Dr Peng GONG completed her PhD at the University of Sheffield in 2016, where she focused on the novel low-energy consumption manufacturing design for high strengthen low alloy steels with awarded the Brunton Medal, the top prize for metallurgical PhD research. After several years working on thermodynamic analysis, microstructure characterization and mechanical properties measurement, as well as hydrogen embrittlement studies, she secured a competitive Early Career Researcher (ECR) grant within the EPSRC SUSTAIN Future Manufacturing Hub as PI, and EPSRC funded programme on the development of new martensitic steels as Co-I, in 2021. Continuing her success, she was awarded the EPSRC fellowship, in 2023, focusing on the design of reduced activation ferritic martensitic (RAFM) for the first wall and blanket of fusion reactors.

Dr Peng GONG joined the Department of Materials in April 2024 with a focus on sustainable materials design and manufacturing for applications including aerospace, nuclear reactors, and wind turbines. Her primary research interests include hydrogen transmission and storage, recycling obsolete steels, advanced electrical steel design and manufacturing for next-generation electrical machines, and first wall and blanket materials design for fusion reactors.