CoI), Schlegel, V. (CoI), Mirihanage, W. (CoI), Mansell, W. (CoI), Pan, W. (CoI), Sampson, B. (CoI), Sellers, W. (CoI), Yang, W. (CoI), Cai, P. (CoI), Sun, Y. (CoI), Alharthi, A. (Researcher), Macario Rojas, A. (Researcher), Serhan, B. (Researcher), Yu, C. (Researcher), Abara, D. (Researcher), Lopez Pulgarin, E. (Researcher), Faruq, F. (Researcher), Tavella, F. (Researcher), Semeraro, F. (Researcher), Liu, G. (Researcher), Fang, G. (Researcher), Niu, H. (Researcher), Taylor, H. (PI), Zhu, H. (PGR student), Collenette, J. (Researcher), Amano, K. (Researcher), Lo, K. C. J. (PGR student), Raggioli, L. (Researcher), Romeo, M. (Researcher), Ruocco, M. (PGR student), Ghaffari Saadat, M. (Researcher), Walmsley, M. (Researcher), Mubarik, A. (Researcher), Vinanzi, S. (Researcher), Su, Y.-H. (PGR student), McAleese, H. (PGR student), Stringer, P. (PGR student), Stoican, R. (PGR student), Ye, R. (PGR student), Kurawa, S. S. (PGR student), Zhang, T. (PGR student), Krywonos, W. (PGR student), Xu, Y. (PGR student), Tian, Y. (PGR student), Henderson, A. (Technical team), Morley, D. (Support team), Tallentire, J. (Support team), Smith, J. (Support team), Hawthornthwaite, S. (Support team), Carlson, J. (Support team) & Baniqued, P. D. (Researcher)
Project: Research
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OptiFib: Optimization of Highly Fibrillated Cellulose Fibre Blends
Sampson, B. (PI) & Umar, M. (CoI)
1/10/25 → 28/02/26
Project: Research
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RE3 - Rethinking Resources and Recycling
Li, L. (PI), Azapagic, A. (CoI), Boons, F. (CoI), Browne, A. L. (CoI), Evans, J. (CoI), Garforth, A. (CoI), Hardacre, C. (CoI), Hoolohan, C. (CoI), Mativenga, P. (CoI), Raveendran Nair, R. (CoI), Sampson, B. (CoI), Sharmina, M. (CoI), Shaver, M. (CoI) & Turner, N. (CoI)
1/01/19 → 31/12/20
Project: Research
Activities
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Pulp and Paper Fundamental Research symposium
Sampson, W. (Chair)
2017Activity: Participating in or organising event(s) › Organising a conference, workshop, exhibition, performance, inquiry, course etc › Research
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Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining (IOM3) (External organisation)
Sampson, W. (Academic expert member)
2015 → …Activity: Membership › Membership of professional association › Research